Top 5 defenders with the best clean sheet record in the Premier League

Nemanja Vidic and John Terry are in the top 5 but neither are top of the listThe Premier League was started in 1992 and it signalled the birth of something that would take the world by storm in the next two decades. It would become the breeding ground for some of the best talents as foreign players increasingly started flocking to England’s shores by the turn of the century.With entertainment the no.1 factor that led to it being branded the best league in the world, the goalscorers always got their due. But in the helter-skelter manner in which the game is played in England, it is a select few defenders who brought a sense of order and calm to proceedings. We look at five legendary defenders who had the best clean sheet record.Note: Only defenders who have played at least 200 matches have been selected. Stats courtesy of Opta.

#5 Sami Hyypia - 39.3%

“One of the best bits of business we’ve done over the years. A steal, a bargain!” These were the words of Ron Yeats – the chief scout who brought Sami Hyypia to Liverpool in 1999 for a meagre £2.6m. After joining his boyhood club, the defender from Finland would spend 10 seasons at Anfield where he won 10 trophies, including two FA Cups, two League Cups and the Champions League title in 2005.

Although there were doubts about his abilities at first, he would soon start to deliver, even being handed the captaincy he shared with Robbie Fowler when Jamie Redknapp was injured.

The armband seemed to hold him back though and he was soon relieved to hand it over to Steven Gerrard. It also coincided with the beginning of a fruitful partnership with Jamie Carragher in central defence – the bedrock of their Champions League success.

The defender was a hero to the Kop, often popping up with crucial goals from set-pieces. At the back, the unmistakable blonde hair and the #4 shirt was a towering figure that led the defensive line regularly. Averaging close to 32 games a season in the Premier League alone, it was no wonder then that he was such a dominant figure for the Reds.

#4 Gary Pallister - 39.8%

In a 17-year career in England, Gary Pallister is most famous for his nine-year stint at Old Trafford. The 6’4” defender was a mainstay of the Red Devils’ defence after making a transfer record-breaking move for a defender in 1989.

He would prove his worth in his very first season, picking up the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award at the end of the season. United would consider themselves lucky as his move was mainly a result of Middlesbrough’s relegation to the second division.

Joining Steve Bruce in central defence, the two formed one of the greatest centre-back pairings in the club’s history. Pallister was an integral part of the squads that won the Premier League twice in a row in two occasions in the 1990s (1992/93, 1993/94 and 1995/96, 1996/97).

He also helped Sir Alex Ferguson’s side win the FA Cup three times – a competition they have failed to win in recent years.

#3 John Terry - 44.4%

One of few Premier League players who has played across the three decades since the Premier League was formed, John Terry has been a mainstay at Chelsea since his move to the club as a 14-year-old youth player. Although a midfielder when he first started out, Terry would become one of the greatest centre-backs in EPL history.

Since making his senior debut in 1998, Terry has made almost 700 appearances for the Blues ever since. With more than 470 of them coming in the league, he was the only constant in an ever-changing back-line at Stamford Bridge.

While he lost his pace after entering his 30s, he made up for it with his positioning and tackling. A cautious defender who does not dive into tackles, he relies on reading the game and the movement of the opposition players in his decision-making.

With four Premier League titles apart from five FA Cups and a Champions League title, Terry will retire a legend in the game.

#2 Nemanja Vidic - 45%

Arriving at Old Trafford on Christmas Day of 2005 for approximately £7m, Nemanja Vidic will be counted as one of Manchester United’s best ever Christmas presents. Spending almost nine seasons at the club turned the Serbian defender into a legend who literally gave his sweat and blood for the club on the pitch.

Vidic formed a very effective partnership with Rio Ferdinand at the back. Along with Edwin van der Sar, they formed one of the most formidable defensive lines in Premier League history.

In the 2008/09 season, Vidic was instrumental in helping United keep 14 consecutive clean sheets in the league – a new record. United did not concede a goal for a total of 1311 minutes!

A no-nonsense defender who would put his body on the line no matter what, Vidic would soon be rewarded with the captain’s armband and he led the club to two of the five league titles he won under Sir Alex Ferguson. In his final match in a red shirt at Old Trafford, the centre-back received a standing ovation – three times!

#1 Tony Adams - 45.1%

Tony Adams made his Arsenal debut as a 17-year-old boy. By the time he retired 22 years later, he was one of the greatest defenders England had ever seen and one of the most influential captains of the modern era. He too had played across three decades and won a league title at least once in each decade.

The captain’s armband was handed to him when he was only 21 and that did not put any pressure on the Englishman as he led the Gunners to four league titles (three in the EPL). “I made Tony Adams one of the youngest captains in Arsenal’s history and I never had any doubts about him doing the job,” George Graham had said. “The modern game is short of dominant personalities, so Tony stands out like a beacon.”

Along with Steve Bould (now the assistant manager at Arsenal) and full-backs Lee Dixon and Nigel Winterburn, the Gunners’ defensive line was one of the most feared and effective back four in England. The telepathic understanding with which they stepped up to catch opponents offside was the stuff of legend.

For his services to the club, Arsenal would eventually unveil a statue of Adams in his famous celebratory pose outside the Emirates Stadium.