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Premier League clubs broke the record for the most expensive defender in football history twice within the last three years. Liverpool paid a whopping £75 million to sign Virgil van Dijk from Southampton before Manchester United splashed £80 million on the acquisition of Harry Maguire.
The aforementioned transfers are strong proof that the value of defenders has skyrocketed in the Premier League in recent seasons. But what happened to the players who impressed at the back in prior seasons of the English top flight?
The success of players like Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic and John Terry could influence many to conclude that great defenders deservedly rose to prominence. However, a closer look at the subject reveals a number of players failed to get the plaudits they merited despite their brilliant displays at the back.
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On that note, we've decided to take a look at the 5 most underrated defenders in Premier League history.
#5 Pablo Zabaleta
This is one of the few names that can't be ignored on this list. Pablo Zabaleta played at an impressive level during his time in the Premier League. However, due to some incomprehensible factors, the defender didn't earn as much respect as he should.
Zabaleta joined Manchester City from Espanyol in an €7.5 million transfer in the summer of 2008. He spent nine years at the Etihad Stadium before leaving for West Ham United on July 1, 2017.
He made 303 appearances during his time in the Premier League, scoring nine goals and setting up 21. He also claimed the league crown twice with Manchester City, playing influential roles in both triumphs.
#4 Branislav Ivanovic
Former Chelsea right-back Branislav Ivanovic is another defender whose efforts went below the radar in the Premier League. The Serbian spent nine years at Stamford Bridge, where he formed a rigid backline alongside players like John Terry and Ashley Cole.
While his colleagues were often praised for Chelsea's defensive prowess, Ivanovic rarely made the headlines. Yet his performances for the Blues were equally impressive.
The Serbian played an influential role in all three Premier League crowns he won at Stamford Bridge. He concluded his spell in the English top flight with 22 goals and 23 assists in 274 games across stints with Chelsea and West Ham.
#3 Leighton Baines
Leighton Baines' exploits in the Premier League are still fresh in memory, with the player having just called time on his spell last summer. The Englishman had almost everything you could ask for in a modern-day full-back. The only thing that was missing was recognition for his hard work.
Baines was one of the finest left-backs in the English elite division during his active playing days. He joined Everton as a 22-year-old in the summer of 2007 but ended up leaving as a club legend upon his retirement in July 2020.
The defender racked up 32 goals and 60 assists in 420 appearances in the Premier League. He was known for his incredible set-piece abilities but other than that, he barely got the attention of the fans.
#2 Sami Hyypia
The centre-back was relatively unknown when Liverpool signed him for a meager £2.5 million from Dutch outfit Willem II ahead of the 1999-2000 season. However, his transfer turned out to be a huge bargain for the club.
Sami Hyypia instantly became a pivotal figure for the Reds, featuring in all of their 38 Premier League matches in his first season. He formed a decent partnership with Stephane Henchoz at the heart of the defense. They ran riot together and proved to be a perfect match for even the best attacking teams in the division for a couple of years.
The Finnish international spent 10 successful years at Liverpool. By the time he parted ways with the Reds in 2009, he already had 318 appearances under his belt, with 22 goals and eight assists. However, attention has always eluded him.
#1 Denis Irwin
Denis Irwin was one of the key performers for Manchester United during the 90s. Signed for just £625,000 from Oldham Athletic on July 1, 1990, the Irish left-back became a success at Old Trafford from his first season.
Irwin was a huge revelation on the left flank, contributing massively to attack and defense, while proving to be a tough nut to crack. Such was his brilliance that despite attracting interest from many clubs, Manchester United kept him at Old Trafford for a whopping 12 years.
He eventually left for Wolves in 2002 where he retired after playing for just two seasons. In summary, the defender made 328 appearances in the Premier League, with a record of 18 goals and 21 assists to his name. Like other names on the list, Denis Irwin rarely gets mentioned among the Premier League's elite defenders.
