Icons of the Midfield: Liverpool’s Greatest Defenders in History
Defenders are the lifeblood of any serious football team. They may not get the attention and glory that attackers and midfielders get, but take them for granted and your trophy shelf will be empty. In the long years of Liverpool’s existence, it has welcomed some of the greatest defenders of all time in football history.
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Back to our Liverpool discourse: It can be challenging to get everyone to agree on who are the greatest defenders in football history because we see things differently. However, the names below are undoubtedly Liverpool’s most iconic defenders.
Liverpool’s Most Iconic Defenders Ever
1. Alan Hansen
Playing from the center-back position, Alan Hansen is unarguably Liverpool’s best defender of all time. The Scot’s almost 14 years at Anfield began in 1977 and ended in 1991 during which he won eight League titles, two FA Cups, and three European Cups. Hansen was the player to trust for dirty work and clinical defense when it mattered. His attitude off the pitch also made him a player Liverpool fans cannot easily forget.
After Manchester United’s 1-0 loss to Aston Villa in 1995, Alan Hansen, a sports pundit on the BBC, sparked a major controversy with his “You can’t win anything with kids” remark about the Alex Ferguson-led side.
The United’s team, majorly composed of young players, then went on to prove Alan wrong by winning the Premier League with those he referred to as kids.
Alan Hansen wasn’t just a footballer; he also played squash, volleyball, and golf, although he was more of a career footballer than any of these other sports.
2. Mark Lawrenson
All through the 80s, The Never Walk Alone team enjoyed a formidable defense line with the duo of Alan Hansen and Mark Lawrenson. Mark also played from the center back, and although he was often rough, he was pacey and good on the ball. He qualifies as one of Liverpool’s most iconic defenders, having guided Liverpool to five league titles, one FA Cup, and one European Cup. During Lawrenson’s 356 appearances for Liverpool, he netted 36 goals, a feat only a few defenders of his days came close to.
3. Phil Neal
Besides being one of the greatest defenders in history for Liverpool, Phil Neal was also one of the few players to wear the Red’s shirt. With a historic 650 appearances and multiple League Cups and titles, it’s impossible not to reckon with Neal as one of the greatest defenders in football history. He joined Liverpool from Northampton Town for a record fee of almost 70,000 Pounds. One thing even the critics of Phil Neal cannot deny is his positional sense. He was also very tough and a nightmare to attackers.
4. Jamie Carragher
After Ian Callaghan with 856 appearances, Jamie Carragher is the next most-capped Liverpool player ever. He donned the iconic red shirt for Liverpool 737 times in his 16-year spell at Anfield, winning three League titles, two FA Cups, and one Champions League title.
Talk about loyalty and dedication, and Jamie Carragher modelled these with Liverpool. From the age of 9, he joined the youth academy, gradually rising through the cadre to become a first-team player. From the time he got promoted to the main team, he never played professionally for any other club, hence the appellate “one-club player” he’s famously called.
Jamie hasn’t always had it rosy with fans, especially after the infamous own-goals against Manchester United during his starting days. He, however, overcame this early setback, helping Liverpool to a Champions League, and stamping his place as one of the greatest defenders in football history.
5. Emlyn Hughes
“Selfish, inspirational, King of the Roost.”
Those were the words of Bob Paisley in describing the one-time Liverpool captain and defender, Emlyn Hughes. It wasn’t only Bob who held the same view about this player; most teammates had issues with Emlyn for most of the 12 years he spent at Anfield. Emlyn’s personality issues, however, seemed not to be a stumbling block to his performance as he combined well with colleagues, even those they don’t see eye-to-eye.
Emlyn Hughes played from the center-back position and captained Liverpool to four League titles, one FA Cup, and two European Cups.
Other names that readily come to mind when Liverpool’s most iconic defenders are mentioned include Tommy Smith, Ronnie Whelan, Stephane Henchoz, Sami Hypia, and Virgil van Dijk, who is still with the club at the moment.
Conclusion
Liverpool is one European football club with a longstanding history of excellent players in all fields of play. Some of the greatest defenders of all time in football history once donned the red shirt, guiding the club to many silverware. While many opine that the club’s glorious days are probably in the past, the new coach seems to be making a statement that the best still lies ahead.
