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Claude Makélélé. (THREAD) 
GAME CHANGERGiven the talk of stats and players worth I have put together a thread on Makélélé one of the most underrated and influential players of the modern era.
I will be concentrating on his Real Madrid, Chelsea career and post football.
Overview
He spent five highly successful years at Chelsea, from 2003 to 2008. Prior to Chelsea, Makélélé played for Real Madrid (2000–2003). He is widely considered the premier defensive midfielder of the modern era, a position often named the "Makélélé Role."
He spent five highly successful years at Chelsea, from 2003 to 2008. Prior to Chelsea, Makélélé played for Real Madrid (2000–2003). He is widely considered the premier defensive midfielder of the modern era, a position often named the "Makélélé Role."
Real Madrid
At Real, Makélélé was pivotal to their success winning two La Liga, the UEFA Champions League, the Super Cup, the European Super Cup, and the Intercontinental Cup.
Makélélé established himself as one of the best holding mids in the world.
At Real, Makélélé was pivotal to their success winning two La Liga, the UEFA Champions League, the Super Cup, the European Super Cup, and the Intercontinental Cup.
Makélélé established himself as one of the best holding mids in the world.
Despite his value to the team, Makélélé was one of its most underpaid members, earning a fraction of that paid to teammates like Zidane, Figo, Ronaldo, etc.
In 2003, feeling that his position at the club was insecure after the sacking of del Bosque and the arrival of Beckham.
In 2003, feeling that his position at the club was insecure after the sacking of del Bosque and the arrival of Beckham.
He was encouraged by teammate Zidane, to ask for an improved contract. Real refused to even consider his request.
Upset, Makélélé handed in a transfer request, where he was signed by Chelsea. Club president Florentino Pérez poured scorn on Makélélé's departure in the media.
Upset, Makélélé handed in a transfer request, where he was signed by Chelsea. Club president Florentino Pérez poured scorn on Makélélé's departure in the media.
Perez was left to eat those words as Makélélé leaving triggered a 6 year spiral for Real and a resurgence for Chelsea.
The playing group, particularly Zidane foreshadowed this and what they had truly lost.
The playing group, particularly Zidane foreshadowed this and what they had truly lost.
Chelsea career
In 2003, he signed for Chelsea for £16.8million, where then manager Claudio Ranieri proclaimed that Makélélé would be the "battery" of the team.
Chelsea finished 2nd in the 03-04 FA Premier League and were eliminated in the semi-finals of the Champions League
In 2003, he signed for Chelsea for £16.8million, where then manager Claudio Ranieri proclaimed that Makélélé would be the "battery" of the team.
Chelsea finished 2nd in the 03-04 FA Premier League and were eliminated in the semi-finals of the Champions League
Following the sacking of Ranieri, new manager Jose Mourinho instilled a 4-3-3 system barely heard of in the Prem.
It required a specialist 3rd central midfielder
Jose Mourinho opted for a new signing who had struggled in his first year to occupy this role – Claude Makélélé.
It required a specialist 3rd central midfielder
Jose Mourinho opted for a new signing who had struggled in his first year to occupy this role – Claude Makélélé.
Makélélé was not a powerhouse. He didn’t have great technical ability nor brilliant passing and rarely scored.
What he did have was immense intelligence, seeing attacks before they happened and snuffing them out . His tackling and positional sense were his greatest assets.
What he did have was immense intelligence, seeing attacks before they happened and snuffing them out . His tackling and positional sense were his greatest assets.
The traditional English 4-4-2 had no answer to this formation, as Makélélé in midfield allowed Chelsea to dominate games.
Whenever Chelsea took the lead, there was a sense of inevitability that they will win with Makélélé there to provide cover and counter opportunities.
Whenever Chelsea took the lead, there was a sense of inevitability that they will win with Makélélé there to provide cover and counter opportunities.
Operating a 4-3-3, Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea took England by storm.
The West London club finished the season champions with a record 95 points while conceding only 15 goals in 38 games.
This was 5 points ahead of the prior year’s champions Arsenal, the so called Invincible’s
The West London club finished the season champions with a record 95 points while conceding only 15 goals in 38 games.
This was 5 points ahead of the prior year’s champions Arsenal, the so called Invincible’s
At the heart of that 4-3-3 was Claude Makélélé. His role was to cover for his teammates whenever they went forward, he was there to break up any attack that threatened to develop.
His deeper role had attacking benefits as well. Since there wasn’t someone who could mark him,
Makélélé had a lot of time with the ball and could dictate the game.
Teams had no idea about who should pick him up.
Makélélé had a lot of time with the ball and could dictate the game.
Teams had no idea about who should pick him up.
To cap off the 2004-05 season for the Frenchman, he was allowed to take a penalty in the game against Charlton on the day the Premiership trophy was due to be presented 
The Charlton keeper, saved it, but Makélélé scored the rebound for his first of two goals for the club
The Charlton keeper, saved it, but Makélélé scored the rebound for his first of two goals for the club
In 2006, in a league encounter with Spurs, Makélélé scored his second goal for the club, a curling volley to cue a bench-clearing celebration.
Sadly, Spurs sprang a comeback to win. However, this goal got him the best shot to goals % that year with 1 shot and 1 goal - 100%.
Sadly, Spurs sprang a comeback to win. However, this goal got him the best shot to goals % that year with 1 shot and 1 goal - 100%.
In Dec 2006, in a League Cup game against Newcastle, Makélélé wore the captain's armband in Terry's absence.
Makélélé also wore the captain's armband the following season, and was captain even when Terry and Lampard returned, for a crucial Champions League tie against Olympiacos
Makélélé also wore the captain's armband the following season, and was captain even when Terry and Lampard returned, for a crucial Champions League tie against Olympiacos
The 07/08 season was a renaissance for the 35-year-old Makélélé, he played in the majority of games.
Despite an ear infection that made him miss an early part of the season, he regained his place and forced Essien into right-back, pushing Juliano Belletti out of the team.
Despite an ear infection that made him miss an early part of the season, he regained his place and forced Essien into right-back, pushing Juliano Belletti out of the team.
In July 2018 Makélélé was allowed to join PSG on a free bringing his playing career with Chelsea to an end.
Chelsea career stats
144 Games
2 Goals
9 Assists
Although given his role the stats do no justice to Makélélé and his game changing role.
Chelsea career stats
144 Games 2 Goals 9 AssistsAlthough given his role the stats do no justice to Makélélé and his game changing role.
Post Playing
3 August 2019 Makélélé became the latest ex-player to join our coaching staff following the arrivals of Frank Lampard, Petr Cech and Jody Morris.
Working closely with Academy players, as well as working with Chelsea players out on loan.
3 August 2019 Makélélé became the latest ex-player to join our coaching staff following the arrivals of Frank Lampard, Petr Cech and Jody Morris.
Working closely with Academy players, as well as working with Chelsea players out on loan.
Given his role in the club comparisons between Kante and him have been far and wide.
However the great man himself has come to acknowledge this fact and has anointed Kante a game changer in his own right.
However the great man himself has come to acknowledge this fact and has anointed Kante a game changer in his own right.
Conclusion
Makélélé was never the most spectacular player, but his defensive play in midfield was game changing.
This proves stats aren’t the be all and end all.
His role made us successful and he is ensuring our future success mentoring the youth players.
END OF THREAD.
Makélélé was never the most spectacular player, but his defensive play in midfield was game changing.
This proves stats aren’t the be all and end all.
His role made us successful and he is ensuring our future success mentoring the youth players.
END OF THREAD.
