Brazil legend Roberto Carlos 'particularly impressed' with Kieran Trippier - 'I wouldn't have been able to do what he does'

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Trippier has received high praise from arguably the greatest left-back ever

Kieran Trippier of Newcastle United FC controls the ball during the UEFA Champions League match between Newcastle United FC and Borussia Dortmund at St. James Park on October 25, 2023 in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom. (Photo by Ryan Crockett/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Brazil legend Roberto Carlos has singled out Kieran Trippier for high praise, when discussing which full-backs in the modern game he admires the most. 

Kieran Trippier has been integral to Newcastle United's resurgence in the last few seasons, helping the side get back into the Champions League and challenge towards the sharp end of the Premier League. He's also regularly featured in Gareth Southgate's England squad, and will likely feature at Euro 2024 for the Three Lions.

However, it's Trippier's versatility which makes him the ultimate modern full-back, in Carlos' eyes. Often referred to as the greatest left-back ever, Carlos highlights that the limitations he had in his game are now shown up by what the 33-year-old is able to do. 

Newcastle player Kieran Trippier in action during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Crystal Palace at St. James Park on October 21, 2023 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Trippier has impressed Roberto Carlos (Image credit: Getty Images)

“We can see an evolution in the role of full-backs and I was particularly impressed with Trippier as he was able to play on the left-hand side for the England national team," Carlos, speaking with JohnnyBet.com, said.

“I wouldn't have been able to play on the right of defence but in modern football you need to play on both sides. He has an amazing personality and is very good.”

The Brazil legend also doesn't think he'd have been able to fulfil the role of a modern full-back, moving into central positions to start attacks through slick and intricate passing. 

Roberto Carlos of Real Madrid in action during the UEFA Champions League Group B match between Real Madrid and Roma at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on September 28, 2004 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Carlos claims he wasn't that good on the ball, though it didn't show (Image credit: Getty Images)

"I was terrible with the ball. That’s why I was always passing to Zizou [Zinedine Zidane], David Beckham and Luis Figo,” he added. 

“I played a lot without the ball. My thing was to close down the opposing midfielder and make space for our wingers. I liked to play a lot without the ball.”

Roberto Carlos was speaking to JohnnyBet, the social network for sports fans and tipsters. Watch his full interview with leading European football expert Guillem Balague here: https://www.johnnybet.com/interview-with-roberto-carlos

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Ryan Dabbs
Ryan Dabbs
Staff writer

Ryan is a staff writer for FourFourTwo, joining the team full-time in October 2022. He first joined Future in December 2020, working across FourFourTwo, Golf Monthly, Rugby World and Advnture's websites, before eventually earning himself a position with FourFourTwo permanently. After graduating from Cardiff University with a degree in Journalism and Communications, Ryan earned a NCTJ qualification to further develop as a writer while a Trainee News Writer at Future.