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Defending is an art and Paolo Maldini is its Michelangelo. The Italian debuted for AC Milan in the 1985-86 season and was a part of the team for the next 25 seasons, and thwarted elite forwards winning Seria A on seven occasions, and the Champions League five times.
He spent his entire career in the world-class bracket forming legendary partnerships, first with Franco Baresi and then with Alessandro Nesta. He won the Best Defender trophy at the UEFA Club Football Awards in 2007 aged 39 as AC Milan won their 7th and Maldini his 5th Champions League (formerly the European Cup). He was placed third in the 2003 Ballon d’Or award, aged 35 and won Seria A’s best defender award in 2004, aged 36.
However, not every defender is Maldini, and many elite defenders have moved on to prolong their careers. Let’s take a look at some of the top defenders who switched to lesser leagues in the twilight of their careers.
#6 Marco Materazzi
One of football's most controversial personalities, Marco Materazzi retired from the game at the end of the 2010-11 season. But the former Inter Milan and Everton FC defender came out of retirement in September 2014 and was appointed as the player-manager of the Indian Super League side Chennaiyin FC, signing a contract reportedly worth $1 million per season.
He made his ISL debut when he brought himself on in the fourth game of the 2014 season against Mumbai City FC. Chennaiyin finished the regular season at the top of the standings, but were eliminated by Kerala Blasters in the semi-finals. Materazzi played seven games in the season. In 2015, Chennaiyin announced that Materazzi would relinquish his playing duties, thus marking the end of a highly successful and an equally controversial career.
#5 Wes Brown
Many of you may wonder what Wes Brown is doing on the list of ‘top’ defenders. To them, I’d say Wes Brown has more Premier League titles (five) than Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard combined and more Champions League triumphs (two) than all of the London clubs combined.
If you don’t agree with me, read what the greatest club football manager of all time, Sir Alex Ferguson, had to say about Brown in 2006, when the club at the time employed Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic. 'Brown is without question the best natural defender this club has had for years.' That’s a clincher, isn’t it?
After 15 seasons with Manchester United and a further 5 with Sunderland, Brown joined Championship side Blackburn Rovers in September 2016, signing on until the end of the season and also taking up a coaching role with the club. He made his debut against Reading FC, scoring a goal in the process but injuries prevented him from making more than 4 appearances as Blackburn were relegated to League-One.
Brown then signed with Rene Muelensteen’s Kerala Blasters of the Indian Super League making 13 appearances in the 2017-18 edition scoring once as the club finished 6th and didn’t qualify for the semi-finals.
#4 Ashley Cole
After ending his Italian misadventure with the termination of his contract with AS Roma, Ashley Cole signed with MLS side LA Galaxy in January 2016. He made his debut for the Galaxy against Mexican club Santos Laguna in the CONCACAF Champions League. Cole then made his MLS debut against DC United playing full 90 minutes in a 4-1 win.
Cole was sent off twice in eight games as Galaxy qualified for the MLS Cup Play-offs with Cole scoring once, a last-minute equaliser against New York Red Bulls. In the Western Conference semi-finals, the Galaxy were beaten by the Colorado Rapids in a penalty shootout. Cole failed to convert his spot kick.
His second season at the club was a rather disappointing one as the Galaxy finished last and failed to make it to the play-offs for the first time since 2008. Cole scored once, against Real Salt Lake in a 6-2 home loss and was sent off against Columbus Crew.
Cole was handed the captain’s armband by Head Coach Siegfried Schmid ahead of the 2018 season.
#3 Gianluca Zambrotta
Having been a free agent for more than six months, Gianluca Zambrotta signed with second-tier Swiss club Chiasso in July 2013. He made his debut against Lugano in a drab 0-0 stalemate. In November 2013, he was appointed as player-manager following the sacking of manager Ryszart Komornicki, with the club languishing at the bottom of the table. He guided Chiasso to safety and announced his retirement at the end of the season.
#2 John Terry
Having won every possible trophy with his beloved Chelsea FC, John Terry announced that he’d be leaving the Blues at the conclusion of the 2016-17 season in April 2017. He was then snapped up by Steve Bruce’s Aston Villa, who were chasing a promotion to the Premier League from the Championship, and was named club captain on his official unveiling.
He made his debut against Hull City in a 1-1 home draw. Usually a high scoring defender, Terry scored his only goal for the club in a 2-1 win over Fulham in October. However, the Cottagers had the last laugh as they beat the Villains 1-0 in the Championship Play-Off Final. Terry left the club as they failed to gain promotion to the Premier League.
He underwent a medical at Russian side Spartak Moscow, but rejected the contract citing personal reasons.
#1 Fabio Cannavaro
Juventus finished 7th in the Seria A and decided not to renew Fabio Cannavaro’s contract at the conclusion of the 2009-10 season, due to him incurring a host of injuries and his unreliable form. Even his hometown club Napoli made no efforts to sign him, indicating that the man once dubbed as the ‘Berlin Wall’ due to his performances at the 2006 World Cup held in Germany could no longer continue his career at the top.
He signed with UAE League side Al-Ahli after the 2010 World Cup. He made 16 appearances for the club scoring twice. However, late in the season, doctors concluded that he could no longer play following the discovery of a serious knee injury during a routine scan and Cannavaro announced his retirement in July 2011.
He made one more attempt to continue playing when in 2012, it was announced that Cannavaro had signed with Indian League side Siliguri. However, the league never came to fruition and he stayed in retirement.
