Top Ten: Goal scoring centre-backs
Michael Weightman
Posted on: 25 March 2011 - 15:53
Football
The centre half; the footballing position for the failed striker or the backbone of the team?
Their primary objective is to stop the opposition netting but having the ability to bag one themselves can come in more than handy.
David Luiz’s blistering start to his Chelsea career and two crucial strikes against both Manchester clubs shows the value of a goal-scoring centre back and the difference their inclusion can make.
So join Sport.co.uk for an eclectic mix of goal scoring centre halves, past and present.
John Terry
Love him or loathe him, the one thing not up for debate is the man’s quality. His defending ability is unquestionable and the Blues’ captain has chipped in with his fair share of goals over the years for both club and country. Hitting the back of the net six times for the Three Lions makes Terry one of England’s top goal scoring defenders and forty two goals in his Chelsea career shows just how important he is to his side.
Robert Huth
Before this year, a couple of goals was the most the German centre half had managed in a season, despite having a commanding aerial presence and a powerful strike in his locker. Yet, like so many others, he is rejuvenated under Tony Pulis’ stewardship and has notched 8 times in all competitions this season including a last minute winner against Sunderland. Frank Lampard, Andrei Arshavin and Nicolas Anelka have all failed to score more league goals than Huth this campaign and it would be a brave man to bet against him adding to his tally.
Matt Elliott
He may not be to everyone’s taste, and the football purist may turn up a nose to his inclusion, but the former Leicester man’s stats speak for themselves. In the 1998-1999 season he netted as many times as David Ginola, in the same season the Frenchman won PFA Players’ Player of the year. The following campaign Bergkamp and Beckham could only hit the back of the net as many times as Elliott. Added to this the integral part he played in guiding Leicester to League Cup success- means the former Scotland international will not be short of friends in the Midlands.
Franz Beckenbauer
The man credited with inventing the modern day Sweeper role, Beckenbauer is widely considered the greatest German footballer of all time. Having originally started as a midfielder Der Kaiser clearly had an eye for goal scoring 60 times in the red of Bayern Munich and notching 14 times for the national side. America was the next stop on the great man’s football tour and New York Cosmos benefitted from his 19 goals in just over 100 games. Immortalized for the way he kept the ball out of the net, but seemingly just as good at getting it in.
Steve Bruce
Known for not been able to stick around at a club, the former Manchester United centre back certainly knew how to stick it in the net and finished his Old Trafford career with 36 goals to his name. The 1990-1991 season proved to be a record breaking one for Bruce as he netted 13 times in the league and 19 times overall making him the most prolific centre back in a season. Exemplified for his two match winning headers against Sheffield Wednesday en route to Man Utd's triumph in the inaugural Premier League and his current central pairing at the Stadium of Light could certainly learn a thing or two from their boss.
Marco Materazzi
Once of Everton, the Italian defender seems to attract controversy wherever he goes and this often undermines the good aspects of his game. While at Perugia Materazzi scored 12 goals in a season and in the process attracted the attentions of Inter Milan who duly paid 10 million Euros for his services. His equalising goal and penalty conversion were intrinsic to the Italian’s success at the 2006 World Cup although the match, and Matterazzi, will always be remembered for that Zidane head-but.
Jack Charlton
Nowhere near the goal scoring exploits of younger brother Bobby, but the elder of the Ashington lads was not shy in front of goal either. By hitting the back of the net 70 times in his Elland Road career, the tough centre half proved that he was more than just another tackling defender and helped Leeds to a league title in 1969. This itself of course coming 3 years after England’s World Cup triumph with big Jack scoring six times overall for the Three Lions.
Fernando Hierro
Just like Di Stefano, Puskas and more recently Raul- the former Real Madrid captain is part of the century goal scoring club at the Santiago Bernabeu- with a highlight being a home hat-trick against Real Zaragoza. His finishes and performances helped Madrid to five league titles and three European Cup conquests and his career best 21 goals in the 1991-1992 season further consolidates his position as one the game’s greats. Although he only managed one in his stint with Bolton- with 109 for club and 29 country Hierro has a record that any player would be envious of.
David Unsworth
Despite the majority of Unsworth’s goals coming from set pieces, his 38 league goals make him the highest goal scoring defender in the Premiership history and this more often than not in teams that were struggling. His defining moment came when he scored the winning penalty for current club Wigan, away at old club Sheffield Utd, to condemn the Blades to the Championship and secure the Latics top flight status for another season.
Nikos Dabizas
The former Greek international will forever be part of Geordie folklore after his header gave the Magpies a win over their arch rivals Sunderland in 2002. The defender described it as ‘the most important’ of his career and the flamboyant stopper finished his career on Tyneside as the highest goal scoring central defender in the club’s history. Although ask any Leicester fan and you may not get the same glowing review.
Special Mentions
William Gallas- 24 league goals for his three London clubs.
Sami Hyypia- The flying Finn was always a danger from set pieces.
Joleon Lescott- Although form has eluded him at City, he has an impressive strike ratio at his other two clubs.