Almost the whole world knows that Brazil is a paradise producing world-class football stars. Big names such as Pele, Romario, Rivaldo, Ronaldo to Neymar are samples of players with above average quality from the largest coffee producing country in the world. All of the players above are typical attacking players armed with speed and capable technique. But there is one player from Brazil who is the same type as the five players, with attacking attributes but preferring to play as a defender, he is Roberto Carlos.
Carlos has the speed, dribbling, technique and fierce kicks that make him a complete defender with almost equal defensive and attacking abilities. Even the shot can penetrate 169 km / hour. Therefore he was nicknamed el hombre bala which means bullet man. In addition, he is also a good free kick executor.
His most phenomenal action was the “Banana Shot” which he released when Brazil faced France. In the Tournoi de France event which was a warm-up event for the 1998 World Cup, he managed to break into Fabian Barthez’s goal after his curling shot passed over the right side of the calf fence from the Rooster Team. Carlos started his career as a player for União São João, but he started playing the full game while playing for Palmeiras and spent two seasons there.
Together with the club from São Paulo, he won two consecutive Brazilian League titles. The potential that he has made Inter Milan interested in bringing him to Italy in the 1995/1996 season. With Carlos’ attacking attributes, Roy Hodgson, who at that time served as Inter’s allenatore, asked him to become a winger. However Carlos refused the instructions and still chose to be a left full-back. This is one of the reasons why Carlos only lasted one season at the Giuseppe Meazza.
It didn’t take long for him to choose to move to Real Madrid, and his choice this time was right. He installed Fabio Capello in his favorite position and immediately became a regular at the club in the Spanish capital. Along with Fernando Hierro, Rafael Alkorta and Christian Panucci as Madrid’s back four, Carlos successfully won his first La Liga title. During his 11 years with Madrid he has won various prestigious titles both in the domestic and international arena. The La Liga trophy, the Copa del Rey, the Champions League, the UEFA Supercup and the Intercontinental Cup are a series of titles he has won. Meanwhile he decided to move from Madrid after his contract expired at the end of the 2006/2007 season.
Carlos continued his career to play at several clubs such as Fenerbahçe, Corinthians and before finally retiring at Anzhi Makhachkala at the end of the 2011/2012 season. He also served as coach of Sirvasspor, Akhisar Belediyespor. He doubles as a player and coach at the Indian club Delhi Dynamos.
Not only at club level, Carlos also managed to reap success with the Brazilian national team. Despite failing in the final of the 1998 World Cup, he won the most prestigious trophy four years later in Korea-Japan, along with Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Cafu. In addition, Carlos has also brought the Samba Team to win the 1997 and 1999 Copa America titles.
The ability of the players who were born on April 10, 1973 is indeed unique. Has great potential as an attacker, but remains consistent in his position as a defender. A little reminiscing about the past, when playing the video game in the late 90s, few of us put Carlos as an attacker. This was made necessary because Carlos’ ability supported him to threaten the opponent’s goal through his individual kicks and actions. Yes, with the exception of aerial duel balls.
It would be interesting to see whether Brazil will be able to produce a superstar in the future to replace this world’s legendary left wing back anytime soon. Several superstars are labeled as ‘The Next Roberto Carlos’ recently but so far none met the expectation yet. We will see then.
ASL
