The Greatest 20 Centre-Backs in Football History

Over time, we’ve seen some iconic central defenders come and go, with Italy particularly having the knack of manufacturing a few of the biggest centre-backs soccer has ever witnessed.

From Paolo Maldini to Franco Baresi, Gli Azzurri have had a few of the finest, however who ranks on the prime because the premier centre-back?

Here’s a take a look at 20 of the best central defenders in footballing historical past, factoring of their longevity, consistency on the highest degree, whereas additionally highlighting group and private accolades.

20

Fernando Hierro

Beginning the countdown is Fernando Hierro, who made greater than 600 appearances for Actual Madrid throughout a 14-year stint on the Bernabeu.

Even able to enjoying in a defensive midfield function if required, Hierro had unbelievable capacity on the ball for a centre-back, one thing which helped him play within the Premier League on the age of 39. The Spaniard gained 5 La Liga titles and three Champions League trophies with Madrid.

19

Giorgio Chiellini

Certainly one of quite a few Italians on the record is Giorgio Chiellini, who retired in 2023 on the age of 39 after a glittering 23-year profession.

A no-nonsense defender together with his aggressive, bodily, and tenacious strategy, Chiellini proved that an old style defender can nonetheless star within the fashionable recreation.

He spent 18 years with Juventus, profitable 9 Serie A titles and the European Championships with Italy.

18

Thiago Silva

Thiago Silva is a kind of defenders who obtained higher with age, starring in Italy, France and England with AC Milan, PSG and Chelsea.

A Champions League winner, Silva was an distinctive reader of the sport and made defending on the highest degree look unimaginable simple, whereas additionally having good passing imaginative and prescient.

Nicknamed the ‘monster’ as a result of his imposing enjoying model, Silva possesses rather more high quality than simply his bodily capacity.

17

Rio Ferdinand

In comparison with Pele by a youth coach at simply 11 years of age, Rio Ferdinand remodeled into considered one of England’s finest ever centre-backs throughout a 19-year profession.

Fast and agile in his prime, Ferdinand was an especially composed centre-back and nice reader of the sport.

Inducted into the Premier League Corridor of Fame, he gained six prime flight titles with Man Utd, whereas additionally captaining Sir Alex Ferguson’s aspect to Champions League glory in 2008.

16

Jaap Stam

One other iconic Pink Devils centre-back was Jaap Stam, nonetheless, his keep at Man Utd was a lot shorter and his exit was a choice Ferguson regretted essentially the most in his profession.

A strong defender within the air and fast throughout the grass, Stam was named because the Dutch Participant of the Yr in 1997 and likewise gained the Champions League at Previous Trafford.

15

Ronald Koeman

Persevering with the Netherlands theme takes us to Ronald Koeman, who’s the best goalscoring central defender the sport has seen.

Extremely, Koeman scored greater than 250 targets throughout his profession, impressing together with his long-range capturing, free kick capacity and reliability as a penalty taker.

A European Cup winner with PSV and Barcelona, Koeman, who generally performed in midfield, was even the Champions League prime scorer in 1994, and his defensive attributes have been additionally world-class.

14

​​​Lilian Thuram

​​​Lilian Thuram saved his solely two France targets for the most important stage, a World Cup semi ultimate win over Croatia in 1998.

Generally known as an extremely athletic defender in his prime, Thuram, who may also be thought of considered one of soccer’s biggest ever right-backs, additionally starred centrally throughout a 17-year profession which noticed him star for Monaco, Parma, Juventus and Barcelona.

Thuram gained the World Cup and Euros and was named France’s Participant of the Yr in 1997.

13

Marcel Desailly

Nicknamed The Rock, Marcel Desailly starred for France throughout 11 years, serving to his nation win the World Cup in 1998 after which the Euros in 2000 alongside Thuram.

He was named within the group of the tournaments for each of these triumphs, and at membership degree, Desailly starred for Nantes, AC Milan and Chelsea.

A flexible centre-back who led by instance, Desailly improved any aspect he went into and arguably went underneath the radar throughout his profession.

12

Virgil van Dijk

Arguably the perfect centre-back in world soccer since his transfer to Liverpool in 2018, Virgil van Dijk has helped rework the Reds into winners once more.

Van Dijk has all of it and makes defending look extremely simple on the highest degree. Bodily presence, pace, capacity on the ball, world-class attackers have struggled to get previous the Dutchman regularly.

Some of the costly centre-backs in historical past, Van Dijk has been price each penny of the £75m Liverpool spent.

11

Carles Puyol

A Barcelona and Spain legend, Carles Puyol gained all the pieces for membership and nation and was part of essentially the most dominant sides the sport has ever seen.

Underneath Pep Guardiola on the Nou Camp, Puyol captained Barcelona to La Liga and Champions League glory, whereas with Spain, he gained the 2008 Euros and 2010 World Cup.

He was named UEFA’s Defender of the Yr in 2006 and within the World XI Staff of the twenty first Century.