5 of the best English centre-backs of the Premier League era

The English Premier League has for a long time been regarded as one of Europe's strongest leagues. A league that prides itself on physicality and hard work, its centre-backs have always been highly regarded.

Nothing typifies English football like a commanding centre-back who is very strong, tackles hard and competes actively in the air. The advent of the Premier League and the arrival of foreign influences in style and coaching have modified the makeup of the English centre-back.

Nowadays, they are required to be technically proficient on the ball as well as retaining the old attributes. This evolution has produced some of the finest English centre-backs in the nation's history.

Here is a look at 5 of the very best English centre-backs to have graced the Premier League in the last 2 years;

#5 Jamie Carragher (Liverpool)

Carragher was a man who left it all on the pitch

The native Scouse, Carragher was a walking, talking embodiment of the English centre-back stereotype. Strong in the air and on the ground, the former England international turned pundit did not have a technical bone in his body.

What he lacked in technique, he made up for in strength, commitment, passion and a sneakiness that helped him compete with intelligent strikers. His wholehearted style got him into trouble on many occasions; he ended his league career with 70 yellow and 2 red cards.

In his defence, he played for a Reds team that only came close once to winning the league title in his 17 years of meritorious service.

He played in a Liverpool team that didn't pull up many trees (apart from the 2001 UEFA Cup and 2005 UEFA Champions League trophies). Carragher was never part of a Premier League winning side but his commitment and attitude earned him a place on this list.

#4 Ledley King (Tottenham Hotspur)

King was a brilliant leader for Spurs

The one who never was, the story of King's career is one that will always carry the tag of "what could have been".

The East London-born lad had a career plagued by many injuries. This forced him to retire at the age of 32, a very early age for a defender. On the occasions he was fit to play and captain Spurs, he reminded the Premier League of just how good he was. Despite playing in 268 games for his beloved Spurs, he received just 8 yellow cards and was never sent off, an unusual record in a league as physical as the Premier League

A Rolls Royce of a defender, he was brilliant in the air winning aerial balls on a consistent basis. He was also a very good tackler whose sense of timing was impeccable.

Unlike most English defenders of that era, King was very comfortable with the ball at his feet. He was a very good passer of the ball and helped Spurs start attacks with the quality of his passing.

#3 Tony Adams (Arsenal)

Adams was a man mountain at the back for Arsenal

Another proud alumnus of the blood-and-thunder school of centre-backs. The former captain of Arsenal was a formidable one-man wrecking crew in the air at both ends. He scored an unusually high number of goals for a centreback (32). This was mostly from set-piece situations for the Gunners which made him a nightmare for fellow central defenders.

Like other English centre-backs of his time, Adams was not a good passer of the ball. However, he was one of the very best defenders in the league when it came to making immaculately timed tackles and reading the game.

He was most notable for his fierceness. The bigger stronger and tougher the opponent, the more Adams seemed to relish the battle. His mental and physical resilience was a strong factor in the two Premier League title wins under Arsene Wenger (1998 & 2002).

He was a brilliant leader and was the focal point of an Arsenal defence that has been one of the best in the history of the Premier League.

#2 John Terry (Chelsea)

Terry was the leader and go-to-guy at Chelsea for many years

"Captain, Leader, Legend". When these words are uttered at Stamford Bridge, it can only be in reference to one man; John Terry.

The Blues' history has been forever altered by the arrival of Roman Abramovich and his billions. This has helped the West Londoners go from Premier League also-rans to one of the leading clubs in world football.

However, a local lad and hero has come to become the biggest symbol of this Golden Age for Chelsea. Originally a West Ham youth player, Terry made the short journey to join the Blues in 1998. It was a move that yielded great benefits for player and club.

A no-nonsense defender in the style of the great English defenders of old; Bobby Moore, Terry Butcher and co. He was a great tackler, brilliant in the air, scored a lot of goals (41) and was also very good at organizing the backline.

Helped by the long line of continental managers he worked with at Stamford Bridge, he developed his reading of the game and his passing to a higher standard than the average English centre-back.

He won 17 trophies during his time with the Blues and will always be fondly remembered by the KTBFFH (Keep The Blue Flag Flying High) faithful.

#1 Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United)

Rio was possibly one of Sir Alex's greatest ever signings

Clubs Played For: West Ham, Leeds, Manchester United, QPR

A magnificent specimen of a player, Ferdinand is probably the one English defender who would not have looked out of place in an Italian or Spanish shirt.

A defender who had it all; the best description one could give of the Peckham-born Rio was that he was a cross between Bobby Moore and Franz Beckenbauer; two of Europe's greatest ever centre-backs.

This informed Sir Alex Ferguson's desperation to get him, a desperation that made the Red Devils fork out £34m to get him from Leeds United in 2002.

Very comfortable with the ball at his feet, he had a range of passing similar to that of a good central midfielder. It was not uncommon to see him spraying passes with abandon during his playing days for the clubs he played for.

He was also fast, strong aerially, very physical and an immaculate tackler. His partnership with Nemanja Vidic is the greatest in the history of the Premier League; he won 6 league titles while at Old Trafford.