Former Chelsea and England defender John Terry has been at the centre of multiple debates this week.
There has been plenty of discussion about who the best centre-back in Premier League history is, with Terry and Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk both in the conversation.
Van Dijk recently named Terry in his top five central defenders of the Premier League era, but the Dutchman has not weighed in on the above debate himself.
Virgil van Dijk ranks his top 5 Premier League centre-backs 🥇
Do you agree?
Virgil van Dijk ranks John Terry 4th in his Premier League centre-back rankings
Photo by Oliver Hardt – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images
Chelsea fans will feel that Terry is the best, but not everyone is going to share that sentiment.
John Terry watches on from the stands
Photo by Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images
Chelsea legend John Terry warrants a spot in WhoScored’s list of highest-rated Premier League centre-backs
WhoScored definitely does not think Terry is the greatest centre-half the Premier League has ever seen.
They recently released a list of their top 10 highest-rated Premier League centre-backs, and Terry did not even make the cut!
Instead, the likes of Brede Hangeland, Sylvain Distin and Richard Dunne were included over the Chelsea legend.
They were all good centre-backs in their day, but none of them could hold a candle to Terry, who was not only a solid defender but also an exceptional footballer.
You can choose one Chelsea legend to play in Liam Rosenior’s team today. Who are you calling? 🤔
Imagine this Chelsea team with Didier Drogba! 🔥
Liam Rosenior at Fulham v Chelsea.
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Terry could make tackles, interceptions and blocks as well as win headers, but he was also great on the ball with both feet.
The retired England international could ping a ball across the pitch with either foot, a very underrated aspect of his game. Really, Terry should be included in any top 10 list based around central defenders.
Reece James is still trying to learn from Terry, showing just how influential the 45-year-old is.
John Terry of Chelsea shouts
Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images
The reason John Terry probably didn’t make the list
WhoScored only started collecting data from the 2009/10 season. Two of John Terry’s best-ever campaigns came before that: 2004/05 and 2005/06.
That missing data would explain why Terry has not made this top 10, which is based on statistics used by WhoScored.
That being said, Terry also put in strong displays in the 2013/14 and 2014/15 campaigns, even helping Chelsea to win another Premier League title.
Data or no data, it is strange that Terry has not made WhoScored’s list, especially when you look at some of the other names that have been included.
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