In
Football History, the position of ‘Libero’ was synonymous with positive
attributes such as experience, leadership, calmness under pressure, etc. Just
hearing the word, we see in our mind images of Beckenbauer, Scirea and other
greats of the game who exemplified this key position.
However,
this position was not conceived at the onset of classical tactics.
In
the Pre-war days, the positioning of players prioritized 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 in line.
Similarly,
‘Il Sistema’, Herbert Chapman’s famous ‘WM’ was a (3-2-2-3) formation, where
once again the defenders played in a line.
It was in the 1930s that the Swiss-based Austrian Manager
Karl Rappan created the ‘Libero’ position in a system called ‘Verrou’ (bolt).
There was still a line of three defenders, but now there was an extra defender
(a sweeper, called a ‘verrouilleur’) just behind them in support.
The
position of the ‘Libero’ would reach its ascendancy in the post-war years with
the Italians in 1950s and 1960s. Nereo Rocco at Padova, in the 1950s would
popularize the Italian ‘Catenaccio’ based on the Swiss ‘Verrou’. The role of
the sweeper was now called ‘Libero’ (free). Just like in ‘Verrou’, the ‘Libero’
was just behind the line of three defenders. Its purpose was to clean up all
the loose balls, as well as marking duties and also tasked with launching
counter-attacks from the back.
This
system would be perfected in the 1960s, with Helenio Herrera’s Internazionale
Milano side. His system had a line of four defenders with one sweeper behind.
In
this incarnation of the ‘Libero’ under Herrera, the sweeper was tasked with
only defensive duties and protecting the goal at all cost and staying behind.
This
side playing with this new revamped ‘Catenaccio’ conquered Europe with the
first Great ‘Libero’ of the modern game, Armando Picchi.
Photo
From: Fidass 66-67
In
fact, such was Inter’s Success that there was a cultural shift in Italian
Football Tactics and this type of ‘Catenaccio’ with a strictly defensive
‘Libero’ would be the order of the game for the next few decades. In time, in
the late 70s into the 80s, Juventus’ Gaetano Scirea would pick up the mantle of
the dependable Italian ‘Libero’ and leader who guided teams with authority.
Photo
From: Onze, Issue 88, April 1983
While
Italy had become the spiritual home of the ‘Libero’, it would be across the
border in Germany (West) where the position would evolve and have its most
famous custodian in the 1970s.
Franz
Beckenbauer had started as a midfielder before being deployed into his new
Sweeper position. He would use his experience as a midfielder to become a more
effective Sweeper. No longer, was the ‘Libero’ a static figure only intent on
defending, the new ‘Libero’ had to have ball-playing skills. Beckenbauer would
often start the attacks from the back with effective long passes.
Photo
From: History of the World Cup, Author Michael Archer
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 any time).
West
Germany had been so dependent on Beckenbauer that they struggled to find an
adequate replacement after his retirement.
Even
when he became National Team Manager, Beckenbauer could not find a worthy
successor. Former West Germany Manager Helmut Schoen, would famously say ‘Franz
has no Franz’.
Having
the vision and experience of playing in midfield would be useful when two other
midfielders converted to the position with great effect. In the 80s and 90s,
Dutchman Ronald Koeman and Frenchman Laurent Blanc brought an offensive minded
approach to the position, especially Koeman with his dead ball expertise and
long-range shots.
As
France Manager Michel Platini had no qualms to change France’s tactics as Blanc
had exceeded expectations in transitioning into the position.
Photo
From: Onze, Issue 147, March 1988
In
his turn, when age finally caught with German Midfielder and Captain Lothar
Matthaus he dropped back into the position to great effect. He extended his
career by nearly a decade and once again his past as a midfielder helped him.
Similarly, another German Midfielder Matthias Sammer would also transition into
the position and would be so good that he would in turn win the Ballon d’Or
(1996) in his new converted position.
While,
the majority of Nations appeared to accept playing with a ‘Libero’ natural, the
position remained elusive in certain areas, such as Britain (the Motherland of
Football), and Brazil (the spiritual home of the Beautiful Game).
The
tactics and school of thought in Britain had stuck to a flat back four
formation. There was no Sweeper to speak of; the centrak defenders were called
Center-Backs. In fact, for decades the British would be derided by 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 as a ‘Libero’.
In
Brazil, the use of a ‘Libero’ was considered a sacrilege and would routinely be
frowned upon as an attempt to ‘Europeanize’ Brazil’s Natural ‘Jogo Bonito’.
During
the 1990 World Cup, Brazil Manager Sebastiao Lazaroni’s attempt to use a
Sweeper was universally looked upon with contempt. For this World Cup, Mauro
Galvao was used as a ‘Libero’, a position that he did not play at club level.
In
the succeeding decades, the once important and key position would gradually
disappear and become obsolete.There
are a few theories as to what started this shift.
The
genesis may have in fact occurred in Italy with the arrival of Arrigo Sacchi at
AC Milan and his high pressing game. Sacchi dispensed of the traditional man-to-man
marking to zonal marking. He set a 4-4-2 formation with a flat-back four with
Franco Baresi as more of a Central defender rather than an out and out
‘Libero’.
Some
believe, Argentina Manager Carlos Bilardo’s 3-5-2 formation during the 1986
World Cup was also a factor in some ways. In this system, three defenders in
line were essentially center backs with two outside backs (or wingbacks) in
support. Argentina’s triumph in that World Cup would lead many to copy that
tactic.
Others
point to the popularity of the offside trap made the ‘Libero’ a liability, as
they could no longer stand further behind like they used to.
The
emergence of deep lying midfielders such as Andrea Pirlo also helped to phase
out the position. In the older days, these players were expected to be
ball-winners only with defensive abilities. This new breed of midfielders are
essentially sweepers in midfield and dictate the play from deep lying
positions.
In
the Modern Game Today, the Libero has been replaced with Central Defenders with
Ball-Playing skills. The likes of Gerard Pique, Sergio Ramos and Rio Ferdinand
(of the recent past) are superb defenders who also join in the attack when
necessary.
The
high and fast tempo of today’s game does not favor the use of the classical
‘Libero’ due to lack of time and space to execute plays. As talented as today’s
Central Defenders are, one can hardly see any of them having organizational and
passing skills like the Sweepers of the past.
Perhaps,
if midfield organizers like Pirlo ever dropped back as they approach retirement
age this might be possible.
Another
reason, why the return of the position appears unlikely is due to the evolution
of the goalkeepers as well.
Ever
since the back-pass rule, one could even argue that goalkeepers are becoming
Sweeper-Keepers and are more active in starting plays than before.
As
Football History has shown us, tactics are cyclical and perhaps in the future a
shift in tactics will revert the ‘Libero’ (or a variation of it) back in
fashion.
