LILIAN THURAM RATING

Many will be surprised by Thuram’s lowly rating of 78 due to his performance in the semi final in World Cup 1998 which elevated him from a generational great to in many people’s eyes being the best right back of all time. Our analysis notes that whilst Thuram could be a powerhouse in defence and occasionally in attack, he was fortunate to play in very tight defences which compensated for his lack of positional awareness in the right back role. When Thuram surged forward, he wasn’t perfectly diligent in getting back. Furthermore he was clumsy on the ball and lacked the panache and control of the ball as many other elite full backs. In truth Thuram simply wasn’t a ‘footballing’ full back and not was he a thinking mans footballer (if we only take into account his full back performances). He was a monster and supremely powerful but it was only when he played closer to the central areas when he began to engage his brain and operate as an elite defender who suddenly switched on positionally.

Strengths he did possess out wide included his crossing which was technically excellent and his decision making in terms of spotting players was solid. When playing centrally he was strong in the tackle and superb at blocks, having zero fear in putting his body on the line and anticipating shots like a top goalkeeper. His athleticism was also unique and only matched by his compatriot Marcel Desailly.

In conclusion Thuram was a great player and capable of monstrous performances when put in an ideal set up but he wasn’t the all round complete full back he is often described as. He was a truly great right centre back and a terrific right back but he wasn’t the best right back of all time or the most gifted of full backs and that is why his rating reflects his status one of the premier full-backs of his generation but refutes the standard of his mastery of the full back position in comparison to other all-time candidates.