If you have a football position named after you, it's fair to say you've done pretty well in that role throughout your career. That is exactly what has happened to Makelele; one of the greatest defensive midfielders for many, many years. The former France international had enjoyed a wonderful three years at Real Madrid when Chelsea came calling, becoming a vitally important player in a team also containing Zinedine Zidane, Luis Figo, Raul and Ronaldo. He was 30 when he joined the west London club, and although some felt he was a fading force, he proved them wrong by becoming a Blues legend during his five years at Stamford Bridge. The diminutive Frenchman simply sat in front of the back four, reading the game to perfection, making tackles, starting moves and generally making things look incredibly simple. He was an absolute master in the role, and his consistently brilliant performances helped Chelsea win back-to-back title under Mourinho, in 2004/05 and 2005/06. He left to join Paris Saint-Germain in 2008. Makelele was far from the most eye-catching player in the world, but there has barely been a more influential midfielder in the Premier League era.
