Left-back might not be probably the most glamorous place of all time however it may be the distinction between success and failure.
No Premier League aspect has ever gained the division with out a half-decent left-back and the easiest provide that wonderful stability between defensive safety and attacking thrust. Over current years, the place has solely grown extra difficult.
Naturally, the Premier League has witnessed a number of the place’s most gifted and most skilled representatives, lots of whom have written their title into English soccer folklore whereas residing on the left flank.
Listed here are the most effective Premier League left-backs of all time.
Aleksandar Kolarov spent seven fruitful years within the Premier League following his transfer to Manchester Metropolis in 2010, profitable the title twice and making 165 appearances within the competitors.
What set Kolarov other than his friends was a left boot that measured on the Richter scale, with the Serb producing a number of the strongest strikes the division has ever seen. 11 of them ended up behind the web.
There’s one thing so satisfying a couple of left-back with a knack for scoring worldies and Marcos Alonso undoubtedly ticks that field. With a left foot equally able to energy and precision, the Spaniard turned recognized for his free kicks from distance and long-range strikes.
Alonso produced a mightily spectacular 26 objectives and 17 assists in simply 179 appearances from defence, profitable the Premier League and Champions League throughout his days with Chelsea.
Arriving from Anderlecht for £2.25m in 1997, Celestine Babayaro went on to take pleasure in a stable Premier League profession with Chelsea. He was a daily for the Blues across the flip of the century and was unlucky to be offered midway by way of the title-winning 2004/05 season below Jose Mourinho.
The tireless left-back, who was recognized for his acrobatic objective celebrations, moved on to Newcastle United, spending three years on Tyneside to take his tally of Premier League appearances as much as 180.
Sylvinho did not spend too lengthy within the Premier League. In actual fact, he made simply 65 appearances in complete, most notably for Arsenal within the early noughties. Nonetheless, he made a big effect.
The primary Brazilian to symbolize the Gunners, he swiftly discovered himself because the membership’s first-choice below Arsene Wenger and even claimed a spot within the 2000/01 PFA Workforce of the Yr.
After a transfer to Celta Vigo, the left-back went on to spend 5 years with Barcelona earlier than returning to the Premier League for a single season with Man Metropolis.
Debut objectives do not come a lot better than Danny Rose’s thunderous strike in opposition to Arsenal for Tottenham in 2010. A completely stupendous volley in a memorable 2-1 victory for the Lilywhites, it actually raised expectations for the younger left-back.
The 29-cap England worldwide actually made good on his potential with 202 Premier League outings below his belt, a few of which got here with Sunderland, Newcastle and Watford.
He peaked below Mauricio Pochettino and earned his place in successive PFA Workforce of the Yr squads between 2015 and 2017.
A Leeds United legend, Ian Harte was one other left-back synonymous with lovely long-range strikes and lethal set items. The Irishman racked up a staggering 28 objectives from left-back throughout his Premier League profession, all of which got here for the Yorkshire outfit over an eight-year spell.
Harte netted a memorable free-kick in opposition to Arsenal on the penultimate day of the 2002/03 season because the Whites secured a well-known 3-2 victory that helped them beat the drop, having beforehand produced one other within the Champions League quarter-final in 2000/01.
Wayne Bridge’s arrival at Chelsea in 2003 spelled the top for Babayaro at Stamford Bridge, with the 36-cap England worldwide used frequently in his debut season and within the subsequent marketing campaign the place the Blues have been topped champions.
Harm and a mortgage transfer to Fulham prevented him claiming one other title in 2005/06 and his taking part in time continued to dwindle earlier than a transfer to Man Metropolis in 2009.
Gabriel Heinze made a right away affect at Manchester United following a profitable transfer from Paris Saint-Germain. He was voted the membership’s participant of the season in his first marketing campaign earlier than slowly morphing right into a central defender within the latter a part of his Outdated Trafford profession.
The Argentine claimed simply the one Premier League title earlier than shifting to Actual Madrid in 2007, earlier than which he had tried to power a transfer to rivals Liverpool.
Whereas his exit was greater than a little bit bitter after a falling out with Sir Alex Ferguson, Heinze was nonetheless a prime drawer left-back in his prime.
Phil Neville’s versatility was his biggest energy. He may play at right-back, defensive midfield and, in fact, left-back.
Neville’s different biggest asset was his reliability. He was a gentle performer for each Man Utd and Everton, therefore why he racked up a staggering 505 Premier League appearances throughout his time with the 2 northwest golf equipment.
He might by no means have been probably the most glamorous defender within the division, however he not often put a foot unsuitable.
Mikael Silvestre was one other versatile member of a stern Man Utd defence within the late Nineteen Nineties and 2000s, that includes at each centre-back and left-back for the Crimson Devils.
He gained 4 Premier League titles with Man Utd and the Champions League, in addition to ending as a runner-up on the 2006 World Cup with France. Man Utd’s different defenders might have caught the attention, however Silvestre was a darn good footballer.
Silvestre spent two years with Arsenal following his Outdated Trafford exit however didn’t make a major impression in north London.
The dependable Frenchman spent a powerful 14 years within the Premier League, sharing his time between Arsenal and Man Metropolis. He gained the Premier League title in his first season with the Gunners as they went unbeaten and established himself because the membership’s first-choice left-back round 2006 following Ashley Cole’s departure.
A transfer to Man Metropolis introduced an extra two league titles, with the 20-cap France worldwide ending his Premier League profession with 325 appearances below his belt.
Stuart Pearce’s nickname of ‘Psycho’ tells you all the things you must learn about what sort of left-back he was throughout an extended spell within the Premier League. Unforgiving and a little bit reckless, the previous Nottingham Forest and Man Metropolis defender was an old-school left-back.
Nonetheless, Pearce additionally had luggage of technical skill and was one thing of a dead-ball specialist, particularly throughout his time with Forest. He managed 20 objectives in 202 Premier League outings, with a lot of his profession coming previous to the formation of the competitors.
Once they noticed a fiery-haired Norwegian striding on to the the ball from 25 yards out, goalkeepers knew they have been in deep, deep hassle. That left foot was deadly and cruel, usually leaving a path of smoke behind the ball because it arrowed into the nook.
John Arne Riise was a distinctly attacking full-back throughout his seven outstanding years with Liverpool however he was additionally an imposing defensive presence, therefore why Rafael Benitez was so eager on him.
Whereas the Premier League title eluded him throughout his Anfield days, he was a key member of the 2005 Champions League-winning aspect, even organising Steven Gerrard’s strike within the remaining with a usually lovely supply into the field.
32 objectives and 54 assists is a ridiculous tally for a left-back, not to mention one who frequently performed in underwhelming Wigan Athletic and Everton sides. However Leighton Baines’ magical left peg and free-kick aptitude helped him obtain such a powerful complete within the Premier League.
Baines, there was nothing spectacular on present. He wasn’t blessed with tempo or energy or peak, however he did boast the masterful passing vary and capturing skill related extra with a Spaniard than an Englishman.
If Baines had represented one in all England’s elite sides, he might properly have acquired extra plaudits.
Graeme Le Saux spent two prolonged spells at Chelsea and sandwiched in between was an extremely affluent stint at Blackburn Rovers. The left-back moved to Ewood Park after rising pissed off at a scarcity of recreation time at Stamford Bridge and it proved a sensible determination.
Working below Sir Kenny Dalglish, Le Saux immediately discovered common minutes in Lancashire and was a key part in Blackburn’s fabled 1994/95 Premier League triumph.
Having proved his value up north, Le Saux returned to Chelsea in 1997 and have become the costliest defender in English soccer in consequence. Minutes weren’t a problem throughout his second stint, with the fiery left-back establishing himself because the membership’s first-choice.
A 13-year profession with Arsenal boasted some unbelievable moments, with Nigel Winterburn forging his title into the historical past books together with his persistently distinctive performances at left-back.
Having already gained two First Division titles with the Gunners earlier than the formation of the Premier League, Winterburn added to his trophy haul by lifting the league as soon as once more below Wenger in 1997/98.
The next 12 months he was named Arsenal’s participant of the season earlier than Sylvinho’s arrival restricted his recreation time, with Winterburn ending up at Highbury with 555 appearances to his title in all competitions.
Regardless of a barely shaky begin to his Man Utd profession, Patrice Evra swiftly turned one in all Ferguson’s favourites. The Frenchman was an adept defender, in fact, however would additionally frequently make bursting runs up the left flank to assist his attacking teammates.
Evra made 278 complete outings within the Premier League and had a good few titles to indicate for it – 5, the truth is. He additionally claimed the Champions League with the Crimson Devils earlier than a profitable spell at Juventus.
Evra is undoubtedly top-of-the-line the Premier League has witnessed on the left aspect of defence, boasting the required psychological, bodily and technical attributes to beat England and the continent.
Gamers do not come way more dependable than Denis Irwin, whose consistency helped him take pleasure in 12 years of trophy-laden success with Man Utd within the Nineteen Nineties and early 2000s. The Irishman supplied nice stability to one in all soccer’s most relentless membership sides.
Irwin was a powerful defender however was equally comfy within the opposition half, managing 18 objectives and 24 assists throughout his time within the Premier League.
Seven Premier League titles is a reasonably first rate haul.
A participant who has confirmed key in redefining the function of a left-back, Andy Robertson was plucked from relegated Hull Metropolis by Liverpool in 2017. He swiftly turned integral to Jurgen Klopp’s high-intensity system, bombing up and down the flank relentlessly.
No left-back has produced extra assists in Premier League historical past than the flying Scotsman, whose tenacity and tireless work charge are matched by a rare left foot.
Robertson has been an ever-present for Liverpool by way of a wonderful interval of success and was instrumental in bringing a primary Premier League title to Anfield in 2019/20.
Regardless of how good Robertson, Irwin and Evra are, there is just one man who has any proper to be labelled the Premier League’s finest left-back. Sadly for his rivals on this record, it isn’t even shut.
Having risen by way of the ranks at Arsenal, profitable two Premier League titles and making up a part of the Invincibles squad, Ashley Cole then moved throughout London to hitch Chelsea, the place by some means his inventory would solely proceed to rise.
An everyday supplier of objectives and assists, he would declare one other league title in 2009/10, in addition to the Champions League two seasons later.
Named within the PFA Workforce of the Yr on 4 events, there isn’t a doubting who’s the Premier League’s biggest left-back.
