The 10 Greatest 'Stopper' Centre-backs of All Time

The 30 Greatest 'Stopper' Centre-backs of All Time
Shirt number: 5 or 6
The true 'Stopper' centre-back was born when Herbert Chapman pulled back the centre-half to deal with the centre forward in the late 1920s, in response to changes to the offside rule. Before this the two "full-backs" were effectively mobile stoppers operating across the back line. The stopper centre-back, now as then, has to be strong and dominant in the air in order to deal with the muscular threat of the centre-forward. Their role is all about winning the ball, by marking and tackling their opponents and being dominant in aerial challenges. Now they will form part of a two or even three man central defence, and they will have to form a partnership with a ball playing defender, but otherwise their duties remain the same. These are the hard men of the team. They aim not to be passed, spreading fear into their opponents and a sense of belief and security to their team-mates. The best stoppers also offer a goal threat in the penalty box at set pieces and may even stay upfield at desperate times when the team is in need of goal.

Jurgen Kohler  Germany  1986-98  (Juventus/B.Dortmund)
Marcel Desailly  France  1993-04  (AC Milan/Chelsea)

Miguel Angel Nadal  Spain  1991-02  (Mallorca/Barcelona)

Fabio Cannavaro  Italy  1997-10  (Parma/Juventus/R.Madrid)

Carlos Gamarra  Paraguay  1993-2006 (At. Madrid/Corinthinans/...)
Sol Campbell  England  2000s  1996-07  (Tottenham/Arsenal)
Jaap Stam  Neths  2000s  (PSV/Man Utd/Lazio/Milan) 1996-04

John Terry  England  2003-  (Chelsea)

Carles Puyol  Spain  2000-  (Barcelona)
Nemanja Vidic  Serbia  2000s/10s  (R.S.Belgrade/S.Moscow/Man Utd)