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Best Defender | Year | Player | Club | 2007 | Paolo Maldini | AC Milan | 2006 | Carles Puyol | FC Barcelona | 2005 | John Terry | Chelsea FC | 2004 | Ricardo Carvalho | FC Porto | 2003 | Roberto Carlos | Real Madrid CF | 2002 | Roberto Carlos | Real Madrid CF | 2001 | Roberto Ayala | Valencia CF | 2000 | Jaap Stam | Manchester United FC | 1999 | Jaap Stam | Manchester United FC | 1998 | Fernando Hierro | Real Madrid CF |
Jamie Carragher (Liverpool FC)
A superb man-marker and tackler who has long ago dispelled questions about his pace, Carragher stood tall in a Liverpool back line that struggled to find cohesion at times. Having long ago broken Ian Callaghan's record for UEFA club competition appearances, the immovable 30-year-old became only the 12th player in Liverpool's 116-year history to make over 500 appearances.
Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United FC)
"The best centre-half in the world by far," according to Sir Alex Ferguson, Ferdinand had a memorable 2007/08 campaign. He helped United defend the Premier League title, captained them in their victorious UEFA Champions League final, skippered England and scored four goals in a season for the first time. Imperious in the air, fleet of foot and ever maturing, at times he was simply everywhere. Indeed, when United experienced their sole disappointment |
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