Franz Beckenbauer died at the age of 78 this week and will be remembered as one of football’s all-time great defenders.
The German was adored by fans and Bayern Munich are even planning the biggest funeral ever in their 75,000 capacity Allianz Arena.
Even the Italians, famed for their brilliant defenders, rated him as top of the pile in terms of the best to play the game.
From Brazil’s Carlos Alberto to the AC Milan and Italy legend Paolo Maldini, here’s his verdict on the top 10 defenders in history.
10. LAURENT BLANC
The Napoleon of French football as master strategist and hero in the trenches tragically denied his World Cup Final by the diver who got him booked after he had guided France to Paris.
9. RUUD KROL
Impassable defender, stern in the tackle, creative from the back and a foundation stone of the Netherlands’ Total Football.
8. GIACINTO FACCHETTI
Tall as any centre-back but the most cultured of attacking full backs, a position to which he brought a new dimension of intelligence.
7. CARLOS ALBERTO
The almighty driver of Brazil’s and the world’s greatest ever team, captain fantastic from right back, scorer of the greatest World Cup Final goal.
Laurent Blanc is shown red in the World Cup clash with Croatia, ruling him out of the 1998 final
Carlos Alberto celebrates scoring Brazil’s fourth goal in the 1970 World Cup final against Italy
Franco Baresi (left) crunches into Romario in the 1994 World Cup final in California
6. JOHN CHARLES
The colossus at centre-half and also the giant at centre forward who conquered Italy.
5. DANIEL PASSARRELLA
The unsung great little big man at the beating defensive heart of Argentina’s first World Cup winners.
4. FRANCO BARESI
Prime, arch example of the Italian tradition for superlative defending.
3. PAOLO MALDINI
First and greatest of the attacking full backs, quick and secure in defence, the god- head figure in Italian football which Beckenbauer and Moore are for Germany and England.
Paolo Maldini is a national treasure in Italy, a country with rich defending heritage
Impeccably stylish Bobby Moore typified everything great about English and world football
Franz Beckenbauer emerges with the ball from Bobby Charlton in the 1966 World Cup final
2. BOBBY MOORE
Genius, shining example of all that’s great in English and world football, impeccable style and manners, read a game like an open book, strong of mind and leadership. Gentleman.
1. FRANZ BECKENBAUER
Genius, elegance, cool, commanding, invented the revolutionary libero. A true gentleman.
