English football has been a home ground for top defenders who have influenced the style of play and the game, to a certain extent, over the years. The list of the Top 5 PL defenders of all time consists of Tony Adams, Ferdinand, Van Dijk, Ashley Cole and Terry.
5. Tony Adams
Tony Adams is at the fifth position, the very heart and soul of the Gunners for almost 20 years. The supporters called Adams “Mr. Arsenal”, which was the best way to show loyalty and leadership. He played at that one club only and exhibited a warrior’s mentality, besides leading the team with an extraordinary feeling of pride. The player was not the most chic one, but in terms of the game reading, tackle timing, and teammate morale the very few could even be close to his level.
Adams was the man who not only took the responsibility for the defense but also made it a stronghold that no one could penetrate. He even got the team captain’s in the league three times, one of which was his last season. The back man did not show any modern tricks at all, simple, tough, and no cheating. Just passion and presence.
4. Rio Ferdinand
Then came Rio Ferdinand, the smooth operator of the modern era. Adams represented toughness in its purest form, while Ferdinand represented the opposite end of the spectrum with his calmness. The legendary player from Manchester United was a defender who was able to unlock the stores and was even capable of playing as a midfielder because of his calmness. He along with Nemanja Vidic made up to one of the fiercest defensive partnerships in the Premier League ever.
Ferdinand was not only tough but also very intelligent, composed, and in his time. His control of the ball, perception, and influence made him the very foundation of United’s supremacy during the rule of Sir Alex Ferguson. If Adams was a wall, Ferdinand was a Rolls-Royce smoothly passing through the pressure.
3. Virgil van Dijk
Van Dijk made a huge impact at Liverpool. The Reds were somewhat uneasy before his arrival. Their next step was to win the league with him. His aerial control, composed under stress, and accurate long balls were reasons that he was considered one of the best defenders in the world.
A serious injury could not stop him. Van Dijk came back and made it clear why he is the one to be included in the all-time greats lists.
2. Ashley Cole
Next up, Ashley Cole, the master of balance. He could lock down world-class wingers one minute and bomb forward to deliver a cross the next. Even though it was always Arsenal red or Chelsea blue, Cole was still day-in-day-out great at performing as a player. His speed, ball reading and defensive running were the best.
Among many offensive-minded full-backs, he was the one who had all the attributes to be the best. Cole was not a showman but simply an effective player. He kept on providing the goods in the clutch over and over again, season after season.
1. John Terry
And finally, John Terry, the ultimate leader. The man who bled blue for Chelsea. For almost twenty years, Terry was a master at defending, sacrificing himself for the team, and making defending a thing of beauty. He was a brilliant reader of the game, winning almost all aerial duels, and seizing goal-scoring opportunities.
During his captaincy, Chelsea celebrated with five league and many cup titles. He was the very kind of player that dealt so much trouble to the forwards. Terry wasn’t just the top defender in the PL, he made the standard that the rest tried to reach.
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