10 Greatest Right-Backs Of All Time
6) Lilian Thuram
Another modern-era legend who was versatile as a defender was Lilian Thuram. He was physically, technically, and tactically a genius which made him one of the greats of the game.
The Frenchman won various trophies throughout the course of his career. He won two Serie A titles with the Italian giants, Juventus. He also won three Supercoppa Italiana in his career.
His major success, however, came with his national side. He has made 142 appearances for France, making him the most capped player in their history. With them, Thuram won the World Cup in 1998, and UEFA European Championship in 2000.
5) Philipp Lahm
A player like Philipp Lahm is what every manager wants in his team. They just make things easier for the entire team. He was undoubtedly one of the most important members of the Bayern squad, especially with the kind of versatility he offered.
Philipp Lahm could play as a right-back, a left-back as well as a holding midfielder. He would often outsmart the forwards and was aesthetically pleasing on the ball as well. He also has an extraordinary trophy cabinet with the club as well as the country.
The German won eight Bundesliga titles, six DFB-Pokals, a UEFA Champions League, and much more. With Germany, he won what matters the most at the international stage; a World Cup, in 2014.
4. Javier Zanetti
Javier Zanetti was so good that he played 22 years of his life at the top flight. Zanetti was at the heart of Inter’s defense for two decades and made over 850 appearances for the club.
Zanetti was often called ‘El Tractor’ for his tireless performances, even at the end of his career. While he was dribbling, it would often seem like the ball was glued to his feet, that’s how good a dribbler he was. He also holds the record for most dribbles completed in a single game; 16, a record only equalled by Neymar Jr and Lionel Messi.
One of the greatest right-backs of all time, Zanetti, also enjoyed a lot of trophies throughout the course of his career. He won five Serie A titles, four Supercoppa Italiana, four Coppa Italias, and a UEFA Champions League.