10 football legends who dominated the game despite being famously slow

October 26, 2025 Kris Isaksen

Speed might be an asset in modern football, but it’s not the only path to greatness. These ten players lacked pace—but more than made up for it with intelligence, technique, and game awareness. Here’s a countdown of the greatest slow players in football history.

10. Oscar Cardozo: the timeless target man

Oscar Cardozo may have lacked speed, but he had no shortage of goals. The 6ft4 Paraguayan built his reputation as a lethal striker for Benfica, using his frame and smart positioning to punish defenders. Even into his 40s, he’s still going strong—proof that pace isn’t everything.

9. Jorginho: tempo-setter with total control

Jorginho’s game has never relied on pace. From Napoli to Chelsea and now Arsenal, he’s dictated midfield play with precise passing and superb vision. The Brazilian-born Italian thrives by thinking one step ahead, often controlling matches without ever breaking into a sprint.

8. Jan Koller: brute force up front

Jan Koller stood at an enormous 6ft8, and his playstyle matched his size. While he wasn’t fast, his power and presence were overwhelming for defenders. Koller scored nearly 200 goals in club football and bagged 55 in 99 games for Czechia—dominating the game with pure strength and smarts.

7. Nemanja Matic: a midfield wall with calm control

Nemanja Matic built a long and successful career without needing speed. His towering presence and calm passing allowed him to boss midfields in both Portugal and the Premier League. He covered ground intelligently, often cutting through pressure with clever movement and sharp distribution.

6. Teddy Sheringham: the thinking man's striker

Teddy Sheringham was never the fastest forward, but he might have been the smartest. His vision and technique allowed him to create and finish chances with ease. A Premier League and Champions League winner, he proved that intelligence can be just as deadly as pace.

5. Olivier Giroud: elegance without acceleration

Olivier Giroud has often been labelled one of the slowest strikers in modern football—but his career speaks for itself. With an eye for spectacular goals and a graceful first touch, the Frenchman has led the line for top clubs and won a World Cup without ever needing to outrun defenders.

4. Per Mertesacker: a towering presence in defence

Per Mertesacker was famously one of the slowest centre-backs of his era. But what he lacked in speed, he made up for with superb positional awareness and aerial dominance. A leader at Arsenal and a World Cup winner with Germany, Mertesacker showed that timing beats speed.

3. Ruud van Nistelrooy: a poacher with mental quickness

Ruud van Nistelrooy didn’t sprint past defenders—he beat them with anticipation. Known for his elite movement and ruthless finishing, he thrived as a "fox in the box." His mind moved quicker than his feet, and that was all he needed to become one of the game’s most feared strikers.

2. Sergio Busquets: the master of anticipation

Sergio Busquets spent years dominating the midfield without ever needing pace. His unmatched reading of the game made him a defensive shield for Barcelona and Spain. Even under intense pressing, he used body feints and technique to escape danger and keep play flowing.

1. Toni Kroos: the ultimate playmaker without pace

Toni Kroos may go down as the greatest slow player in football history. A maestro in midfield, he controlled games with inch-perfect passes and cool composure. The "Kroos shuffle"—his way of gliding past pressure with minimal movement—became a signature of his timeless brilliance.