Video: 12 slide tackles that make defending an art

Slide tackle

Slide tackles are a wonderful part of football. A rare moment of full-blooded physicality in a game which increasingly veers towards a non-contact sport. It also relates to us mere mortals as it is the closest we’ll ever get technically to a professional footballer.

That feeling of launching yourself into a huge slippery pile of mud; winning ball, man and half the countryside and rising victorious with trailing leg studs marks down your thigh is one of the purest joys a human being can feel.

You may have seen our list of the most horrific tackles ever but here we visit some of the best sliding tackles ever executed by professional footballers.

1. This list starts rather predictably with an Italian centre-back. Alessandro Nesta comes out of nowhere to make one of the most graceful slide tackles witnessed on any football pitch.

http://youtu.be/I5P4zhRrlco

2. In case you missed it, Nigel Reo-Coker has moved to the MLS. He hasn’t changed much.

http://youtu.be/M9zDcH5B_pU

3. This clip from Venezuela is pure gold. This ‘keeper pulls off a sliding challenge before megging the striker and exchanging passes with his full-back. Ridiculous.

http://youtu.be/YMxxZ0Vd52I

4. Steven Sidwell takes ball, man and ref.

http://youtu.be/G13Zt5CZodA

5. Something of a Phillip Lahm trademark, the reverse slide tackle is a way of regaining possession in spectacular style. Lahm has Rakitic’s number here.

http://youtu.be/QHfy0G1VOTI

6. Steven Gerrard takes time out of his busy schedule to remind Phil Jagielka that he’s firmly in charge of the game. Twice.

http://youtu.be/dleIp8j_Ows

7. Alessandro Nesta again with one of the greatest slide tackles ever. The way he delays his lunge while closing the angle here is imperious defending. Lionel Messi should, by all accounts, outpace him but he gets nobbled instead. The Argentinian’s frustration shows how much he knows he’s been bested.

http://youtu.be/w6ik2G9TemM

8. One for Arsenal fans, Robert Pires pulls off a superb tackle from behind on ex-teammate Patrick Vieira to set up Fabregas.

9. Back to basics. Scott Parker on Joe Cole. BOOM.

10. One of the biggest losses to Spurs and English football in general has been Ledley King’s inability to get fit. Here he is in his prime; quick, alert and professional on Arjen Robben.

http://youtu.be/5hT9m1TOICk

11. Daniele De Rossi, the man who has a warning tattoo on his calf about his tackling, does some spring cleaning against Germany.

http://youtu.be/tyAflb4BfhQ

12. Another one for Arsenal fans, Vieira pulls off an extraordinary tackle and immediately releases Thierry Henry with an assist. Beautiful.

http://youtu.be/sCmcS0_zM3Y