Gennaro Gattuso was not the most skilful midfielder on this list. He was the most ferocious. The Italian chased, tackled and fought for every ball as if his life depended on it, and AC Milan's Champions League-winning sides of that era leaned heavily on his running.
Gattuso destroyed, Pirlo created
The partnership with Andrea Pirlo explains his place here. Gattuso did the pressing and the tackling, which left Pirlo free to pick passes at his own pace. Take Gattuso out of that midfield and Pirlo never gets the same freedom.
What he won doing the dirty jobs:
- Two Champions League titles with AC Milan, in 2003 and 2007
- The 2006 World Cup with Italy, as the defensive backbone next to Pirlo
- A reputation for covering more ground than almost any midfielder in Serie A
The wild-eyed intensity did some work of its own. Opponents were genuinely intimidated by his presence, and the nickname the Pitbull did not come from nowhere.
Every good team needs somebody to do the unglamorous work so the artists can shine. At Milan that man was Gattuso, the less celebrated half of the best midfield partnership in the club's history.
Tomorrow the countdown moves on to number 27.
