Some would sneer a little at the word ‘Genius’ being used to describe a footballer. In English football the word is attributed to players such as Wayne Rooney and Paul Gascoigne; players who can barely string a sentence together, players who look and play like fans in shirts and players who probably wouldn’t survive in any non-football related profession. Those who sneer at the word being used for that exceptional, rare player are completely missing the point, though. While the word ‘Genius’ is typically associated with those in academic spheres (the Einsteins and Newtons of this world) the word has also been attributed to those who have excelled in non-academic spheres (the Beethovens and Picassos of this world). The essence of genius is in its rarity; a person who is exceptionally intelligent or creative.

If we go by that definition, then, there are a rare group of footballers who are can be categorised as geniuses on the field, notwithstanding their academic intelligence. Michael Laudrup portrayed a level of vision which was on par with the greatest artists. Zinedine Zidane was A 21st Century Portrait, possessing the grimace of a serial killer and a tricoloured bald-patch, his big-game performances a series of undeniable masterpieces. Ronaldinho, at his peak, was a flowing salsa-dance of triple sombreros, able to place shots which were able to ride an onrushing blue wave in his vicinity where gaps were limited.

And then there was Dejan Savićević.

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