FIFAe World Cup featuring Football Manager - Day 4 - Source: Getty
FIFAe World Cup featuring Football Manager - Day 4 - Source: Getty
Chelsea legend John Terry has named Manchester United icon Rio Ferdinand as the greatest centre-back in Premier League history. He praised his longevity and achievements while playing for one of the biggest clubs in the world.
Many regard John Terry as the greatest Premier League centre-back of all time. However, the debate often includes the likes of Terry, Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, and Virgil van Dijk. The Chelsea legend said that while Van Dijk is the greatest in this generation, the Manchester United legend is the greatest of all time.
In an episode of the Double Tops podcast, Terry said:
"It's not for me to say, I know this clip's gone viral recently, right? Because Jermaine Pennant come out and kind of wrote to me, and the debate started about me, Rio, Vidic, and then all of a sudden, it just got kind of isolated to me. I think myself, Rio, Vidic, were different generations to Virgil. I think Virgil Van Dijk is the greatest in this era, this generation. Is the Best Buy a million miles in the Premier League, and has been for the last four or five years. If it's me to say, I would say Rio for me."
The Chelsea legend compared himself to the former Manchester United and England defender and added:
"I don't think it's for me to sit on here and go, I'm the best, what I will do is, it will come out when someone says the high scoring defender and clean sheet. No, no, that's me. So I'm allowed to defend myself in terms of that. But if I had to pick someone, Rio, over time, longevity, what he won, playing at one of the bees clubs in the world in Man United, that's the greatest for me."
Ferdinand spent 12 years at Manchester United from 2002 to 2014 and made 455 appearances. He won six Premier League titles and one UEFA Champions League trophy, among other honors.
Jermaine Pennant picked Van Dijk over Chelsea and Manchester United legends as best PL defender of all time
Earlier this month, former Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant claimed that Virgil van Dijk is the greatest Premier League defender of all time. He picked him over the likes of Chelsea legend John Terry and Manchester United legends Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic.
“Look at the age of Van Dijk now... he's 34," Pennant said. "At 34, Rio [Ferdinand] was at Queens Park Rangers, while Van Dijk is at Liverpool playing competitive football. He scored more goals than all of those defenders you’ve named. So how can you disrespect Van Dijk like that?
“If you say you want John Terry or Virgil van Dijk, I’m having Virgil van Dijk. Do you know how many Premier League games John Terry played at 34... he was in the under 21s. Terry is a legend but if you're saying as a defender one v one, who would I want to run up against, I'd say John Terry every day of the week. I think I scored against them when I played at Leeds when I put John Terry on his bum bum. I mean, since when did he come second in the Ballon d'Or?”
Notably, the Chelsea legend responded to Pennant, highlighting that he has more clean sheets, goals, and trophies than the Liverpool star.