A match on the football pitch is run by these gems. Midfielders are the players who are the engine of the team. The link between defense and attack, they can split an opposition defense with one pass or make a crucial tackle to deny a scoring chance for opponents.
There have been some truly amazing players who have graced the La Liga and to pick the top 10 midfielders in the long history of the La Liga is no easy task. The list is dominated by players from the two Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona
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We take a look at the top 10 midfielders in the history of La Liga:
Note: Only central midfielders have been included, players who solely played as wingers and attacking midfielders have not been considered.
#10 Sergio Busquets
The all-conquering Barcelona side have an attacking trident which is the envy of the whole world. However, the player who is most vital for Barcelona’s unique system to work is Sergio Busquets.
The Spaniard often does the dirty work in the middle of the park without which Barcelona cannot play the beautiful football they are renowned for.
Busquets is known for the pivotal midfield-anchor role that he plays for both Barcelona and the Spanish national side. A hard-working player, he excels at breaking down opposition plays due to his positional sense, defensive attributes, tactical intelligence, and ability to read the game. He is the reason Barcelona can play flawless tiki-taka without moving into their defensive half.
The importance of Busquets to the team can perhaps be best summed up by Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos.
In spite of the rivalry and one incidence of a red card earned due to Busquets' play acting, this is what Sergio Ramos had to say about him: "There are a number of players I like, but the one we perhaps need is Busquets,"
Still only 27, Busquets has already won 5 La Ligas and 3 Champions Leagues.
#9 Josep Samitier
Josep Samitier was one of the greatest Spanish midfielders of all time. The Barcelona legend had a long career at Barcelona from 1919 to 1932 before he played 2 seasons at Madrid C.F. (Real Madrid was called Madrid C.F. in those days)
Although he played as a midfielder, Samitier scored an incredible 333 goals in 454 appearances for Barcelona and he still remains the club’s third highest top scorer behind Paulino Alcantara and Lionel Messi.
As a player he pioneered the midfield general role and was nicknamed El Mag (The Magician) and Home Llagosta (The Grasshopper Man) due to his style. He won two La Ligas in his career, one with Barcelona and one with their rivals Madrid C.F. He also won 5 Copa Del Reys and 1 Copa Espana in his long and distinguished career.
His impact at Barcelona was seen by the fact that Barcelona virtually offered him a state funeral when he passed away in 1972.
#8 Xabi Alonso
A complete, consistent, hardworking and versatile midfielder, Alonso is regarded as one of the best players of his generation, and is effective both creatively and defensively. Gifted with good technique, as well as excellent vision and varied passing range, he excels in the deep-lying playmaking role, where he can best utilise his accurate long passing ability to create goal scoring chances for team-mates.
Alonso is also an excellent set-piece taker and he has scored and assisted many goals through free-kicks ,corners and penalties.
The Spaniard first came into prominence during his days ar Real Sociedad where he used to control the play superbly thanks to his passing skills and vision. After an extremely successful spell at Liverpool, Alonso moved to Real Madrid where he became an integral member of the side.
Alonso won a La Liga, the Champions League and 2 Copa Del Reys in his 5-year spell at Real Madrid. The Spaniard is one of the best deep-lying playmakers of all time.
#7 Pep Guardiola
Celebrated manager Pep Guardiola was also one of the best defensive midfielders to grace the game. A product of the famed La Masia academy, Guardiola was a role model to superstars like Xavi and Iniesta.
Pep learned his playing style, perfected it and built an entire philosophy around it. At the core of Cruyff’s ‘Dream Team’ of the 1990s, Guardiola occupied the ‘pivot’ role and formed a direct link between defence and attack. The Spaniard had excellent positioning skills and he was exemplary at circulating the ball and keeping possession for Barcelona.
The little Spaniard believed in holding possession and utilising it to the utmost effect. He played a vital role in the club’s first European Cup win in 1992, won four successive league titles between 1991 and 1994, and has since gone on to transfer his tactical genius to the sidelines. It is certain that the man from Santpedor remains one of the finest footballers and managers of all time.
Guardiola is definitely one of the most intelligent players to have ever graced the game.
#6 Uli Stielike
Uli Stielike spent eight seasons at Real Madrid representing them over 200 times. The German midfielder became a firm fan favourite at the Bernabeu with his solid performances winning the appreciation of Madridistas.
Usually a central midfielder or sweeper, Stielike was well known for his stamina and footballing intelligence. The German is also one of only three players to have played in all 3 European club finals (the European Cup/Champions League, UEFA Cup Winners' Cup and UEFA Cup), the World Cup Final and the European Championship Final.
Stielike’s game was not flashy or eye-catching but it definitely was extremely effective. The German got the job done every time and he never shirked responsibility during the game. The German won 3 La Ligas, 2 Copa Del Reys and a UEFA Cup in his eight seasons at Real Madrid.
The German’s popularity was seen by the fact that Stielike was voted four times 'Best Foreign Player' in La Liga between 1978 and 1981.
#5 Jose Pirri
Pirri is one of the greatest Spanish players to have ever played the beautiful game. The Real Madrid legend represented the club he loved for 15 long years winning numerous trophies in his long and successful career.
Pirri played for Madrid from 1964-1979 and he was event their club captain for four years. The Spaniard is well known for his leadership skills, tenacity and ferocity. However his best asset was his stamina, allowing him contribute regularly to both the attack and defense without relenting. Pirri was also a very good passer and scored a remarkable amount goals for a defensive player scoring 123 league goals.
The Madrid legend won as astonishing 10 La Liga titles, four Spanish Cups and the 1966 European Champion Clubs' Cup.
The Spanish defensive midfielder had superb positioning and tackling skills and he was one of the best at breaking up plays and starting off attacks. Pirri also had an eye for goal scoring some crucial goals in his stellar career.
After retiring Pirri completed his studies to qualify as a physician and joined Madrid's medical staff.
#4 Fernando Redondo
Every choir needs a conductor, and Fernando Redondo was Real Madrid's. His elegance and technique with the ball stood out every time he was out there in the center of the pitch for the team.
Even though his start at the club wasn't as ideal as he would have liked because of an injury, he came back stronger than ever, cementing his position in the team and eventually becoming the team's focal point for every attacking move.
Redondo's main attributes were his creative passing, vision, technique and close control with his left foot, his ability to control the tempo of his team's play in midfield making him a key member of the Real Madrid side of the 90s. Despite not having a great deal of pace, he possessed good acceleration and was an efficient and aggressive tackler, who contributed defensively just as much as he did offensively.
Sir Alex Ferguson was so impressed with Redondo’s close control that he said: “What does this player have in his boots? A magnet?”
He represented Real Madrid in 225 official matches, winning two league titles and two Champions League trophies.
#3 Andres Iniesta
The diminutive Spaniard has been astonishing the footballing world since 2005 and there are no signs of him slowing down. A true gem in the crown of the Barcelona midfield, Iniesta almost has a telepathic understanding of his team mates’ positions. Always setting up goals or scoring crucial ones, Iniesta is truly a big match player. Much like other Barcelona youth products such as Guardiola and Xavi,
Iniesta relies on exceptional creative passing, intuition and inventiveness to control the midfield and dictate the ebb and flow of play. He has won 29 trophies in his stellar career making him the most successful Spanish player of all time.
Iniesta won the UEFA Best Player in Europe award in 2012, and was also chosen as the Best Player of the 2011-12 Champions League. He was runner-up to Lionel Messi for the 2010 FIFA Ballon d’Or and achieved third place in 2012.
The Spaniard is only one of three Barcelona players to receive a standing ovation at the Bernabeu showing how appreciated his unique qualities are. A wonderful dribbler and an excellent passer, Iniesta is one of the best midfielders to have ever played the beautiful game.
#2 Luis Suarez (born 1935)
One of the best players to have ever played, Luis Suarez was an elegant player who dictated and controlled proceedings as a central midfielder for Barcelona. The Spaniard was the first Spanish player to win the Ballon d’Or and he was widely considered to be the best Spanish player in the 1960s.
Nicknamed El Arquitecto (The Architect) he was noted for his perceptive passing and explosive shot. He also had a keen eye for goal and he was an integral part of the 1964 Euro winning Spanish squad.
A versatile player, Suarez excelled in his role as a deep-lying playmaker, scoring and assisting numerous important goals for Barcelona. Luis Suarez won 2 La Ligas, 2 Copa Del Reys and 2 Fair Cups in his six year spell at Barcelona.
in 1961, he made a move to Inter Milan which made him the world’s most expensive footballer of that time.
A true Spanish legend, Suarez was one of the first truly global Spanish superstars.
#1 Xavi Hernandez
Considered by many to be the greatest Spanish player ever, Xavi Hernandez is truly one of the best midfielders to ever play the game. The Spanish legend has won the La Liga an astonishing eight times. Having won all the trophies club competition has to offer, Xavi is truly the best midfielder in La Liga history.
Xavi's vision, pinpoint accurate passing and world class ball control allowed him to dictate the flow of play while rarely relinquishing possession. His ability to control some matches has earned him the sobriquet, "The Puppet Master". His amazing positioning and ability to pick out the right pass every time made him integral to both Barcelona and the Spanish national side.
Pulling the strings in midfield, Xavi was the lynchpin in Pep Guardiola’s all-conquering Barcelona team. Having made more than 180 assists in his stellar career, Xavi is definitely one of the all-time greats.
