Ranking the top 10 best defensive trios in the history of football

Defenders play important roles in a team by protecting the goalkeeper and ensuring the opponents do not score. Football has produced many top defenders who have formed unshakable partnerships. Some of the best defensive trios have retired, but others are still playing.

Who are the greatest defensive trios of all time?

A defensive trio combines three defenders (centre-backs or full-backs) who have played together for a while and won titles. They often understand one another's strengths and weaknesses and give strikers headaches. This article ranks the best defending trios of all time.

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Many successful football teams have a well-built defensive line controlled by passionate leaders on the pitch. Defenders are the backbone of a team. Therefore, it requires a strong partnership to establish one of the best defences in history. Below are the most recognized back-line trios that brought success to their teams.

10. Sol Campbell, Kolo Toure, Lauren

The trio was part of Arsenal's 2003-04 'Invincibles' squad that won the Premier League unbeaten and reached the Champions League final. Campbell (England) and Toure (Ivory Coast) were centre-backs, while Lauren (Cameroon) played as a right-back.

9. John Terry, Ricardo Carvalho, Ashley Cole

Arguably the best Chelsea's best defensive trios in history, Terry (England), Carvalho (Portugal), and Ashley Cole (England) were the masterminds of Jose Mourinho's back line. They won back-to-back Premier League titles and conceded 15 goals in a season.

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8. Walter Samuel, Lucio, Javier Zanetti

Javier Zanetti is one of the legendary defenders in Argentina and Inter Milan. His partnership with Walter Samuel (Argentina) and Lucio (Brazil) made Inter impenetrable in 2009 and 2010 under Mourinho. They guided the club to domestic and European success.

7. Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Bonucci, Andrea Barzagli

Chiellini, Bonucci, and Barzagli rank among the greatest defensive trios of all time in football. They stopped many powerful attacks, including MSN (Messi, Suarez, Neymar). The three conceded a few goals while playing for Juventus and the Italian national team and won many titles.

6. Gaetano Scirea & Claudio Gentile, Antonio Cabrini

Before Chiellini, Bonucii, and Barzagli, Italy had their 1970s and 1980s heroes, Scirea & Gentile and Cabrini. They are one of the most dangerous trios in football history, having won the 1982 World Cup with Italy. Scirea and Claudio Gentile played as centre-backs, while Cabrini was a left-back. The trio also won multiple titles with Juventus.

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5. Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand, Patrice Evra

Many football fans know the impact of the three legends on Manchester United's squad during Alex Ferguson's era. Vidic's aggression, combined with Ferdinand's experience and Evra's fighting spirit, perfectly balanced the star-studded squad that swept aside opponents for years.

4. Franz Beckenbauer, Hans-Georg Schwarzenbeck, Paul Breitner

Paul Breitner partnered with Beckenbauer and Schwarzenbeck in the 1970s and 80s to form Germany's arguably best trio of all time in football. Franz Beckenbauer and Hans-Georg Schwarzenbeck were central defenders, while Breitner was a left-back who transformed into a defensive midfielder.

3. Sergio Ramos, Raphael Varane, Marcelo

Over the years, many top defenders have played for Real Madrid. However, not many come close to the iconic trio of Ramos (Spain), Varane (France), and Marcelo (Brazil). Ramos and Varane were the heart of the squad that won three consecutive Champions League titles. Marcelo's resilience on the left side of the defence also provided the needed cover to stop opponents from scoring.

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2. Franco Baresi, Alessandro Costacurta, Paolo Maldini

Italian legend Paolo Maldini is considered among the best centre-backs in football history. He spent 25 seasons with AC Milan and won 25 trophies. Maldini paired with another legend, Baresi, and Costacurta, during the 1990s and won titles with Milan. Baresi and Maldini conceded just 23 goals in 196 matches with the Rossoneri.

1. Gerard Pique, Carles Puyol, Sergio Busquets

Puyol, Pique, and Busquets are considered the best defensive trio in football of all time. The three won the 2010 World Cup with Spain and dominated clubs in Spanish and European competitions with Barcelona. Puyol and Pique partnered as centre-backs while Busquets operated as a defensive midfielder, protecting the iconic duo.

Most of the best defensive trios in football history have retired from the sport, with only a few still playing. The current generation also has great defenders who might create a legacy and join this list.

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READ ALSO: List of all Spanish La Liga teams that have never been relegated

Sportsbrief.com recently listed La Liga clubs that have never been demoted to the second-tier league. The Spanish top flight has many great teams, but not all have escaped relegation in their history.

La Liga consists of 20 teams. The last three clubs often get relegated to the Segunda División to create room for three top teams from the second tier. Only three clubs have survived relegation from la Liga. Follow the above link to discover more.