Juanfran

The remarkable part of Juanfran’s career is not only that he became a great right back, but that he did so after starting life much higher up the pitch. That winger’s education never left him: the timing of overlaps, the quality of his delivery, the courage to advance even in conservative match states. Atlético Madrid then hardened the rest of him. Under Simeone, Juanfran became a disciplined full back with stamina, concentration and a perfect understanding of when to press, when to tuck inside and when to give the team width. He was not the strongest defender in pure physical duels, nor the flashiest attacking full back in Europe, but his balance made him essential to one of the most compact sides of the decade. For Spain and Atlético, he represented tactical maturity: a converted winger who learned how to defend without forgetting how to play.