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)
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)
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)
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