The Physicality of... Patrick Vieira
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It was, coincidentally, Vieira himself who criticised Arsene Wenger and Arsenal for lacking “the physical presence [and] the personality” and there’s a lot of evidence to suggest that the Gunners haven’t had true physicality at the heart of their midfield since the Frenchman left the club.
In his time in North London, the Frenchman made over 300 Premier League appearances and in every single one exhibited superb stamina and great strength both on and off the ball. The ‘perfect footballer’ would require the ability to shrug off an opponent when in possession, but equally be able to put in a solid tackle or outmuscle a player when trying to regain it.
Vieira won 107 duels during his time with Arsenal, making 98 recoveries and winning 25 aerial battles, reiterating that, overall, he was the driving force between one of the most formidable teams to ever grace England’s top flight.
The Leadership of... Franz Beckenbauer
Following a poll carried out by ESPN in 2014, Franz Beckenbauer was voted as the greatest captain of all time, ahead of the likes of Roy Keane and Carlos Puyol, and rightfully so.
Dubbed ‘Der Kaiser’ or ‘The Emperor’, Beckenbauer was always a natural leader on the pitch, captaining West Germany to respective World Cup (1974) and European Championship (1972) trophies, apart from guiding Bayern Munich to three successive European Cups.
In what was later described as ‘the game of the century’, a World Cup semi-final between West Germany and Italy, Franz Beckenbauer was dealt a blow 20 minutes from full-time when he dislocated his shoulder in a collision. Many expected his game to be over, but no, the German soldiered on through to the end of normal time and an additional thirty minutes of extra time, with his arm fixed to his body by tape. It was a remarkable sight and the perfect demonstration of his determination, focus and born leadership.
