The discussion regarding the greatest football defender of all time will invariably be influenced by individual opinions.
From an objective standpoint, Franz Beckenbauer presents a compelling argument, being the first defender to receive the Ballon d’Or and the only one to achieve this honor twice.
Notable names such as Paolo Maldini, Fabio Cannavaro, and Carles Puyol come to mind when considering legendary centre-backs.
In contemporary football, Virgil van Dijk is often regarded as one of the best defenders in recent history.
Many associated with Liverpool, including former players and supporters, would likely advocate for his inclusion in this discussion.
Nevertheless, club legend Graeme Souness has expressed a preference for another Liverpool icon, Alan Hansen, as his choice for the ‘greatest footballing centre-back of all time.’
GRAEME SOURNESS NAMES ALAN HANSEN AS BEST CENTER-FIRE IN FOOTBALL
Talking about what is was like to share the pitch, and a dressing room with the 26-cap Scotland international, he said:
“He’d drive me mad at times.
I’d lose my patience and snap: ‘any danger you are going to start passing me the bloody ball?’ And he would turn and say ‘Why should I pass it to you when I can do it better?'”He was such a natural athlete.
He loves his golf, he was a good squash player too. He would have been good at any sport that he wanted to dedicate himself to.”
Perhaps what most impressed Souness about Hansen was his ability to ‘rarely looked ruffled’.
He explained how he could finish games looking as if he’d barely broken sweat:
“We could be playing on a farmer’s field of a pitch. Mark Lawrenson would be covered head to toe in mud after five minutes and yet, after 90 minutes, Alan would look like he’d just stepped out of Marks and Spencer’s shop window, not a speck of dirt on him.
Lawro would love a tackle but Alan never went to ground.
He was always reading the game, thinking ahead, a wonderful player.
“Despite being such a good player, he only played 26 times for his country.
A falling out with Sir Alex Ferguson was partly to blame as Hansen was left at home for the 1986 World Cup.
The defender had pulled out of a game against England during the build-up to the tournament, and having played infrequently for his country before then, this appeared to be the final straw.