Ranking the 10 Best Anchormen in Football History

Anchorman is one of the most important positions on a football team. They are expected to sit just in front of the defence and protect them from incoming attacks from opponents. They need to be excellent at reading the game and prepared to make tackles, interceptions, and clearances.

The role of an anchorman has evolved in modern football, but the primary responsibility remains the same. They sit at the heart of a team and protect the backline from opposition attacks while also helping their team build attacks. The anchorman position is widely known as an attacking midfielder or central defensive midfielder.

Some of the greatest anchormen in football history were known for their leadership, tackling ability, and determination to win the ball at any cost. They were also excellent ball passers and facilitated their team’s attacks from deep by combining with their other midfielders. So, let’s take a look at the top 10 greatest anchormen in football history.

Ranking Factors

Consistency & Performance: Significance of their contribution to the team’s success, like their performance in high-stakes games and tournaments. Their ability to perform at an elite level and deliver when it matters the most.

Contribution to team’s success: Anchormen are not just expected to pass and hold the game but to contribute to the overall team structure, often playing a crucial role in both attack and defence. 

Top 10 Greatest Anchormen in Football History

10. Xabi Alonso

Xabi Alonso is certainly one of the greatest midfielders of his generation and one of the best anchormen of all time. He wasn’t the typical robust midfielder who was known for his tackling and challenges. He was adept at that too but he was mainly known for his ability to control the game with his passing range.

Alonso had an exceptional footballing brain, which can perhaps also be gauged from his achievements in his short managerial career so far. As a player, he played for the likes of Liverpool, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich, winning two UEFA Champions League trophies, among other honours.

Club Caps	Club Goals	Assists	Trophies	Spain Caps
740	43	76	17	114

9. N’Golo Kante

N’Golo Kante is one player who’s universally liked. His always-smiling nature and humble attitude charm many. However, on the pitch, he is a beast with immense running power.

Kante is adept at making tackles and interceptions, covering long distances, and spotting a pass as well. Fans and pundits often say that the Frenchman might have two lungs because he covers a lot of distance on the pitch but never stops running.

Kante was a key player for the Leicester City side that created history by winning the Premier League in the 2015-16 season. He then moved to Chelsea and won numerous trophies with them before moving to Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia.

Club Caps	Club Goals	Assists	Trophies	France Caps
515	31	38	9	64

8. Dunga

Dunga was one Brazilian who was more adept at the aggressive style of football rather than the samba, entertaining style. He was brilliant at recovering possession, winning duels, and playing long balls.

Dunga made over 90 appearances for Brazil and was the captain when they won the FIFA World Cup in 1994. He also won two Copa America trophies with them. At club level, he played for the likes of Fiorentina and VfB Stuttgart.

Club Caps	Club Goals	Assists	Trophies	Brazil Caps
405	44	17	14	91

7. Didier Deschamps

The now-France manager was an excellent anchorman during his playing days. He was a reliable presence in midfield for France and also captained the side to the 1998 FIFA World Cup.

Some of his teammates also gave him a nickname – ‘Water Carrier’. This was because he was excellent at winning the ball back and passing it to a teammate. Deschamps was equally brilliant in his club career with the likes of Juventus and Olympique Marseille, as he won two Champions League trophies, among other honours.

Club Caps	Club Goals	Assists	Trophies	France Caps
574	21	17	16	103

Also Read: Ranking 10 Best Midfielders In The World Right Now (2025)

6. Patrick Vieira

The Frenchman was an iconic figure at Arsenal. He made over 400 appearances for them, winning three Premier League titles, including the ‘Invincibles’ title in the 2003-04 season. He was a key player in the middle of the park and was known for his physicality and passing range. Vieira also won the World Cup with France in 1998 and five Serie A titles with AC Milan, among numerous other honours.

Club Caps	Club Goals	Assists	Trophies	French Caps
692	56	72	19	107

5. Roy Keane

Roy Keane was one of the greatest anchormen in Premier League history. He was known for his aggressive playing style as he flew in for tackles and duels and won them. He was also brilliant at passing, especially long balls. Keane is also one of the greatest captains in football and won seven Premier League titles with Manchester United, among numerous other honours.

Club Caps	Club Goals	Assists	Trophies	Ireland Caps
645	83	47	20	67

4. Claude Makelele

The former France international made such a huge impact as a defensive midfielder that many labelled the role as the ‘Makelele role’. Claude Makelele played for the likes of Chelsea and Real Madrid and was an incredible anchorman.

He was adept at winning duels and regaining possession, helping flamboyant players like Luis Figo and Zinedine Zidane shine at Real Madrid. He won one UEFA Champions League, two La Liga, and two Premier League titles, among numerous other trophies.

Club Caps	Club Goals	Assists	Trophies	France Caps
831	24	29	15	71

Also Read: Ranking the 10 Best Premier League Wingers of All Time

3. Frank Rijkaard

Frank Rijkaard was a key part of a sensational Ajax and the Netherlands team during his playing days. He started as a centre-back and was, hence, strong and adept at defence when he played as an anchorman. He also developed an attacking threat to his game, as can be evidenced by his 70+ goals for Ajax. Rijkaard won one Euro with the Netherlands and three Champions League trophies with AC Milan (2) and Ajax (1), among numerous other honours.

Club Caps	Club Goals	Assists	Trophies	Netherlands Caps
552	97	58	22	73

2. Sergio Busquets

Sergio Busquets revolutionized the anchorman role in football. His reading of the game and the defensive side of things are brilliant. However, he is also one of the most press-resistant midfielders to have played the game. He evaded the opposition press in dangerous areas with ease and moved the ball along.

Busquets was a key player for the Barcelona and Spain sides that dominated football after 2010. He won one FIFA World Cup, three Champions League titles, and nine La Liga titles, among numerous other trophies. He currently plies his trade for the MLS side, Inter Miami.

Club Caps	Club Goals	Assists	Trophies	Spain Caps
858	19	55	36	143

1. Lothar Matthaus

A Bayern Munich and West Germany legend, Lotthar Matthaus won the Ballon d’Or in 1990 after leading West Germany to the FIFA World Cup that year. The iconic Diego Maradona once named Matthaus as his greatest rival.

The German legend made over 400 appearances for Bayern Munich, over 150 for Inter Milan, and 150 for West Germany. He won one World Cup, one Euro, seven Bundesliga titles, and numerous other honours during his illustrious career.

Club Caps	Club Goals	Assists	Trophies	Germany Caps
785	204	66	23+	150

Top 10 Greatest Anchormen in football history

Rank	Player	Country	Notable Clubs	Career Span
1	Lothar Matthaus	Germany	Bayern Munich, Inter Milan	22 Years
2	Sergio Busquets	Spain	Barcelona	17 Years*
3	Frank Rijkaard	Netherland	Ajax, AC Milan	15 Years
4	Claude Makelele	France	Real Madrid, Chelsea	20 Years
5	Roy Keane	Republic of Ireland	Man United, Nott. Forest	17 Years
6	Patrick Vieira	France	Arsenal, Inter Milan, Juventus	18 Years
7	Didier Deschamps	France	Marseille, Juventus	16 Years
8	Dunga	Brazil	Fiorentina, Júbilo Iwata	20 Years
9	N’Golo Kante	France	Chelsea, Lecister City	13 Years*
10	Xabi Alonso	Spain	Liverpool, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich	18 Years

Also Read: Top 10 best defensive midfielders of all time

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