After having successful stints at Nantes, Marseille and Celta Vigo, Makelele earned a move to Real Madrid. The likes of Sergio Busquets and Julian Weigl are players that have taken the role of the classic destroyer the extra mile. He played 30-plus game seasons up until the age of 38, relying on a level of consistency and dedication to his role like no other. Perhaps it’s the idea that we’ve already seen his upgrade in the form of the high-speed blur that is N’Golo Kanté. The “Cryuff turn” was the symbol of the Dutch team that made it to the final and its brand of Total Football. Marc Guehi is showing Premier League class defending for Swansea City at present and it’s no surprise given who is smoothing his path. What honour could be greater than having your name permanently enshrined in the football lexicon? But it was when they lost possession and the opposition countered, Makelele came into his own. This defensive-midfield role was made for the Frenchman, it allowed him to display the full range of his talents. Channa FOLLOW. When one utters the phrase ‘the Makelele role’ one thinks of the most unglamorous role on a football pitch. He is currently a youth coach and technical mentor at Chelsea, having formerly been the head coach of Belgian First Division A club Eupen. By Paul Jones. Yet, it was the latter that really changed the way English clubs operated. The Cruyff turn epitomizes the skill and the footballing brain of its inventor, but total football’s most famous man has an unlikely successor. The Frenchman was simple, efficient, had great positional sense and was highly disciplined. They would take the risks, I would take care of the opposition's attacks.”. Makelele is one of the few shining examples of when a defensive midfielder, the “water-carrier” of the team, has been really appreciated. After all, Kanté is a perfect example of the modern defensive midfielder, a status honed by his role played in Leicester City’s improbable title win. Whenever Chelsea took the lead, there was a sense of inevitability that they will win due to their sturdy defence. Former Real Madrid CF, Chelsea FC and Paris St Germain FC star Claude Makelele tells us about the role that he became famous for, between defence and midfield. It was the following season, however, where Makélélé's true worth was fully realised. The fact that he barely committed to the flashy side of defence, the last ditch tackles for example, was simply because he did not need to. England v. Lithuania – 26th March 2017 (Wembley Stadium) Featured by The Makelele Role. “If we were losing 1-0, we would say ‘Right, lock up shop’. The following comments sum up Makelele for you. Florentino, however, did not see Makelele in the same light. The Claude Makelele Role . In the base of that 4-3-3 was Claude Makelele. What he did have was immense intelligence, seeing attacks before they happened and sniffing them out in the most efficient manner possible. The Claude Makélélé role is an unimaginative term used to describe the position which Claude Makélélé occupies on a football pitch. Therefore, to analyse Kante with the same parameters as Makelele is negligent and … Chelsea’s signing of Claude Makelele in 2003 gave the Premier League a player who went on define the rules of what a defensive midfielder should play like and universally, the role was known as the ‘Makelele’ role. Claude Makelele’s role(The Makelele Role) at Chelsea under Jose Mourinho when they won the Premier League title was named after its inventor. Younger players will arrive who will cause Makélelé to be forgotten.”. The four at the back and the one in front of them - me - would concentrate only on defence and let the others go and do what they had to up front. Redefining The Makélélé Role. Do Premier League Players Have a Say in Their Transfers? He is one of the most influential players in this role and in doing so has probably shown how important a role like this can be. SHARE. Makelele played a huge role in taking Chelsea to back-to-back titles, three domestic cups and the club’s first ever Champions League final. Zinedine Zidane’s disagreement with the transfer. The 4-4-2 was not designed for players like him. ‘The Makelele role’ is firmly ensconced in the English football lexicon, used to describe a midfielder who is willing to sit in front of the back four, rarely progressing beyond his fellow midfielder and, generally, sacrificing a shot at personal glory for the good of the team. Featured by The Makelele Role Champions League, Premier League, La Liga and Ligue 1 winner; a World Cup runner-up; a man perhaps more conspicuous by his absence than his presence. Dec 2020 Update- Spurs under Jose Mourinho are currently top of the Premier League and Pierre-Emile Højbjerg is one of their standout performers so far operating in front of their defence à la Makelele. The Makelele Role. Contact; Search. Makelele was not a physical powerhouse. When the “Makélélé Role” was created, no player did it better than him. While the Madrid attackers buzzed around the box, Makelele was the one who was there to break up attacks whenever the team lost the ball, cover for the fullbacks whenever they bombed forward and ensure that the team doesn’t get overrun in midfield. Unlike Cruyff, Makelele is a player who Arsene Wenger may call an anti-footballer. Operating a 4-3-3, Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea took the England by storm. most famous man has an unlikely successor. This is "The Makelele role" by il Futbolista on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them. 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