Short defenders Who Are Successful in Europe

DBasia.news – After Manchester United reported that they had recruited Lisandro Martinez, now English media are highlighting the issue of height.

Media like Sky Sports even compared Martinez’s height (175 cm) under Nathan Ake (180 cm), Virgil van Dijk (193 cm), and Dan Burn (198 cm), assessing Martinez as the shortest defender in the Premier League at the moment.

Physical appearance alone is not enough to describe the 24-year-old player, moreover Man United spent up to 57 million euros to bring him from Ajax. Erik ten Hag clearly knows the quality of the player.

“He’s a fighter and I think the fans will admire him. He has the attitude, the fighting spirit,” said Ten Hag as quoted from the official Man United website.

“He brings aggressiveness to the game, in a good way. I think we need that. But also, he’s skilled and he can handle the ball and he has a left foot.”

A short stature shouldn’t be underestimated, Martinez is a modern defender with the ability to defend and also build attacks with his left foot. Statistics also show Martinez won a lot of aerial duels last season.

Even history in Europe has recorded the success of defenders who were underestimated as they are short. Here are the names of the defenders:

1. Fabio Cannavaro

A defender who won the Ballon d’Or is a rarity and that has happened to Fabio Cannavaro, the legend of Juventus, Italy and Real Madrid. With a height of 5 feet 9 inches Cannavaro was able to lead the Italian national team to win the 2006 World Cup.

Cannavaro didn’t even show a gap even though he was not tall, he covered it with good positioning, discipline, good at reading the game, and knew the right moment to win the ball. Currently Cannavaro is pursuing a coaching career.

2. Carles Puyol

A Barcelona legend as well as a representation of the La Masia tradition at the club. Since his promotion in 1999, Carles Puyol evolved into a captain, leader and a formidable defender for the Blaugrana until he retired in 2014.

Puyol can even play in all positions in the back line. He is 5 feet 10 inches tall but Puyol is respected by offensive players for his tenacity to win the ball. Puyol was very successful at Barca with three Champions League titles and five LaLiga titles.

3. Franco Baresi

Like Cannavaro, Franco Baresi is 5 feet 9 inches tall and he is an AC Milan legend. Il Rossoneri are the only club to have won 81 caps and one goal with the Italian national team.

Baresi played from 1977 to 1977 with six Scudetto wins and three Champions Leagues. Baresi is a full-fledged defender who plays consistently, combining physical strength with elegant play and mentally strong.

4. Franz Beckenbauer

Before Cannavaro, Franz Beckenbauer aka Der Kaiser had won the Ballon d’Or first in 1972. Beckenbauer, at 5 feet 11 inches, is a legend for German football as well as Bayern Munich.

In history he is listed as one of the best defenders of all time, and was a key when West Germany won the 1974 World Cup. Beckenbauer had twice won the Ballon d’Or.

5. David Alaba

If the four names above are European football legends, then this one name is still actively playing. David Alaba and played for Real Madrid at the age of 30.

The Austrian defender is 5 feet 11 inches tall, evolving from left-back, defensive midfielder and central defender. Like Martinez, Alaba is also left-handed and can build attacks from behind. There is no question of success with Bayern Munich and Madrid.

The names of other short defenders who entered the top defender category in Europe, at that time or now, are Ronald Koeman (5 feet 11 inches), Thiago Silva (5 feet 11 inches), Javier Mascherano (5 feet 8 inches), Ivan Cordoba (5 feet 8 inches), Roberto Ayala (5 feet 11 inches).