World Football: Ranking the Top 10 Defenders of the Past Decade
Great teams are built on defenses. No matter how good the attack, midfield of a side is there is no denying that unless it has a strong and reliable back-four it will always remain fragile and will never achieve complete glory.
All great teams have thrived on a strong and solid defense. Whether it is the centre back or the full backs who help out in front as well, every team needs a firing defense. All great teams have built on solid defenses.
I have finished with the top 10 midfielders and forwards of the past decade and in this article I will be looking to the top 10 defenders of the last decade.
If you think I have missed out any players please do comment and voice your suggestions. Hope you enjoy.
Please do read my blog, Sportsbuzz if possible.
Paolo Maldini
1 of 11
There are many words to describe Paolo Maldini but none will be more suitable than “Legend”. He will forever remain one of the greatest left backs to play the sport. He spent all 25 years of his illustrious career at AC Milan where he is now a legend and will continue to remain so for eternity. In Maldini, the world saw one of the most dedicated and loyal players in footballing history.
Maldini is not just one of the best defenders of the past decade but easily one of the greatest defenders of all time. There are few who can come close to what this great Italian achieved in his long and decorated career.
At Milan he won a horde of trophies and never stopped giving his best even at the age of 39. Maldini won every possible award at Milan both for his club as well as individually. He won 7 Serie A titles with Milan and 5 Champions League titles including 2 in this decade. He has made the most number of appearances for AC Milan and is the most capped player in the history of the Serie A.
Maldini was an absolute rock down the left and was great not only when it came to defending but also was an extremely useful hand while attacking with his marauding runs down the left.
A truly legendary player, Paolo Maldini will go down into history books as a player who gave it all for his country and club.
Carlos Puyol
2 of 11
Puyol still remains one of the world’s best defenders and is the core of the Spanish and Barcelona sides that have been having so much success over the last few years. He along with Gerard Pique constitute one of the most solid and rigid defenses in world football right now.
Barcelona are a team that can be easily caught on the counter due to their style of play and they need someone who can resist attackers and ensure solidity at the back. Puyol is exactly that type of defender and his no-nonsense style makes him invaluable to both club and country.
His strength and leadership makes him a great player to have leading your defense and it’s his quality and experience that are some of his biggest assets.
In the past decade he has won, 4 La Liga titles and 2 Champions League titles. He has also had great individual success as he has made it into UEFA Team of The Year 6 times. Even at the international stage he has had great success as he led Spain to the Euro 2008 and FIFA World Cup in 2010.
Cafu
3 of 11
Widely considered to be one of the greatest right backs of all time, Cafu achieved a lot of success both at club and international level. His speed down the right flank and tireless overlapping and forward runs made him one of the best right backs ever.
He started the decade at Roma where he won the Serie A in the 2000-01 season. In the summer of 2003, he moved to AC Milan. At Milan he won the Serie A in the 2003-04 season and went onto win his only Champions League title in 2007 with the Italian giants.
During his career he won 2 World Cup, one in 1994 and another in 2002. He was the captain of the 2nd successful campaign in 2002 and led his side to their 5th World Cup.
At his best Cafu was solid and dependable and was a true leader and inspiration on the pitch who led his team to glory and success.
.png?w=256)
Roberto Carlos
4 of 11
From his “impossible angle goal” to the stunning free kick against France, Roberto Carlos added a totally new dimension to the role of a left back with his marauding runs down the left flank. His breathtaking pace and powerful shot made him a real force up front and he used these abilities of his to great effect.
He started the decade at Real Madrid where he won 4 La Liga titles including 3 in this decade. He was also an integral part of their Champions League winning squads of 2000 and 2002. He was named the UEFA Defender of the Year in 2002 the same year Madrid won the La Liga and Champions League. It was at Madrid that he established himself as one of the world’s best left backs both at the back and while going forward.
Even at the international stage he was extremely successful as he won the 2002 World Cup with Brazil. One of the highlights of his international career was the stunning free-kick against France which is one of the best free-kicks I have ever seen.
Sol Campbell
5 of 11
Some may call me biased for putting him on the list but Sol Campbell was an integral part of the Arsenal side that dominated English football, went unbeaten for an entire season and that went extremely close to lifting the Champions League.
A no-nonsense defender, Campbell was a fierce competitor and was a regular starter for Wenger's men and partnered Toure in the heart of Arsenal's Invincibles. Campbell was always willing to put in everything and remained committed to the Arsenal cause.
A solid defender and supreme tackler, Campbell was rock solid at the back and had an uncanny knack for scoring key goals, non more important than his goal against Barcelona in the UCL final although it ended up being for a lost cause.
After moving away from Arsenal he led Portsmouth to FA Cup glory eliminating even Manchester United on the way.
His commitment and dedication to Arsenal was there for everyone to be seen as he came back to Arsenal for a six month spell in 2010. Despite being 35, Campbell continued to put his best and was one of Arsenal's better players towards the end of the season. He outshone many of his younger teammates and was an inspirational figure on the pitch.
During his peak Campbell was an absolute beast on the pitch and for his achievements with Arsenal he deserves to feature on the list.
Ashley Cole
6 of 11
Ashley Cole is presently one of the best left backs in world football and achieved glory with both the Gunners and with Chelsea.
After establishing himself as Arsenal's first choice left back in the 2000-01 season, Cole went on to establish himself as one of the consistent performers of the Arsenal side that enjoyed exceptional success in 2002 and was an integral part of The Invincibles.
Noted for his pace, Cole was solid in his defending and was excellent while going forward as well. His tidy work down the left makes him a formidable opponent and although not admired throughout the world for his off field antics, on the pitch, Cole was one of Wenger's best players before his transfer to fierce rivals Chelsea.
At Chelsea too he has been widely successful winning 3 FA Cups and won the 2009-10 Premier League. He has been one of Chelsea’s most consistent performers and is a real force while defending as well attacking.
Even with the English National Team he remains an extremely consistent performer and during the 2010 World Cup, he was one of the few English players to put in a good showing.
Ricardo Carvalho
7 of 11
Ricardo Carvalho was an integral part of the Porto side that shocked the world by lifting the UEFA Champions League in the 2003-04season. Throughout the decade he has been one of the world’s most consistent and despite his great achievements with whichever club he has played at he has gone on doing his business fairly unnoticed.
He started the decade at Porto with whom he won 2 Portuguese Liga. He then Jose Mourinho at Chelsea with whom he spent 2 hugely successful seasons at Porto. At Chelsea he further enhanced his reputation as one of the world’s best centre backs. He spent 6 seasons at the London club winning 3 Premier League titles along the way.
He then joined former boss Mourinho once again this time at Real Madrid. He has got his Madrid career off to a good start and has performed at a top level for the Spanish side.
Despite his relatively small stature he continues to win headers against taller opposition. His experience also makes him invaluable to his side. Blessed with supreme technique Carvalho is a defensive rock who adds stability to the back four.
Fabio Cannavaro
8 of 11
Till date Fabio Cannavaro remains the only defender to win the FIFA World Player of the Year and it’s no surprise why. He maybe short for a centre back but he more than makes up for that with sheer determination to win and pure quality on the pitch. A leader on the pitch, Cannavaro is the most capped player for the Italian National side and led the Azzurri to top of the world when they won the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
He began the decade at Italian side Parma and after consistent showings there he was bought by Inter Milan. His time at Inter was plagued by injuries and he was sold to Juventus. At Juventus he was a part of an extremely fearsome defense featuring the likes of Buffon, Thuram. He won 2 consecutive Serie A titles with Juventus. He eventually left the club after they were demoted to the Serie B.
He then spent 3 seasons with Real Madrid winning 3 La Liga titles. He then moved back to Juventus with whom he spent just one season. He currently plays for Al-Ahli Dubai after moving there in a free transfer following the 2010 World Cup.
Although his international career got over in total disappointment, he still remains one of Italy’s and the world’s best centre backs.
Nesta
9 of 11
Another of AC Milan’s famous and highly talented centre backs, Nesta is widely considered to be one of the world’s top centre backs. In the 2002-03 season he was awarded with the Best Club Defender award, the same year in which AC Milan won the Champions League.
He has been colossal at the back for Milan, performing consistently at the top level despite being plagued by injuries. He started the decade at Lazio where his consistent performances earned him a transfer to Italian giants AC Milan. It is at Milan that he has truly established himself as one of the world’s best centre backs. He has won 2 Champions League titles with Milan and 1 Serie A title.
Despite missing much of the 2008-09 season due to injury he has not bounced back from that blip and is back to his best. He has also won the FIFA World Cup with Italy in 2006.
John Terry
10 of 11
During his absence it is so evident that Chelsea are just not the same team without his presence, leading their back four, organizing the defense and inspiring the troops. When Chelsea are in trouble and need someone to rise to the occasion it is usually Terry who leads Chelsea to glory.
He has won the Best Defender award a whooping 3 times and he has deserved it. He remains one of Chelsea’s best and most consistent performer. He is the leader of the Chelsea defense and the entire team and is a hugely inspirational presence on the pitch. He is the spine of the Chelsea team.
He has won the Premier League thrice with the London club and is raring to go for more and is an integral part of the Chelsea back four.
He has made it a habit to score important goals for his club and his driving runs from the back often reap good rewards for his club.
Terry is a no-nonsense defender who never backs down and is one of England’s best players.
Honorable Mentions
11 of 11
Jamie Carragher
Vidic
Rio Ferdinand
Gary Neville
Gerard Pique
.png?w=480)
.jpg?w=600 "Heisman candidate goes undrafted, accepts camp invite")
