Soccer Memories-Part 37 : The Rising In Addition To Gradual Disappearance Of The Libero
April 11, 2019
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In Football History, the seat of ‘Libero’ was synonymous amongst positive attributes such every bit experience, leadership, calmness nether pressure, etc. Just hearing the word, nosotros encounter inwards our heed images of Beckenbauer, Scirea in addition to other greats of the game who exemplified this telephone substitution position.
However, this seat was non conceived at the onset of classical tactics.
In the Pre-war days, the positioning of players prioritized criminal offense over the defensive strengths of sides.
1920s-30s Italian Manager Vittorio Pozzo’s ‘Il Metodo’ was a (2-2-3-3) formation, where defenders were inwards line.
Similarly, ‘Il Sistema’, Herbert Chapman’s famous ‘WM’ was a (3-2-2-3) formation, where i time once again the defenders played inwards a line.
It was inwards the 1930s that the Swiss-based Austrian Manager Karl Rappan created the ‘Libero’ seat inwards a scheme called ‘Verrou’ (bolt). There was nonetheless a line of piece of occupation of 3 defenders, but straight off at that topographic point was an extra defender (a sweeper, called a ‘verrouilleur’) but behind them inwards support.
The seat of the ‘Libero’ would make its control inwards the post-war years amongst the Italians inwards 1950s in addition to 1960s. Nereo Rocco at Padova, inwards the 1950s would popularize the Italian ‘Catenaccio’ based on the Swiss ‘Verrou’. The role of the sweeper was straight off called ‘Libero’ (free). Just similar inwards ‘Verrou’, the ‘Libero’ was but behind the line of piece of occupation of 3 defenders. Its role was to build clean upwardly all the loose balls, every bit good every bit marker duties in addition to likewise tasked amongst launching counter-attacks from the back.
This scheme would live perfected inwards the 1960s, amongst Helenio Herrera’s Internazionale Milano side. His scheme had a line of piece of occupation of iv defenders amongst i sweeper behind.
In this incarnation of the ‘Libero’ nether Herrera, the sweeper was tasked amongst solely defensive duties in addition to protecting the finish at all toll in addition to staying behind.
This side playing amongst this novel revamped ‘Catenaccio’ conquered Europe amongst the outset Great ‘Libero’ of the modern game, Armando Picchi.
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Photo From: Fidass 66-67
(Armando Picchi) |
In fact, such was Inter’s Success that at that topographic point was a cultural shift inwards Italian Football Tactics in addition to this type of ‘Catenaccio’ amongst a strictly defensive ‘Libero’ would live the monastic tell of the game for the side yesteryear side few decades. In time, inwards the slow 70s into the 80s, Juventus’ Gaetano Scirea would option upwardly the drapery of the dependable Italian ‘Libero’ in addition to leader who guided teams amongst authority.
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Photo From: Onze, Issue 88, Apr 1983
(Gaetano Scirea) |
While Italia had kicking the bucket the spiritual domicile of the ‘Libero’, it would live across the edge inwards Deutschland (West) where the seat would evolve in addition to withdraw hold its virtually famous custodian inwards the 1970s.
Franz Beckenbauer had started every bit a midfielder earlier beingness deployed into his novel Sweeper position. He would exercise his sense every bit a midfielder to kicking the bucket a to a greater extent than effective Sweeper. No longer, was the ‘Libero’ a static figure solely intent on defending, the novel ‘Libero’ had to withdraw hold ball-playing skills. Beckenbauer would oft start the attacks from the dorsum amongst effective long passes.
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Photo From: History of the World Cup, Author Michael Archer
(Franz Beckenbauer) |
Such was Beckenbauer’s prowess that he managed to win the Ballon d’Or twice (1972, 1976), which was a rarity for a defender (in whatsoever time).
West Deutschland had been then theme on Beckenbauer that they struggled to detect an adequate replacement afterwards his retirement.
Even when he became National Team Manager, Beckenbauer could non detect a worthy successor. Former West Deutschland Manager Helmut Schoen, would famously state ‘Franz has no Franz’.
Having the vision in addition to sense of playing inwards midfield would live useful when ii other midfielders converted to the seat amongst swell effect. In the 80s in addition to 90s, Dutchman Ronald Koeman in addition to Frenchman Laurent Blanc brought an offensive minded approach to the position, peculiarly Koeman amongst his dead ball expertise in addition to long-range shots.
As French Republic Manager Michel Platini had no qualms to alter France’s tactics every bit Blanc had exceeded expectations inwards transitioning into the position.
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Photo From: Onze, Issue 147, March 1988
(Ronald Koeman) |
While, the bulk of Nations appeared to convey playing amongst a ‘Libero’ natural, the seat remained elusive inwards certainly areas, such every bit United Kingdom of Great Britain in addition to Northern Ireland (the Motherland of Football), in addition to Brazil (the spiritual domicile of the Beautiful Game).
The tactics in addition to schoolhouse of idea inwards United Kingdom of Great Britain in addition to Northern Ireland had stuck to a apartment dorsum iv formation. There was no Sweeper to talk of; the centrak defenders were called Center-Backs. In fact, for decades the British would live derided yesteryear the Continent for its perceived outdated tactics. Such was the opposition to the position, that it was considered revolutionary when during the 1990 World Cup; England Manager Bobby Robson deployed Mark Wright every bit a ‘Libero’.
In Brazil, the exercise of a ‘Libero’ was considered a sacrilege in addition to would routinely live frowned upon every bit an endeavour to ‘Europeanize’ Brazil’s Natural ‘Jogo Bonito’.
During the 1990 World Cup, Brazil Manager Sebastiao Lazaroni’s endeavour to exercise a Sweeper was universally looked upon amongst contempt. For this World Cup, Mauro Galvao was used every bit a ‘Libero’, a seat that he did non play at gild level.
In the succeeding decades, the i time of import in addition to telephone substitution seat would gradually disappear and kicking the bucket obsolete.There are a few theories every bit to what started this shift.
The genesis may withdraw hold inwards fact occurred inwards Italia amongst the arrival of Arrigo Sacchi at air-conditioning Milan in addition to his high pressing game. Sacchi dispensed of the traditional man-to-man marker to zonal marking. He gear upwardly a 4-4-2 formation amongst a flat-back iv amongst Franco Baresi every bit to a greater extent than of a Central defender rather than an out in addition to out ‘Libero’.
Some believe, Argentine Republic Manager Carlos Bilardo’s 3-5-2 formation during the 1986 World Cup was likewise a component inwards to a greater extent than or less ways. In this system, 3 defenders inwards line of piece of occupation were essentially oculus backs amongst ii exterior backs (or wingbacks) inwards support. Argentina’s triumph inwards that World Cup would Pb many to re-create that tactic.
Others indicate to the popularity of the offside trap made the ‘Libero’ a liability, every bit they could no longer stand upwardly farther behind similar they used to.
The emergence of deep lying midfielders such every bit Andrea Pirlo likewise helped to stage out the position. In the older days, these players were expected to live ball-winners solely amongst defensive abilities. This novel breed of midfielders are essentially sweepers inwards midfield in addition to dictate the play from deep lying positions.
In the Modern Game Today, the Libero has been replaced amongst Central Defenders amongst Ball-Playing skills. The likes of Gerard Pique, Sergio Ramos in addition to Rio Ferdinand (of the recent past) are superb defenders who likewise bring together inwards the assail when necessary.
The high in addition to fast tempo of today’s game does non favor the exercise of the classical ‘Libero’ due to lack of fourth dimension in addition to infinite to execute plays. As talented every bit today’s Central Defenders are, i tin hardly encounter whatsoever of them having organizational in addition to passing skills similar the Sweepers of the past.
Perhaps, if midfield organizers similar Pirlo always dropped dorsum every bit they approach retirement historic menses this powerfulness live possible.
Another reason, why the furnish of the seat appears unlikely is due to the development of the goalkeepers every bit well.
Ever since the back-pass rule, i could fifty-fifty fence that goalkeepers are becoming Sweeper-Keepers in addition to are to a greater extent than active inwards starting plays than before.
As Football History has shown us, tactics are cyclical in addition to perchance inwards the hereafter a shift inwards tactics volition revert the ‘Libero’ (or a variation of it) dorsum inwards fashion.