John Terry has described former Rio Ferdinand as the best centre-back ever in the Premier League.
Terry acknowledged Ferdinand’s long career and the achievements he accumulated while playing for one of the world’s top clubs.
Many football fans consider John Terry himself to be among the best centre-backs in Premier League history.
However, debates around the greatest often include players such as Terry, Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, and Virgil van Dijk.
The Chelsea legend stated that while Van Dijk is arguably the finest defender of his generation, Ferdinand remains the all-time great.
In an episode of the Double Tops podcast, Terry said, “It’s not for me to say, I know this clip has become really popular lately, right?”
Because Jermaine Pennant came out and kind of wrote to me, and then the debate started about me, Rio, and Vidic, and then all of a sudden, it just got kind of focused on me.
“I believe that myself, Rio, Vidic, were from different generations than Virgil. I believe Virgil van Dijk is the best player of this era, from this generation. He has been the best by a million miles in the Premier League for the last four or five years? If it’s me to say, I would say Rio for me.”
Terry also reflected on his own career while comparing himself to the former Manchester United and England defender.
He added, “I don’t think it’s for me to sit here and say I’m the best. What I will do is, it will come out when someone says the high-scoring defender and clean sheet.
“No, no, that’s me. So I can defend myself in that regard. If I had to choose someone, Rio is the one. Over time, his longevity and what he achieved stand out. Playing for one of the top clubs in the world, like Manchester United, is the best part for me.”
Ferdinand spent 12 years at Manchester United, from 2002 to 2014, making 455 appearances. He claimed six Premier League titles and one UEFA Champions League trophy, alongside numerous other awards.