RIP Franz Beckenbauer

[Chip R]

https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/39265759/bayern-munich-germany-legend-franz-beckenbauer-dies-aged-78

[Kingspoint]

Saw him play once. Other than Pele, was definitely the best player I ever saw, though I saw him when he was a shadow of his former self (same when I saw Pele). Beck was still better than almost everyone else on the field.

[Chip R]

Fantastic player. Although he didn't do too much in the Philosopher World Cup.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92vV3QGagck

[M2]

There was a really unfortunate moment yesterday at a Spanish Supercup game, which is being played in Saudi Arabia, where they tried to honor Beckenbauer at the beginning of the game and the crowd booed/whistled - https://twitter.com/TotalFootbol/status/1745161447720538426.

[SunDeck]

My first Adidas boots were Beckenbauers. I thought they made me the best player on the field. I had German coaches in the spring league had me at his position, sweeper, so I thought the shoes made a difference.

[Betterread]

Der Kaiser has never been surpassed at the position he basically invented: sweeper or “libero” in Italian. He was before my time but all soccer players read his defensive theories (written by Arrigo Sacchi) and watched his example, and wore his shoes (the best shoes for a period of time, if I recall).
Currently that position isn’t used but in the 1980s to 2000s baresi, passarelli, and my favorite Matthias Sammer were very elegant liberos. The position is gone because of the emphasis on forward pressing, meaning defenders don’t have time to dribble and pick out the perfect pass. They have to get it to the deep lying midfielder FAST. That position has pretty much replaced the libero as the deep lying playmaker ( think Xavi, Pirlo, Xabi Alonso, Makelele, Busquets, Rakitic). It’s called regista in Italian and Pirlo (re) invented and defined the role in the 2000s for Milan.
But I hope the libero returns someday. It’s so cool seeing precise attacking play from the back, it’s so rare these days. Rampaging wingbacks are also cool, but everybody cringes at their teams wingbacks getting too far forward and caught out of position. Liberos played in the center so those mistakes were far fewer because they were fatal errors.

[M2]

That position has pretty much replaced the libero as the deep lying playmaker ( think Xavi, Pirlo, Xabi Alonso, Makelele, Busquets, Rakitic). It’s called regista in Italian and Pirlo (re) invented and defined the role in the 2000s for Milan.

I would argue Fernando Redondo for the guy who defined that role (in the '90s), possibly Frank Rijkaard (in the '80s). You can also make a case for Lothar Matthäus, though his "role" was less fixed.

[Betterread]

I would argue Fernando Redondo for the guy who defined that role (in the '90s), possibly Frank Rijkaard (in the '80s). You can also make a case for Lothar Matthäus, though his "role" was less fixed.

Good examples. Can’t believe i neglected them.

[M2]

Good examples. Can’t believe i neglected them.

Recently I was trying to explain how good that late '80s Milan team was to someone who asked if Carlo Ancelotti was any good as a player.

[Betterread]

Recently I was trying to explain how good that late '80s Milan team was to someone who asked if Carlo Ancelotti was any good as a player.

Ancelloti was a great player. But that was at the end of his career. Carlo was at his best for Roma from 79-87 (the Barilla jersey years), he was their star.
That Milan team got me interested in Italian football on a new level. Van Basten was so special. Could have been the best ever, if not for the injuries.