The Greatest Ball-Playing Centre-backs and Sweepers of All Time
Shirt number: 5 or 6; also known as: 'libero'

The fourth defender was added in 1958 when the Brazilians created the 4-2-4 system. A midfileder was pulled back and this is the origin of a player that would play in central defence but also be comfortable on the ball (although some earlier defenders were also good on the ball and are included in this description). As well as marking and tackling the ball-playing centre-back is able to read the game very well and can intercept and play the ball out of defence either by making incisive forward passes and even venturing on forward runs when in possession of the ball. This is still the case today, with most central defensive partnerships consisting of a 'stopper' and a ball-playing defender - the stopper winning possession with his physical approach and his partner tidying up and playing the ball out of defence.

The more specialist 'sweeper' or libero role, popularised by Franz Beckenbauer, was originated when this ball-playing defender used his game-reading skills to  sit behind either one or two stoppers (usually man-marking) to form the last line of defence. From this position he would use his ball playing skills, and the advantage of not being marked by the opposition, to take the ball forward and to create an extra man in midfield. The heyday of the sweeper was the 1970s to 1990s but today you can still see a few, or ball-playing centre-backs taking the ball on forward runs through the midfield and beyond. Many players have played in the sweeper position, such as full-backs or central midfielders later in their career. This list focuses on specialist sweepers that have played most of their career in this role.

Passarella

The 20 Greatest Ball-Playing Centre-backs


Virginio Rosetta  Italy  1920-34  (Juventus)

Luigi Allemandi  Italy  1925-36  (Ambrosiana)

Domingos da Guia  Bra  1930s  (Flamego)

Paul Janes  Ger  1930s  1932-42  (Dusseldorf)

Bobby Moore  Eng 1962-73  (West Ham)

Elias Figueroa  Chile  1964-82  (Penarol/Imternacional)

Hector Chumpitaz  Peru  1965-81  (U.Deportes)

Daniel Passarella  Argentina  1974-86  (River Plate/Fiorentina)

Alan Hansen  Sco  1977-91  (Liverpool)

Marius Tresor Fra  1971-83  (Marseille)

---

Lucio

Giuseppi Bergomi  Italy  1982-98  (Inter)

Paul McGrath  Ireland  1985-97  (Man Utd/Aston Villa)

Gheorge Popescu  Romania  1988-03  (PSV/Barca/Galatasary)

Fernando Hierro  Spain  1989-02  (Real Madrid)

Alessandro Nesta  Italy  1996-06  (Lazio/Milan)

Laurent Blanc  France  1989-00  (Montpelier/Marseille/Inter)

Roberto Ayala  Argentina  1994-07  (River Plate/Napoli/Valencia)

Lucio  Brazil  2000-  (B.Leverkusen/B.Munich/Inter Milan)

Rio Ferdinand  England  1997-  (West Ham/Leeds/Man Utd)

Ricardo Carvalho  Portugal  2003-  (Porto/Chelsea/R.Madrid)



New Entries:

Gerard Pique  Spa 2000s/2010s (Barcelona)

Thiago Silva  Brazil  2010s (Fluminense/AC Milan)

​​​Bonucci  ​Ita  2010s  (Juventus)

Van Dijk  Neths 2010s- (Liverpool)

---

Beckenbauer

The 10 Greatest Sweepers of All Time

Velibor Vasovic Yugoslavia 1961-66 (P.Belgrade/Ajax)

Willi Schulz Germany 1959-70 (Schalke/Hamburg)

Jan Popluhar Czech (Slovak) 1958-67 (S.Bratislava/Brno)

Albert Shesternyov USSR 1961-71 (CSKA Moscow)

Franz Beckenbauer Germany 1965-77 (Bayern Munich)

Gaetano Scirea Italy 1975-86 (Juventus)

Ronald Koeman Neths 1983-94 (PSV/Barcelona)

Franco Baresi Italy 1977-97 (AC Milan)

Matthias Sammer Germany/E. Germany 1986-97 (B.Dortmund)

---

​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

Visit our Shop