Comparing John Terry, Virgil van Dijk, and Rio Ferdinand: Determining the Premier League's Greatest Centre-Back

Are you curious about how excellent Premier League-level defenders truly are?

Think about if you were playing with your friends at Goals or Power League. Consider the most skillful, showy player there. Imagine how much you wish you could perform their intricate footwork, or score from any spot on those astro-turf fields. Imagine hoping that this is the game where those annoying little black plastic pieces won’t end up in your shoes and socks.

A professional defender surpasses you all, my friend. A million times over. Even in his prime, someone like John O'Shea would be executing fancy footwork. Even past his peak, someone like Michael Dawson would make you look foolish. They could knock you over, irrespective of whether you have the ball or not.

Consequently, just imagine how impressive John Terry and Rio Ferdinand would be in a five-a-side game. Luckily, because they became professional players with legendary Premier League careers, you don’t have to worry about being embarrassed by them.

But who was superior? 90min has assembled an effective method to decide...

Let’s get the main point out of the way.

There are few people who appreciate the underappreciated skill of defending as much as Terry. Few people would throw themselves at a brick wall unasked quicker than Terry. Few people are more likely to commit fully to a defensive maneuver than Terry.

From 2004 to 2009, the former Chelsea captain was named in five consecutive FIFPro World XIs, was selected for the UEFA Team of the Year four times, and collected three UEFA Club Defender of the Year awards. This was all due to his defensive prowess.

This might have been the deciding factor. Terry's ability to pass accurately was an overlooked aspect of his game, and is a significant part of Virgil van Dijk's.

Ferdinand edges out the victory, largely due to the fact he was a game-changer in the Premier League, known for advancing with the ball rather than simply aimlessly launching it. Looking back, it’s surprising he wasn’t given a more advanced role sooner, as is often the case with defenders who have technical skill in English football.

Terry was a physical presence and Ferdinand was certainly athletic, but Van Dijk is simply extraordinary.

No one, especially defenders, should be able to combine such speed and power, or match pace with some of the fastest athletes on Earth.

At his best (which unfortunately, isn’t as often anymore), Van Dijk is by far the most formidable defender in football. His influence and demeanor contributed greatly to transforming Liverpool's previously vulnerable defense, providing them with enough resilience to win both domestically and internationally.

Consider this statistic: once he became a permanent member of Chelsea's first-team, Terry scored in 17 consecutive Premier League seasons.

In 45 matches during the 2011/12 and 2012/13 seasons, Terry scored 10 times.

This was as a center-back. Such natural striking ability can’t be taught.

Frank Lampard might have been the public face of Chelsea, and Jose Mourinho the strategic mastermind and source of humor, but it was widely known within the club that Terry was its driving force.

To be considered a leader amongst these elite figures is remarkable. Terry consistently held himself and his teammates accountable, regardless of changes in management and roster. He could be relied upon to perform, even in the face of adversity.

To concisely summarize, we're going to laud Ferdinand and Van Dijk before moving on.

They are two of the finest defenders to ever compete in the Premier League. By extension, they are two of the greatest center-backs ever. Well done, gentlemen.

Terry is among the most exceptional players in Premier League history. The skill set, the trophies, the achievements, the capability, and the legacy. He had it all, and that’s why he’s ranked so much higher than any other defender in 90min's top 50.