5 of the greatest centre-backs to have played for FC Barcelona

Stout defending is not something people would normally associate with a club like FC Barcelona, instead, it's usually intricate passing, mesmerizing number 10s, glorious central midfielders and the odd excellent goalkeeper.

However, no football team can win as much as the Blaugrana have over the years without having an excellent defensive structure and Cules have been blessed over the years to have seen some very excellent centre-backs ply their trade at the Nou Camp.

With that being said, here are 5 of the greatest centre-backs of all time to have worn the blue and red of this great club:

Honourable mention: Javier Mascherano

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#5 Miguel Ángel Nadal (1991-1999)

Nadal's thou-shall-not-pass mentality won him the admiration of Cules

Just as famous for his familial connections (he is a paternal uncle to tennis superstar Rafa Nadal) as for his defending, Nadal was one of the unsung heroes of Johan Cruyff’s Dream Team.

A hard-as-nails and no-nonsense centre-back who also played in different positions depending on the team’s needs, he was one of the unsung heroes of a Barca team that was a purist’s delight with players like Bulgarian legend Hristo Stoichkov, Pep Guardiola, Romario among others - the headline grabbers in the team.

Notable for his tough tackling, aerial prowess and leadership from the back, Nadal was one of the first names on the team sheet and aptly nicknamed “The Beast of Barcelona” as he was adept at terrorizing strikers of all shapes and sizes.

#4 Migueli (1973-1988)

Tarzan, as he was fondly called, spent 15 glorious seasons at the Nou Camp

While Nadal had a well-earned reputation for being a no-nonsense hard man intent on scaring strikers and turning them into kittens, there was one such defender before him who has gone down in the annals of Barca as one of its greatest defenders.

Simply called Migueli (full name's Miguel Bernardo Bianquetti) was one of the longest-serving players in Barca’s history and is fondly remembered by fans even until this day.

Nicknamed “Tarzan” as a result of his athleticism, strength and hard-nosed style, the Ceuta-born Spaniard who joined the club from Cadiz in 1973 became legendary for his tough tackling, take-no-prisoners style of play.

Make no mistakes though, he wasn’t just an enforcer, his sense of positioning and when to make a tackle was immaculate and there are strong reasons as to why he should be higher on this list than he is.

Superb at marking, he also possessed a strong shot and scored important goals throughout his career.

#3 Gerard Piqué (2008-present)

Pique has been an inspired re-signing whose commitment to the cause has never been in doubt

Leader, model and sometimes agitator, Piqué has been a part of the furniture at the Nou Camp since his days at La Masia and he looks set to end his career at the same spot it started.

Elegant, classy and a great passer of the ball, he looks set to be the template that all ball-playing centre-backs at the club will be judged at in the nearest future, such has been his quality.

A fierce competitor who hides a ruthless desire to always win behind a softly spoken veneer, he has picked up the mantle of being the team’s defensive leader since the retirement of Carles Puyol and has led, with distinction, a defence that has seen more than its fair share of struggles.

He has been part of, perhaps, the greatest trophy-winning spell of the club’s 118-year history with 24 trophies since he returned to the club from Manchester United following the appointment of the Glorious One - Pep Guardiola, as manager in 2008.

#2 Ronald Koeman (1989-1995)

Scorer of one of the most important goals in Barca's history, Koeman was one of the stars of the Dream Team

No true Barca fan can ever forget the euphoria that followed Koeman’s last-gasp extra-time free-kick which won the club its first ever European Cup (UEFA Champions League) title in 1992 against Italian side, AC Sampdoria at Wembley Stadium.

This was the goal and game that completely changed the trajectory of this great club as up until that point, the club was as far as European titles were concerned, in the shadows of arch-rivals; Real Madrid.

However, Koeman was way more than that; he was a very good defender who was also a great scorer of goals (some long range scorchers among them).

He was one of the ball-playing defenders whose style of passing out from the back and relying on intelligence to make timely interceptions rather than brawn became something of a template for future Barca defenders.

Nicknamed Tintin for his hair’s uncanny resemblance to the cartoon character’s, Koeman was a committed tackler who was great on the ground and in the air and who is beloved by Cules for the way he completely bought into the club’s philosophy.

Notably, he holds the record for being the highest goalscoring defender of all time with 193 league goals from 533 matches.

#1 Carles Puyol (1999-2014)

Committed and always gave his 100%, Puyol was integral to Barca's successes under Pep Guardiola

Where are the words to describe this player who literally gave body and soul for the Blaugrana cause?

That Puyol is the greatest defender in the club’s storied history is not even an issue for debate; it is where he stands in the eternal pantheon of Barca legends that would be up for discussion.

The shaggy-haired player who always looked like an unkempt rockstar rather than an excellent footballer was a fan favourite who gave his all for the club at every moment in time and in the process incurred injuries which undoubtedly led to his retirement in 2014 at the rather early age of 36 (for a centre-back).

His commitment to the team was best exemplified by his refusal to move to Malaga in 1998 despite the club accepting an offer for him and his being behind Frank de Boer and Michael Reiziger in the pecking order.

This was a decision that turned out to be the biggest of blessings for both the player and the club as his commitment, aerial ability and leadership helped steer the team through certain difficult times and into the glory era of the Guardiola years.