Best Serie A Centre-back Defenders of all time!
In this article, we have a brief overview of the best Serie A centre-back defenders of all time and the background, honors and achievements of these top players!
The most popular sport in Italy is football, and football fans really have the right to support their favorite teams with such passion and enthusiasm, because the Italian Serie A is always held at the highest and highest quality possible, and the most proud and top players in the world play in its clubs.
In this article, we want to introduce the best Serie A centre-back defenders of all time in our opinion, and then we will provide a brief biography of each of these top players.
Best Serie A Centre-back Defenders of all time
The Italian Serie A tournament has always been held to the highest standards of world of football, and the players of this league are always among the best players of their generation. This makes it difficult to select the best from these players. However, we have prepared a list of the best Serie A centre-back defenders ever in our opinion, which we will share with you below.
#1 Paolo Maldini
Full name:
Paolo Cesare Maldini
Date of birth:
26 June 1968 (age 52)
Place of birth:
Milan, Italy
Height:
1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
Playing position(s):
Defender
Current team:
Milan (technical director)
The top player in the list of
best ever Serie A centre-back defenders
in our opinion is Paolo Cesare Maldini!
This Italian football legend, one of the greatest footballers of all time, retired from the same club where he started his football career:
AC Milan! He stayed with Milan even after retiring and continued to work with the club as technical director.
From the individual point of view, Maldini was World Soccer Player of the Year (1), El País European Player of the Year (1), FIFA World Player of the Year (1), Serie A Defender of the Year (1), and UEFA Club Defender of the Year in 2007.
He was a part of UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament (3), FIFA World Cup All-Star Team (2), ESM Team of the Year (4), FIFA World Cup Dream Team (1), FIFA XI (1), UEFA Team of the Year (2), FIFA 100. He is inducted into the Italian Football Hall of Fame, A.C. Milan Hall of Fame and Walk of Fame of Italian sport.
After the retirement of Paolo Maldini, the Milan No. 3 shirt was not given to another player. The only way for a player to be given the No. 3 shirt again is for one of Paolo's sons, Christian or Daniel.
The next player in the list of
best Serie A centre-back defenders of all time
in our opinion is Franco Baresi.
#2 Franco Baresi
Full name:
Franchino Baresi
Date of birth:
8 May 1960 (age 60)
Place of birth:
Travagliato, Italy
Height:
1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)
Playing position(s):
Defender
The next player in the list of
all-time best Serie A centre-back defenders
in our opinion is Franchino Baresi!
Ranked 19th on the list of the 100 greatest players of the 20th century, he was one of the key players in one of the Milan's best peak times.
From the individual point of view, he was Coppa Italia top scorer (1), and Guerin d'Oro (Serie A Footballer of the Year) (1). Bares was a player in FIFA World Cup All-Star Team of 1990 and FIFA 100, and he was named A.C. Milan Player of the Century in 1999 and AIC Serie A Player of the Century in 2000. He is inducted into the A.C. Milan Hall of Fame and Italian Football Hall of Fame.
The next player in the list of
best Serie A centre-back defenders of all time
in our opinion is Frank Rijkaard.
#3 Frank Rijkaard
Full name:
Franklin Edmundo Rijkaard
Date of birth:
30 September 1962 (age 58)
Place of birth:
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Height:
1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Playing position(s):
Defensive midfielder, Centre back
The next player in the list of
best Serie A centre-back defenders ever
in our opinion is Franklin Edmundo Rijkaard.
During his professional football career, he played for
Ajax,
Real Zaragozaand
Milan, and after retiring, he managed prominent national teams such as the Netherlands national team, Sparta Rotterdam, Barcelona, Galatasaray and the Saudi Arabia national team.
He won Dutch Golden Shoe (2), Ballon d'Or – Third place (2), and UEFA President's Award (1). Being a part of UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament in 1988, ESM Team of the Year in 1994–95, and FIFA 100, he was Serie A Best foreign player in 1992 and Serie A Footballer of the Year in 1992. He was named by World Soccer as one of The 100 Greatest Footballers of All Time.
The next player in the list of
best Serie A centre-back defenders of all time
in our opinion is Daniel Passarella.
#4 Daniel Passarella
Full name:
Daniel Alberto Passarella
Date of birth:
25 May 1953 (age 67)
Place of birth:
Chacabuco, Argentina
Height:
1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Playing position(s):
Centre back, Sweeper
The next player in the list of
all-time best centre-back defenders at Serie A
in our opinion is Daniel Alberto Passarella.
One of the best players of his generation and one of the greatest defenders of all time, Passarella was also a skilled scorer. He was the all-time leading goalscorer defender with 134 goals in 451 appearances, a record that was later broken by Dutch defender Ronald Koeman.
He was Footballer of the Year of Argentina in 1976, and being a part of FIFA World Cup All-Star Team in 1978, FIFA 100 in 2004, AFA Team of All Time (published 2015), and Fiorentina All-time XI, he won Golden Foot Legends Award in 2015. He was named with World Soccer as one of The 100 Greatest Footballers of All Time.
The next player in the list of
best Serie A centre-back defenders of all time
in our opinion is Alessandro Nesta.
#5 Alessandro Nesta
Full name:
Alessandro Nesta
Date of birth:
19 March 1976 (age 44)
Place of birth:
Rome, Italy
Height:
1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
Playing position(s):
Centre back
The next player in the list of
greatest centre-back defenders in Serie A history
in our opinion is Alessandro Nesta.
Nesta is considered one of the best center-backs of all time and one of the best defenders of his generation.
His fame was mostly due to his speed, beautiful and flawless tackles, elegance in playing with the ball, and calculated and beautiful passes. He usually kept a close eye on the opponent's attackers and did not allow the attackers to pass him by blocking his every move.
He was Serie A Young Footballer of the Year (1), Serie A Defender of the Year (4), and was a part of Serie A Team of the Year (1), UEFA Euro Team of the Tournament (1), UEFA Team of the Year (4), ESM Team of the Year (1), FIFPro World XI (2), FIFA 100, and UEFA Ultimate Team of the Year (published 2015).
The next player in the list of best Serie A centre-back defenders of all time in our opinion is Alesandro Costacurta.
#6 Alesandro Costacurta
Full name:
Alessandro Costacurta
Date of birth:
24 April 1966 (age 54)
Place of birth:
Jerago con Orago, Italy
Height:
1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing position(s):
Centre-back
The next player in the list of
greatest ever Serie A centre-back defenders
in our opinion is Alessandro Costacurta.
He was part of the "Golden Age" team of Milan, which was unrivaled in European football for many years. He spent the entire 21 years of his football career in Milan and spent only one year on loan at Monza.
He won Premio Nazionale Carriera Esemplare "Gaetano Scirea" in 2000, was UEFA Golden Jubilee Poll #50, and inducted into A.C. Milan Hall of Fame.
The next player in the list of best Serie A centre-back defenders of all time in our opinion is Lilian Thuram.
# 7 Lilian Thuram
Full name:
Ruddy Lilian Thuram-Ulien
Date of birth:
1 January 1972 (age 48)
Place of birth:
Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe
Height:
1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing position(s):
Defender
The next player in the list of all-time greatest Serie A centre-back defenders in our opinion is Ruddy Lilian Thuram-Ulien .
Thuram played at the highest levels of football in the French, Italian and Spanish leagues for more than a year. He was one of the most effective players on his team, both at the club level and at the national level.
He was known for his strength, pace, stamina and his outstanding physical, tactical, and technical attributes, as well as his elegance, intelligence, and ability to read the game.
Winning the Guerin d'Oro of 1997 and FIFA World Cup Bronze Ball in 1998, and Being a part of FIFA World Cup All-Star Team (2), ESM Team of the Year (2), UEFA Euro Team of the Tournament (1), FIFA 100, and FIFPro World XI, he was French Player of the Year of 1997.
The next player in the list of best Serie A centre-back defenders of all time in our opinion is Lucio.
#8 Lucio
Full name:
Lucimar Ferreira da Silva
Date of birth:
8 May 1978 (age 42)
Place of birth:
Planaltina, Federal District, Brazil
Height:
1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Playing position(s):
Centre-back
The next player in the list of greatest Serie A centre-back defenders ever in our opinion is Lucimar Ferreira da Silva, better known as Lucio.
Lucio was a tall, strong, stubborn and strong defender who excelled in the air, and was known for his ability to read the opponent's games and his stubborn and impenetrable defense.
In addition to his central defense position, Lucio also had the ability to play as a midfielder, and his excellent skill and technique in playing with the ball in this position was impressive too.
He was Brazilian Bola de Prata (1), and Pirata d'Oro (Internazionale Player of the Year) in 2012, and being a part of Bundesliga Team of the Season (6), ESM Team of the Year (3), and FIFA FIFPro World XI in 2010, he was honored with 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup: Fair Play Award.
The next player in the list of best Serie A centre-back defenders of all time in our opinion is Aldair.
#9 Aldair
Full name:
Aldair Nascimento dos Santos
Date of birth:
30 November 1965 (age 54)
Place of birth:
Ilhéus, Brazil
Height:
1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing position(s):
Centre back
The next player in the list of all-time greatest centre-back defenders at Serie A in our opinion is Aldair Nascimento dos Santos.
Able to play as a sweeper and center-back, Aldair played so technically and artistically that he excited the audience. His skill in sending long and accurate passes allowed him to plan an attack from the defensive line and give his teammates a scoring opportunity.
He was not very fast, but his physical strength made up for it, and in addition, his performance in the air was excellent.
Being a part of FIFA XI of 2000, and named as Golden Foot as football legend in 2008, he was inducted into the A.S. Roma Hall of Fame in 2012.
The next player in the list of best Serie A centre-back defenders of all time in our opinion is Fabio Cannavaro.
#10 Fabio Cannavaro
Full name:
Fabio Cannavaro
Date of birth:
13 September 1973 (age 47)
Place of birth:
Naples, Italy
Height:
1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Playing position(s):
Centre-back
The next player in the list of all-time greatest centre-back defenders at Serie A in our opinion is Fabio Cannavaro.
According to experts and, of course, his fans, he is one of the best defenders in Italian Serie A, known for his innate intelligence in technical games, flexibility, ability to control and play with the ball, endurance and physical strength.
Interestingly, although Cannavaro was relatively short for a defender, he did a great job in the air. His accuracy and agility allowed him to steal the ball against players taller than himself.
He was UEFA Under-21 Championship Golden Player (1), FIFA World Player of the Year (1), World Soccer Player of the Year (1), Serie A Footballer of the Year (1), Serie A Italian Footballer of the Year (1), and Serie A Defender of the Year (2), and won the Ballon d'Or in 2006, 2006 FIFA World Cup Silver Ball and Gran Galà del Calcio AIC Lifetime Achievement Award.
He was a part of UEFA Euro Team of the Tournament (1), UEFA Team of the Year (1), ESM Team of the Year (1), FIFPro World XI (2), Sports Illustrated Team of the Decade (1), ESPN World Team of the Decade (1) and Juventus Greatest XI of All Time.
The next player in the list of best Serie A centre-back defenders of all time in our opinion is Giorgio Chiellini.
#11 Giorgio Chiellini
Full name:
Giorgio Chiellini
Date of birth:
14 August 1984 (age 36)
Place of birth:
Pisa, Italy
Height:
1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
Playing position(s):
Centre-back, left-back
The next player in the list of all-time greatest centre-back defenders at Serie A in our opinion is Giorgio Chiellini.
He is a strong, aggressive and versatile defender who has played for Livorno, Roma, Fiorentina and Juventus.
He initially started out as a defensive-minded left-back, but later became a center-back due to his height. His main characteristic is his offensive defense. He is very powerful, bold, tough and precise and has good skills in hitting headers. A hard-working player, he is known for his ability to cover the ground and push or anticipate opponents in higher positions.
He is Serie A Defender of the Year (3), Juventus Player of the Year (1), and a part of Serie A Team of the Year (5), UEFA Team of the Year (1), UEFA Champions League Squad of the Season (2), ESM Team of the Year (3), France Football World XI (1), and Juventus Greatest XI of All Time (1).
The next player in the list of best Serie A centre-back defenders of all time in our opinion is Siniša Mihajlović.
#12 Siniša Mihajlović
Full name:
Sinisa Mihajlovic
Date of birth:
20 February 1969 (age 51)
Place of birth:
Vukovar, SR Croatia, SFR Yugoslavia
Height:
1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Playing position(s):
Defender
The next player in the list of all-time greatest centre-back defenders at Serie A in our opinion is Sinisa Mihajlovic.
Able to play as a defender and midfielder, he scored numerous goals with his accurate and solid shots using free kicks, and is known as one of the greatest free-kick players of all time.
He was a master of scoring goals using dead balls and is one of only two players to have scored a hat-trick in Serie A from free kicks. After trying out various positions, including left midfield, attacking midfielder, defensive midfielder and left-back, he finally found himself in the center-back position and played in this position until the end of his career.
He was FR Yugoslavia player of the Year in 1999 and a part of ESM Team of the Year in 1998–99 and 1999–00.
And finally, the last player in the list of best Serie A centre-back defenders of all time in our opinion is Walter Samuel.
#13 Walter Samuel
Full name:
Walter Adrián Samuel
Date of birth:
23 March 1978 (age 42)
Place of birth:
Laborde, Argentina
Height:
1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing position(s):
Centre-back
The last player in the list of best centre-back defenders in Serie A history in our opinion is Walter Adrián Samuel.
Rightly known as one of the best defenders of his generation, he was a fast, powerful, capable and attacking center-back who excelled both on the ground and in the air.
His skill in strong tackles was exemplary and he was able to put a lot of pressure on the opponent's attacker. He was very effective in predicting the opponent's movements, and the combination of these features led to him being nicknamed the "The Wall".
Being a player of South American Team of the Year in 1999, ESM Team of the Year in 2001–02 and 2003–04, and FIFA FIFPro World XI Nominee in 2005, 2009 and 2010, he was Serie A Defender of the Year in 2010.
In this article we had a brief review on the list of best Serie A centre-back defenders of all time in our opinion. In the next articles we will review other top players of Serie A.
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