How strong the players who can be called "emperors" in football are, I believe everyone knows. This article will introduce 5 super players with the title of "Emperor".
The strongest emperor in the history of football
DF: Beckenbauer
Date of birth: September, 11, 1945
National team: 14 goals in 103 games
Main honours: 5 Bundesliga titles, 3 European Cup winners, 1974 World Cup winners, 1972 European Cup winners
One of Germany's best footballers of all time, Beckenbauer is not only the best defender in the world, he also has the offensive power not to lose to the top strikers, and with his excellent tactical understanding, he created the free man system, known as the "Number 10 in the back line", he is recognized as the "Emperor of Football" in world football.
The best successor to the "Emperor of Football"
Midfielder: Lothar Mateus
Date of birth: March, 21 1961
German national team: 23 goals in 150 games
Main honours: 7 Bundesliga titles, 1 Serie A champion, 2 UEFA Cups, 1990 World Cup winner, 1980 Euro 1980 champion
Beckenbauer established an era in the 1960s and 1970s, and in the 1980s and 1990s it was Lothar Mateus who dominated the side. Mateus's peak was the 89/90 season for Inter Milan, and at the World Cup in Italy held after this season, Beckenbauer won the West German national team led by the head coach, while Mateus, as the core of the national team, won the FIFA World Player of the Year and the Golden Ball Award, he himself became a veritable world best player, and Mateus, who is also a free man, is definitely the best successor to Beckenbauer.
"Little Caesar" who won the most runners-up
Midfielder: Ballack
Date of birth: September, 26 1976
German national team: 42 goals in 98 games
Main honours: 4 Bundesliga titles, 1 Premier League title and 3 FA Cup titles
In the 2000s, a new "emperor" was born in football. Born in the former East Germany, Barak was known as the "Little Caesar". In the 01/02 season, as Bayer Leverkusen's ace star, he set off a whirlwind in German football, helping the team to "win" the Sanya King in the Bundesliga, the German Cup and the Champions League. He himself won the German Footballer of the Year and UEFA Club Midfielder of the Year. After that, Ballack continued to be active in the world's top clubs such as Bayern and Chelsea. Ballack won a total of 17 second places in his career, 14 of which were club competitions and 3 were individual awards, making him one of the players who won the most runners-up in football history.
The "king" of Brazil with the worst mentality
Forward: Adriano
Date of birth: February, 17 1982
Brazil national team: 27 goals in 48 games
Major honors: 4 Serie A titles, 2004 Copa America, 2005 Confederations Cup
It is not only German football that has an "emperor", the person known as the "king" in Brazil is Adriano. Adriano, who debuted in Brazilian side Flamengo, showed great talent as soon as he debuted, and then moved to Inter Milan in 2001, where he was once regarded as the successor of "alien" Ronaldo. However, in 2004, Adriano lost his father, which devastated Adriano, who had always relied on his father and could have become the king of world football, and he was one of the most famous examples of the fall of genius in the early 21st century.
The rapidly degenerating "Tsar"
Forward: Arshavin
Date of birth: May, 29 1981
Russian national team: 17 goals in 75 games
Main honours: 3 times Russian Premier League champion, UEFA Cup champion
In 2008, there was a "new emperor" in European football, and he was the "Tsar" Arshavin. Zenit's Arshavin, who debuted in the Russian Premier League, helped the team win the Europa League in the 07/08 season and shined at euro 2008, leading Russia to the final four and being named to the best team of the tournament.
Later, Arshavin, who shined at the European Cup, moved to Arsenal in the Premier League for a record-breaking £15 million, but unfortunately fell quickly within a few years. In February 2012, he was loaned back to his old club Zenit and won the Russian Premier League championship again that season. In November 2018, "Tsar" Arshavin announced his retirement.