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#3 Jose Santamaria (Real Madrid)
As we had mentioned at the start, great teams always have a strong defence. Back in the 1950s and 60s, the likes of Alfredo Di Stefano, Paco Gento and Ference Puskas ran riot and helped establish Real Madrid as one of the European powerhouses. But they were aided by a strong supporting cast and Jose Santamaria was chief among them.
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Nicknamed 'The Wall' for being a formidable presence at the back, Santamaria showcased excellent defensive abilities. He was also great at aerial duels and became a leader in Real Madrid's backline quite quickly after joining the club in 1957.
He won six La Liga titles, four European Cups, one Copa Del Rey and one European Cup with Real Madrid before retiring in 1966.
#2 Carles Puyol (Barcelona)
Carles Puyol provided the muscle that protected the elite midfielders and attackers he played behind and helped them dominate world football in the 21st century. A no-nonsense defender, Puyol was also a one-club man who spent his entire senior career at Barcelona.
Puyol was always willing to give it his all on the football pitch. Despite being just 178 cms tall, he could dominate aerial duels. He was a brave, tough-tackling defender and once the Spaniard improved his positioning and ability to organize his defence, there was no stopping him.
Although he is more famous for his defensive capabilities and heart, Puyol was also a solid technician. He was good with the ball at his feet and if paired alongside a ball-playing defender, Puyol was always going to deliver.
He has won six La Liga titles, three Champions League titles and one Copa Del Rey in his Barcelona career. Puyol is undoubtedly one of the greatest defenders to have ever played in La Liga.
#1 Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid)
An absolute rock at the back for Real Madrid for 16 years, the club will be different now that Sergio Ramos has decided to leave. He might have a reputation for his recklessness on occasion but he used his strength and physique to great effect throughout his career.
An incredible athlete, Ramos was also a great goalscoring defender. There are hardly any defenders around that can match the Spaniard's aerial ability. Whatever obstacle you put in front of Ramos, he just seemed to walk past it with ease. He is also an exemplary leader of men and has played a crucial role in Real Madrid's dominance in Europe in recent times.
Ramos has it all. He is an aggressive tackler and possesses great aerial ability. He is also brilliant at reading the game and making interceptions. In addition to all that, Ramos is also a wonderful passer of the ball. Suffice to say, he is the complete package.
In his 16 year long stint with Real Madrid, Ramos won five La Liga titles, four Champions League titles, two Copa Del Reys and four Supercopa de Espanas. He was also chosen as the best defender in La Liga on five occasions.
