The best Premier League centre-backs of all time - ranked
- Premier League has seen some of the game's greatest centre-backs pass through
- John Terry and Rio Ferdinand defined an era of centre-back play
- Virgil van Dijk considered the best defender of contemporary times
By Max Cooper
The centre back. Without doubt, the hardest, toughest player on the pitch. The central defender may not get the plaudits and headlines that the flashy, superstar striker receives every week, but that's okay - they wouldn't want them, anyway.
Centre backs turn up to work, do their job and go home. No thrills. No fancy accessories. Just plain black boots, earring-less plug-holes and un-dyed hair. When we think of mental centre backs, every Briton is immediately teleported back to Terry Butcher's blood-stained, mad-eyed stare against Sweden in 1989.
Unfortunately, Butcher never featured in the newly-formatted Premier League, whose inception arrived at the beginning of the 1992/93 campaign. But we have been treated to some of the finest defenders in football history over the past three decades, and plenty of them have washed up on Great Britain's glorious shores.
And this got us thinking: who are the best 25 centre-backs to have ever graced the Premier League? After banging our heads together for several weeks, dozens of in-office scraps and exactly seven broken friendships, we have come to our conclusions.
Without further ado, let's dive two-footed into this elite list of defensive supermen.
25. William Gallas
Best remembered for throwing a hissy fit and sitting down on the pitch after his teammate conceded a last-minute penalty, William Gallas was actually a celebrated defender during his time at Chelsea, Arsenal and Spurs.
An excellent London tourist.
24. Gareth Southgate
Steady, unspectacular, but Mr. Reliable. Southgate's career enjoyed a wonderful rise, arriving in the top flight with Crystal Palace, leading Aston Villa to League Cup success and an FA Cup final.
He eventually ended his career in a Europa League final against Sevilla, although his exploits as a player have been usurped by his lengthy stint as England manager.
23. Toby Alderweireld
On his way to becoming a Premier League legend. Toby Alderweireld began his English journey with Southampton in 2014, and after one year, it was evident he was too good for mid-table obscurity.
The Belgian subsequently went on to enjoy a prosperous career in north London with Tottenham. Alderweireld, for a couple of seasons, was arguably the best centre-back in the division.
22. Gary Cahill
If his name was Garyo Cahillinho, he'd have been one of the most hailed centre-backs in football history!
Well, maybe not. But Cahill epitomised what it meant to be a full-blooded, heart-on-sleeve defender. A warrior for Chelsea for over seven years, Cahill was named in the PFA Team of the Year on three occasions before he finished his career with shorter stints at Crystal Palace and Bournemouth.
21. Jan Vertonghen
The Batman to Alderweireld's Robin, Jan Vertonghen spent eight years wowing White Hart Lane with his Superman heroics (and celebration).
A figure of authority and leadership at the back, it was always enjoyable to watch the elegant Belgian go about his work.
20. Kolo Toure
Kolo, Kolo Kolo, Kolo Kolo, Kolo Kolo Toure! Yep, before the song, there was a man. An invincible man. A man who took no prisoners, in training or on the pitch, and led Arsenal to some of the greatest triumphs in their illustrious history.
He has a brother too, apparently. If only there was a song to remember his name...
19. John Stones
After securing a big-money move to Manchester City, it seemed as if the once precocious Stones would never live up to his early career projections.
However, the English defender eventually ditched his error-prone tag to blossom into one of Pep Guardiola's most trusted lieutenants at the Etihad. Capable of pretty much anything with the ball, Stones has developed into a superstar centre-back and one of the best the Premier League has ever seen.
18. Sami Hyypia
A Finnish legend, and one of his country's great footballing exports. Sami Hyypia was a regular at the heart of Liverpool's defence for almost a decade, and all at the price of £2.6m.
Part of the famous cup treble-winning side. A Red through and through.
17. Colin Hendry
Premier League winner with Blackburn Rovers. Treble winner with Rangers. Tough as old boots.
Played for 20 years. A proper warrior. A shoe-in for our list. Nice one, Colin.
16. Martin Keown
Solid defender, once physically and emotionally assaulted Ruud van Nistelrooy in one of the worst acts of poor sportsmanship that football has ever seen.
Solid defender, though. A hugely decorated one at that.
15. Ledley King
The finest centre-back we hardly ever saw. Injury ruined the vertical trajectory of the Tottenham Hotspur legend's career, and yet, Ledley King is still considered one of the greats.
What might have been, but what still was.
14. Marcel Desailly
An OG Chelsea legend. Not one of these new money heroes.
Nicknamed The Rock, Marcel Desailly could turn his hand to anything on the pitch. Could probably be a top box office actor if he fancied, too.
His best years did arrive years earlier with Milan, however.
13. Paul McGrath
Spent seven excellent years at Man Utd, then going on to Aston Villa to defy his physical capacities and recurring injuries to cement his place in Premier League folklore.
An FA Cup and double League Cup winner, McGrath ended the inaugural Premier League season as the PFA Player of the Year and is one of just two defenders to claim the honour since 1993.
12. Jamie Carragher
One of the best centre-backs never to have won a Premier League title? Probably.
Consistency and reliability were the name of the game for Jamie Carragher, and he rarely let some plucky Liverpool sides down.
11. Gary Pallister
Voted in the Premier League Team of the Year four times. Just as many Premier League titles too.
You can't argue with the people, and he is the people's champion.
10. Ricardo Carvalho
Half of one of the best central partnerships in Premier League history, Ricardo Carvalho had the hair and sharp looks of a sexy, mysterious foreigner, but the spirit and fight of a 90s British defender.
He later had spells at Real Madrid and Monaco and helped Portugal win Euro 2016.
9. Jaap Stam
One of Sir Alex Ferguson's only major regrets was allowing Jaap Stam to leave Man Utd too soon - that says it all really.
Hard as nails and a striker's nightmare. No one fancied coming up against Stam.
8. Steve Bruce
The greatest player in English football history - never to have played for England.
A no-nonsense, passionate and commanding defender, Steve Bruce threw his body on the line countless times to claim all three points - and it shows. In all seriousness, a quality, quality defender - and a top bloke.
7. Vincent Kompany
Started at the bottom now we're here. Vincent Kompany is Man City. The Belgian defender joined the Citizens at the beginning of their ascent, and carried them all the way to the summit.
Rock solid in defence, a leader off the field and scorer of the odd vital goal in title winning seasons. Couldn't ask for more.
6. Nemanja Vidic
The heir to Stam's throne. Nemanja Vidic produced eight of the most consistent and terrifying years of football at the heart of Man Utd's defence, winning it all with the Red Devils.
How the Theatre of Dreams misses a presence like this man in their side.
5. Sol Campbell
Sol Campbell made the unforgivable move across north London, but in the long run, it was the right decision.
He became an icon of the game for Arsenal and England, as a graceful, bullish and speedy centre-back.
4. Tony Adams
If Tony Adams could rip his beating heart out of his chest to show you how much Arsenal, England and football meant to him, then he'd probably give it a go. An uncompromising, full-blooded, committed, talented defender.
Had his iconic moment with the title-winning goal against Everton in 1998. Deserved.
3. Virgil van Dijk
The critics sharpened their knives when Liverpool splashed £75m on Virgil van Dijk in January 2018, but he has gone on to become a club legend.
One league and one Champions League title later, the doubters have been forced to withdraw their unbloodied weapons with Van Dijk utterly transforming Jurgen Klopp's Reds.
2. Rio Ferdinand
One of the best ball-playing defenders in football history, Rio Ferdinand was always destined for the top.
Six league titles in 12 years, the better half of some of the greatest partnerships the game has seen, and a wonderful, classy operator. The game is still missing a Rio.
1. John Terry
Say what you want about the guy off the field, but on it, he was the very best the Premier League has ever witnessed.
A leader, an inspiration, reliable, evergreen: a legend. The heartbeat of Chelsea for 20 years, we might never see another defender quite like John Terry.
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