The Greatest Right-Backs of All Time
Shirt number: 2

Although the term "full back" dates from the earliest football formations its early exponents were positioned centrally and would really be seen as centre-backs today. The true full-back was born when Herbert Chapman created the W-M formation in the late 1920s by pulling back a third defender and pushing the two "full-backs" out wide. It has been said that right-back is the easiest position to play in football but that view is becoming questioned in the modern game as more is asked of the full-back (or wing-back), who now has to both defend and provide a wide attacking outlet. Great full-backs often make good free-kick and even penalty takers. The following are presented in chronological order.

Berti Vogts

Rodriguez Andrade  Uruguay  1950-54  (Penarol)
 
Orvar Bergmark Sweden  1950s  (Orbero/Roma)

Jimmy Armfield  England  1950s/60s  (Blackpool) ,

Djalma Santos  Brazil  1954-62  (Palmeiras)

Tommy Gemmell  Scotland  1960s/70s (Celtic/Notts Forest)

Tarcisio Burgnich  Italy  1963-74  (Inter)

Carlos Alberto  Brazil  1970s  (Santos/Fluminense)

Berti Vogts  Germany  1970s  (Borussia Monchengladbach

Wim Suurbier Holland  1970s  (Ajax)

Danny McGrain  Scotland  1974-82  (Celtic)

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Cafu

Manfred Kaltz  Germany  1975-83  (Hamburg)

Manuel Amoros  France  1980s  (Monaco/Marseille)

Jorginho  Brazil  1987-96  (Flamengo/B.Leverkusen/B.Munich)

Cafu  Brazil  1990s  (Sao Paulo/Roma/Milan)

Lilian Thuram  France  1990s/00s  (Monaco/Parma/Juventus)

Javier Zanetti Argentina  1990s/2000s  (Inter)

Gianluca Zambrotta  Italy  2000s  (Juverntus/Barcelona)

Daniel Alves  Brazil  2000s/2010s  (Sevilla/Barcelona)

Maicon  Brazil  2010s  (Cruzeiro/Monaco/Inter)

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To explore, use the tabs on the header or click on the links below:

Alltime Legends

Best Players in Each Position

Best Ever National Teams 

Best Ever Club Teams
 
Dream Teams

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