Best defenders football manager 20224/2/2023 He made 111 appearances for the Gunners and later returned for a short second spell, having formed part of the Portsmouth side that won the FA Cup for the first time in 69 years under Harry Redknapp in 2008.ĭefensive Rocks: Sol Campbell – The immovable Invincible 5. That latter title was won at White Hart Lane, as Campbell celebrated his second championship at the home of his former side. At Arsenal, Campbell won a domestic double during his debut season, starred during the club’s ‘Invincibles’ campaign and scored in a Champions League final. His free transfer move to Arsenal remains arguably the most controversial deal in Premier League history, but one which saw both player and club thrive. A colossal centre-back presence with Herculean strength, he established himself as one of the division’s best at Spurs and captained the side to League Cup success in 1999.Īn otherwise absence of silverware persuaded Campbell to move on, with the defender turning down interest from Europe’s elite to sign for the old enemy down the road. There were few more intimidating sights for Premier League forwards than the presence of Sol Campbell bearing down on them.Ĭampbell came through the ranks at Tottenham, won major trophies on either side of the north London divide and later lifted an FA Cup at Portsmouth for good measure. “When I think of disappointments, obviously Jaap Stam was always a disappointment to me, I made a bad decision there,” Ferguson later told MUTV.ĭefensive Rocks: Jip Jaap Stam, a big Dutchman 6. Stam went on to spend a further five seasons at the top level in Italy, while United relinquished their hold on the title to Arsenal the following season. The Dutchman was formidable and thriving, but his career with the club was cut short.įerguson felt that Stam had lost a yard of pace after an Achilles issue (alongside some controversial revelations about his manager in his autobiography) and a record offer from Lazio was accepted for his services. Stam added consecutive titles in each of the next two seasons and on each occasion was included in the PFA Team of the Year. No English side – before or since – has matched that feat. His first season with the Red Devils saw Ferguson’s side conquer all, claiming a historic Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup treble. Deceptively quick, strong as an ox and with the shaven head and steely-stare of a nightclub doorman, Stam struck fear into opposition attackers. Stam had been a domineering presence in the Premier League’s best side, emerging as the division’s most intimidating defender after arriving from PSV Eindhoven. It’s not often that Sir Alex Ferguson’s judgement is wrong, but the Manchester United manager admits he got it wrong when allowing Jaap Stam to leave Old Trafford. He departed City as one of the club’s all-time greats, a player who just got what it meant to be a blue. In total he made 338 appearances for the Citizens, with perhaps only his fitness issues preventing the Belgian from ranking higher here. His winner against Manchester United handed the title initiative to City in 2011/12, while his stunning effort against Leicester ensured Pep Guardiola’s side pipped Liverpool to the title in 2018/19 He added three further league titles and a host of domestic cup triumphs, while he developed a welcome knack of scoring important goals. Kompany spent eight seasons as club captain at the Etihad, during the most successful era in City’s history. □ An unforgettable strike from Vincent Kompany #GoalOfTheDay /1OOHQepztI He formed part of the side that ended a 35-year wait for major silverware with FA Cup success in 2011, before captaining the side to a first Premier League title the following season. An emerging midfielder during his time at Hamburg, he later settled at the heart of the defence for City and spent more than a decade as the club’s defensive leader.Ĭity’s transformative takeover took place just days after Kompany’s arrival, but rather than be forced out following an influx of cash and new talent, the Belgian became a figurehead for the new era. Vincent Kompany could not have envisaged such success when unveiled as Manchester City’s latest signing in 2008. Here are our rankings of the eight best centre-backs in Premier League history. We’ve attempted to whittle down the very best to have played in the Premier League, a difficult task when looking at the names who have just missed the cut. Successful teams are built from the back and every title-winning team requires a centre-back, or two, capable of shutting down the Premier League’s best forwards.Įnglish football has been blessed with an abundance of brilliant centre-backs throughout the Premier League era, from lion-hearted leaders to classy central defenders with cool and composure.
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