Rio Ferdinand and John Terry are two titans of the Premier League, but one former Liverpool star believes another defender was even better
John Terry of Chelsea embraces Rio Ferdinand of Manchester United at the end of the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester United and Chelsea at Old Trafford on May 8, 2011 in Manchester, England.
One former Premier League striker has offered his verdict on the division's best ever defender(Image: 2011 Chelsea FC)
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Former Liverpool forward Djibril Cisse believes Manchester United legend Nemanja Vidic was superior to both Rio Ferdinand and John Terry. The two England internationals were fierce rivals during their time in the Premier League.
The pair are often considered the two greatest defenders ever to play in the top flight of English football. Cisse knew them well, having played against them for the Merseysiders, Sunderland and Queens Park Rangers.
However, when he considers the best he has ever faced, the Frenchman places Vidic above the Englishmen, who won 11 Premier League titles between them throughout their careers.
Speaking to Mr Gamble, Cisse said: "I’d say Rio Ferdinand or Nemanja Vidic were my hardest opponents. John Terry too.
"They were defenders without many weaknesses. My main strength was pace, so I tried to beat them with that, but they were quick as well.
"They were aggressive, strong in the air and strong in duels on the ground. It was tough playing against them. But Vidic, I think Vidic was the hardest."
Djibril Cisse of Sunderland and Nemanja Vidic of Manchester United challenge during the Premier League match between Sunderland and Manchester United at Stadium Of Light on April 11, 2009 in Sunderland, England.
Cisse believes Vidic was the best(Image: Allstar)
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Cisse did not have much success against any of the central defensive titans. In fact, he only scored one goal against the Premier League trio.
That goal was a meaningless consolation against Terry in 2012, when he found the net late on for QPR in a 6-1 defeat at Stamford Bridge in 2012.
One player who certainly does not consider Terry to be the best Premier League defender of all time is Ferdinand. In 2022, an online feud between the pair erupted when Ferdinand said Terry was only fifth on his list.
John Terry of Chelsea controls the ball watched by Djibril Cisse of Queens Park Rangers during the Barclays Premier League match between Chelsea and Queens Park Rangers at Stamford Bridge on April 29, 2012 in London, England
Cisse found the net against Terry in 2012(Image: Chelsea FC)
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Ferdinand listed himself as No. 1 and then followed himself with Vidic, Virgil van Dijk, Jaap Stam and then Terry, something the latter did not take too kindly to. Terry responded with a series of graphics detailing various statistics that placed him either at the top or among the leaders.
The United legend then reacted angrily to Terry, referencing the racism controversy which saw the ex-England skipper be found guilty by the Football Association of racially abusing his brother Anton.
Ferdinand tweeted: "The moment one has to start pushing their own records and stats it’s really time to start addressing the fragile ego. Your lucky I even put you in the top 5 after the racism case with my brother so be thankful you made it.”