For the reason that Premier League was fashioned in 1992, it has turn into one of the crucial watched and liked leagues in world soccer.
There have been many thrilling, fantastic attacking gamers to have graced the well-known league, however right here, we have now taken a more in-depth take a look at defenders, and significantly the highest-scoring ones within the competitors’s historical past.
One participant who received’t be making the record is Everton’s Ashley Younger, as whereas he has been was a full-back, many of the Englishman’s objectives have come from midfield, so he’ll be sitting out of this one.
The best-scoring defenders in Premier League historical past | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Rank | Participant | Membership(s) | Objectives |
1 | John Terry | Chelsea | 41 |
2 | David Unsworth | Everton, West Ham, Portsmouth, Wigan | 38 |
3 | Ian Marshall | Oldham, Ipswich, Leicester | 33 |
4 | Leighton Baines | Wigan, Everton | 32 |
5 | Ian Harte | Leeds | 28 |
6 | Gary Cahill | Aston Villa, Bolton, Chelsea, Crystal Palace | 28 |
7 | Marcos Alonso | Bolton, Chelsea | 26 |
8 | Steve Watson | Newcastle, Everton, West Brom | 26 |
9 | William Gallas | Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham | 25 |
10 | Julian Dicks | Liverpool, West Ham | 24 |
11 | Kieran Richardson | West Brom, Man Utd, Sunderland, Fulham | 24 |
12 | Antonio Valencia | Wigan, Man Utd | 24 |
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12
Antonio Valencia
24 objectives
Antonio Valencia first got here into the Premier League throughout his time at Wigan Athletic. The Ecuador worldwide was lightning-quick and highly effective, making him a standout performer for the Latics.
Valencia had three seasons within the prime flight on the DW Stadium, scoring six objectives, as he operated primarily as a right-winger, firing in low-driven pictures.
He then obtained a transfer to Manchester United, the place he scored 18 objectives in 10 seasons. Valencia joined Sir Alex Ferguson’s facet as a midfielder however spent most of his time at Previous Trafford taking part in as a right-back, as his capacity to assault and defend made him a helpful asset in that space of the pitch.
11
Kieran Richardson
24 objectives
Former left-back Kieran Richardson performed for 5 totally different golf equipment within the Premier League: Man Utd, West Brom, Sunderland, Fulham and Aston Villa.
Richardson was one other participant who might function in just a few totally different positions, as he might play on the left wing and in central midfield, however he primarily performed as a left-back.
The defender’s greatest tally in a Premier League season got here within the 2008/09, 2010/11 and 2013/14 seasons, as he scored 4 objectives throughout his spells at Sunderland and Fulham.
10
Julian Dicks
24 objectives
Julian Dicks additionally completed his profession with 24 objectives within the Premier League, although from fewer video games than Richardson and Valencia.
Dicks performed for Liverpool and West Ham United within the Premier League, along with his greatest goalscoring season coming within the 1995/96 marketing campaign as he scored 10 objectives in 34 league video games. The vast majority of Dicks’ objectives got here from the penalty spot, as he was recognized for being exact from 12 yards out.
9
William Gallas
25 objectives
William Gallas was well-known in London, as he did one thing not many gamers have achieved earlier than by turning out for Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.
The Frenchman was top-of-the-line defenders throughout his time within the Premier League, particularly whereas at Chelsea, as he performed a key function of their early success.
Regardless of taking part in on the again, Gallas at all times had a watch for objective, as proven by him scoring 5 within the 2005/06 marketing campaign. Gallas scored all forms of objectives, right-footed and left-footed, however primarily he was an enormous risk from set items along with his head.
8
Steve Watson
26 objectives
Steve Watson performed for Newcastle United, Aston Villa, Everton, and West Brom throughout his time within the Premier League.
The 50-year-old, who was comfy taking part in wherever throughout the again 4, performed over 350 instances within the Premier League, scoring 26 objectives.
Watson had two standout campaigns within the Premier League, as he scored 5 objectives within the 2002/03 and 2003/04 seasons whereas taking part in for Everton, together with a hat-trick in 2003 (albeit from midfield).
7
Marcos Alonso
26 objectives
Marcos Alonso is without doubt one of the extra trendy defenders on this record, having performed for Chelsea as lately because the 2021/22 season.
Alonso spent six seasons with the Blues, along with his greatest marketing campaign by way of objectives coming in 2017/18 as he scored seven instances in 33 video games. The Spaniard can also be a Premier League and Champions League winner from his time at Stamford Bridge.
Earlier than becoming a member of the Blues, Alonso performed for Bolton Wanderers and Sunderland within the Premier League, however these spells weren’t as profitable as his time at Chelsea. The left-back was greatest recognized for scoring long-range efforts or from set items whereas taking part in in England.
6
Gary Cahill
28 objectives
Former England centre-back Gary Cahill performed for 4 Premier League golf equipment: Aston Villa, Bolton, Chelsea, and Crystal Palace.
Cahill grew to become a prime defender through the latter finish of his time at Bolton as he sealed a transfer to Chelsea, the place he received the Premier League twice and the Champions League as soon as. The defender’s risk in entrance of objective primarily got here from set items, as his capacity to get on the top of crosses was invaluable to the Blues.
5
Ian Harte
28 objectives
Former Leeds United, Sunderland, and Studying defender Ian Harte makes the highest 5 for the highest-scoring Premier League defenders, having performed in fewer video games than Gary Cahill.
The previous Republic of Eire worldwide performed over 237 video games within the Premier League, and all his 28 objectives got here whereas he was taking part in for Leeds.
Harte was primarily a left-back throughout his profession, however he additionally had the flexibility to play throughout the backline. Harte scored a mixture of objectives throughout his profession, although he actually had a knack for scoring from free kicks.
4
Leighton Baines
32 objectives
It might not come as a shock to see that Leighton Baines has made the highest 4 for top-scoring defenders, as the previous Wigan and Everton man scored penalties and free kicks for each groups.
Baines was such an enormous attacking risk regardless of being a left-back, as he had a terrific left foot that helped him rating some fantastic objectives.
Baines had three campaigns through which he scored 5 objectives within the Premier League – all with Everton – and scored in 11 consecutive seasons between 2008/09 and 2017/18.
3
Ian Marshall
33 objectives
Ian Marshall performed within the Premier League for Oldham Athletic, Ipswich City, Leicester Metropolis and Bolton.
Marshall was a centre-back with a formidable eye for objective, scoring 33 objectives in 157 video games in England’s prime division. Marshall’s objectives had been of combined selection, as he was one other defender who took penalties, although the truth that solely two defenders have scored greater than him speaks for itself.
2
David Unsworth
38 objectives
Presently second within the rankings is David Unsworth, who used to play for Everton, West Ham, Portsmouth, Sheffield United and Wigan. He’ll largely be remembered for his time with the Toffees.
Unsworth performed 334 video games for Everton out of a complete 364 within the Premier League all through his profession. The left-back was a constant scorer, netting 11 objectives between the 1999/00 and 2000/01 seasons alone.
Like Baines, Unsworth was additionally a defender who scored numerous penalties throughout his profession, along with his closing top-flight strike coming from the spot to avoid wasting Wigan from the drop in 2007.
1
John Terry
41 objectives
The best-scoring defender in Premier League historical past is former Chelsea centre-back John Terry.
Terry solely performed for the Blues within the Premier League, doing so 492 instances. He’s a five-time Premier League champion and a five-time FA Cup winner, whereas he has additionally received the Europa League and Champions League.
Terry was a key a part of the Chelsea defence throughout their profitable interval within the mid-to-late 2000s, and he wasn’t simply good at stopping objectives from going into his internet; he was additionally an enormous risk on the different finish of the pitch.
The previous England captain scored 41 objectives within the Premier League, along with his greatest marketing campaign for objectives coming within the 2010/11 and 2011/12 campaigns, as he netted six objectives in every.
