Who actually was the greatest centre half the world has ever seen?


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Baresi & Costacurta were a brilliant combination for Milan
Beckenbauer obviously. Can't be Lothar Matthaeus, as he was a midfielder

But from what I've heard about him (never seen, so can't really comment too much), John Charles was something special.

Is the correct answer Mike Williamson?
 
The thing with Hurley there was opinion at the time that there wasn't many better.
Remember he played half his career in the old 2nd division then the other half in a struggling Sunderland side in the 1st.
Internationally he played for Eire who weren't a top nation and low profile.
Let's just say his career at the time was with Liverpool or Manchester United or England because he was certainly good enough, then the suggestion that he was one of the best ever wouldn't seem so ridiculous to some.
 
Baresi & Costacurta were a brilliant combination for Milan
Beckenbauer obviously. Can't be Lothar Matthaeus, as he was a midfielder

But from what I've heard about him (never seen, so can't really comment too much), John Charles was something special.

Is the correct answer Mike Williamson?
Matthaus was also a sweeper which is why I put him in there, only the very best defenders can get away with playing as sweeper.

I would like to see the return of the sweeper system, underrated for me!
 
Matthaus was also a sweeper which is why I put him in there, only the very best defenders can get away with playing as sweeper.

I would like to see the return of the sweeper system, underrated for me!
Matthaus was a midfield player who converted to sweeper.
Baresi was outstanding and from those mentioned the best for me as an out and out central defender. I never saw Moore play so cant really compare and I always thought that Beckenbauer was a midfielder converted to sweeper but before my time.
As far as English centre halves then its a toss up between Ferdinand and Campbell for me in the modern era but dont think on a world basis they would make the top 15 in the modern era, say 1980.
The Argentinian and Italians have always had excellent centre backs. Hard and good on the ball.
 
I personally think Rio Ferdinand in his pomp was the best center half in the world the past 10 year. In the 3 year period when Man Utd won 3 titles off the belt and won one and got to another CL final he was absolutely superb
 
Maldini for me, could play anywhere in defence and was always great, was around forever aswell. Simply a legend. ...after him Nosworthy
 
The whole discussion suffers a bit from the fact that CB are hard to compare due to the change of systems over the years.

Hurley played in the very old 2-5-3 system and therefore was much more a CM, hence the space and time to go forward all the time

Beckenbauer started his career as a CF, than att CM and only later played CB, or "Libero" how we said. However...at any angle or interpretation of the word, he played about 3 levels above Charly Hurley and I am sure the Big Man himself would see that

Baresi, Ferdinand etc played in a CB pair as part of a back-4

Since I need my own opinion....I go for Juergen Kohler

I know, people will say "Who the f..k is Juergen Kohler

My answer: How many players do you know, who won the World Cup and Euro with their country and the Champions League and UEFA cup on Club level and the domestic title in 2 of the top leagues

Good shout, kohler was class.
 
Hansen deserves a mention tbf, best I've seen with me own eyes. One of the Argie/Italian chopper/stoppers probably the best but Hansen would be great in the modern game, likewise The Kaiser and Moore, don't think anyone read the game as well going off the footage.
 
Hansen deserves a mention tbf, best I've seen with me own eyes. One of the Argie/Italian chopper/stoppers probably the best but Hansen would be great in the modern game, likewise The Kaiser and Moore, don't think anyone read the game as well going off the footage.
Good call that^
 
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