The modern game is all about hybrid players who can perform a multitude of roles. Among the positions which have changed as a result of these demands is the fullback role. Modern fullbacks are given more attacking freedom and defensive leeway.
The conservative fullbacks are branded as ineffective, after all who likes a Grant Ward more than a Patrick van Aanholt. But again this position is all about being an all-rounder and that is what this list will be judging a player on. So here we go!
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#5 Seamus Coleman
Seamus Coleman, or as per the Everton faithful Seamus 'goal-man' is perhaps the most underrated fullback in the world, mainly due to his club, nationality and stature. But slowly he has started to outshine 'The' fullback in Everton i.e. Leighton Baines and carved out a niche for himself in the new era Everton.
He has proved a proficient goal scorer this season too with five goals and one assist. It is hard to suggest any negatives in Coleman's game other than that he is not a player who makes a lot of impact and that he doesn't produce magical moments out of anything.
Coleman has decent pace, is fairly physical, and possesses a peach of a right foot. He has slowly improved and gained knowledge and is surely a fullback on the up. All signs are that he will establish himself as a truly special fullback at Everton, following in footsteps of the guy on the other flank.
#4 Kyle Walker
Kyle Walker has achieved so much and yet there is an incomplete feeling about his career. This is mainly because of his unpredictable streak which undermines his good performances. After a run of 5-6 great performances, he manages to play a game with utter defensive carelessness.
Although the gap between the bad performances has been increasing since he has been under Mauricio Pochettino. Walker boasts 6 assists this term and no goals. His crossing is one of his biggest strengths, his crosses are pinpoint and he also has a knack of getting his power right in most difficult of situations.
Walker is also extremely quick and is a great defender on his sane days. But the most underrated attribute of Kyle Walker is his first touch. He is able to control the most difficult of the passes with his right foot without a difficulty and add to it searing pace, good crossing and good strength.
The Englishman can be higher up this list only for those 2-3 insane performances per season. But those apart, Walker is the quintessential English fullback.
#3 Marcos Alonso
Well, this one was difficult but Alonso just about edges it in the battle for third mainly because of his better defensive displays. The Chelsea player also has a better long range shooting whereas Walker lags a bit in it (yes even after 'that' North London Derby strike!).
Alonso came to Chelsea last summer amid doubts about his abilities after two previous unsuccessful spells in England but he has dispelled all doubts and showed improvement in an amazing season. He has come into his own since the switch to a back three and has 2 goals and 3 assists.
Alonso has recently been linked to Real Madrid to be Marcelo's no. 2 and eventual successor. To add further gloss to his performances he is rumoured to have carried a minor leg injury all along.
He is also a master of passive defending which may owe to his Serie A lineage and has found a manager who can get the best out of him in Antonio Conte. He is a very good player and borders on excellent but lacks that ability to conjure something out of nothing or the forcefulness of the best fullbacks show but he is surely the 'best of the rest'
#2 Hector Bellerin
Hector Bellerin is fast, very fast. He is one of the fastest players in world football and add to that the trademark technical prowess of La Masia graduates and you get a perfect concoction for a world-beating player, which is just what he is.
He perhaps can benefit from a change of scenery as the current Arsenal side doesn’t play to his strengths but judging from his quality maybe he has only two possible destinations left which we very well know. He is an able defender and uses his pace well in defensive situations.
The Spaniard has a tendency of getting drawn out sometimes but that is as rare as a Vincent Janssen goal. He has three assists and no goals this season which is probably the only thing he needs to work upon, i.e. shooting from long distances as it is increasingly becoming a must-have skill for elite fullbacks.
But on current trajectory, Bellerin is destined to become a world beater and become the leading fullback in world football, until then he just needs to stay fit and keep his head straight.
#1 Danny Rose
Danny rose is a hyperactive, technically astute, physical and an extremely quick player. He is forceful and extremely effective and at times when Spurs dominate possession, he can be seen commanding the whole left flank on his own.
He pips Bellerin to the top spot mainly because of his sheer impact. Maybe that has something to with Poch’s more direct style as compared to Wenger’s but the truth of the day is that Rose has proved to be a match-winner far more times than any other fullback in the division.
He has three assists and two goals this term with his goals winning Spurs 4 points (winner against Burnley and equaliser against Liverpool). He has completely taken out mistakes from his game this season and Spurs have lost just once with him in the side this season.
Rose has grown even further since Spurs shifted to a back three. He also shares an excellent partnership with Kyle Walker on the other flank (who also features on this list) and both have proven to be irrepressible this season.
And to add to all that, he is a firm fan favourite, touted to be a future captain at the club, which is not bad for a player who was said to be too error-strewn for EPL just 2 years back!
