Top 3 centre-half pairings in football this season

Even though the attacking players take away most of the plaudits on the pitch in a game of football, champion teams are built on the backbone of world-class centre-half pairings. Every team needs at least two central defenders who work on the same wavelength and compliment each other.

Such centre-half pairings have been considered priceless since the inception of the game and continue to be in high demand even in recent times. This season too, the football world has been witness to some fantastic central defensive pairings, but who are the top 3 among them? Read on to find out.

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3. Kalidou Koulibaly and Kostas Manolas (Napoli)

Koulibaly and Manolas

Kalidou Koulibaly had been turning heads with his performances with Napoli for quite a few seasons now. The Senegalese has all the qualities that are essential to succeed as a centre back; he is fast, strong and very comfortable with the ball at his feet. Understandably, every big club in Europe had their eyes on him for some time, but the Serie A side had managed to evade all potential suitors. This summer, Carlo Ancelotti bought Kostas Manolas to partner the Senegalese at the heart of the defence. Pretty soon, it was clear that Napoli had hit a jackpot.

The Greek defender has been in fine form since making the move to the San Paolo Stadium. Like Koulibaly, Manolas is very comfortable on the ball and is regularly involved in the build-up play for his team. As a defender, he is a very good reader of the game and always positions himself cleverly to thwart the opposition play. He is extremely strong in the air and an able tackler. He also likes to join the attack at every opportunity and is a threat during set-pieces.

At Napoli, the two players have formed a stellar partnership and have complemented each other very well. Ancelotti has the rare luxury of two fast and fluid central defenders and that has bonded very well with his tactics. Both the Senegalese and the Greek international are leaders on the pitch, and their authoritative presence at the back makes them one of the best centre-back pairings in the world at the moment. Incidentally, the two men are born 6 days apart in June 1991, which perhaps explains their telepathic connection on the pitch!

2. Stefan Savic and Jose Gimenez (Atletico Madrid)

Savic and Gimenez

The Atletico Madrid pair have stepped up after the departure of club legend Diego Godin this summer and were fantastic together right until they picked up injuries in October. The two players are quite different in their style of play, but they have collaborated very well so far.

Stefan Savic is a no-nonsense defender pretty much in the mould of Diego Godin. The Montenegro defender is strong in the air and quite comfortable playing out from the back. He is capable of playing long balls from the back and is a terrific reader of the game. Savic is quite intelligent with his anticipation, which means that he is good with clearances and interceptions. However, one of his weak points is his lack of pace and this is where his defensive partner plays a pivotal role.

Jose Gimenez can be considered a pupil of Diego Godin. The two have played together for quite long for Uruguay. Over time, some of the skills and characteristics of the mentor, Godin, have been inculcated into the pupil's game. Gimenez used to be raw and rash a couple of seasons ago, but has matured well since the last term. The Uruguayan is fast and extremely active on the pitch, which bodes well alongside the more static Savic. Gimenez is a fighter on the pitch and great in aerial battles too.

Together, the two of them have reformed the Atletico Madrid defence this season. They are one of the best defensive partnerships in world football right now.

1. Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip (Liverpool)

Liverpool v Man City - FA Community Shield

Virgil van Dijk's emergence in world football has been nothing short of fascinating. The Dutchman moved up through the youth ranks at Willem II and eventually found himself at Southampton. At the start of 2018, Jurgen Klopp brought him to Liverpool for a then world-record fee for a defender and the rest is history.

At Anfield, the Dutchman has now turned into the best defender in the world, winning the UEFA Player of the Year following his splendid 2018/19 season with Liverpool. Van Dijk is the commander at the back that Liverpool have missed for years and is a monster at the heart of the defence for his team. He is fabulous in the air and fantastic with the ball at his feet, playing out great long balls from the back that turn defence into attack. The Dutchman is quite fast too and very few players can get the better of him.

Joel Matip, on the other hand, is the perfect foil to the Dutchman. The Cameroonian is dominant in the air too and the two of them form a formidable pair at the back. Matip joined Liverpool from Schalke 04 in the summer of 2016 and has been a constant performer for Jurgen Klopp. His presence has helped van Dijk stay impregnable at the back. The Cameroonian also likes to step out from the back and can dribble past the opposition. These abilities compliment van Dijk's passing abilities very well and the two of them are the best centre-half pair in the world at the moment.