Premier League stalwart Phil Jagielka names Luis Suarez as his ‘most annoying’ opponent

Phil Jagielka did not enjoy dealing with Luis Suarez (Picture: Getty Images)

Sheffield United and Everton hero Phil Jagielka reckons Luis Suarez was the most annoying striker he ever faced in his career, while former Aston Villa forward John Carew was ‘almost impossible to play against.’

The 41-year-old made 322 appearances in the top flight for the Toffees, and 54 more for the Blues, while also racking up 40 caps for England.

He came up against many of the world’s best in that time, although he never played in the Champions League, but there was plenty of talent to deal with in the Premier League and at international level.

Of every striker the centre-back faced it was the Uruguayan who stood out as the most irritating to try and handle,

‘Suarez at that time was unplayable,’ Jagielka told talkSPORT. ‘He was so game off the ball.

‘The ball would drop to him and he’d finish it at times – he showed both ends of the game, would work as hard as anyone else and he’d get the goals.

‘Obviously Stevie G [Gerrard] in a similar area would score lots of goals, but I think, striker wise, Suarez was, should we say the most annoying? That might sum up how to describe him.

Jagielka couldn’t even escape Suarez at international level (Picture: Getty Images)

‘I suppose if you’re a striker that’s what you want to hear that other defenders think of you.’

The speedy, persistent Suarez was one thing, but Jagielka also had to deal with huge, powerful forwards as well, with Carew standing out in his memory as a particular nightmare.

The Norwegian scored 48 goals for the Villains in just over four years at the club and Jagielka does not remember facing him fondly.

John Carew was a threat in his Aston Villa days (Picture: Getty Images)

‘We had other people like Kevin Davies, John Carew, he was almost impossible to play against, he’s probably twice my size but for a different reason to obviously people like Suarez.’

Jagielka retired from playing last year at 41 years old and said: ‘I always said that when I retired it was going to be golf, golf, golf! But I’m just going to take a bit of time out.

‘Will I go into coaching or not? I don’t know.’

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