Throwback Thursday: When Inter icon Lucio ruled Serie A

Between 2009 and 2011, Serie A was graced with ample attacking talent. Household names Ronaldinho, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Edinson Cavani and Francesco Totti, among others, were all in fine form in Italy's top tier over the two seasons, though it shouldn't come as a surprise in a league that has routinely attracted the best strikers on the planet. 

Antonio Di Natale landed the Capocannoniere over both seasons, as the 20-goal barrier was broken five times in the same period. And yet, for all of the world class offensive talent on display, it was a defender who'd top the player ratings standings on both occasions. Inter were Europe's best team in 2010 as they enjoyed ample success with Jose Mourinho at the helm. His exit for Real Madrid that same year was met with sadness by supporters with the Serie A powerhouse failing to return to the same level in the decade since. 

In hindsight, it is easy to see why Inter were lauded as Europe's top side for a period as Mourinho assembled a squad that was the envy of a number of teams across the continent. Diego Milito and Samuel Eto'o thrived with Wesley Sneijder in support, free to do as they see fit in the final third courtesy of the midfield shield of Thiago Motta, Esteban Cambiasso and Dejan Stankovic. 

Yet, even if you could breach the trio, you'd be met by the brick wall of Walter Samuel and Lucio. Finding a way past the pair proved easier said than done. In Mourinho's second season at San Siro, Inter shipped fewer goals (34) than any other Serie A side, keeping a whopping 17 clean sheets in 38 matches. 

They conceded more than one goal in a game just nine times that Serie A season and while Samuel had already made Inter a difficult team to break down, the arrival of Lucio improved their solidity ten-fold. Mourinho had his perfect centre-back partnership. A no-holds barred, South American pair that simply had to stare down opposition attackers and have them scampering back towards their own goal. 

'The Horse' was the ideal fit for Mourinho's Inter and it was reflected in a WhoScored rating of 7.76 in his debut Serie A campaign, that better than any other player. He followed that up with a 7.77 in 2010/11, again, better than any other player, as he maintained his remarkable consistency that helped establish him as one of the finest centre-backs in the modern era. 

The Brazilian's final league season with Inter yielded a WhoScored rating of 7.69, that the fourth best in Serie A in 2011/12 and his lowest with the Milan powerhouse, yet remains a remarkable feat nonetheless. And you only have to eye up his stats across those seasons to see why he was rated so highly. 

Across all three campaigns, Lucio ranked top for interceptions - 137 on 2009/10, 152 in 10/11 and 140 in 11/12 - as the Brazilian maximised his exceptional reading of the game to ease the pressure on the Inter goal. Yet what made Lucio such a special player wasn't just the defensive side to his game, which was exceptional, but rather an ability to drive the ball forward when he did rob opponents of possession. 

The sight of Lucio charging forward from defence was never a boring one and it helped Inter transition from defence to attack in the blink of an eye. Not once during his three years with Inter did his number of dribbles per 90 drop below 1.3 while an 86.7% dribble success rate in 2009/10 was better than any of the 150 Serie A players to attempt 25 or more dribbles. He was top again in 2011/12 (77.4%) and fifth in 2010/11 (74.1%).

Given his frame and power, it was understandable that players failed to shake Lucio off possession when he charged from defence into midfield and, as a fine counter attacking threat, it meant Inter scored at least eight more counter-attacking goals (16) than any other Serie A side in 2009/10. 

That said, as cultured as Lucio wanted to be on his day, his rough and ready, no nonsense approach to defending also shone through when needed. Indeed, he ranked among the top 10 Serie A players for total clearances in two of his three campaigns with Inter, highlighting a proactive approach that sat well with Inter supporters. Sadly, Nerazzurri fans only bore wtiness to Lucio for three years before he joined fierce rivals Juventus in 2012, where he'd make just one league appearance as the Old Lady preferred a back three of Girgio Chiellini, Andrea Barzagli and Leonardo Bonucci, to then cut his two-year deal short and return to Brazil in January 2013. 

For three years, however, Lucio was the cream of the crop in Serie A as he not only denied opponents from netting with ruthless efficiency, but instigated attacks almost single handedly and, evidently, to great effect. And with a WhoScored rating over his three years with Inter (7.65) second only to Ibrahimovic (7.89) in Serie A, it was a testament to Lucio's immense ability to shield the Nerazzurri goal with aplomb.