Genius...Unravelling The Mystery

Footballing genius is defined as extraordinary talent and intellect and in many cases creative power and flair. What causes some players to become footballers and others to fail in trying to do so?

Is it genetic?
You look at clubs taking on close relatives of their own players. For example, when Milan bought Kaka, they also decided to buy his brother Digao, in the hope that Kaka’s technical excellence runs in his sibling’s blood. With Giovanni dos Santos, found in a youth tournament by Barcelona, along comes his apparently more promising brother Jonathan with him. Sometimes, this is only done to appease the parent and seal the deal, as Tomas Rosicky contemplates. His father, a left back in his playing career, also played for Sparta Prague, issued a ultimatum to his former club: “If you want Jiri [Rosicky, Tomas’s older brother], then you have to take my younger son Tomas as well”. This paid off for the club, when both brothers moved in multi-million pound moves to Atletico and Dortmund respectively. Other examples include the three generations of the Maldini family: from Cesare, now Milan Scout, to Paolo himself, to Christian, the elder of Maldini’s two sons and is in Milan’s youth system, for whom the legendary no.3 shirt will be pulled from ‘retirement’ if he makes it to the first team.

This is because there are a number of genes, linked with physical fitness, both muscular and cardiovascular. It is these passed down from generations that can influence the physical fitness of a player. Naturally, it would be impossible to find one gene that can make a person a sportsman or woman. There are probably a number of genes linked to the psychological aspect of the game, with genes linked to natural intelligence and team work and decision making, but these are less obvious as football is a physical game, but nonetheless a team game, so the effect of genes is more subtle. Discovering genius in the future points to more rigorous scouting systems, rather than developments in to gene research, simply due to the cost benefit ratio and the likelihood of any success. But knowing the scientific nature of the Milan-lab, based at ‘Milanello’, the training ground of AC Milan, it is likely that they may be looking at research into genes and whether this develops into a form of scouting tool or injury therapy is anyone’s question.

Tactics, Individual or Team genius?
Naturally, when a club has a very talented player, it is appears most likely that that player will play in the free role, drifting freely in between lines of midfield and attack, learning who to influence the game. It is normally the player that adopts this role who is labelled a genius. And this is common, as the majority of teams in Europe have a focal point, through which the majority of the team’s attacking play is directed, such as Arsenal’s is directed by Cesc Fabregas and as Barcelona’s play is by Deco. This was not the trend in England, until recently, where the majority of attacking play came from the wings, where the ‘flair’ players played, away from the physical and aerial battle that occurred in the middle of the park. This was where players such as Keane and Vieira resided, but now more technically accomplished players such as Fabregas dictate play. This changes the style of play of a team, as Arsenal fans have realised in recent times, with a slower more ‘European’ game-plan being adopted rather than the counterattacking, high pressing game that the ‘invincibles’ played. While the majority of playmakers lie in attacking midfield, there are and were a few, who played in other positions, defying tactical knowledge of the time, and came as great use to their team. These missionaries adapted their technical skills and knowledge to the new role and executed its use with lethal precision. Geniuses such as Johan Cruyff, Franz Beckenbauer, Nandor Hidegkuti and even Andrea Pirlo, who used his previous experience as a striker, to adapt and make plays for Milan from a deep role, where there is more time and space.

While these ‘geniuses’ used new tactics to their effect, it is now the opposition of the attacking player, who is adapting, with better defensive systems, which include man marking the playmaker, or cutting of his supply with pressuring his fellow team-mates. Therefore when a genius is given the ball, he has little time, before he can do something efficient for his team, or lose the ball. Therefore, a genius must adapt and use his flair to beat the system, normally from a moment of inspiration. This does not always work, for a genius must have a strong mentality, and a number of geniuses can often cause conflict due to a clashing of egos. “If Ronaldo, Adriano and Ronaldinho were all at their best for 90 minutes, Brazil would win 23-0”. What Gordon Strachan said may be true, but the reason that Brazil did not win, was due to a lack of correct physical and tactical preparation. The main star, one of the ‘magic quartet’, Ronaldinho, was played out of position, with no freedom to roam and probe and create openings. This was perhaps due to the lack of runs made by the two strikers, both criticised in the build up to the tournament, and both suffering personal problems.

It is for this reason, why it is the team that can maximise the positive output on the field of play rather than vice versa. For example, Frank Rikjaard had a masterstroke by devising a new position for Ronaldinho in 2003/2004 after a missing five matches in October due to a hamstring injury, giving the player a role as a ‘false’ left winger, who could cut in to the box, score goals and drift around to influence proceedings. And it is in this position that Ronaldinho has won two ‘FIFA world-player of the year’ awards in the past three years and become more prolific than ever. It may be tactics that allow a team to use its focal point, but sometimes it is just moments of inspiration. For example, Thierry Henry’s audacious back-heeled finish, having been turned away from goal, and surrounded by a number of Charlton players who were marking him correctly to stop anything normal. But Thierry Henry is not a normal player. Another example is Ronaldinho’s ‘run and see what happens approach’, through his darting dribble into the heart of the Chelsea box, using his raw physical strength to hold off challenges from John Terry among others, before rifling home a shot, which sent Petr Cech the wrong way, thus knocking Chelsea out of the Champions League. Genius is developed as a player grows as experience causes better decision making to occur and a player to become more effective. Technique in all good players is evident, but it is the way it is used and the decision making, both on the pitch and off it is what makes a player great.

True legends are the Dutch 1974 World Cup team, who lead by Johan Cruyff, destroyed opposition, through interchanging positions in what was described as ‘total football’. This prevented any sort of man marking from the opposition, while his vision, of knowing where his team-mates would be also contributed to the cliché of his team being known as ‘the greatest team never to win the cup’. Pele, too had a similar effect in his team in the 1970 World Cup, epitomised by the amazing team play that resulted in Carlos Alberto’s emphatic finish against Italy in the final. A similar move occurred in the 2006 World Cup with Esteban Cambiasso, a defensive midfielder, rounding off a flowing 24-pass move against Serbia & Montenegro. Therefore, genius can also be a team move rather than an individual piece of brilliance.

Culture
The best example of a genius that for all his talent was embroiled in social, health and perhaps fiduciary problems is perhaps the greatest player ever: Diego Maradona. After quarrels with Barcelona’s directors, the player demanded a transfer to SSC Napoli, where he was adored. Genius is also constantly in the spotlight, with the Argentine’s ‘Hand of God’ goal, and later in the 1994 World Cup, he failed a drugs test and was sent home. After his career, he had drug and obesity problems and his residence has fluctuated from various medical clinics to rehabilitation centres. Perhaps the most iconic player of his time, Johan Cruyff, too was in the spotlight, mainly for his footballing talent, from helping ‘Los Cules’ picking apart arch rivals Real Madrid, culminating in a 5-0 thrashing at the Bernabeu, to playing for Ajax, and later arch rivals Feyenoord, leading both clubs to a league and cup double.

Now the greatest players in the world are bought and sold for inflated transfer fees. The Galacticos era at Real Madrid, brought in Figo for £39 million pounds, Zidane for £47 million pounds, Ronaldo for £26 million, among others. The transfer fees for these players, who had the ‘X-Factor’, along with their outlandish wages always kept the genius in the public spotlight. The media-friendly face of the superstars brought in by Florentino Pérez also brought in money from image rights, which the club took in. It is widely believed that in the summer of 2004, Arsenal Invincible Patrick Vieira spurned Real’s advances purely on the fact that due to his lack of marketability, he was offered a lower wage than, for example, David Beckham, who earns millions from a variety of endorsements he has taken aboard. While he was their equal in football terms, the fact that he could not sell shirts meant that he was not deemed worthy of such a high wage. His style of football, which is based more on brute force, rather than finesse, also appears to diminish his marketability.

The North American Soccer League, which formed in 1968 and ran until 1984, had stars such as Pele and Beckenbauer vying against fellow geniuses such as Eusebio. This was the final swansong in most of these players’ careers, with the failure to land the 1986 World Cup in America a major part in its downfall. The majority of the clubs became bankrupt due to the lack of funds and inability to make profit, due to the salaries of the playing staff and low attendance income.

Revolutionaries
The true greats in the game, changed the way it was played, with new tactics, technique and vision. Here are a few legends:

Johan Cruyff is someone who has won 34 titles in his playing and managerial career, He was a general on the pitch, ordering his fellow players around into different positions. As Terence, the Roman poet once wrote ‘fortune favours the brave’, Cruyff, who lead a revolution in the style of football, winning plaudits from all over the world and also owner to a trophy cabinet brimming full of silverware, should know what Terence was talking about. He says he does not regret losing the 1974 World Cup final, stating it made ‘total-football’ more famous than ever. Perhaps trying to recreate its unique style is a great tribute to one of Holland’s greatest players. Only Van Basten and Bergkamp could even come close.

Pele is a name heard in association with the word ‘GOOOOOOOOL’. He should know he’s scored 1281 of them. His technical ability, vision, and his amazing dribbling ability, led Waldemar de Brito, who coached the to-be-legend at a youth club, to tell the Santos directors that Pele, who at the time was 15, would become the greatest player ever. He was certainly true. The player matured over time, winning countless trophies and in 1962, he was announced as a ‘national treasure’ which meant Europe never saw him.

Puskas and Hidegkuti are two halves of a partnership which destroyed England at Wembley. Ferenc Puskas was imprudently written off by the English players as ‘a fat little chap’. Rivalled by Maradona for the award of the greatest left foot in football, his amazing shot, and vision led him to become a great, but as the game becomes more physical, he would not have been able to survive due to his physical condition, which in modern times, would most likely lead him to be criticised as Ronaldo has been in recent times. Nandor Hidegkuti created the half-striker role, where coming in from deep allowed him more time and space to execute his vision with deadly precision. It is because of this that he is a genius.

Franz Beckenbauer: another revolutionary, who changed footballing tactics with his perfection of the role of the ‘libero’. According to Osvalso Ardiles, he was the reason why Cruyff’s Holland failed to win in Germany. A great leader, his technical abilities launched attacks for his teams after clearing up attacks from the opposition through tackling, anticipation, positioning and his exemplary reading of the game.

Alfredo Di Stefano, the original Galactico, and along with a plethora of legends at Los Merengues, he dominated Europe for a period of five years from 1955. He had great strength physically as well as mentally and like most geniuses, he did make his mark in history, being known as the first Total footballer, with his ability to play in any outfield position, before Cruyff had even invented the concept of team total football. He still remains with Real Madrid, now honorary president of the club. The rights to sign the genius widened the gap between the sides who take part in el classico, with the Spanish federation prompting a ban on foreign imports due to this incident. Still all time leading scorer in European football, he averaged almost a goal a game for Real.

Eusebio, another who carried teams on his back to success, it was a pity he could not leave Benfica for a big money move to Inter but again due to political reasons, he was denied a move. A player, who could score freely, from any angle, because he loved football and spent hours after training, harnessing his skills. Rumours of kidnappings by Benfica, to hide him from rival suitors, when he was a youngster arriving from Mozambique, shows how his potential was evident, even before he became a genius.

Maradona made a huge mark in football, through his amazing dribbling ability and unavoidable need to use his hand to score or stop goals as views of the World Cup have found out. Also he was one of the true greats with an outstanding left foot, including Puskas, Riva and Maldini. Genius shines through when the odds are stacked are against one, and Maradona led SSC Napoli to the Serie A title, breaking the monopoly of the richer northern clubs, who usually won it.

Platini had five key attributes: tackling, passing, vision, positioning and goal-scoring. Perhaps his one weakness: his left foot. Luck evaded him in 1982, when Toni Schumacher, a likely idol for Jens Lehmann, was not dismissed after his obvious ‘foul’, which almost certainly stopped France reaching the final. He was perhaps the true great of European football in the 80s.

Zidane is probably the reason why football was called the working man’s ballet. His last great performance was against Brazil in the World Cup of 2006, in his final international tournament. Pervious to this he was on the wane in a Real Madrid side full of overpaid, underachieving Galacticos. The ball was a diamond to Zidane, who could find the thousandth option if you offered him 999. His vision, strength, which helped in shielding the ball, passing, and sheer ability to make players around him seem world class, along with his eternal spotlight in the media, make him a genius.