Near Post Blog

The back four is probably the most difficult to chose, simply because you normally can’t judge a player based on stats. Strikers and midfielders put up numbers, goalkeepers keep clean sheets, and though defenders play a huge roll in a goalkeeper’s success, it’s much more difficult to quantify the position. But, with that being said, there are a couple of players that really stand out as the best defenders of the past decade. Again, I’m going for a 4-4-2 formation, and I’ll be placing the players based on their position. So, if I, or you, feel like there are three center backs that could make the list, only two can make the cut.

Left Back: Roberto Carlos. To me, he’s clearly the best left back of the decade, and he could probably lay claim to the honor in the 90’s as well, but he’d have some stiff competition from Paolo Maldini. Some of Carlos’ accolades include:
- La Liga Titles in 2000/01, 2002/03, 2006/07
- Champions League winner in 2002
- World Cup winner in 2002
- UEFA Team of the Year 2002, 2003

Center back: Alessandro Nesta. Since his transfer to AC Milan from Lazio in 2002, Milan boasted the best center back duo of the decade, in Nesta and Paolo Maldini. Though Nesta is getting up there in age, you can’t complain about what he’s done since the year 2000. Some of Nesta’s accolades, and there are many, are:
- Serie A Defender of the Year: 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005
- UEFA Team of the Year: 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007
- FIFPro World XI: 2005, 2007
- World Cup Winner in 2006
- UEFA Champions League Winner: 2003, 2007
- Serie A Titles in 2000 (Lazio) and 2004 (AC Milan)

Center back: Carles Puyol. Barcelona’s captain, and one of the most influential players in the game. Probably the most incredible thing about Puyol is that he’s only 5′10″, but he seems to win everything in the air, and even scores the occasional goal from a corner or free kick. Some people claim he’s a bit overrated, but his awards speak for themselves:
- UEFA Team of the Year: 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008
- UEFA Club Best Defender: 2006
- FIFPro World XI: 2007, 2008
- La Liga titles in 2004/05, 2005/06, 2008/09
- UEFA Champions League in 2005/06, 2008/09

Right back: Dani Alves. I feel like this position might catch me the most flack of any I’ll put on my team of the decade. Arguments could be made for numerous players, mainly Gary Neville, Cafu, and Javier Zanetti. But, Dani Alves, I think, has been the best right back of the past ten years, since he burst onto the scene in 2002 with Sevilla. His pace and skill on the ball set him apart from the rest of the right backs over the past decade, and he keeps getting better and better, probably because Maicon is pressing him for his national team spot. Alves’ accolades over the past ten years:
- UEFA Cup Winner in 2005/06, 2006/07
- UEFA Champions League Winner in 2008/09
- Copa America Winner in 2007
- FIFA Confederations Cup Winner in 2009
- La Liga title in 2008/09
- La Liga Best Defender in 2008/09
- UEFA Cup Most Valuable Player in 2006