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1. Bobby Moore

Clubs: West Ham United, Fulham

Appearances: 668

Goals: 25

Honours: FA Cup (1), Cup Winners Cup (1), World Cup (1)

Classy defender, inspirational leader, World Cup winning captain, football icon.

More about Bobby Moore

2. Tony Adams

Clubs: Arsenal

Appearances: 504

Goals: 32

Honours: Premier League / Division 1 (4), FA Cup (3), League Cup (2), Cup Winners Cup

Leader of perhaps the best back 4 in English football history. An Arsenal legend and the only man to captain a title winning team in 3 seperate decades.

3. Marcel Desailly

Clubs: Nantes, Marseille, AC Milan, Chelsea

Appearances: 576

Goals: 20

Honours: FA Cup (1), Serie A (2), UEFA Champions League (2), World Cup (1), European Championship (1)

A World Cup-winning colossus of a defender who fully justified his nickname 'The Rock'.

4. Alan Hansen

Clubs: Partick Thistle, Liverpool

Appearances: 520

Goals: 14

Honours: League Championship (8), FA Cup (2), League Cup (4), European Cup (3)

Classy centre-half who was captain of Liverpool's double-winning team.

5. Paul McGrath

Clubs: Manchester United, Aston Villa, Derby County, Sheffield United

Appearances: 451

Goals: 21

Honours: FA Cup (1), League Cup (2)

Widely regarded as one of the best defenders to have played the game. Would surely have won more but for persistent knee-injuries and off-field problems.

6. Des Walker

Clubs: Nottingham Forest, Sampdoria, Sheffield Wednesday

Appearances: 660

Goals: 1

Honours: League Cup (1)

Skillful, pacy centre-back renowned for his tackling and ability in the air. Great spells with Forest and Wednesday sandwiched a disappointing season in Italy.

7. Sol Campbell

Clubs: Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, Portsmouth

Appearances: 493

Goals: 20

Honours: Premier League (2), FA Cup (4), League Cup (1)

A powerful and imposing defender. As loved at Arsenal, as he is reviled at Spurs.

8. John Terry

Clubs: Chelsea

Appearances: 309

Goals: 19

Honours: Premier League (3), FA Cup (4), League Cup (2)

Fearless defender and inspirational skipper for club and country, although he has often been let down by his conduct off the pitch.

9. Stuart Pearce

Clubs: Coventry City, Nottingham Forest, Newcastle United, West Ham United, Manchester City

Appearances: 570

Goals: 73

Honours: League Cup (2)

A fierce, but fair competitor, 'Psycho' is arguably England's greatest left-back ever.

10. Rio Ferdinand

Clubs: West Ham United, Leeds United, Manchester United

Appearances: 412

Goals: 10

Honours: Premier League (4), League Cup (2), Champions League (1)

Pacy and composed, one of the best defenders of the Premier League era.

11. Mark Lawrenson

Clubs: Preston North End, Brighton and Hove Albion, Liverpool

Appearances: 455

Goals: 18

Honours: Football League Division 1 (5), FA Cup (1), League Cup (3), European Cup (1)

The 'other half' of a formidable central defensive partnership for Liverpool (with Alan Hansen). An accomplished centre-half who could also play as a full-back, or midfielder.

12. Terry Butcher

Clubs: Ipswich Town, Rangers, Coventry City, Sunderland

Appearances: 442

Goals: 23

Honours: UEFA Cup (1) Scottish Premier League (3), Scottish League Cup (2)

The iconic picture of Butcher in a blood-soaked England shirt says it all, a courageous and inspirational player and captain.

13. Jack Charlton

Clubs: Leeds United

Appearances: 629

Goals: 70

Honours: Football League Division 1 (1), FA Cup (1), League Cup (1), Fairs Cup (2), World Cup (1)

Bobby Moore's defensive partner in England's World Cup triumph, and a key member Don Revie's great Leeds United side.

14. Steve Bruce

Clubs: Gillingham, Norwich City, Manchester United, Birmingham City, Sheffield United

Appearances: 737

Goals: 81

Honours: Premier League (3), FA Cup (3), League Cup (2), Cup Winners Cup (1), Football League Division 2 (1)

Manchester United's inspirational skipper. How he was never capped by England remains a mystery.

15. Norman Hunter

Clubs: Leeds United, Bristol City, Barnsley

Appearances: 679

Goals: 22

Honours: Football League Division 1 (2), FA Cup (1), League Cup (1), Fairs Cup (2), Football League Division 2 (1), World Cup (1)

A tough tackler - as his nickname 'Bites Yer Legs' suggests. Formed a scary defensive partnership with Jack Charlton at Leeds. World Cup winner in '66.

16. Brian Labone

Clubs: Everton

Appearances: 451

Goals: 2

Honours: Football League Division 1 (2), FA Cup (1)

Central to Everton's 2 league titles in the Sixties - a quick defender, who was a strong tackler, and good in the air

17. Ron Yeats

Clubs: Dundee United, Liverpool, Tranmere Rovers

Appearances: 551

Goals: 19

Honours: Football League Division 1 (2), FA Cup (1), Football League Division 2 (1)

Nicknamed "The Colossus", Yates was the captain who got the ball rolling on Liverpool's massive trophy haul from the 60's to 80's.

18. Martin Buchan

Clubs: Aberdeen, Manchester United

Appearances: 590

Goals: 13

Honours: FA Cup (1) Scottish Cup (1)

A calming influence, as both captain and centre-half, during the sometimes troubled 70's at United.

19. Ashley Cole

Clubs: Arsenal, Chelsea

Appearances: 281

Goals: 15

Honours: Premier League (3), FA Cup (6), League Cup (1)

Outstanding in defense and going forward as a wing-back. The best left-back of his generation

20. Kevin Ratcliffe

Clubs: Everton, Dundee, Cardiff City, Derby County, Chester City

Appearances: 416

Goals: 3

Honours: Football League Division 1 (2), FA Cup (1), Cup Winners Cup (1)

Captain of Everton's most succesful team. A defender known for his ferocious tackling, and impressive speed.

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