4 footballers who successfully played as both centre-back and defensive midfielder at the top level

Modified Nov 14, 2018 17:03 GMT

Lothar Matthaus was incredibly versatile as a footballer

2. Marcel Desailly

Desailly is one of the greatest defensive players the game has ever seen, and he too played in both positions.

He started his career as a DM for Nantes and Olympique Marseille, and became a better player while playing in the glorious AC Milan teams under Arrigo Sacchi and Fabio Capello.

Desailly won one Champions League and one Serie A title for Milan in the five seasons he spent with them. He had also won one Champions League title with Marseille before that. He then moved to Chelsea and played as a centre-back for them for six seasons.

Desailly was a brilliant tackler and very strong in the air, and those traits made him a great defender. He was also very strong physically and never shied away from one-to-one challenges.

He won the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 with the great French national team while playing as a centre-back. He won 116 caps for France in total.

Both the Milan side of the early 90s and the French national team of the late 90s were superb defensively, and Desailly was an intrinsic part of both. He also played in more than 600 club matches through his career.

About the author

Subhadeep, an adept tennis journalist at Sportskeeda, has been writing about the sport for seven years. He is known for his exclusive match reviews and opinion pieces, utilizing his MBA degree to tackle them effectively with his problem-solving abilities.

Subhadeep lives and breathes tennis. He watches matches regularly and engages in social media platforms to stay on top of the latest happenings. As a writer, he brings the fan's perspective to his pieces, ensuring his readers enjoy an exceptional experience every time.

Growing up, he idolized Boris Becker, but he now firmly believes Novak Djokovic stands alone as the 'Greatest of all Time', especially considering the 24-time Grand Slam champion's incredible stats. One thing that still puzzles Subhadeep, however, is how Becker's Wimbledon tally might have reached five if not for Pete Sampras.

Speaking of the All England Club, the British Major holds a special place in his heart as he admires its blend of tradition and grass-court excellence. When not working for Sportskeeda, Subhadeep delves into the other "love of his life": football, and enjoys contributing his insights to different websites dedicated to the sport.

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Edited by Musab Abid