7 Best Premier League Centre-Back Partnerships of All Time

From the great Chelsea duo of John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho to legendary Manchester United pairing Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic, HITC Sevens takes a look at some of the greatest centre-back partnerships in the history of the Premier League.
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[@tejas8719]

"What's wrong with Olympique Marseille" is needed. Unwanted Transfer, Dismal season, suspended manager and a cherry on top with Rioting fans. Something is clearly wrong.

[@naedot.9779]

Suspended manager??? He resigned😂

[@tejas8719]

@@naedot.9779 OM initially suspended AVB. He later resigned the following day. And just so you know, Managers are very rarely suspended by the clubs. Usually sacked!

[@ivoxvxi7482]

@@tejas8719 he cant have "resigned" he had a contract. He was asking to leave for weeks but they didnt until then. They let him leave his contract, he wasnt suspended

[@capa1575]

Can you please do “Top 7 cheapest drug dealers in Leicester” (Not that I’m in need or anything just curious)

[@jacobsun1564]

banger comment

[@YashMezzala]

Ask ur dad

[@fernandoiniesta0081]

Come up north 2 glesga ....much cheaper pal

[@snow5064]

cursed comment

[@rhudylofthouse7528]

MF doom

[@ihabammoury2879]

I really like when Alfie said "Any how" and putting Eddie Howe picture 👍😀

[@beard6329]

😁👌

[@PatrickvanStokken]

There is a serious streak going on with exactly this btw if no one noticed that yet haha. What a legend 🙌🏼

[@ankitmanna3927]

We all know the greatest duo is Chris Smalling and Phil Jones😅

[@amosstarkey485]

Maguire and Lindelof?

[@prometheustv6558]

I mean they both have a premier league winners medal 🤷🏾‍♂️

[@debayanbhunia7084]

Smalldini and Jonesta

[@Forestgravy90]

Smalling was never the problem of that duo

[@ivancoronado1683]

Smalldini

[@erikjadrejcic3754]

7 most expensive january signings 7 years ago: Where are they now?

[@WERTYUIO821]

If Chris Smalling and Phil Jones is not in the top, we riot!!!

[@HavokMania]

🐐🐐

[@prashanthkumar3773]

Jean aleen boombsong and Titus Bramble were way better. They were legendary

[@WERTYUIO821]

@@prashanthkumar3773 Lol. Was Bumsong really that bad in England? Back when he was playing for Lyon, he was decent in both Champions League and Ligue 1. Though it wouldn't be the first time that Newcastle failed to use Frenchmen lol.

[@freshmemes8664]

@@WERTYUIO821 Ben arfa, Thauvin, I could go on

[@WERTYUIO821]

@@freshmemes8664 Yep. If you are French, *never* sign for Newcastle.

[@TwoFootball1998]

The seven best center-back partnerships of the history of Serie A would be much more difficult😂😉.

[@anzacxlag2606]

Maldini and whoever else played a game at Milan would be about 5 of them.

[@eddyededwin]

@@anzacxlag2606 baresi and costacurta

[@TwoFootball1998]

@@anzacxlag2606 1. Nesta - Maldini 2. Baresi - Costacurta 3. Scirea - Gentile 4. Picchi - Guarneri 5. Samuel - Lúcio I think these would make it into the top 5. But there are so many great partnerships in Serie A history😳.

[@YashMezzala]

@@TwoFootball1998 maldini would come more than once, guy played almost 25 yrs

[@TwoFootball1998]

@@YashMezzala Maldini only played as a center back together with Nesta. Before he had always played as a left back.

[@victoradeola2241]

You should rank the current premier league cb duo's

[@adityagadiya2465]

Stones and dias top no cap

[@zakariahajj4528]

Maguire and lindelof bottom no cap

[@EduardoGrassoTV]

Many teams alternate between 4 or 5 defenders... Would be too easy choosing the best 2 out of a 3 CB line

[@spandanmukherjee1137]

@@zakariahajj4528 Spurs Cb's at bottom and I am a Spurs fan

[@shaunbonehill9610]

“Eddie Howe” will never get old 😂

[@rjgomez5407]

Time stamp plss..🙏

[@abhibolega]

@@rjgomez5407 2:01

[@rodycaz8984]

It already got old. Was funny the first time, not so much anymore.

[@WERTYUIO821]

Yeah and the real Eddie Howe also would always have that baby face

[@jman6169]

@@rodycaz8984 no one likes a negative Nancy. Get a grip of yourself

[@goldy7443]

Day 5 of asking what would the East and West German sides look like today if Germany split again?

[@waymond1502]

Ranking every player with over 100 premier league goals

[@sudonomahadika1694]

Eddie Howe : - One of best young England manager - A Loyal man - Best pun in HITC

[@hanli5416]

Just consider Hyppia and Stam were together at the heart of the defense for Willem II in the eredivisie where they managed to penetrate the dutch top 3 for one season.

[@rudragovenkar2923]

7 best players at every position in the world at the moment .

[@ivailobumbovski4286]

Bramble Boumsong duo was underrated

[@R3NEGADE7]

😂🤣

[@alexsmith2630]

Poor old Kompany never got a world class partner - imagine him and Ruben Dias together

[@WERTYUIO821]

He had Toure. They probably missed out because of Toure being already featured.

[@anselmkabwa3836]

Laporte in 18/19?

[@reubenc228]

Hold up are you telling me Nastasic isn’t a PL all time XI contender????

[@joelm6632]

Lescott in 11/12

[@Peter_2504]

Guy couldn’t string 10 straight games without an injury, it’s the other defenders who never got a reliable partner

[@milito537]

Derby County centre back partnership 2008: world class.

[@wonderfulhumanbeingwithagr6381]

How many goals did they concede that season 'by accident'?

[@partizanfk5747]

You love to see it

[@babajidesanusi3526]

😂

[@Nilphinho]

You said it yourself. Rio and Vidic thrived even without a proper CDM. Carvalho and Terry had a huge block set up in front of them. For me Rio and Vidic take top spot here.

[@kwasigyamerah9133]

paul scholes????

[@Nilphinho]

@@kwasigyamerah9133 if you think Paul scholes is a proper DM you’re an idiot

[@amiamaira3636]

What a pair it was for chelsea 💙

[@adambaker8689]

I'm guessing Lindelof-Maguire isn't in there...

[@veuxrei]

Not after the last game loool

[@mozessuharli6220]

🤣🤣

[@prometheustv6558]

Maguire and Bailly are great tho, not top 7 but still pretty good. We need another CB.

[@adambaker8689]

@@prometheustv6558 They're getting there, when Bailly is fit or Ole decides not to play his love child Lindelof but they are a long way off any of these pairings. Consistency, longevity, success is what all of them have in common, Maguire and Bailly tick none of these 3 boxes, yet...

[@thomasjames3215]

Because they are shit

[@harleybear3104]

Easily the best football channel on KZbin please keep it up ! X

[@saintroddy]

If longevity isn't a consideration, Kompany/Laporte in 18/19 deserve a shout. In that 14-game winning run, they conceded four times. That included games against Arsenal, Chelsea, Spurs, Man United, and Leicester.

[@davekurt1433]

If that was the case he would have put the Belgians at Spurs in. 14 games is too small sample size

[@saintroddy]

Yeah, I get what you're saying.

[@gaffergafferko7724]

Koscielny and mertesacker were a criminally underrated partnership

[@samarthmisra2267]

No. They were leaking goals.

[@BeastBoy69631]

True. A good striker and they could have won the league

[@BeastBoy69631]

@@samarthmisra2267 ur blind

[@samarthmisra2267]

@@BeastBoy69631 dude please! Kompany and Toure was better. So was Cahill and Terry.

[@berzerkisnotaqt1250]

Yep, when they were good. Around 2013

[@ilp5973]

Vidic is unfairly underrated imo, a perfect no shit defender who always gave heart and soul for his club

[@rushimohite8298]

IMO Vidic and Ferdinand is the best cb pair in the history of PL

[@wahabk9033]

Nope

[@rushimohite8298]

@@wahabk9033 I said in my opinion , u can't change others opinions

[@shivamsingal7740]

7 Players who messed up the biggest moment of their career, eg Higuain vs germany, Gyan vs uruguay, karius vs madrid.

[@salmanahjum-mathee9055]

That would be funny especially the part about Karius

[@TSVFortuna1895]

Day 4: Teams with the most draws in one season

[@ReudigerRuediger]

Vidic & Ferdinand not in Nr 1 is madness...

[@aleksandarputica8139]

Nemanja and Rio r the best duo ever (plus Maldini and Nesta) and u put them on 2nd place, shame

[@MrJB2224]

I've been a huge Chelsea fan from America for a good 5-6 years now, all because I fell in love with the FIFA video game the 1st time I played it. Before that I was an NFL and NBA die-hard as most Americans are. I wish I would have discovered soccer and that pairing of JT and Carvalho when they were in their prime. As a fan of the game itself I have always admired the Man United pair.

[@jpmtlhead39]

Terry and Carvalho were the Backbone for the Chelsea "Resurrection" from an average team to Undisputed Premier league winners and the Powerhouse in English and European Football that they became. PS:with Mourinho has the "Master".

[@Canadaismybitch]

All of our PL era cb partnerships were here. Truly football heritage. ggmu

[@prometheustv6558]

I was literally trying to find a video you made about CB partnerships and now you made one.

[@wabackagainman0737]

Ngl kosielny and mertersaker were so underrated

[@LiTgg]

Imagine growing up watching all of them ahhh so lucky to be 90's boy!

[@josephwesenie1697]

Lets be honest the only reason this video was made is because of the recognition of Dias and Stones as a CB pairing

[@njabulombuyazi5132]

When I saw Rio & Vidic in 2nd place I smiled because it became obvious who would be number 1. I am not a Chelsea fan but anyone who remembers the 04/05 season will remember that Chelsea back 5 (Yes I am icluding Cole, Cech & Ferreira). As a unit they where simply flawless

[@ashleythomas4112]

Cole? Not Ashley Cole though, he didn't join Chelsea until 2006-07. If that's who you mean. Chelsea left back in 2004-05 was Gallas and Wayne Bridge.

[@njabulombuyazi5132]

@@ashleythomas4112 True, you're right actually. Not sure why I don't remember them though...

[@saindst]

It was Gallas/Bridge.

[@darnellyiadom3596]

For every one of these "premier league" videos, can you do an old 1st division counterpart, I know it'll get less views but it's nice to see them get their accolades too

[@MrAbelico]

So many commercials... But the video is top class as always!

[@mjdfooty1761]

Ledley King and John Woodgate deserved a feature

[@SC-fl8eq]

Hyypia was so so so underrated and a world class defender

[@sij748]

7 best Premier League striker partnerships of all time. Suggestions would include, but not limited to: . Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton . Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke . Thierry Henry and Denis Bergkamp . Robbie Fowler and Stan Collymore . Kevin Phillips and Niall Quinn

[@liamseekamp9627]

Drogba and Anelka

[@debasins]

The duo featured in the intro definitively gives nightmares to the home goalie with their goal scoring prowess.

[@achyutanandjha2964]

Petition to get Jones and Smalling and Mustafi and David Luiz in this list

[@dryames4319]

Can we pls get a “Best XI to never play a World Cup”.

[@-AlHassanAbdullahSAlSharif]

No

[@-AlHassanAbdullahSAlSharif]

He already did it

[@ajanthony1356]

they've done it before

[@hezzasings2613]

Can image there will be a couple of Scottish and french men in there

[@kalamitycrisis9816]

The reason Terry and Carvalho where more likely to keep a clean sheet was because of they way how mourinho played with a defensive mindset.Sir Alex Ferguson didn’t play like that and often times Vidic and Rio where left at the back with the keeper on there own, you should take into account your own rule, because every season after mourinho left Rio and Vidic Conceded less goals than them even in 2009/10 when chelsea won the title Vidic and Rio conceded less.

[@joshuaflint9132]

If there's a reason I'd put Ferdinand/Vidic ahead of Terry/Carvalho it'd be that (a bit like you said at the start of the video) Terry had so many partnerships in the PL era that he essentially elevated the likes of Alex into becoming regular starters alongside him. With Ferdinand/Vidic, whenever one didn't play you felt that backline was a bit weaker (which it was of course) and neither centre half could elevate a rotation option up to their normal partner's heights. Maybe not a fair way of assessing the actual partnerships but I can't help but see it this way when splitting hairs over the two choices.

[@thelastgreataudit8112]

I know it sounds a bit wild, but I think Tarkowski and Mee might have been worth an honorable mention. They're very mid table and very old school individuals (good but not great), but as a *pairing* I think one could argue there havent been many better during their time in the premier league. Especially when you consider the different realities faced by a defender at Burnley than faced by one at, say, Manchester City.

[@thelastgreataudit8112]

@@agenttrash1226 Tbf they're not a very good team ahead of the defense.

[@debayanbhunia7084]

DAY 10: FIERCEST CLUB RIVALRIES OF 7 CONTINENTS

[@powerllesss2672]

Europe : Glasgow Rangers and Plastic Paddy Scum

[@timothybruns2775]

I would've put Alderweireld and Vertonghen in the lis too, not because they are great defenders but how good they were together and the many years they played together.

[@giosha9005]

wtf rio and vidic was the best duo partnership of all time

[@jman6169]

Loved that Eddie Howe pun

[@KimiFan2002]

What about “Iceland Euro 2016 Starting 11 that beat England- where are they now?

[@Deltanwachukwu]

great chose you picked john terry and Carvahlo what a great Partnership .

[@tsprime3114]

Day 1: Best XI of players who never won the Premier League (1992-2021).

[@12thMandalorian]

Top 7 Players that revolutionised football

[@yashsinghal6889]

2:00 Eddie Howe (any how) lmao😂

[@rohithraman6488]

He did that in another video as well 😂

[@Charlie-vc1jj]

If Vertongen and Alderweirald get a mention then it’s criminal to not even acknowledge Koscielny and Mertesacker, their record together is astonishing, especially considering they never played with a quality defensive midfielder, goalkeeper or full back pairing, and the football Wenger played obviously wasn’t defensive minded, Carragher, Lukaku and Vardy all testify that Koscielny was the best and hardest centre back to play against in the league, and Mertesacker complemented him perfectly, it was everything you’d want in a centre back pairing. With a decent full back pairing, goalkeeper and defensive midfielder (cough cough Bernd Leno, Kieran Tierney, Thomas Partey) or a more defensive system, they’d be genuinely up there in contention for this 7, and they should be regardless, as for the others you’ve taken into account the context and circumstances, I’m not saying they should be in it, but to not even have them in the honourable mentions is criminal

[@TheGOAT_]

Yessss 1 absolutely! A like well earned

[@WERTYUIO821]

I would personally argue that Terry and Carvalho were better individuals than Ferdinand and Vidic but rank them below the Manchester United's duo for partnership. Personally I think that Ferdinand and Vidic covered each others weaknesses excellently in a level that we don't even talk about them, while they become obvious when one of them was injured or in performances with their nations. Terry and Carvalho on the other hand, were excellent with multiple partners and in Carvalho's case, in multiple teams and Leagues as well. Either way, I enjoy the video and looking forward for the next one!!!

[@benj-_-8299]

Could you do best players playing in England in the pre-Premier League era?

[@stantsonmiles4477]

Video Idea: Top 10 leagues in the world based on talent, overall competition, and depth.

[@nathaniel7744]

Day 20: best Xl of players that would be eligible to play for the Catalan national team (even if they already play for another country)

[@rhysmostyn7855]

Can you maybe do a “Worlds best XI” or Europe’s, or South America’s. Something along those lines, but with one player from each country. Could even do an all time version if u fancy.

[@muhammedoyeleke3597]

Check out Football Pill,they made some videos on there

[@nickgrch]

Morgan & Huth..love it

[@johnmurphy5161]

digress away......great vid again.

[@monaallen42]

Ruben Dias might just be the best defender in England rn

[@prometheustv6558]

He is because VVD is injured

[@bluest.9320]

@@prometheustv6558 VVD conceded 7 in one game, Ruben has lost once since he joined city I believe and has never conceded when Him, John Stones and Ederson played

[@prometheustv6558]

@@bluest.9320 Neuer conceded 6 in one game, he’s still the world’s best goalkeeper.

[@StoutProper]

This list will need updating soon

[@12thMandalorian]

10:00 never knew John Terry did push ups with Carvalho on his back, impressive

[@gavinperry8433]

JT Richardo Carvalho were like a fortress for Chelsea

[@zed704]

Ngl I would love rojo and Bailly back, the most lethal cb partnership of the last 5 years

[@jasimjamal7941]

Number 2 is my favorite duos all time

[@husseindashti7844]

Wes and Huth deserve a shoutout

[@kid_doonski]

2:00 I don't know why I liked when he said "any how" he showed a picture of similar sounding named 'Eddie Howe'

[@youssefremy6173]

Requests : Top 7 Best and Worst Premier League Sophomore Seasons Attempt 24 Context : Rate any teams, no need to be newly promoted, re promotion is ok, their 2nd seasons after surviving the first one

[@lutonboy8104]

Surely any player partnered with Phil Jones should feature as just playing next to him makes you look world class

[@ShadowFootballYT]

Sebastien Squillaci a shout for the best CB in Premier League history

[@RedCloudGawdian]

You didnt take in to account system for your final two picks as you admitted the United pair had no dedicated destructive DM yet the Chelsea side Terry and Carvalho succeeded in was literally the one that introduced English football to the Makalele role. That was surely a huge factor on their defensive record

[@anujsapkota502]

Who was scholes. Who was Carrick. And you shouting like chelsea has makelele. Being underrated doesnot means carrick was not the best DM.

[@mango863]

between 2006 and 2011 ferdinand and vidic won 4 premier leagues (3 in a row), reached the champions league final 3x out of 4 years, and set the record for longest time without conceding a goal in the premier league. i think terry is a top 3 defender and possibly #1 in the pl, but i'm sorry but terry and carvalho do not come anywhere close to ferdinand and vidic. they didn't even win a champions league together.

[@tobiaspetris5336]

ohh it was premier leage center back combination i was like wheres nesta and maldini?

[@tuisverige]

Best strikers duos

[@harrysinclair1852]

Rio and Vidic are so underrated

[@lhrlover5548]

top 7 fullback patnerships (fullbacks that complimented each other the most)

[@AvatarN]

Trent and Robbo

[@maxmilburn4046]

Mike Williamson & Steven Taylor 👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻

[@niksv4165]

Day 5: ways to fix Var with your suggestion

[@DavidWilson-kr5gt]

Now you have to do best strike partnerships!

[@bradley4706]

Didn’t even mention that Terry is the premier leagues top goal scorers for defenders 41 goals.

[@needfoolthings]

Shkodran Mustafi by himself is THE best centre back partnership of all time, hands down.

[@MahRahman1]

nice touch with eddie howe

[@joelthorpe4170]

If Johnsen was around now he'd be worth 10s of millions. Very underrated and his type of CB is wanted highly these days. A Johnny Evans type of defender if you need a modern example.

[@greninjafw]

"anyhow" shows pic of eddie howe amazing

[@magicskillz1123]

Day 7: Predicting the 7 best players in 10 years

[@Gustavo-1bwh]

In 7 years....

[@r4h4al]

Great video as usual.

[@prometheustv6558]

Day 15: Barcelona 2011 vs 2015 Combined XI

[@YashMezzala]

Ter Stegen Alves,pique,puyol,Alba Xavi,busquets, iniesta Messi, Suarez,neymar. Manager - Pep Guardiola

[@prometheustv6558]

@@YashMezzala But what version of each of the players

[@YashMezzala]

@@prometheustv6558 defence and midfield from 2011. Messi- any version he is always great

[@prometheustv6558]

@@YashMezzala Probably 2015 because 2011 Messi probably wouldn’t fit as well with Neymar and Suarez.

[@YashMezzala]

@@prometheustv6558 yeah.

[@Aebexz]

Where are mustafi and David Luiz?

[@depekthegreat359]

In this and other worlds,I am a 7th liker of this video but I felt that the Rio Ferdinand sir and Nemanja Vidic boss partnership would have taken the top spot for the "Best Premier League Centre-Back Duos" because,they were the ultimate rock solid defenders which made Manchester United to win more titles during that time with John Terry boss and Ricardo Carvalho boss in the second spot,good friends!!!:-D

[@shazhanaieril9881]

And look at united's defence now....

[@jhaych]

Be better when maguire gets a partner who compromises him

[@berbafan67]

@@jhaych exactly, both Lindelof and Maguire are way too passive. Also, Lindelof doesn't have the speed to cover Maguire, as well as the aerial ability. Baily and Maguire looks like a promising partnership, but sadly Eric is way too injury prone.

[@akunwanneprosper7016]

Steve Bould Assistant Manager in football manager Nice

[@ishaandw]

Best Centre back pairings in the last 10 years.

[@partizanfk5747]

Day 1: Best possible England XI if players who could represent other countries did so