Former Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany has named Liverpool superstar Virgil van Dijk as the greatest centre back in Premier League history.
There are plenty of candidates for the distinction of the finest centre half of the Premier League era, including Kompany himself. However, the now-Anderlecht boss has seemingly settled on the Reds’ imperious Dutchman.
As per The Athletic’s Sam Lee’s personal Twitter account on Wednesday: “Kompany’s asked who is the best centre-back in Premier League history, and he says… Virgil van Dijk.”
Kompany’s asked who is the best centre-back in Premier League history, and he says… Virgil van Dijk
— Sam Lee (@SamLee) September 11, 2019
OPINION
This is an interesting debate, and one that will continue to rage on as long as Van Dijk remains in his pomp at the heart of the Liverpool defence. There’s no doubt that the former Southampton man is up there as ONE of the greatest centre backs in Premier League history. However, his lack of longevity in comparison to some of his rivals for that distinction must surely count against him, right? Yes, he is the best defender in world football at this moment in time. However, he has only been considered the best centre back in the top flight for the past 18 months/two years. To now go ahead and say he is a better centre back than some of the Premier League’s greatest stalwarts like John Terry, Rio Ferdinand, Tony Adams, Nemanja Vidic, Sol Campbell, Jamie Carragher and even Kompany himself might be a slight stretch at this stage. If Van Dijk continues to be the world’s greatest defender for another two years, even, then he would probably solidify himself as the Premier League’s greatest centre back. But right now, it’s hard to place him above Messrs Terry, Ferdinand and Kompany.
