Adri Van Tiggelen

Some full backs look modern because they attack. Adri van Tiggelen looked modern because he understood the whole flank. Nicknamed De Spijker, the Nail, he was tough, quick across the ground and extremely difficult to shake off in defensive duels, but he also had the stamina and confidence to support play with sensible forward runs. For the Netherlands, he became a starter in the Euro 1988 winning side, offering balance on the left while bigger names carried the artistic headlines. At Anderlecht and PSV, he showed the same blend of bite, discipline and underrated technical quality. He was not a romantic Brazilian style full back, nor just a hard marker. Van Tiggelen was a complete, durable left back, built for serious matches and unpleasant assignments.