The Highest Scoring Defenders of All Time - Ranked

A defender may not necessarily always dominate the headlines, but it is their hard work at the back which continues to lay the foundations for any successful team. Indeed, as the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson once asserted, it's the defence which can win you a title.

But the role of the defender has changed over the years - defending is no longer simply about...well, defending. Instead, some of the finest defenders we have had the pleasure of seeing grace the field down the years have redefined our understanding of what it means to play at the back.

Despite the evolution of the role, a defender who can not only put in commanding defensive performances at the back but also pop up with vital goals, is a rare commodity in today's market. But this is what separates the great from the extraordinary.

Here, we take a look at the top 20 scoring defenders of all time....

20. Dick Schneider

Appearances: 491
Goals: 86

When Feyenoord met Ajax in week 33 of the 1970/71 season for the Klassieker, Ajax were two points clear at the top of the table and would have wrapped up the title with a win.

But Dick Schneider had other plans.

The versatile defender scored twice to help Feyenoord come from 1-0 down to secure a 3-1 win. Sure enough, Feyenoord went on to secure the title on the final day with victory over HFC Haarlem.

Comfortable playing on both sides, Schneider enjoyed a successful career, winning two league titles and the UEFA Cup.

19. Bernard Dietz

Appearances: 668
Goals: 92

Not only is Dietz second in the list of all-time top goalscorers for MSV Duisburg, he has also scored the most goals of any defender in Bundesliga history.

The sweeper even managed four goals (yes, four) in a single game against Bayern Munich in 1977. Dietz also went on to captain west Germany to European Championships glory in 1980.

18. Ian Harte

Appearances: 611
Goals: 97

Is Ian Harte still unfairly overlooked in the best free-kick takers the Premier League has seen conversation? Quite possibly.

Harte was one of the finest attack-minded full backs around, particularly during his spell with Leeds United. The defender was a constant threat down the left, doing his defensive duties before flying forward at pace to support attacks.

Harte sits eighth on the list of players to have scored the most free-kicks in the Premier League, ahead of the likes of Frank Lampard and Christian Eriksen.

17. Rafael Albrecht

Appearances: 543
Goals: 97

San Lorenzo forked out quite the hefty sum to bring in Albrecht in 1962, but it proved to be money well spent. Very well spent, in fact.

The defender became a key figure at the club. Most notably, he was part of the Matadores side which won the Metropolitano Championship in 1968, without losing a single game.

A penalty specialist, Albrecht also featured for Argentina on 37 occasions.

16. Juan Domingo Rocchia

Appearances: 433
Goals: 101

Well, Albrecht may have helped San Lorenzo become the first team to win the Metropolitano Championships in 1968 without losing a single game, but Rocchia was also instrumental to the Ferro Carril Oeste team which went the 1982 Primera season undefeated.

The only difference? Rocchia helped his side win the Primera Division for the very first time.

Oh, and he scored in the final as well to wrap up the win.

15. Edgardo Bauza

Appearances: 499
Goals: 108

Prior to his managerial career - which includes a fairly woeful spell as Argentina boss - Bauza enjoyed a very successful playing career. Despite playing in the centre of defence, he was renowned for getting forward and posing a threat in the opposition's box throughout games.

Bauza played the vast majority of his career with Rosario Central, going on to become one of the club's top scorers of all time.

14. Sinisa Mihajlovic

Appearances: 637
Goals: 109

There haven't been that many better free-kick takers than Mihajlovic down the years. The defender holds the record along with Andrea Pirlo for the most free-kicks scored in Serie A with 28 - not bad company, eh?

In fact, he was so good from set pieces that he even managed to score three free-kicks in one game.

Poor Sampdoria, there was simply nothing they could do to stop him.

13. Manfred Kaltz

Appearances: 819
Goals: 110

Despite finding the net on 110 occasions during his club and international career, Manfred Kaltz will be remembered by the majority for his 'banana' crosses.

The Hamburg legend sits second in the list of all-time Bundesliga appearances, while he still holds the record for penalties scored (53) in the German league.

As well as winning the Bundesliga three times, the adventurous Kaltz was also a key figure within the west Germany side that won the 1980 European Championships.

12. Franck Sauzee

Appearances: 541
Goals: 111

Alright, alright, alright, we know he wasn't a defender throughout his whole career, but even as a defender, he managed 16 goals in 90 appearances while at Hibs between 1999 and 2001. That's some going.

A very complete player, Sauzee was crucial to Marseille's success towards the end of the 1980s and early 1990s. He went on to become a huge fan favourite at Hibernian later in his career, with his towering header in the Edinburgh derby a particular highlight. Completely disregarding the potential risk of suffering a serious injury, Sauzee threw himself at the ball to find the back of the net.

Let's just forget about his spell as manager, shall we? Good.

11. Franz Beckenbauer

Appearances: 857
Goals: 112

Simply the greatest defender of all time, Beckenbauer was a revolutionary.

Beckenbauer could do it all, and no, that is not an exaggeration in any way. Der Kaiser was a domineering defender, a leader, an astonishing athlete and, as the above statistics show, he was a regular goalscorer as well.

Considering this, it's hardly a surprise he won basically everything football has to offer, including the Ballon d'Or. Indeed, he's just one of two defenders to ever win the award...but he's only the defender to win it twice.

Of course he did.

A true genius.

10. Marcus Tulio Tanaka

Appearances: 542
Goals: 112

Throughout his 19-year career, Tanaka put in consistently impressive performances, not only showing the necessary ambition and determination to be a resolute defender, but also using his skill to dart forward and pose a threat in front of goal.

Sure, Tanaka only featured in one major tournament for Japan, but his work at the back was vital to his nation's run to the last 16 stage of the 2010 World Cup.

9. Steve Bruce

Appearances: 926
Goals: 113

Cast your minds back to a time before Steve Bruce was roaming the touchline. Bruce is one of the greatest defenders to have ever played for Manchester United, leading the defensive line and bringing success to Old Trafford.

When Brucey joined in 1987, United had failed to win the league title for 20 years. but when he ended up leaving the club in 1996, he had three Premier League titles to his name.

That's how influential he was, not just at the back, but also chipping in with 51 goals as well.

Oh, and 19 of these came during the 1990/91 season. Yes, you did read that right.

8. Paul Breitner

Appearances: 417
Goals: 113

The fact that Paul Breitner is just one of four players to have ever scored in two World Cup finals tells you all you need to really know about the divisive German...when it comes to his abilities on the field, that is. He was key to Bayern Munich and west Germany's success in the 1970s.

Although he started out as a striker, he soon found himself thriving at left-back, popping up time and time again to score some outrageous goals. Oh, and he was pretty handy from 12 yards, too.

7. Roberto Carlos

Appearances: 961
Goals: 115

Roberto Carlos revolutionised the left-back role and this position will forever be associated with his name. And quite rightly so.

Some of the Brazilian's strikes defied the laws of physics and still astonish so many today. There are few quite like Roberto Carlos, who remained stubborn even when he was told he would be more effective further up the field.

Sure, his shooting ability was nothing short of astonishing, but as a consequence, his crossing and reading of the game in defensive positions often remain under-appreciated qualities of his.

A truly remarkable talent.

6. Sergio Ramos

Appearances: 910
Goals: 127

Is he everyone's favourite footballer? No.

Is he everyone's favourite character? No, most definitely not.

But is his footballing ability respected and admired by the majority of people? Most definitely.

Ramos is divisive and controversial, but he is a simply world class footballer. But as well as being one of the most commanding and dominant centre-backs around, he has also proven to be a major threat in attack over the years.

Perhaps what is most impressive about the Spain international's record is that he can score any type of goal. Ramos is a big game player, popping up at crucial moments to rescue his side. You only need to look as far as his header against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League in 2014 to see that.

5. Graham Alexander

Appearances: 1,021
Goals: 130

While he built a reputation as being a right back who enjoyed getting forward to support attacks, Alexander did net over half of his 130 career goals from the penalty spot in unique fashion.

77, to be precise.

As calm and composed as you like, Alexander missed just six penalties during his lengthy career. He became the fourth-oldest goalscorer in Premier League history back in 2010 when he scored a brace against Hull City, and guess how he did it - oh yes, from the spot!

Alexander went on to make over 1,000 appearances at club level as well as for Scotland - but failed to score a single goal at international level.

4. Laurent Blanc

Appearances: 805
Goals: 153

Blanc initially started out as an attacking midfielder, but soon dropped back into the defence - a position which suited his physical attributes and reading of the game.

Le President still holds the record for goals scored at Montpellier, with 80 to his name. A comfortable penalty taker and a towering presence at set pieces, Blanc found himself regularly contributing in attack season after season.

Oh, and did we forget to mention his Golden Goal winner against Paraguay in the 1998 World Cup? Yes? This was one of 16 goals he scored for France.

3. Fernando Hierro

Appearances: 805
Goals: 163

One of Real Madrid and Spain's all-time greats, Hierro was not only a leader at the back and a commanding presence, he was also capable of taking free-kicks and penalties, and was also a real threat from set pieces. Y'know, from the ones he wasn't taking.

Sure, some of his goals did come while playing in midfield, but even when he moved to the back, he was still posting more than impressive figures.

A defender who could do it all, Hierro's stellar career perhaps still doesn't gain quite as much recognition as it should.

2. Daniel Passarella

Appearances: 580
Goals: 175

There are few better examples than Passarella who show that defenders don't always need to be powerful and imposing. Regarded as one of the greatest defenders of all time, Passarella stands at just 5'8....yep, you did read that right.

Yet, the Argentine still managed to find the net on 175 occasions, while he was also described as the best header of the ball by none other than Diego Maradona.

These kinds of figures are simply astonishing.

1. Ronald Koeman

Appearances: 763
Goals: 253

253 goals in 763 matches.

Two hundred and fifty three goals. For a defender. Just let that sink in for a second.

As if that wasn't astonishing enough, Koeman managed 21 goals in just 32 Eredivise appearances in 1987/88. Oh, and he also grabbed 13 assists to go with that as well just for good measure.

Now, some may claim: "But, but, but, he must have been playing in midfield!!!"

But in fact, Koeman played just four games in midfield that season. Such a return for a defender is almost unthinkable, especially in the modern game.

How?!

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