Redcafe's All-Time Top 20. Right backs | Results

5. Djalma Santos. 475 points

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Declaring who is the best footballer the world has ever seen in any given position may be a fanciful exercise, so many variables are there when assessing a player’s worth, but should such a process be undertaken it would be unthinkable to exclude the name of the Brazilian, Djalma Santos, from deliberations over the right-back slot. His record of international success is phenomenal, encompassing World Cup triumphs in 1958 and 1962 and participation in the tournaments of 1954 and 1966.

Santos was the first man selected in the team of the tournament at three World Cups – a feat since emulated by Franz Beckenbauer – and he accumulated 98 official caps, a total which stretches way beyond a century when exhibition games are taken into account. An examination of the Santos attributes reveals no discernible flaw. The first responsibility of a full-back is to defend, and he fulfilled that impeccably with his strength, durability and resolution. He was unyielding in the tackle, effective in the air, quick to cover the ground with his distinctive scuttling run and perceptive in his distribution, usually preferring a simple pass to one of his more extravagantly talented team-mates.

But Santos could be a thrilling attacker, too, capable of rampaging down his touchline on swashbuckling overlaps and joining in with flowing team moves, occasionally displaying flair with the ball worthy of the most artistic midfield general. He was also a dead-ball specialist, taking penalties in the early part of his career, and he was blessed with an even temperament, retaining his composure in the most hectic of situations and never being sent off in more than 1,000 games as a professional.

In 1959, after more than 400 games for Portuguesa, Santos was transferred to the powerful Palmeiras, whom he would help to that term’s Sao Paulo state league title, their first for 10 years. There followed a slew of further trophies with the club over the course of the next nine years and some 500 appearances.
 
4. Lilian Thuram. 500 points

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The former Juventus and Barcelona man has played more games for France than any other player in history (142), and is up there in the top five players the country has ever seen. On the club scene, Thuram’s assured performances in France had the caught the eye of many, but ultimately it was Parma who won the race for his signature. Led by Carlo Ancelotti, the club was building something special and Thuram was added to a talented group that already consisted of the likes of Fabio Cannavaro, Gianluigi Buffon and Hernán Crespo. Parma finished second in the league in 1997 – Thuram’s first at the club – and would carry on competing for major honours during the Frenchman’s tenure in northern Italy.

He was still a Parma player when he walked into Clairefontaine to start training with the French team ahead of the 1998 World Cup, which was to be played on home soil. Amidst the team’s preparations for the tournament, French right-wing politician Jean-Marie Le Pen’s controversial comments had managed to make headlines. He had said he didn’t recognise the French team because it had “too many black players”. Thuram was one of many to speak up against him in the aftermath. “They did not choose Barthez because he is white, they did not choose Thuram because he is black. They chose Barthez and Thuram because they are French.”

Despite a shaky opening game, losing Zidane to a red card and winning a nervy penalty shootout in the quarters, the French team marched into the semis where they would face Croatia, who had beaten Germany 3-0 in their quarter-final. Led by Davor Šuker, the Croatians had been the surprise package of the tournament and they knew that, in front of a home crowd, the French team would be prone to nerves.

This is where the greatest moment of Thuram’s career was played out. However, like all great stories, the main character dug himself into a ditch before he could become a hero. After a smart ball played over the top found Šuker in acres of space, the Croatian coolly slid the ball past the onrushing Fabien Barthez to give them the lead. In the replays, it was clear that Thuram had clumsily played Šuker onside. Suker was the tournament’s top scorer and he was never going to miss such a gilt-edged chance. As the Croatians celebrated wildly, Thuram stood watching, his eyes narrowed in determination to get his country out of a mess he played the starring role in creating.

Just a minute later he robbed the ball off Zvonomir Boban on the edge of Croatia’s box, prodding it into the path of Youri Djorkaeff in the process. Djorkaeff didn’t take a touch as the ball rolled to him; instead he just stabbed it back into the path of Thuram, who had made a run most strikers would be proud of. The ball bounced once before he struck it cleanly with his right foot. France were level, and Thuram had redeemed himself. The game then went back to the original script – hard fought and gritty with few chances. Enter Thuram. In the 69th minute he capitalised on a weak clearance, again by Boban. Thuram found himself on the edge of the opposition box, but this time he didn’t think to pass. With his left foot, he struck the ball first time and watched as it found its way into the corner, giving France the lead. Never has the phrase ‘from zero to hero’ been apter.

In moments like these, of overwhelming joy, you rarely know what to do. There are goals that are significant enough for the player to peel away and run off in a frenzied celebration. But then there are goals that are so significant you just have no idea. This was one of them. Thuram simply sat on his knees looking confused as to what he had just done as his team-mates swamped him and every French citizen hailed him. “I didn’t know who I was or where I was, it was like a trance,” is how he would later describe his emotions at that moment. After the game had finished and France had confirmed their place in the final, the French players carried him off the pitch on their shoulders. “Thuram for president” they bellowed. If he had gone out to celebrate with a few drinks that night it’s safe to say he wouldn’t have had to pay for a single one.

Once everything had settled down, Thuram made his way back to Parma for the 1998-99 season. The season would be a memorable one for everybody involved as the club managed to win the treble, bringing home the Coppa Italia, the Supercoppa Italiana and the UEFA Cup. At the end of the following season he linked up with the French team again. As world champions, France had the opportunity to add the Euros to their collection and become the first European team to win two international tournaments back to back. At this tournament, Thuram chose to remain quiet but efficient, rather than loud and heroic as he had done two years previously. He played his part in what was a well-oiled machine and, after beating Italy in a fraught final in Rotterdam, became a European champion. He played his way into the team of the tournament and added to his already huge reputation as one of France’s greatest players.

Now, as a world and European champion, Thuram had bigger ambitions than what was on offer at Parma. He loved the Gialloblu but he knew he wanted to play for another club, a bigger club. He gave them one more season before he decided the time was right to move on. At the end of the 2000/01 season, Juventus offered £25m for his services. Parma accepted and Thuram became the most expensive defender in history, overtaking the previous record of the £18m that Leeds had paid to West Ham for Rio Ferdinand. With Marcello Lippi at the helm, Juventus already had a defence that was notoriously stingy. Add to the fact that not only had Thuram joined the club that summer, but Buffon as well, and you get a sense of how strong Juve were at the back. Thuram made 41 appearances during the 2001/02 season and helped them to win the Scudetto — and another one a season later.

After being tempted out of international retirement in 2005, Thuram helped France to qualify for the World Cup after a shaky period in which their appearance in Germany looked far from certain. Brazil, the heavy pre-tournament favourites and holders, were up next. France were perfect in every sense against the Seleção. Thuram used his experience to lead and shield his defence from the threat of Brazil’s fearsome attacking options, while Zidane put in another magnificent performance. An Henry goal gave France a famous win and they marched on to the semis.

With momentum on their side and a balanced mix of young and old, France were suddenly looking like they could win the whole thing. Like 1998, they had shaken off whatever doubts they had to put in some great performances. Standing in their way of a second final in three tournaments were Portugal. Again, Thuram marshalled his defence perfectly from the threat of a young Cristiano Ronaldo, while Zidane provided the sparkle up front. It was Zizou who scored the winning goal, a first-half penalty. Despite several waves of Portuguese attacks, France held on to reach the final.

The 2006 final will always be known for the antics of Zidane, and another defender. Marco Materazzi, not Thuram, made a name for himself by playing his part in Zidane’s sending off. Although the exact details are still unknown, it didn’t help the French cause when the game went to penalties. Italy would emerge victorious but France would still return home to a hero’s welcome.
 
Anyone care to guess the order of the remaining top-3?
 
This is quite exciting - makes up for the snooze-fest debate-free draft matches that have been going on.
 
3. Javier Zanetti. 565 points

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Javier Zanetti — the man, the myth, the legend.

After exchanging rings and vows with his childhood sweetheart, Paula, one December morning back in 1999, Zanetti famously decided that the moment was right to pop another question. Would she mind if he went for quick run, before the reception, "just for a little bit, eh?". He had brought a change of clothes with him to the church, and a set of trainers just in case. Paula could only laugh and consent. "If I got angry every time Javier went training," she noted, "then I would have had a sour face on every day since I was 14 years old."

Besides, Paula has far more unlikely tales to tell about her husband's commitment to working out. In Zanetti's autobiography, Giocare da uomo (Play like a man), she recalls accidentally booking a hotel with no gym during a family holiday to Turkey. That story concludes with the player using his wife as an improvised barbell, hoisting her on to his shoulders along with a meticulously weighed bag of books before performing his squatting exercises on the beach.

Zanetti amassed an incredible sixteen trophies during his nineteen-year career with Inter. Five Serie A titles. Four Coppa Italia’s. Four pre-season Super Cups. One Champions League. One UEFA Cup. One Club World Cup. Add in that he also won the treble at the ripe old age of 36; his career paints an astonishing picture.

During his 19 years with Inter, Zanetti saw the revolving managerial door chew up and spit out over 20 managers. More number crunching, and, Zanetti is the number one out-field player in history for appearances made. A number which stands at well over the 1,000 mark. The only record which may now be out of his hands is his international appearances. Two successive snubs for the last two World Cups means that his name sake, Mascherano, is the leading candidate to rip that title away from him in the future.

Paolo Maldini said:
My most respected enemy
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Diego Maradona said:
Better than all of us put together
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Inter's owner Erick Thohir said:
Of all the Inter players who will step onto the field, there is one number you will not see them wearing – No. 4. 4 is forever. Forever yours. You and your No. 4 are Inter forever
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Hope Zanetti is 1
 
Boo
 
We should have a Maldini vs Zanetti poll sometime. Not defending wise but who people like in general more. I am inclined to say Zanetti.
 
GodShaveTheQueen said:
We should have a Maldini vs Zanetti poll sometime. Not defending wise but who people like in general more. I am inclined to say Zanetti.
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That's like Sophie's choice. Love both of them to bits but most including me would probably go for Paolo. Unisveral favourite of football fans across the continent.
 
Moby said:
That's like Sophie's choice. Love both of them to bits but most including me would probably go for Paolo. Unisveral favourite of football fans across the continent.
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I am probably from the lot who has watched and followed a lot more of Zanetti growing up than Maldini. Hence the more connection with him.
 
2. Carlos Alberto. 597 points

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Carlos Alberto had a huge influence in Brazilian football not only for being one of the best right-backs to ever don the Brazil shirt, but also for being one of the most uncompromising voices of the game in his native country.

As a leader, his qualities were unquestionable, wearing the captain's armband in the legendary Brazil squad that won the Jules Rimet trophy in Mexico 46 years ago, exerting command over the likes of strong-minded players such as Pele, Gerson and Rivelino.

Alberto was a product of Brazil's famous marauding full-back lineage, but the difference was that he united fitness with the art.

Brazilians learned the hard way in the 1966 World Cup that style was not enough when they were easily outmuscled by European opponents and went out at the group stage.

'The Captain', as he was nicknamed by Brazilians, did not have the same success as a manager, but fans of Flamengo, the most-supported team in the country, have fond memories of his role in winning the 1983 national title.

As a coach or TV pundit, Alberto held no prisoners thanks to a fiery temper and a sharp sense of humour. In his trademark raspy voice, he would lambast directors, players and express certain despair with what he considered a fall in standards in Brazilian football.

I met Alberto several times and never left without some tasty quotes. The last time I saw him was month ago in Rio, the day after a round of the South American World Cup qualifiers, in the green room of a Brazilian TV station.

The national team had won a crucial away game against Ecuador and a huge sense of relief was in the air after a stumbling start in the tournament. But 'The Captain' was having none of it.

"I remember when beating those guys was not a reason to celebrate but an obligation," he said, just before letting his thunderous laugh rip.
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1. Cafu. 876 points

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Jamie Carragher’s light-hearted jibe at Gary Neville over his career as a full-back on an episode of Sky Sports Monday Night Football, where he claims that no young footballer aspires to grow up and become a full-back, wasn’t too far from the truth. A position whose importance has often been neglected, it isn’t always the most fascinating prospect, but in Brazil, the land where all forms of football are beautiful, it is a different story.

Since gaining an international reputation for their aptitude in the sport, they’ve produced the world’s best in the role and continue to do so. Carlos Alberto and Marinho Chagas dominated the flanks in the 1970s, Flamengo pair Leandro and Júnior earned that status in the 1980s, Maicon and Dani Alves carried the superiority in the 21st century, while Marcelo and Alex Sandro are modern-day heroes of the role. In the middle of these generations, however, came two players who revolutionized the role; one being the powerful and adventurous Roberto Carlos, and the other being the iconic Cafu, who would become Brazil’s most capped male footballer ever.

Born in 1970 – the same year Brazil won their third World Cup and became the sport’s most successful nation – Cafu cited his birth year as his inspiration for becoming a footballer. A mere two weeks after his arrival into the world, Carlos Alberto scored one of the greatest team goals of all time in the competition and would cement his status in Brazilian football folklore along with his teammates who dismantled a fine Italy side.

Cafu owes a lot of his success to the legendary Telê Santana, the revolutionary Brazilian coach who is renowned for bringing the attacking mind back to Samba football, spectacularly displayed in Brazil’s iconic 1982 World Cup side. His methods invited Cafu to switch from being a right midfielder to a right-back, and while that was slightly influenced by an injury to São Paulo’s first-choice right-back, Zé Teodoro, it was one of the most innovative moves in Brazilian football history. It also gave the country one of its greatest-ever footballers – and on a lighter note, satisfied Jamie Carragher’s playful theory.

Speaking in 2017, he expressed his appreciation towards Telê Santana for the career-changing decision: “I didn’t really enjoy being a full-back at first – I had to learn how to cross in a different way, and it took a while – but when Paulo Roberto Falcão called me into the Brazil squad in 1990, I knew Santana was right. Nothing meant more to me than playing for the Seleção.”

If Cafu’s South American education under coaches like Santana and Parreira had taught him a lot about attacking football, he was about to enter a whole different world in Rome as Zemanlandia was running wild. Zdeněk Zeman has always made good use of full-backs, and this was perfect for Cafu as his liking for darting forward was utilised perfectly. Entirely unlike his first experience in Europe, this was probably what Cafu had dreamed of when growing up in Jardim Irene: the freedom to express what he’s got to the world and make it at the highest level as a professional footballer.

When describing Zeman’s training drills, he spoke highly about the riskiness of their defensive line and how Zeman’s almost apathetic attitude towards the team’s defensive duties didn’t worry the Czech manager too much. “We did do some defensive drills, but tactically they were shocking; our offside trap was set almost in the middle of the pitch. It was suicide! Zeman didn’t care and wanted us to play like that in league matches.” Running up and down the flank, galloping past opponents with speed and ferocity, was the norm at the Stadio Olimpico as Cafu’s reputation continued to grow. A fearsome sight on the ball, he made overlapping runs at every opportunity, while his partnership with his attackers continued to improve as the season went on.

The night of the 2002 World Cup final was already a historic night for Cafu, where he became the first player in the history of the sport to participate in three successive World Cup finals, he had the proud moment of hoisting the prestigious trophy closer to the skies. While he did so, he didn’t forget home, having engraved the words “100% Jardim Irene” on his match-worn shirt. This significant image is still on display all over Brazil, as the captain became an inspiration all over the country.

A record-breaking 142 caps meant that he was the country’s most capped male footballer ever and he has every reason to be proud of his career. Before he came to Europe he already had two Copa Libertadores, Intercontinental Cups and Campeonato Paulista honours to his name. Two Serie A titles, two Italian and European Super Cups, a Club World Cup and entries into both the Roma and AC Milan Halls of Fame were added in his time in Italy, and they are moralities he can be proud of.

He’s an equally classy figure off the pitch, giving back to his beloved Jardim Irene by opening the Cafu Foundation, a centre for sports and recreational activities which looks to give underprivileged kids and families a new lease of life. He is Brazil through and through. A winner, a role model, an icon and a gentleman, Cafu embodies the spirit of sport and the spirit of his country.
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The final list
  1. Cafu 876
  2. Carlos Alberto 597
  3. Javier Zanetti 565
  4. Lilian Thuram 500
  5. Djalma Santos 475
  6. Philipp Lahm 354
  7. Berti Vogts 353
  8. Giuseppe Bergomi 277
  9. Dani Alves 250
  10. Manuel Amoros 225
  11. Eric Gerets 192
  12. Tarcisio Burgnich 151
  13. Manfred Kaltz 126
  14. Danny McGrain 123
  15. Victor Andrade 115
  16. Claudio Gentile 112
  17. Gianluca Zambrotta 85
  18. Leandro 70
  19. Maicon 57
  20. Revaz Dzodzuashvili 50
  21. Jorginho 47
  22. Wim Suurbier 37
  23. Vladimir Bessonov 29
  24. Gary Neville 23
  25. Jimmy Armfield 22
  26. Willy Sagnol 20
  27. Phil Neal 13
  28. Christian Panucci 12
  29. Stefan Reuter, Mauro Tassotti, Orvar Bergmark 10
  30. Nelinho, Jocelyn Angloma, Paul Janes 7
  31. Viv Anderson 6
  32. Juanfran 5
  33. Germano 4
  34. Fahrudin Jusufi 3
  35. Luis Eyzaguirre, Bacary Sagna, Horst-Dieter Höttges, Johnny Carey 2
  36. Trent Alexander-Arnold, Antonio Benarrivo, Jenő Buzánszky 1
 
Great job @harms

Glad to see Cafu come out on top. He would have been my choice.
 
This is the first outfield top 10 I can get behind (having my top 10 nominations in the actual top 10 helps too)
 
Brilliant work @harms as always!

One question - how do you compute the rankings because from what I see Vogts pretty much is above Lahm on every list(Lahm is even missing in one), yet he's placed after him?
 
Enigma_87 said:
One question - how do you compute the rankings because from what I see Vogts pretty much is above Lahm on every list(Lahm is even missing in one), yet he's placed after him?
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Oh, I simply ignore your votes and put the names into a randomizer.

I've "developed" a system that disproportionally favours the top-3 finishes over simple inclusions in the list (so it's not a simple 20-1 points for 1-20 places) as I wanted to create a bigger gap between the GOATs and simply great players (a proportional system gives more random results). And an occasional top-3 inclusion can gave a crucial advantage if your regular position is outside of top-3.

Of course this is also not an ideal way to do it, but I don't think that there is one — for example, Dzodzuashvili ended up in top-20 only because someone had put him first.

So @freeurmind, who put Lahm 1st and Vogts 7th, gave him a crucial advantage (Lahm ended up being ahead only by one point, 354 vs 353, which is quite interesting).

1 50
2 35
3 20
4 17
5 16
6 15
7 14
8 13
9 12
10 11
11 10
12 9
13 8
14 7
15 6
16 5
17 4
18 3
19 2
20 1

It's imported from excel, so it looks like a mess, but here's a head to head comparison
Berti Vogts Philipp Lahm
3 6
4 7
5 9
8 4
4 7
5 4
9 4
3 5
5 8
7 6
7
4 8
6 12
7 5
4 8
6 9
7 5
3 4
12 6
8 4
4 9
7 1
8 7
 
harms said:
Oh, I simply ignore your votes and put the names into a randomizer.

I've "developed" a system that disproportionally favours the top-3 finishes over simple inclusions in the list (so it's not a simple 20-1 points for 1-20 places) as I wanted to create a bigger gap between the GOATs and simply great players (a proportional system gives more random results). And an occasional top-3 inclusion can gave a crucial advantage if your regular position is outside of top-3.

Of course this is also not an ideal way to do it, but I don't think that there is one — for example, Dzodzuashvili ended up in top-20 only because someone had put him first.

So @freeurmind, who put Lahm 1st and Vogts 7th, gave him a crucial advantage (Lahm ended up being ahead only by one point, 354 vs 353, which is quite interesting).

1 50
2 35
3 20
4 17
5 16
6 15
7 14
8 13
9 12
10 11
11 10
12 9
13 8
14 7
15 6
16 5
17 4
18 3
19 2
20 1

It's imported from excel, so it looks like a mess, but here's a head to head comparison
Berti Vogts Philipp Lahm
3 6
4 7
5 9
8 4
4 7
5 4
9 4
3 5
5 8
7 6
7
4 8
6 12
7 5
4 8
6 9
7 5
3 4
12 6
8 4
4 9
7 1
8 7
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Yeah I knew it was some "formula one" based ranking, just wondered about the weight. Cheers :)
 
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