Summary Four Manchester United players featured in the top ten centre-backs, including Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic. Virgil van Dijk cracks the top three but is not quite yet at the top of the mountain. Tottenham legend Ledley King could have been much higher up the list had injuries not hampered his career.
Virgil van Dijk has been one of the most dominant centre-backs in the world after joining Liverpool from Southampton back in 2018, with the Dutch star almost always in control of things at the back.
But who is the best top-flight central defender the Premier League has seen since its creation in 1992? We’ve witnessed elegant ball-players, goalscoring brutes and pure sweepers, but someone has to be number one…
Ranking factors Appearances Titles Clean sheets Personal honours What others have said about them 20 best centre-backs in Premier League history: in pictures 20 Gary Cahill Aston Villa, Bolton, Chelsea, Crystal Palace
After beginning his Premier League career with Aston Villa and Bolton, Gary Cahill made his name at Stamford Bridge with Chelsea, winning two league titles with the Blues alongside John Terry.
In fact, at one point, Terry described Cahill as “different class” and “England’s best centre back”, with the latter being named in the PFA Team of the Year on three separate occasions.
Games
394
Goals
28
Clean sheets
103
Assists
11
Titles won
2
19 Kolo Toure Arsenal, Man City, Liverpool
Not many players can say they have played for Arsenal, Man City and Liverpool, but that is the Premier League path Kolo Toure took between 2002-2016.
The Ivorian was part of the Gunners’ famous ‘Invincible’ squad and his man-marking ability, speed and strength in the air have seen him named as one of the most underrated players of the Premier League era in the media.
Games
352
Goals
12
Clean sheets
108
Assists
10
Titles won
2
18 Marcel Desailly Chelsea
Not only was Marcel Desailly a top centre-back, but the French icon could also turn out as a holding midfielder if required as well.
He won multiple trophies throughout his career, including three honours as a Chelsea player, and made defending look easy in England. Desailly didn’t win a Premier League title, but he was named in the PL team of the decade between 1992-2002.
Games
158
Goals
6
Clean sheets
54
Assists
4
17 Paul McGrath Aston Villa, Derby County
Aston Villa legend Paul McGrath was 32 years of age when the Premier League was formed, but he still went on to make more than 160 appearances in the top flight, the majority of which came at Villa Park.
Former manager Ron Atkinson even hailed McGrath as the best centre-half ever to play in the Premier League and is still referred to as ‘God’ by the Villans.
Games
166
Goals
6
Clean sheets
40
Assists
3
16 Ledley King Tottenham
Spurs icon Ledley King made more than 250 Premier League appearances at White Hart Lane and has gone down as a Tottenham legend.
In truth, if it wasn’t for Rio Ferdinand and John Terry, King would have earned more than 21 England caps as, during his prime, King even ‘reminded some observers of the great Bobby Moore’ – not a bad comparison to have.
Games
268
Goals
10
Clean sheets
63
Assists
8
15 Sami Hyypia Liverpool
A key member of the Liverpool side that won the League Cup, FA Cup and UEFA Cup in 2000/01, Sami Hyypia was a bargain buy for the Reds after signing for just over £2.5m from Willem II.
The Finnish giant has gone down as “one of the smartest pieces of business the club has ever conducted” and would go on to captain Liverpool. He never won the Premier League but left his mark as an imposing centre-back.
Games
318
Goals
22
Clean sheets
125
Assists
15
14 Jamie Carragher Liverpool
Jamie Carragher began his career as a right-back before being moved central by Rafael Benitez and would go on to establish himself as a Liverpool legend.
Making more than 700 appearances as an Anfield defender, Carragher was being spoken about as England’s best defender at one point in his career ahead of the likes of Rio Ferdinand, John Terry and Sol Campbell, however, he never lifted the league title during his 17 years as a Liverpool professional.
Games
508
Goals
3
Clean sheets
195
Assists
15
13 John Stones Everton, Man City
A great modern day centre-back of the Premier League era, there hasn’t been many better on the ball in defence than John Stones.
He’s been a favourite of Pep Guardiola’s at the Etihad Stadium, who has even used him as a holding midfielder at points during his time. Guardiola said he “loves” Stones and called him “incredible”, with the former Everton man winning six titles and being named in the PFA Team of the Year twice while at City.
Games
252
Goals
11
Clean sheets
75
Assists
2
Titles won
6
12 Martin Keown Everton, Arsenal
One defender who did lift the title, on three occasions in fact, was Arsenal’s Martin Keown. In the peak years of his career at the age of 26 when the Premier League was formed, Keown moved to the Gunners from Everton in 1993 and got better with age.
After starring at Highbury for more than 10 years, Keown got the fairytale send-off in May 2004 as part of the ‘Invincible” squad and is regarded as ‘one of the club’s greatest defenders’.
Games
323
Goals
4
Clean sheets
108
Assists
7
Titles won
3
11 Gary Pallister Man Utd, Middlesbrough
At the age of 27, when the Premier League began, Gary Pallister was at the top of his game and would go on to help Man Utd win four titles in five years.
The towering defender had pace, ‘terrific ball control’ and ‘excellent aerial ability’. Pallister has gone down as a Red Devils legend and was even named in Roy Keane’s dream Man Utd XI.
Games
261
Goals
9
Clean sheets
104
Assists
6
Titles won
4