Manchester United have spent big on an Argentine that does not fit the standard defensive mould, but he finds himself in illustrious company
Lisandro Martinez has become another big-money signing at Manchester United, with the Red Devils investing £46.5 million ($56m) worth of faith in the Argentina international. He arrives at Old Trafford with plenty of pedigree, having won Eredivisie titles with Ajax and the Copa America with his country, but questions are being asked of his suitability to life in the Premier League.
That is because the South American stands at just 5ft 9in tall – relatively short for a centre-half readying himself for the physical demands of English football – but he is in illustrious company when it comes to breaking the mould for players in his position.
Among the others to have bucked a trend there are World Cup winners from Spain, Italy, Germany and England, while iconic figures from Barcelona, AC Milan and Inter have also shown that size can be irrelevant when ability takes over. Here, GOAL takes a look at 13 of the best centre-halves under six foot.
Carles Puyol – 5ft 10
A product of the famed La Masia academy system, Puyol spent his entire professional career on the books at Barcelona. He became a talismanic club captain for the Blaugrana, taking in 593 appearances for the club while claiming six La Liga titles and three Champions League crowns. The no-nonsense centre-half also savoured World Cup and European Championship triumphs while earning 100 caps for Spain.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesFabio Cannavaro – 5ft 9
The Italian was never one to let a lack of height stand in his way, with his career peaking when captaining his country to World Cup glory in 2006. He would go on to collect the Ballon d’Or and FIFA World Player of the Year award later that year – becoming only the third defender in history to land the prestigious Golden Ball. At club level, Cannavaro represented Parma, Inter, Juventus and Real Madrid with distinction.
GettyFranco Baresi – 5ft 9
A man that broke the mould across 20 iconic years – many of them spent as skipper – at AC Milan. Diminutive in size, but a born leader that belied his stature to become a legend at San Siro. Won six Serie A titles and three European Cups as part of a great Rossoneri side and also earned 81 caps for Italy – coming agonisingly close to winning the World Cup with them in 1994.
Getty ImagesRonald Koeman – 5ft 11
The Dutch star thrived in a sweeper role that was favoured by many leading sides in the 1980s and 90s, with a reputation forged at PSV and Ajax enhanced considerably on the books at Barcelona. It was his goal at Wembley Stadium in 1992 that landed the Blaugrana a first European Cup. A classy operator that took free-kicks and penalties netted 239 goals at club level and 14 for the Netherlands.