Top 20+ Famous Centre-backs in the Premier League in History

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Centre-backs in the Premier League hold a pivotal role in ensuring defensive stability and anchoring their teams. With the league’s fierce competition and fast-paced nature, having a solid defensive line is essential for success. This article delves into the world of centre backs, shedding light on the best players in this position and their remarkable contributions to the Premier League.

List of the Best Centre-Backs in The Premier League

These centre-backs (or central defender) have made their mark in the Premier League with their exceptional skills and unwavering determination. Let’s delve into their profiles, highlighting their positions, teams, experience, and noteworthy accomplishments.

John Stones

• Date of Birth: May 28, 1994
• Place of Birth: Barnsley, England
• Position: Centre Back
• Teams: Everton, Manchester City
• Seasons: 8
• Goals Scored: 10
• Achievements: 4 Premier League Titles, 1 UEFA Champions League Title

John Stones has showcased his brilliance as a centre back, demonstrating excellent reading of the game and precise passing abilities. His composure and ability to build attacks from the back have been instrumental in Manchester City’s recent successes.

Thiago Silva

• Date of Birth: September 22, 1984
• Place of Birth: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• Position: Centre Back
• Teams: Chelsea
• Seasons: 2
• Goals Scored: 2
• Achievements: 1 UEFA Champions League Title

Thiago Silva’s experience and leadership qualities have made him one of the standout centre-backs in the Premier League. His positioning, aerial prowess, and calmness under pressure have provided Chelsea with a solid defensive foundation.

Manuel Akanji

• Date of Birth: July 19, 1995
• Place of Birth: Neftenbach, Switzerland
• Position: Centre Back
• Teams: Borussia Dortmund
• Seasons: N/A
• Goals Scored: 3
• Achievements: N/A

Manuel Akanji has emerged as a promising young central defender, impressing with his athleticism and ability to initiate attacks from deep positions. His physicality and tactical awareness make him a force to be reckoned with.

Lewis Dunk

• Date of Birth: November 21, 1991
• Place of Birth: Brighton, England
• Position: Centre Back
• Teams: Brighton & Hove Albion
• Seasons: 5
• Goals Scored: 15
• Achievements: N/A

Lewis Dunk’s commanding presence in defence and aerial dominance have made him a standout performer for Brighton. His consistent performances and leadership qualities have earned him a place among the league’s top centre backs.

Marc Guehi

• Date of Birth: July 13, 2000
• Place of Birth: Abidjan, Ivory Coast
• Position: Centre Back
• Teams: Crystal Palace
• Seasons: 1
• Goals Scored: 0
• Achievements: N/A

Marc Guehi’s swift rise in the Premier League has been impressive, showcasing his strength in aerial duels and ability to read the game. With his promising potential, Guehi has a bright future ahead.

Cristian Romero

• Date of Birth: April 27, 1998
• Place of Birth: Córdoba, Argentina
• Position: Centre Back
• Teams: Atalanta, Tottenham Hotspur
• Seasons: N/A
• Goals Scored: 4
• Achievements: N/A

Cristian Romero’s aggressive style of defending and exceptional tackling abilities have garnered attention from top clubs. His tenacity and defensive prowess make him a formidable presence on the pitch.

James Tarkowski

• Date of Birth: November 19, 1992
• Place of Birth: Manchester, England
• Position: Centre Back
• Teams: Burnley
• Seasons: 7
• Goals Scored: 7
• Achievements: N/A

James Tarkowski’s no-nonsense approach to defending and strong aerial abilities have established him as a reliable centre back for Burnley. His ability to intercept passes and make crucial tackles has been pivotal for his team’s defensive solidity.

Fabian Schar

• Date of Birth: December 20, 1991
• Place of Birth: Wil, Switzerland
• Position: Centre Back
• Teams: Newcastle United
• Seasons: 4
• Goals Scored: 8
• Achievements: N/A

Fabian Schar’s technical skills and composure on the ball make him a unique centre back. His distribution from the back and ability to contribute to the attack have made him a valuable asset for Newcastle United.

Sven Botman

• Date of Birth: January 12, 2000
• Place of Birth: Amsterdam, Netherlands
• Position: Centre Back
• Teams: Lille
• Seasons: N/A
• Goals Scored: 2
• Achievements: 1 Ligue 1 Title

Sven Botman’s strength, aerial ability, and composure on the ball have caught the attention of top clubs. His performances in Ligue 1 have been outstanding, showcasing his potential to become a world-class central defender.

Ruben Dias

• Date of Birth: May 14, 1997
• Place of Birth: Amadora, Portugal
• Position: Centre Back
• Teams: Manchester City
• Seasons: 1
• Goals Scored: 2
• Achievements: 1 Premier League Title, 1 UEFA Champions League Title

Ruben Dias’ arrival at Manchester City has had a transformative impact on their defensive stability. His positioning, reading of the game, and leadership qualities have been vital in the club’s recent successes.

Virgil van Dijk

• Date of Birth: July 8, 1991
• Place of Birth: Breda, Netherlands
• Position: Centre Back
• Teams: Liverpool
• Seasons: 4
• Goals Scored: 13
• Achievements: 1 Premier League Title, 1 UEFA Champions League Title

Virgil van Dijk’s impact on Liverpool’s defence cannot be overstated. His strength, aerial dominance, and ability to initiate attacks from the back have made him one of the best centre backs in the world.

Lisandro Martinez

• Date of Birth: January 18, 1998
• Place of Birth: Gualeguay, Argentina
• Position: Centre Back
• Teams: Ajax
• Seasons: N/A
• Goals Scored: 1
• Achievements: 3 Eredivisie Titles

Lisandro Martinez’s versatility allows him to excel both as a centre back and a defensive midfielder. His technical abilities, reading of the game, and tackling skills have been instrumental in Ajax’s domestic success.

Ricardo Carvalho

• Date of Birth: May 18, 1978
• Place of Birth: Amarante, Portugal
• Position: Centre Back
• Teams: Chelsea
• Seasons: 6
• Goals Scored: 4
• Achievements: 3 Premier League Titles

Ricardo Carvalho’s elegant style of defending and exceptional positioning made him a key figure in Chelsea’s success during the early 2000s. His ability to intercept passes and anticipate opponents’ movements set him apart as one of the Premier League’s finest centre backs.

Steve Bruce

• Date of Birth: December 31, 1960
• Place of Birth: Corbridge, England
• Position: Centre Back
• Teams: Manchester United, Newcastle United
• Seasons: 18
• Goals Scored: 19
• Achievements: 3 Premier League Titles

Steve Bruce’s longevity and leadership qualities have made him a respected figure in Premier League history. His aerial prowess and ability to score crucial goals from set-pieces contributed to both Manchester United and Newcastle United’s defensive solidity.

Sol Campbell

• Date of Birth: September 18, 1974
• Place of Birth: Plaistow, England
• Position: Centre Back
• Teams: Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal
• sons: 14
• Goals Scored: 9
• Achievements: 2 Premier League Titles, 2 FA Cup Titles

Sol Campbell’s physicality and commanding presence made him a formidable centre back during his time at Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal. His ability to read the game and make crucial interceptions solidified his reputation as one of the league’s top defenders.

Nemanja Vidic

• Date of Birth: October 21, 1981
• Place of Birth: Titovo Uzice, Yugoslavia (now Serbia)
• Position: Centre Back
• Teams: Manchester United
• Seasons: 8
• Goals Scored: 15
• Achievements: 5 Premier League Titles, 1 UEFA Champions League Title

Nemanja Vidic’s aggressive defending and aerial dominance made him a nightmare for opposition strikers. His partnership with Rio Ferdinand at Manchester United was legendary, contributing to the club’s remarkable success during that era.

Vincent Kompany

• Date of Birth: April 10, 1986
• Place of Birth: Uccle, Belgium
• Position: Centre Back
• Teams: Manchester City
• Seasons: 11
• Goals Scored: 20
• Achievements: 4 Premier League Titles

Vincent Kompany’s leadership qualities and ability to score crucial goals from defence made him an icon at Manchester City. His composure under pressure and tactical awareness inspired his teammates and played a pivotal role in the club’s rise to prominence.

Tony Adams

• Date of Birth: October 10, 1966
• Place of Birth: Romford, England
• Position: Centre Back
• Teams: Arsenal
• Seasons: 16
• Goals Scored: 12
• Achievements: 4 Premier League Titles

Tony Adams’ unwavering commitment and defensiveastuteness made him an integral part of Arsenal’s historic success in the late 20th century. His leadership qualities and ability to organize the defense set the standard for future generations of center backs.

Rio Ferdinand

• Date of Birth: November 7, 1978
• Place of Birth: London, England
• Position: Centre Back
• Teams: West Ham United, Leeds United, Manchester United, Queens Park Rangers
• Seasons: 18
• Goals Scored: 8
• Achievements: 6 Premier League Titles, 1 UEFA Champions League Title

Rio Ferdinand’s elegance on the ball and exceptional reading of the game made him one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League of his generation. His partnership with Nemanja Vidic at Manchester United was legendary, solidifying their reputation as one of the most formidable defensive duos in Premier League history.

Related: Best Left-Footed Centre-Backs: Defenders with an Advantage

Other Central Defenders in The Premier League

Jaap Stam	Gabriel Magalhães
Tim Ream	Martin Keown
Raphael Varane	Ledley King
William Saliba	Kolo Toure
Ben White	Sami Hyypia
Kurt Zouma	Jamie Carragher
Joel Matip	Gabriel Magalhaes
Aymeric Laporte	Gary Pallister
Ben Mee	Rúben Dias

Conclusion