He began his career as a defensive LB and became a CB (stopper) and without a doubt one of the all-time greats.

Paolo Maldini was football's unicorn, nobody could match his ability to play as a LB/CB/Semi-CB.
MALDINI was capable of playing in a 3-man defense & flat back 4.

For example, if were to analyze the right flank, you'll see that there are big times that could perform equally effective as a RB/CB/Semi-CB.

THURAM, BERGOMI, VOGTS, CARLOS ALBERTO to some extent, GENTILE, STAM, BURGNICH, RAMOS etc.

On the left flank?

ONLY MALDINI. Krol in a 3-man defense ends up in the middle as a Libero. Schnellinger could play as a LCB but he was and mostly used in the middle as a Libero. The same goes for Facchetti. RM Legend Camacho became a CB after his injuries, he mostly played in a flat-back 4 and he used as either a stopper or a ball-playing CB. However, since he was hampered by numerous injuries he suffered he never reached his full potential. Therefore, that only leaves CHIELLINI. He was a defensive fullback, look at his goal against BUFFON. Yes, he was a bit more like THURAM on offense, but rock solid on defense. Yes, he wasn't as smooth offensively/defensively as Maldini but out of the aforementioned names above, he's probably the closet we have seen to a new MALDINI.

Dags believes CHIELLINI doesn't get enough credit for this. He was a great defensive fullback (a la Tassotti) and became a superb CB/stopper. Whether he played in a back-4 or 3-man defense, CHIELLINI always excelled. He was an excellent man-marker, he was no Nesta on the ball but Chiellini was a formidable passer and a decent dribbler for a defender. He wasn't flashy as RAMOS or VIRGIL but he could defend better than both put together.

WHO CAN FORGET ABOUT THE CHIELLINICANAZO?!!!

What a stud, unfortunately, he seems to be criminally underrated.

WHAT SAY YOU?
YOUR THOUGHTS...YOUR THOUGHTS...

 

... the CR7 of CBs: An overrated piece of utter trash.

@Firdaus See what I mean? He does it again now.

 

Chiellini is a formidable defender because he is smart, diligent and humble. Clearly athletic qualities are needed and those are (were) also top, while the technical skills in terms of passing/kicking are average.

 

As much as I dislike the club, the guy is an amazing defender. Technical skill in terms of distribution are always welcome but when your defending is this good, I would never regard the lack of that skill as a deficiency. The same goes for Ivan Cordoba.

 

Chiellini kicked Cannavaro out of Euro 2008 and then took his place in central defense. Clever guy.

 

He was an absolute wall. Watching him, one never had a doubt that Chiellini would stop the attack. He was brutal, slimy, had the ref in his pocket most of the time. He mastered the art of simulation and fouling as a defender. But he didn't depend on it either.

I wouldn't compare Chiellini to Maldini at all. He was more a Materazzi with legendary defending level.

 

Name me another LB who can play as a LCB in a three-man defense? Name me somebody who comes close to what we saw from MALDINI?

The candidates are the following:

Jose Antonio CAMACHO:

Great defender but his injuries prevented him from reaching his full potential.

Ruud KROL:

KROL is better suited to play as the CB/SW in a 3-man defense.


Karl-Heinz SCHNELLINGER:

LCB-----KROL------RCB

SCHNELLINGER? A tenacious tackler who can operate as both LCB/CB in a 3-man defense, but most often used as a CB/SW due to his passing range.



And now take a good look at CHIELLINI:

RB (Defensive RBs):
1. THURAM
2. BERGOMI

LB (Defensive LBs):
1. MALDINI
2. CHIELLINI

 

Seriously, can we shoot dags?

 

...IRL or in MAFIA?

 

What a stud!

The greatest LCB (Former LB turned CB) in the history of football behind PAOLO MALDINI.

Chiellini = Italian Thuram

 

Chiellini is the King Kong of his era, and a village idiot of all-time.

The thing is that this logic applies to a lot of Italian footballers. They tend to over produce talent but never really across the entire pitch within a given era - like the 90s were full of elite trequartistas and defenders without matching that quality in midfield or in true forwards.

 

I don't understand this...

 

William Gallas was a great LB and CB although a bit of a looney

 

Rafa Marquez was very good but limited in pace and had a tendency to lose his head esp when playing for Mexico. His long passing was extraordinary though and he positioned himself very well to make up for his lack of pace.

 

Only seen him once live and that was a few months ago playing for LAFC. He reminded me of the old guys I used to play against when I played 2x2 beach volley….couldn’t jump or move much past their body length but were wily and could dink the **** out of you so you had to be on your game.

 

I'm trying to think of others that were convincingly "defender (left/center)"

I didn't rate Chivu in either position tbh

 

Just to name a few:

1. Thuram
2. Bergomi
3. Gentile
4. Burgnich
5. Puyol
6. Ramos
7. Vogts
8. Carlos Alberto (He was more of a Libero).
9. Tassotti
10. NESTA was a RB early in his career before he made the switch, but in a back 3 he played in the Sweeper/Libero Role
11. Cannavaro played as a RB at times but was mostly a CB his entire playing career.
12. Stam

LB/LCB:

1. Maldini
2. CHIELLINI
3. Krol (He was more of a Libero).
4. Facchetti (He was more of a Libero).
5. Briegel
6. Schnellinger (He was more of a Libero).
7. Camacho (He was more of a Libero).
8. Bastoni is the only footballer alive who can overtake Chiellini.

 

Chiellini forced Cannavaro out of Euro 2008 because of his clumsy tackle. For that act alone he is a village idiot.

 

Berti Vogts was a midget lol, 168cm. I know this was back in the day, but still... not fit for CB.

I would put Stam way up high. Switched to RB for Lazio and didn't care.

Ferrara played RB for Napoli way into his pro career, not just as a youngster. Hardly a Cafu on the flank though, of course.

Paolo ***** was RB/CB, but wasn't quite world class. Many such cases, it does seem to be more rare on the left.

 

Lol you can guess who the starred out player is (a Laziale)

 

Paolo Negroni

 

Speaking of Cordoba, he was D (L/C) when you bought him in San Lorenzo, though perhaps that was another case of him having played on the left in a 3-man defence.

 

Negrete

 

Reported