Who is the best Premier League defender ever?
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ThePremier League has seen it’s fair share of legendary defenders over the years.But who was the best?
We’ve pickedout four who we think are capable of chesting down the crown, flicking it backover their head and then clearing it into Row Z as the Premier League’s greatestever defender.
JohnTerry
Whether youlove him or hate him, there’s no denying Terry is one of the Premier Leaguegreats.
‘CaptainFantastic’, as he was dubbed by Chelsea fans, made 717 appearances for theBlues across 19 years incredible years at Stamford Bridge, during which time hewon every club honour there was to win.
Hisconsistency, leadership and willingness to put his body on the line (rememberthat diving block during the 2010 World Cup?) make him an obvious choice forany all-time Premier League XI.
Vincent Kompany
It’s difficultto think of another player in recent times who has been so closely associatedwith a club’s success.
Brought inby Mark Hughes during the summer of 2008, Kompany was the rock at the heart ofCity’s defence for 11 seasons, making 265 top-flight appearances as the clubwent from success to success.
It wasn’tjust his outstanding ability at the back that the towering Belgian isremembered for either. He also popped up with two title-defining goals againstMan United in 2012 and Leicester in 2019.
Nemanja Vidic
In an idealworld we’d have Rio Ferdinand and Vidic in this list, but unfortunately, weonly had room for one.
And it’s theway the Serbian transformed a Man United side going through it’s third title-winningcycle under Sir Alex Ferguson which gets him the nod.
A snip at£7m, the 2006 arrival from Spartak Moscow added much-needed steel to the heartof United’s defence and went on to win five Premier League titles and aChampions League at Old Trafford.
Tony Adams
How muchwould Tony Adams be worth in today’s market? Judging by the state of Arsenal’sdefence in recent seasons, the 53-year-old probably wouldn’t do a bad job forthem even now.
The Gunnerslegend kept 115 clean sheets in 255 Premier League games and was synonymouswith George Graham’s infamously well-drilled side of the late 1980s and early1990s.
That he wasable to maintain his form and battle his demons under the tenure of ArseneWenger, too, provides further proof of his iconic status.
All oddsand markets correct as of date of publication
