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With the ever-changing tide of footballing philosophies, certain roles including the midfield three, left backs as well as right backs are bound to get shaped differently. A quintessential advocate for this theory is Antonio Conte's 3-5-2 system, which revolutionized the fullback positions, bringing so much more to the flanks than just defending and crossing. As a lot of teams have tried to implement this strategy according to their needs, left backs and right backs around the world have unlocked an additional aspect to their game.
The full-backs who embody this role to its finest include the likes of Achraf Hakimi, Marc Cucurella, Trent Alexander-Arnold and many more. The fact that Alexander-Arnold has been one of the most creative players in Liverpool's resurgence justifies the need for left-backs and right-backs to be more involved on the pitch.
Left backs to keep a lookout for this season
Having adequate squad depth is crucial for any team that aims to construct a successful campaign. However, this often results in certain gems missing out on some deserved playtime. Even so, from time to time, many second-choice players have been able to force their way into the first team and make that position their own. Real Betis witnessed such a tussle last season at their left back slot, where promising defender Juan Miranda comprehensively displaced Alex Moreno towards the end of the campaign.
Another interesting transfer that materialized a few weeks ago, Nuno Tavares' €8m switch from Benfica to Arsenal, could prove to be a real bargain if the Portuguese's time with the Eagles has anything to say. With Kieran Tierney firmly establishing his place as one of the Premier League's best left backs, it would be interesting to see how the 21-year-old promising defender responds to this challenge.
Now, without further ado, let's dive straight into our list that celebrates the top 5 left backs with considerable abilities, who often find themselves limited to the bench:
#5 Mikel Balenziaga (Athletic Bilbao)
Playing for a team that only employs players from a certain region already seems too restrictive. On top of this, Mikel Balenziaga has to share his left back spot with compatriot Yuri Berchiche, where the latter often finds himself receiving the lion's share of opportunities at Athletic Bilbao.
While Balenziaga played 28 times, in contrast to his counterpart's 29 appearances in last season, Berchiche retains the title of being the first choice left back at the Basque club, by virtue of starting a lot more games than the former Valladolid defender. Nevertheless, Balenziaga managed to rack up 2,022 minutes of consistent playtime under his belt, all the while putting in some astute defensive performances.
With Yuri Berchiche becoming Bilbao's second most expensive signing in 2018, returning to his boyhood club after a solitary season at Paris Saint-Germain for a sizeable fee of €24m, it seems highly unlikely that Balenziaga, now 33, will ever get the nod to usurp Berchiche's spot as first choice left-back.
Even so, the veteran defender's astounding consistency has kept the record signing on his toes, constantly breathing down his neck and waiting patiently for any possible slip-up by the first-choice left-back to seize his chance.
#4 Ben Davies (Tottenham Hotspur)
Ben Davies has been a Tottenham player for over seven years now. Yet the Welsh defender has only been able to garner a total of 228 games for the Lilywhites, including substitute appearances. Even though this number looks decent enough on the face of it, providing him with an average of approximately 32 games per season, Davies has hardly ever enjoyed full discrepancy with his role at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium.
After duking it out with Danny Rose for multiple seasons, the Englishman's omission from the Spurs squad should've been Davies' moment in the sun. Instead, he found himself playing second fiddle to newcomer Sergio Regulion, who signed on for an initial fee of €30m, at the beginning of the 20/21 season. The Spanish left back has since gone on to impress the Tottenham faithful, grabbing 27 starts and four assists in the Premier League in his debut campaign.
Unsurprisingly, the sturdy and versatile Welshman has been linked to a €16m switch to Napoli. With the ability to play as a center back, Davies was especially monumental to Wales' success at Euro 2020. Even though he has the makings of a shrewd defensive unit, the 28-year-old left back's time in London seems to be nearing an end. Either a move or multiple seasons on the bench: one of the two things is imminent for the left-back.
Also read: Top 5 backup strikers at club level - 2021
#3 Marcos Alonso (Chelsea)
Having played as Chelsea's preferred left back for over four years, Marcos Alonso's erratic nature saw him benched for the majority of last season in favor of Ben Chilwell. The Spanish defender, who can also be deployed as a wing back, has experienced multiple purple patches in his Chelsea career but has never been able to display the maturity a seasoned professional exudes.
His most fruitful spell for the Blues came under the reign of Antonio Conte, where he enjoyed a much more advanced role, winning the Premier League in the Italian's first season in charge. The 30-year-old left back showed glimpses of his former brilliance under new boss Thomas Tuchel, which earned him a surprising number of first-team call ups.
Nevertheless, 24-year-old Chilwell is clearly perceived as Chelsea's long-term solution to their left back woes. As such, Alonso is likely to play second-fiddle to the Englishman at Stamford Bridge.
#2 Alex Telles (Manchester United)
Bought as a like-to-like replacement for the outgoing Ashley Young, Alex Telles was supposed to be the Englishman's successor in the left back slot. Having long been touted for a big-money move to a top-five European league, the former Porto stalwart was picked up by Manchester United in an attempt to solidify their floozy defence. However, his arrival sparked a spirit of survival in fellow United acquaintance, Luke Shaw, that no person on planet Earth could've predicted.
Shaw was signed in 2014 for €37.5m, making him the most expensive teenager in football at that time. However, injuries and inconsistent form always plagued his time with the Red Devils. Hence, Telles' arrival at Old Trafford all but confirmed Shaw's role as a deputy left back.
Nevertheless, the 26-year-old's rejuvenated form transformed him into an undroppable asset for Ole Gunnar Solskjær. As a result, Telles had to settle for a bit-part role in his first season with United, almost exclusively appearing for the Reds in their cup games.
In complete honesty though, the occurrence of this ordeal has more to do with Shaw's freakish 20/21 season than the Brazilian's abilities as a left back. In his limited game time, Telles was able to produce eight-goal involvements, maintaining 1.3 crosses and an average of 1.6 long balls per game in nine league appearances.
#1 Marcelo (Real Madrid)
An absolute legend of the game, Marcelo's decline from the pinnacle of football has been monumental, to say the least. He was a mainstay under Zinedine Zidane's first spell at Real Madrid's helm and played a crucial part in Los Blancos' historic Champions League three-peat, in three consecutive years. Since then, Marcelo has seen a drastic decrease in his game-time, with the veteran defender only registering 19 appearances in the 20/21 season.
Even though Real Madrid have no intentions of selling Marcelo and are reportedly planning to grant him the captain's armband for the upcoming season, his constant defensive slip-ups and a gigantic drop in attacking output will most probably restrict him to the bench. While Carlo Ancelotti will almost assuredly go with Ferland Mendy as his first-choice left back, Marcelo can still provide decent cover.
The 33-year-old left back has been a loyal servant to Los Merengues, arguably even better than the legendary Roberto Carlos. With Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane gone, Marcelo is the senior-most defender on Real Madrid's squad and will be looking to bow out on a high, come next season.
Also read: Top 5 backup goalkeepers at club level - 2021
