The 24 All Time Best Defenders In The English Premier League

24. Greame Le Saux

The flying left back became the most expensive English defender in history when Chelsea brought him back from Blackburn Rovers for £5m in 1997 and was a huge part of keeping them competitive in the days before Roman Abramovich takeover. The English international won the premier league with the then wealthy Blackburn before the move came.

23. Nigel Winterburn

Along with Lee Dixon on the opposite side, the pair flanked the likes of Tony Adams and David O’Leary expertly. While remaining almost impenetrable, Winterburn was as dangerous going forward too and famously set up Alan Smith’s opener in the win over Liverpool that secured the old First Division.Though he was never really recognised at international level, the former Wimbledon man kept his high level of performances up even after the arrival of Arsene Wenger and a complete change in philosophy. It took only the emergence of Ashley Cole to tempt Wenger to tell one of the most reliable defenders the Gunners have ever seen to move on. In the mid nineties, he was a key man in George Graham's famous back five at Highbury,

22. Marcel Desailly

He arrived in 1998 for £4.6m and formed a formidable partnership with compatriot Frank Leboeuf during his time in West London. The Frenchman was aggressive and physical, yet possessed an elegance and confidence with the ball at his feet not often seen in defenders. The World Cup winner has had a distinguished career all over the globe, but showed his true class at Stamford Bridge.

21. Martin Keown

After leaving Highbury for Aston Villa and later Everton, he was brought back to the London club in 1993 to form one of the meanest defences the Premier League has ever seen. He would want to be remembered for many things he did on the pitch but certainly not that incident with Ruud Van Nistlerooy. While never the superstar Tony Adams was, the former England international supplemented the likes of his skipper and Steve Bould in a ridiculously competitive battle for places at Highbury. The youngster of the group, he would later become an integral part of Arsene Wenger’s plans as the Gunners dominated English football during the early part of his reign.

20. Branislav Ivanovic

Other than the more celebrated trio of John Terry, Ricardo Carvalho and Ashley Cole, it’s hard to think of a better defender playing for Chelsea since they became a real force. The Serb scored crucial goals and made many assists in his seven years at Chelsea. His aerial ability helps him perform exceptionally well at both ends of the pitch, his crossing quality earns the Serbian captain an awful lot of assists and oddly enough, he tends to be ice cool in front of goal. The former Lokomotiv Moscow ace who arrived the Premier League in 2008 has been one of the most formidable opponents for wingers in every sense since arriving on these shores.

19. Lee Dixon

Now a TV pundit, the Arsenal defender was a quarter part of the league’s first great defences. He was an integral part of George Graham’s backline at Highbury, and later Arsene Wenger’s. A marauding right-back, he was one of the first to combine strong defensive work and overlapping winger support so well in the Premier League. Helped form the solid base from which the Gunners would launch title assault after title assault. A diligent defender, he mixed an astute reading of the game with discipline and athleticism over 15 years in North London.

18. Denis Irwin

Regarded by Sir Alex as pound-for-pound his greatest ever signing, Irish full-back Denis Irwin will also be fondly remembered for long and successful stint at Old Trafford. Won every major honour as a Red Devil and while he was comfortable in virtually any defensive position, was largely deployed as a left-back. Even well into his 30s his boss still preferred the former Leeds and Oldham star to the emerging Phil Neville.

17. Sami Hyypia

Sami Hyypia scored the goal against Juventus that sent Liverpool through to the Champions League final at Instanbul. He arrived the Merseyside in 1999 for       just £2.6m and became a rock in Liverpool's defence under Gerard Houlier and later Rafa Benitez. Apart from the Premier League, the Finland international has won every other medal for Liverpool.                                                                   

16. Pablo Zabaleta

He arrived from Espanyol the same week Abu Dhabi group announced their takeover of Manchester City. He was part of the team that won two Premier League titles and both cup competitions.

15. Ledley King

Would no doubt be far higher on this list if it weren’t for his terrible luck with injuries. Spurs legend Ledley King was one of the most gifted centre-halves England has ever produced, and half the time he didn’t even train!

His troublesome knee prevented King from training as much as he would have liked, yet he was utterly formidable at times when it comes to matchday. Truly logic defying how he continued to be one of the best defenders in the Premier League, arguably during its strongest period in recent years, but simply couldn’t train.Had he been fully fit at all times, there is really no reason why the ex-England international would be talked about in the same vein as Rio Ferdinand. Elegant on the ball yet unforgiving when squared up to an opponent, it’s a real shame he suffered such chronic injury throughout his career.

14. Gary Pallister 

Broke the British transfer record for a defender when he left Teesside for Old Trafford at £2.3m in 1989, and even represented England before he played in the top flight. Gary Pallister was just that good. Alongside Steve Bruce, the pair formed the first great defence under Sir Alex Ferguson as the Red Devils looked to make their mark on English football in the 1990s. Won four Premier League titles and 3 FA Cups with the club and was Fergie’s first talisman in defence alongside Steve Bruce.

13. Vincent Kompany

Vincent Kompany has been arguably the best defender Manchester City has ever had. He played a pivotal role in City's recent success in the Premier League. Injuries have prevented him from being a regular in Pep Guardiola's starting eleven.

12. Jaap Stam

Jaap Stam only played in England for three seasons, but is one of the best to ever play on these shores. The classy Dutchman possessed a rare combination of attributes to make him one of the greatest defenders this league has ever seen. Pacey, powerful and perfect on the ball, it’s a pity he was sold by the Old Trafford outfit. Fergie later admitted it was a mistake, but memories of the former Ajax and Holland legend are fond enough. Just like Ferdinand, he was ball playing center back.

11. Jamie Carragher

The Liverpool legend grew up as an Everton supporter. During Rafa Benitez reign in Messeyside, he was important in the defence as Steven Gerald was in the midfield. Played Over 500 games for the club. He was an assured defender capable of sniffing out trouble at a moment’s notice.

10. Ricardo Carvalho

The Portuguese defender arrived with Jose Mourinho at Chelsea back in 2004, and was integral in the side that only conceded 15 league goals in his first season. Paired next to John Terry, he provided a calm alternative to the bruising Blues captain and was the epitome of elegance. He was the perfect foil for the Blues legend, offering an assured approach to Terry’s typically British centre-half play. In fact, though they did not have much luck in the Champions League during his time at Stamford Bridge, he gave the club a much more continental feel with his class.

9. Sol Campbell

His size, speed and strength made him difficult to get past and his prowess on the ball meant he slot perfectly into Arsene Wenger’s plans.  Campbell was a towering, elegant defender who won the double at Highbury, before becoming a huge part of their Invincibles team.

8. Steve Bruce 

In fact, it was the Geordie defender who netted a brace against Sheffield Wednesday in order to send the Red Devils on their way to the inaugural Premier League crown. The rest is history. The Manchester United captain may never have won an England cap, but led his side to a trio of Premier League titles.

7. Ashley Cole

A controversial personality, the former Arsenal and Chelsea man was sometimes forgotten as a truly world-class defender. Perhaps England’s best ever left-back, he won 107 caps for the Three Lions across his glittering career that saw him win almost every club competition he ever played in. On the left-side of defence, Ashley Cole was rightly considered one of the best in the world in that position for a number of years.

6. Gary Neville

A graduate of the Class of ’92, the England defender combined stoic defending with incisive attacking play for over a decade until injuries simply got too much for him. Mr Dependable. The Manchester United defender formed a great partnership with David Beckham on the right side of Sir Alex Ferguson’s treble winning Red Devils team. The club have never really replaced him in his role, finding someone as utterly reliable as their former skipper is a truly daunting task.

5. Partice Evra

An integral piece of the backline that saw the Red Devils dominate European football between 2007 and 2009. Often gets stick in the press due to his perceived arrogant nature, it’s important to remember that the former Monaco man was the perfect blend of defence and attack. He was the heir to Denis Irwin’s throne as the second world class left-back of the Sir Alex Ferguson dynasty.   Probably should have been kept on to ease Luke Shaw into the role, but played in his fourth Champions League final at the age of 33 last term.

4. Nemanja Vidic

One of the most imposing defenders to ever play in England, he formed an excellent partnership with Rio Ferdinand before moving on to Inter Milan. An absolute rock at the heart of the last great Red Devils side, the stoic Serbian won five league titles and the Champions League, captaining the side for three years. His ability in the air blended with his speed and strength on the ground made him almost impossible to get past.

3. Tony Adams

Lead the Gunners for four league titles across his career, and is arguably the best defender the club ever had. Tony Adams is often remembered as a great leader and inspirational captain, which of course he was, but first and foremost he was an extremely intelligent defender. He has the ability to read the game incredibly and stop attacks before they were anywhere near in motion, or track a run and limit any option to an opposing player.

2. John Terry

One of Mourinho’s generals, he has been crucial in establishing the Blues as a force both home and abroad.  A leader, strong in the air, astute reader of the game, it’s hard to think what the skipper can’t do. Chelsea’s greatest ever player. The defender has been with the club all of his career, winning every trophy he possibly can with the club. Perhaps not the most well-liked individual, the former England captain sums up the British game with his life or death approach to the game.

1. Rio Ferdinand

An excellent servant for his country, captaining the Three Lions on many occasions. Classy on the ball and elegance in abundance, the former Leeds and West Ham man became the most expensive defender in world football when moving to Manchester United in 2002. Perhaps the most technically gifted centre-back that has ever graced the league, the former England man had electric pace which afforded him the ability to clear up any mess he or a teammate may inadvertently create. He was also an imposing figure at the heart of United defence, he formed an outstanding partnership with Nemanja Vidic as the club dominated English football in the late ‘00s, and reached three Champions League finals in four years.