The belief or the assumption was for defenders to just defend. When they win the ball, they are to hoof it. No football, dribbling or running with the ball was required. One of the first to perhaps challenge that notion was Beckenbauer (fifth horseman nominee). Then through the years we saw more defenders who were adept with and without the ball. When Rio showed up at West Ham, he already caught my eye with the ease he had with the ball. He could have easily been a midfielder and he probably started out there when he was really young. His control and composure with the ball was on a much higher level than his contemporaries. So it was inevitable that a team like United would nab him and make use of his qualities.
I've mentioned this and I stand by it. Rio, around the 2002 to the 2008 era, was one of the best defenders in the world. At United, he took his defending to another level and formed the backbone of a Fergie defence that laid the foundation for all the titles. Rarely did he make violent tackles or go in mindlessly like some. He had just the right amount of speed but also his high IQ for the game that made him such a tough defender to get past for attackers. But what always stood out for me was his footballing skill. To be able to give the ball to a defender under pressure and have confidence for him to evade the opposition and bring the ball up the pitch is such a great thing to have in a team.
As for England. Can we blame Rio for England missing penalties? Him and Terry always did their job and restricted the opposition. But surely, you can't rely on a defender to create chances or score that crucial goal. So as far as doing his job, in both 2002 and 2006, he showed that he was an elite defender by easily matching up with the international quality. Some defenders get their rear-ends smacked up, like Cahill and co did for England in the last World Cup. But Rio at the back, the issue was never with England conceding.
It's very tough what happened to his wife and is a reminder of the dark and unjust world we live in. But I'm positive and hoping he will be strong and the foundation he has built with his brand will keep his family alright. As for his legacy, I like to focus on the heights of careers. Everyone gets old and its rare for people to be like Maldini who never really depreciated. Therefore, when Rio was at his best, England and United had an exceptional ball-playing central defender that is a very rare thing to find nowadays...
HH
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