Top 10 Strikers Turned Centre-Halves: From Warhurst To Berbatov (Photos)
By Alan Duffy
In a move which will no doubt have taunted the Elland Road faithful, Sir Alex Ferguson moved striker Dimitar Berabtov back into a central defensive role (alongside Michael Carrick, no less) for the final stages of United’s comfortable victory over Leeds United on Tuesday evening.
The gifted Bulgarian thus joined an elite group of players who have been used as both striker and centre-half in recent (ish) times. Here’s a gallery of some of the other multi-functional heroes.
Can you think of any others?
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Matt Elliott.
How can you forget Ginger Pele himself, Gary Doherty?
Miss Alan Smith !!! What about one of the greatest hopes on english strikers !!
Even in france we know him as a f**kin’ good striker, and a hard midfielder !!
Sinisa Mihajlovic? Won Champions league with Red Star 1991. as a left wing, and later played sweeper in Lazio.
Gary Dotherty !
Lee Howey (brother of Former Newcastle Centre-half Steve), played as a centre forward for Sunderland, and as a centre half for several games during the FA Cup. Also Kevin Phillips started his career as a full back in the non-leagues.
Jonathon Spector
John O Shea???
GK,CB,LB,RB,CM,,LM,ST
oh wait.. thats strikers turn defenders.. not vice versa :P
Steve Walsh. Was sent up front to stop getting red cards, went onto bang them in along side Julian Joachim in a classic “big man little man” partnership.
Steve Watson – howver that season he played in literally every position on the park including goal.
Hmm in the same vein David James in the keagan era once maybe twice he played up front for man city to be fair it was to wind Robbie Fowler up for being crap but he did come on as sub and play striker cum tall block of wood.
Sorry correction it was pearce and apparently the striker was Jon Macken.
John O’Shea was used as a striker by Man United when circumstances demanded. Indeed he played for them in every position at one time or another, including goalkeeper.
Dion Dublin CCFC’s finest
Big John Oshea!
Pique?
Daniel Van Buyten!
Never forget the Belgian Bull.
Not exactly recent but John Charles is surely one of the greatest.
Robert HUUUUUUUUUUUTH!
John O’Shea played EVERYWHERE for United so surely he’d count.
Rio Ferdinand
who has also been a keeper
Lothar Matthäeus – playing as striker or offensive midfielder in Inter, finishing carrier as a sweeper
david luiz, spent the majority of his début against fulham on the left wing
Frank Stapleton nowhere to be seen ? Played centre half for 10 man Utd in a cup final after Kevin Moran was sent-off , Big Ron said he was on of the best centre-halfs he had worked with – just didnt want to play there ! Played there for Blackburn alot then for the clubs in the tailend of his career .
Adam Virgo?
Crouchie put some minutes in last year on the backline if memory serves, specifically against sides pushing for late equalizers.
Drogba when Terry had to play keeper during the game where the two Chelsea keepers got injured.
Didn’t Sol Campbell start off as a striker? Also, I’m sure Rio Ferdinand has played up front waaaaaaaay back in his Leeds days.
Almost certain Rio started as a centre forward as a schoolboy, can’t confirm KingEric7′s call on his Leeds days though.
Seeing Chris Sutton in this makes me want a Top 10 ‘Players who are unexpected heroes in other leagues’ After he sucked at Chelsea he was such a massive Celtic Legend. Be interesting to see who else went away to great success we don’t have the full story on (McClaren at Twente, Waddle at Marseile, McManaman at Real…)
John charles
Ian Pearce
Gerard pique has also been used by pep guardiola as a Striker in the final stages of a couple of champions league games i think.
John Charles?
Pique?
Greg Halford
Carles Puyol – started as a
keeper –> striker –> def midfield –> right back –> centre back
Steve Walsh @ Leicester city. First defender come striker I can recall
why is berbatov no 1, he played for like 10 minutes! the manure scum has always gotta be no 1 here!
Wayne Bridge for Chelsea against Wycombe in the Carling Cup semi final, scored a beauty too.
Dani Alves is often played on the wing, all of Chelsea’s centre backs in recent years have gone upfront for stints, Alex did against Newcastle last season and was immense! and Malouda played LB against Inter two years ago…