Best defenders in history to current?

Dont think defenders are talked about that much when talking best players, let alone past players. So I thought I might just make a thread to find out more. For the players prior to mid-late 90s I wouldnt have much knowledge at all apart from what we hear and read about. So who would be some of the best defenders ever? Or for those younger fans, who are the best one u see in recent years or current ones?

One name I would mention is Jurgen Kohler, his record is certainly impressive and I do remember seeing him around when I started watching football, rated as one of the best during his time, but some players just dont seem to get mentioned in these talks? Anyone watched him play?

Prime Vidic is probably the best I've ever seen

as for current? Eric Bertrand BAILLY

Ramos

Gareth McAuley

Claudio Gentile
Paolo Maldini
Franco Baresi
Giacinto Facchetti
Alessandro Nesta
Fabio Cannavaro
Tarcisio Burnich
Ciro Ferrara
Fulvio Collovati
Gaetano Scirea
Giuseppe Bergomi
Antonio Cabrini

Thuram
Dessailly
Lizerazu
Laurent Blanc
Max Bossis
Marius Tresor
Amoros
Evra
Thuram
Candela
Abidal

sportsczy wrote:Thuram
Dessailly
Lizerazu
Laurent Blanc
Max Bossis
Marius Tresor
Amoros
Evra
Thuram
Candela
Abidal

Impressive but doesn't touch Italy's.

Schnellinger
Beckenbauer
Vogts
Augenthaler
Brehme
Kohler
Lahm
Boateng

Firenze wrote:Prime Vidic is probably the best I've ever seen

as for current? Eric Bertrand BAILLY

prime rio was better than vidic imo.

Jordi Alba

Kaladin wrote:Ramos

Puyi
Ramos
Hierro
Marchena
Salgado
Alkorta
Jacinto
Gallego
Santamaria
Ballesteros

M99 wrote:

sportsczy wrote:Thuram
Dessailly
Lizerazu
Laurent Blanc
Max Bossis
Marius Tresor
Amoros
Evra
Thuram
Candela
Abidal

Impressive but doesn't touch Italy's.

After this generation it will with Varane, Umtiti and Mendy. Italy's best days are way behind them.

The fact that these players are making it into a future list says it all about the current french one tbh

Mathew Upson
Keith Curle
David Unsworth
Chris Powell
Michael Ball
Paul Konchesky
Steve Bould
Mel Sterland

Dante
David Luiz
Roque Junior
Andre Santos
Danilo
Fagner
Juan Jesus

Arquitescu wrote:Puyi
Ramos
Hierro
Marchena
Salgado
Alkorta
Jacinto
Gallego
Santamaria
Ballesteros

I thought Santamaria was Uruguayan? Also, Alkorta, classy defender. Only got to see the tail end of his career but he was always dependable for Athletic.

I honestly haven't been alive long enough to see most of these older names play, but some others I've seen mentioned in other threads about this:

Daniel Passarella
Carlos Alberto
Sir Bobby Moore
Tony Adams
John Charles
Ronald Koeman
Frank Rikjaard
Ruud Krol
Nilson Santos
Djalma Santos
Matthias Sammer


The ones I have seen though:

Cafu
Samuel
Lucio
Sol Campbell
Vidic
Ferdinand
F. Cannavaro
Rafa Marquez
Nesta
Maldini
Thuram
Terry
Candela
Puyol
Carragher
Zanetti
Thiago Silva
Chiellini
Lahm
Ramos
Ayala
Stam
Costacurta

Nice, thanks for the inputs. A lot of names I havent heard of who are way past or are underrated. A lot of the names I know I agree with, a few definite exceptions though, like Carragher I can never someone like that who scored 2 OGs in a big match I cant remember which

A few names I think not mentioned yet, one is Ronny Johnson who was key in Man U dominating a few years I thought. Another is Montero who was great for Juve for quite a few years also dominating. Zambrotta not mentioned I think and he was very good for a good few years.

There are also some other FBs obviously more known for their amazing attacking abilities than defending, but some of these are still very good at defending despite that, too many to name there.

Notice also Thuram was so good Sport named him twice

Defenders it seems are interesting also in that some of them often divide opinions widely on just how they are, whether the team and the tactics make them look better than they are, or the vice versa where if they are actually better defenders but the system makes it harder for them. There are some defenders I still cant really make up my mind of just how good they are, perhaps they may have a big weakness or two, for example Hummels, can be so good at times, but appear to be so bad sometimes

Anyway, probably the longer I watch football and the more I learn and appreciate, whereas I focused mainly on the attacking stars in the past, I would also watch more defenders and how they play. This WC is the perfect chance to do that.

Defense has always been my favorite position to follow, regardless of the sport. That's largely because it goes unsung, yet is pivotal to the team.

As far as football goes, I've adopted a policy of buying jerseys only for defensive players. I see enough jerseys of attacking players so I won't add to it.

Walter Samuel.

Robespierre wrote:Walter Samuel.

Don’t remind me of his record against Milan please