England and Chelsea legend John Terry has been hailed as the ‘best defender in Premier League history’.
After coming through the ranks at West Ham and then Chelsea, Terry soon established himself as one of the best players at Stamford Bridge in the early 2000s.
From the 2000-2001 campaign, Terry played at least 25 games for Chelsea every season until he retired in 2017 with over 700 appearances to his name.
Terry captained Chelsea for much of that time and had lifted five Premier League trophies, five FA Cups, three League Cups, the Champions League and Europa League by the time he hung up his boots.
Individual accolades were also forthcoming with Terry named the UEFA Club Defender of the Year three times and included in the FIFPro World XI for five successive seasons from 2005 to 2009.
A Premier League Hall of Famer, Terry was a mainstay in the England team for a decade, featuring in multiple major tournaments and amassing 78 caps.
Terry is regarded as one of England and Chelsea’s greatest ever players and Richard Dunne views him as the best defender of the Premier League era.
‘There were a lot more dominating centre-backs during my era than there is currently,’ the former Manchester City, Everton, Aston Villa and QPR star told BestBettingSites. ‘I think that the best one was probably John Terry.
‘He was incredible when he was at Chelsea, and not just for his own performances, but how he led the team and how he led the whole club from the front.
‘John Terry won so many trophies. I would have to definitely put John Terry as one of the pair of the best centre-backs to ever play in the Premier League. It would be John Terry and someone else.
‘If you’re looking at this generation of defenders, then you’ve got Virgil van Dijk, who is having another incredible season. You would put William Saliba and Gabriel in the equation with Arsenal.
‘Looking back to when John Terry played, it was him, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Sol Campbell. Those guys were the best.
‘I would pick John Terry though, and I would go with Rio Ferdinand alongside him.’
Since retiring, Terry has gone into coaching, holding roles at Aston Villa, Leicester City and currently back at Chelsea where he works with the club’s academy.
Earlier this year he named former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry as the player he ‘feared the most’ during his long and illustrious career.
‘Thierry Henry was the best I came up against, the one I feared the most,’ the 44-year-old said.
‘Next has to be Wayne Rooney. He was a top, top player and what he achieved was incredible.
‘I don’t know if it gets overlooked a little bit just how good Wayne was when he first broke into the England team.
‘I remember playing against him in the Premier League and having him as a teammate in the England sessions. He was phenomenal.
‘I’d also say Sergio Aguero and Harry Kane were difficult to come up against.’
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