Category Uncategorized

Ruben Amorim and Enzo Maresca have been warned about Oliver Glasner as the Austrian is reportedly being eyed by the "big clubs" amid links with the Manchester United & Chelsea jobs. While both Amorim & Maresca continue to work at their respective clubs, Glasner’s calm authority at Selhurst Park has seen his reputation skyrocket. And the 51-year-old has been backed to eventually move to one of the big boys.

Amorim and Maresca under scrutiny

Before the international break, Amorim found himself in dangerous waters after a bruising defeat to Brentford left him on thin ice. A sensational October, however, brought some stability, with a string of impressive performances restoring faith among fans and the United hierarchy. At Stamford Bridge, Maresca’s has fared better but nothing extraordinary. Chelsea’s erratic form has supporters scratching their heads, and the latest 2-2 Champions League draw against Qarabag is another glaring example of inconsistency. This is where Glasner’s name has emerged and bookmakers already view him as a strong contender should either United or Chelsea opt for change.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesPalace’s miracle worker

Glasner led Palace to FA Cup glory, and if not for a UEFA ruling, the Eagles would have been strutting their stuff in this season’s Europa League. His success was officially recognised when he was named Austria’s Coach of the Year at the Sporthilfe Gala. Despite the growing noise around him, Glasner remains a picture of composure. When asked about the speculation linking him with United, he offered a typically grounded response.

"As I said, I try to keep it at bay, whether I'm successful or unsuccessful, partly for self-protection," he replied. "A few years ago, I got into the habit of living in the here and now and enjoying it. It's simply better when you don't lose 19 games than when you don't win 19. Then the atmosphere at the training ground in the morning is simply better; everything is easier. I'm no less ambitious, no less demanding, and just as annoyed when we lose, like now. Even if it was the first defeat in six months: I'm one of the worst losers in the world, and I'm still annoyed about it today."

Behind closed doors, Glasner’s conversations with Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish are described as constant and constructive. The manager made it clear that his ambition is to continue building something meaningful in  London, but only if both sides share the same vision.

"We are talking almost every day," the 51-year-old Glasner said. "It is not that I need conditions or I want something, Crystal Palace wants to be successful, to continue this pathway and not just the last 18 months. What we are always discussing is how can we have the best chance to continue this pathway?

"Oliver Glasner does not have the final solution and Steve Parish doesn't have (it), but we discuss about it, what is possible, what we can do. Working together and having a relationship together just makes sense if you have the same goals, the same vision, because otherwise you can't be successful. Wherever it is, in any company, if two leaders have different visions, then you go separate ways and you can't achieve your goal, and that is what we are talking about. If we can find the same pathway, the same goal – not for Oliver Glasner, (but) for Crystal Palace – then we will end the talks, and if we don't find (it) we will also end the talks."

GOAL Tips on Telegram

Hamann sent out a warning to Maresca & Amorim

Hamann believes it’s only a matter of time before the top clubs make their move. In an interview with footballblog.co.uk, praising Glasner’s achievements, he said: "He won the FA Cup, and he won the Community Shield. He beat Liverpool three times in a row and yeah, he's doing wonderful things. In the last two summers, they lost Olise to Bayern and Eze to Arsenal. That's two of their best players and he's still winning games.

"I also think the way he handled the Guehi situation in the summer was exceptional. I thought this season it'll be a long season for Palace. I thought they might be struggling, they're going well again and if a manager does well over 18 months, I’m sure clubs will take a look."

Then talking about the interest from United, Hamann added: "Because he's done a brilliant job since he came to the Premier League, I'm sure the likes of Chelsea and United will have him on their radar at the moment. Having said that, things seem to have settled down a bit in Manchester, and also at Chelsea. But he's certainly a manager who, when a big job does become available, he's one of the first ones on the list."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty Images SportCrucial November for Man Utd & Chelsea

United face a brutal stretch, beginning with an away trip to Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday before returning from the international break to tackle Everton and Glasner’s own Crystal Palace. Chelsea’s fixture list looks even more perilous as Wolves, Burnley, Barcelona, and Arsenal await. Glasner’s work in South London has turned him into one of football’s most respected modern managers. And if he continues this remarkable run, the Premier League’s powerhouses may soon find themselves fighting for his signature. 

تحدث صحفي شبكة سكاي سبورتس، فابريزيو رومانو، عن حقيقة معاقبة نادي ليفربول لنجمه محمد صلاح، وذلك بعد الفوز على إنتر ميلان في بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.

ليفربول استطاع أن يحقق انتصارًا ثمينًا يوم أمس الثلاثاء على حساب إنتر ميلان بهدف دون مقابل في ملعب جوزيبي مياتزا ضمن دوري أبطال أوروبا لحساب الجولة السادسة من مرحلة الدوري.

وشهدت هذه المباراة عدم مشاركة نجم ليفربول، محمد صلاح، والذي تم استبعاده من لقاء الأمس بعد تصريحاته المثيرة للجدل ضد مدرب الفريق آرني سلوت، وضد إدارة النادي الإنجليزي أيضًا.

واتهم محمد صلاح إدارة ليفربول بعدم تنفيذ الوعود التي قدمت له، كما أفاد أن علاقته مع سلوت قد أنهارت.

اقرأ أيضًا .. فرديناند يتوقع مصير محمد صلاح مع ليفربول: سيرفض الانتقال إلى هذا النادي

ومع ذلك أفاد رومانو في تصريحات نقلتها شبكة ليفربول إيكو، أن ليفربول لم يعاقب محمد صلاح ماليًا، وأن الدولي المصري لم يتلق أي عروض لمغادرة الريدز.

وقال رومانو عن محمد صلاح: “نقطة مهمة، لم يفرض ليفربول أي عقوبات مالية على صلاح ولا غرامات، هذا قرار فني وليس عقوبة تأديبية، سيعيد ليفربول تقييم كل شيء بعد مباراة إنتر ميلان قبل مواجهة برايتون”.

وأضاف رومانو في حديثه: “كان صلاح قد ألمح مساء السبت إلى أنه دعا عائلته لحضور مباراة برايتون في ملعب أنفيلد لأنه أراد توديعهم قبل سفره إلى كأس الأمم الأفريقية، كان يبقي الباب مفتوحًا”.

واختتم الصحفي الإيطالي في حديثه عن محمد صلاح: “في الوقت الحالي، لم يتلق ليفربول أي عرض لضم محمد صلاح، أو من قبل وكيله أو أي نادي آخر بخصوص رحيله المحتمل في يناير، كان يلمح إلى إمكانية ذلك لكن لا توجد أي مفاوضات جارية. الأندية السعودية لا تزال مهتمة وهناك أيضًا اهتمام من الدوري الأمريكي”.

Neymar has revealed why he was "sad and very upset" despite his goalscoring display in Santos' crucial 3-1 win over Sport Recife. The build-up to the game had been dominated by whether or not the 33-year-old would play amid an issue with his knee. The former Barcelona star bagged a goal and an assist but after the match, he took a swipe at the media.

• Neymar to the rescue for Santos

  Despite a knee issue keeping him out of Santos' 1-1 draw with Internacional earlier this week, Neymar played through the pain in his side's vital victory on Friday night. The former Paris Saint-Germain ace, who has reportedly been advised to undergo an arthroscopy in order to repair a tear in the meniscus region of his left knee, received a standing ovation from his home fans as the Brazilian giants earned an important three points. The result took them up to 15th in the table, giving them a two-point cushion above the relegation zone, although 17th-placed Vitoria and 18th-positioned Fortaleza have a game in hand. While many celebrated the victory, Neymar was not best pleased.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  'It was a joint decision'

  The former Al-Hilal man appeared to take aim at how his injury has been reported in the press. The forward made it clear that he made the decision to play for Santos after being advised by the club's doctors, rather than defying them. 

  "To be honest, it's not okay! People need to know that doctors and I know. These are the people who have to know what happened to make the right decisions. We will never harm my career, we will try to do the best for me. That's what I have to say. People invent many things. I'm sad! Very upset," he said in an interview with Sportv. "I am a human being and no being deserves to listen to the nonsense I heard. You, who report things, have to be very careful. It is very harmful to the mind of a player, who is a human being. I'm happy for today's game. For the goal, for Santos' victory. Seek the three points. About these decisions (to play or not), they are internal. I didn't go over the doctors, it was a joint decision. I was the one who had to take it."

• Neymar optimistic about his injury

  Neymar, who has had an injury-hit second stint at boyhood team Santos, was optimistic about his conditioning going into the final games of the season. It did not seem like he would sit out the rest of the campaign, with the veteran very much determined to keep Santos in the Brazilian top-flight. 

  He added: "Physically I've been doing well, I'm feeling better and better, obviously with this injury now it's sad, it's annoying, but it's nothing that will stop me from doing something, that's why I keep playing. Now it's time to think about Santos and where Santos deserves to be, which is Serie A, and then we'll see what they do. We have been facing a very big difficulty in the fight against relegation, obviously we didn't want that, but now we depend on us. Obviously we know that goal difference is important, that's why I was always demanding the team to try to score goals, respecting the Sport team, but we really wanted this victory, we wanted a bigger balance, because we know that in the end it will be important. Now we have to keep going from here for the better."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images Sport
  

  What comes next for Neymar's Santos?

  Santos' final two games of the Brasileiro Serie A season involve a trip to 19th-placed Juventude, who are set to be relegated, on Wednesday, before hosting third-placed Cruzeiro four days later. 

  When asked if he would be on the field in Santos' next match, Neymar replied: "Absolutely."

  Indeed, Santos manager Juan Pablo previously said on the Brazilian icon: "He's a player we need for all three rounds, and he'll help us. He's our leader on the field. He'll be there."

He joined Leicestershire on loan after The Hundred prior to joining full time next season

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay24-Sep-2025Leicestershire 392 for 7 (Eskinazi 150*, Tattersall 47, Patel 44, Budinger 44) vs NorthamptonshireStephen Eskinazi hit an excellent unbeaten 150, his first century for his new county Leicestershire as the Division Two champions pressed home their advantage on day one of this Rothesay County Championship match against Northamptonshire at Wantage Road.Former Middlesex batter Eskinazi, who joined Leicestershire on loan after The Hundred prior to joining full time next season, led a fightback after pacer George Scrimshaw’s double strike reduced the visitors to 122 for 4 at lunch.Eskinazi shared a fifth-wicket stand worth 98 off 145 balls with Jonny Tattersall (47) before adding 76 with Liam Trevaskis (37), and 64 with Logan van Beek (26). His 150 was his highest Championship score since 2018, Leicestershire closing on 392 for 7.Northamptonshire spinner Rob Keogh, who bowled with a lot of drift either side of tea, accounted for both Tattersall and Cox and finished with figures of 2 for 44.Leicestershire had got off to a flyer in the morning, Sol Budinger smashing five fours and two sixes in his 44 in an opening stand of 70 with Rishi Patel (44), but Scrimshaw (2 for 80) arrested their rapid early progress with two wickets in two overs.It was a determined display with the ball from Northamptonshire’s youthful looking attack, but they were left to rue periods in both afternoon and evening sessions when they erred in line and length, allowing Leicestershire’s batters to settle and get back into the game after the early fall of wickets.Earlier Northamptonshire almost broke through with the day’s first delivery when Patel edged Justin Broad to first slip, Saif Zaib shelling a regulation chance, Budinger then inside-edging Ben Whitehouse just past leg stump.But Leicestershire soon found runs easy to come by, Budinger pulling Whitehouse for six and crashing his next ball through extra cover, while Patel pulled and cut Scrimshaw for back-to-back boundaries.Budinger brought up Leicestershire’s 50 in style, pulling Scrimshaw over fine leg for six but was undone by a fine delivery from Broad which nipped back to trap him lbw as he moved across his stumps.Skipper Ian Holland (4) played the anchor role as Patel accelerated, coming down the ground to attack teenage spinner Nirvan Ramesh.But Scrimshaw’s dual strike removed Holland when he edged behind, cutting too close to his body and Patel who miscued a straight pull, Whitehouse taking the catch as he ran across to mid-off.Ramesh then got among the wickets when Lewis Hill bottom edged a sweep, keeper Lewis McManus taking a sharp catch behind the stumps.After lunch though Leicestershire grew increasingly comfortable, Tattersall taking back-to-back boundaries off a wayward Ramesh, while Eskinazi meted out similar treatment to Broad. Scrimshaw meanwhile was guilty of offering too much width, Tattersall prospering as he collected consecutive boundaries.Ezkinazi brought up Leicestershire’s 200 runs in the 48th over before punching Whitehouse through the covers to bring up his half-century.Tattersall though fell just short of his fifty when he edged behind off Keogh, the ball ballooning up off the keeper’s gloves, Broad taking a juggling catch at first slip.Ezkinazi continued to accumulate, smashing Whitehouse through extra cover, while reverse sweeping Keogh for four more.Ben Cox (20) deposited a Whitehouse full toss over deep square leg for four and almost collected a six off Zaib, only for some sharp boundary work from James Sales which saved five runs. Keogh though struck on the brink of tea, spinning one back in to bowl Cox and leave Leicestershire on 252 for 6.After tea Ezkinazi hit Keogh over long-on for six to move into the nineties before running a single to move to his tenth first-class ton off 168 balls.When Justin Broad took the second new ball, Eskinazi responded by stroking three silky cover boundaries in an over. Trevaskis, who had struck Keogh down the ground for back-to-back boundaries, departed though when he flashed outside off-stump against Whitehouse, nicking a catch through to second slip.New batter van Beek made the most of a reprieve when he was dropped in the slips off Broad, crunching the bowler for consecutive boundaries down the ground.With his 150 in sight, Eskinazi was given a life when Scrimshaw bowled him, only to be called no ball for overstepping, and duly brought up the milestone soon afterwards.

Chelsea skipper Reece James has sent a warning to FIFA ahead of the 2026 World Cup as he urged the football’s governing body to rethink kick-off times to protect players from potentially "dangerous" heat conditions. The 25-year-old defender, who lifted the Club World Cup with Chelsea in the United States earlier this year, described the sweltering temperatures during the tournament as "super difficult" and believes that matches played in similar conditions next summer could put players’ health at risk.

• Research warns of dangerous heat levels across US venues

  A recent study by Queen’s University Belfast found that 14 of the 16 stadiums hosting matches in North America could reach or exceed temperatures deemed unsafe for prolonged physical activity. During Chelsea’s pre-tournament training sessions in Philadelphia, the team faced a severe heat warning with temperatures hitting 37°C and humidity levels pushing the perceived temperature closer to 45°C. The club’s Argentine midfielder Enzo Fernandez nearly collapsed during the game against Fluminense. He later revealed that he "felt dizzy" and needed medical attention midway through the game. 

   "Thank you for asking that question, because honestly, the heat is incredible," he said. "The other day, I got a bit dizzy during a play and had to go down to the ground. Playing in this kind of temperature is very dangerous. Especially for the spectacle as well, for the people who come to enjoy the game at the stadium, and for those watching at home. The pace of the game isn’t the same; everything slows down a lot. Hopefully next year they change the schedule at least, so that it’s more of a show, and football stays beautiful and exciting."

Advertisement

• AFP
  

  James echoes Fernandez thoughts

  James echoed those concerns and believes the solution lies in rescheduling kick-off times to cooler evening hours, especially for the games staged in southern and central US states. 

  "It's super difficult conditions to play in that heat, especially us playing in England – there's not anything like that before," said James. "Later kick-offs when it's not so hot and humid. That would definitely help. For sure, that would definitely help."

  When asked if FIFA had got in touch with him for any feedback, he replied, "No, I haven't been asked about my thoughts on kick-off times. I'm sure they will have asked someone. Maybe managers or people at the clubs. I'm sure they will have got some feedback."

• FIFA’s plan to counter heat crisis

  According to FIFA is considering late-night kick-offs for matches involving major European nations to mitigate the heat issue. This could mean start times mirroring the Club World Cup’s schedule, with games at 17:00, 20:00, 23:00 and even 02:00 BST. Such timings would help avoid the worst of the afternoon sun in the US while also catering to international TV audiences. 

  "You feel the heat the minute you step outside the hotel. The conditions are super hot," James continued. "Once you are out there you adapt the longer you are there, when you are settled in once place and try to limit the things you can. The pitches when we were there weren't the greatest either and made it a little bit harder but hopefully by the time the World Cup comes around hopefully it's better."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• AFP
  

  England preparing for the heat battle

  England have already secured qualification with two games to spare, and preparations are underway for the unique climate challenge that awaits them across the pond. Assistant coach Anthony Barry confirmed that the team will hold a warm-weather training camp in Florida to help players acclimatise to the conditions. Players will also undergo specific fitness conditioning to cope with the intense humidity that can sap energy and concentration. 

  Concerns over player welfare in extreme temperatures are nothing new. The 2022 Qatar World Cup was moved to winter to avoid similar risks, but this time, with matches spread across three countries and multiple time zones, the challenge remains unprecedented. Cooling breaks will be an important tool to counter the heat, but more exhaustive measures are required to ensure player safety. 

It sure feels like John Schneider is done watching Shohei Ohtani hit baseballs.

On Monday night, the Dodgers beat Schneider's Blue Jays 6–5 in an epic, 18-inning showdown in Game 3 of the 2025 World Series. While Freddie Freeman's walk-off home run won the game for L.A., it was Shohei Ohtani who terrorized Toronto for most of the night.

Ohtani finished the game 4-for-4, with two home runs, two doubles, and walks. The three-time MVP doubled in the first inning, homered in the third, and doubled in the fifth. He came to the plate in the bottom of the seventh with no outs, the bases empty, and the Dodgers trailing 5-4. Schneider decided against walking the best player on the planet and instead allowed Seranthony Dominguez to pitch to him. Ohtani blasted the first pitch he saw over the left-center field fence for a solo home run that tied the game.

Toronto pitchers faced Ohtani five more times after that home run, and walked him each time. The first four times the walks were intentional, before Brendon Little issued him a four-pitch unintentional pass in the bottom of the 17th.

After the game, Schneider was asked if we should expect him to continue walking Ohtani for the rest of the series and gave a short answer: "Yeah."

I'd be shocked if Ohtani saw any good pitches for however long the series continues, unless the Blue Jays happen to have a large lead in a game.

Shohei Ohtani's record-breaking night in Game 3

Ohtani's performance in Game 3 broke or tied several MLB records.

He reached base nine times, which is a new MLB postseason mark. The previous high was six. He also tied the all-time record, which only three players had accomplished before. Max Carey reached base nine times in 1922, while Johnny Burnett (1932) and Stan Hack (1942) also accomplished the feat.

Ohtani became the first player with two doubles and two home runs in a postseason game, while also becoming the first player to have five walks in a World Series game. He is also the first player in MLB history to have four hits and five walks in a game, regular season or postseason.

Oh, we're not done.

Before Monday night, only one player had ever been issued an intentional walk with the bases empty in a World Series game. That came when the Rangers walked Albert Pujols during Game 5 of the 2011 World Series. Ohtani was intentionally walked with the bases empty in Game 3.

Ohtani became the first player with four extra-base hits in a World Series game since White Sox second baseman Frank Isbell had four doubles against the Cubs in Game 5 of the 1906 Fall Classic.

His historic night will almost certainly change the way the Blue Jays approach him moving forward.

Head coach admits team remains a work in progress as attention turns to T20 World Cup

ESPNcricinfo staff29-Oct-2025

Charlotte Edwards speaks to the media after England’s semi-final exit•ICC via Getty Images

Charlotte Edwards, England’s head coach, says that her team’s flawed World Cup campaign has made her all the more hungry to instigate the necessary changes, after stating it is “time to look to the future” following a crushing semi-final defeat to South Africa in Guwahati.Speaking to Sky Sports, just moments after England’s 125-run defeat, Edwards acknowledged the brilliance of South Africa’s matchwinners – Laura Wolvaardt, who was Player of the Match for her 169 from 143 balls, and Marizanne Kapp, whose five-wicket haul included a first-over double-wicket maiden to wreck England’s hopes of achieving a 320 target.However, having stated before the tournament that a semi-final berth was the bare minimum that should be expected of her squad, Edwards did not shy away from the underlying fragility of England’s campaign. Despite qualifying in second place with five wins out of seven in the group stages, their performances against Bangladesh and Pakistan had already exposed the weaknesses in their batting, before the tournament favourites Australia maintained the stranglehold of last winter’s Ashes whitewash with an emphatic six-wicket win in Indore.Edwards took over from her predecessor Jon Lewis back in April, but held back from wholesale changes to her squad for this winter, instead focusing on improvements within the existing set-up. These were arguably on display at times during the campaign just gone, not least in a gritty performance to beat the tournament hosts, and fellow semi-finalists, India by four runs in their group-stage clash in Indore.However, with the World Cup marking the end of this four-year ODI cycle, and with a home T20 World Cup looming next summer, Edwards accepts that it’s time to step up the squad’s overhaul, starting with a series of training camps from December to March, at which the next generation will be given a chance to prove its readiness.”I’m a winner,” Edwards said. “I don’t like losing. When I came into this role, I knew it wasn’t going to change overnight. I’ve seen some really positive things to come out of this trip. I think we’ve performed a little bit better under pressure, but certain moments we haven’t seized, and that’s going to be an ongoing thing.”Overall, we are making progress, and that’s the most important thing. But ultimately, you’re defined on your results. And today we’re going out of a World Cup in the semi-final stage, where we were all hopeful we could really make that final.””I knew it wasn’t going to be a quick fix. We’ve got some areas we need to work on, but that probably makes me more hungry now to go back home and work with these players over over the winter period.”A number of England’s players are due to head to Australia for next month’s WBBL. Thereafter, however, Edwards has earmarked a series of training camps, in Oman and South Africa, at which the players will be pitted against one another in an arrangement similar to the North versus South fixtures that Andrew Strauss, England’s former men’s director of cricket, began in 2018.Nat Sciver-Brunt after the defeat in the semi-final•ICC via Getty Images

“We’ve got a new cycle now of ODI cricket, haven’t we, but first and foremost it’s the T20 World Cup,” Edwards said. “There’ll be a group of players that will be training from December through til March. We’re going to spend time with these players and hopefully upskill them, and hopefully they can deal with these occasions better.”That’s exciting for me. As an international coach, it’s rare to get time with players to actually advance their games. We’ve got an opportunity this winter to hopefully do that with some of our younger players. and I’m looking forward to getting that underway in December.”Edwards namechecked the likes of Freya Kemp and Dani Gibson, who missed this tournament through injury, while other names who will come into consideration for future campaigns include the likes of Tilly Corteen-Coleman and Davina Perrin, the breakout star of this year’s Women’s Hundred.”We’ve targeted 13 to 15 players who we’re going to work really, really hard with,” she said. “[This tournament] was too early. The players that had got this far, we wanted to stick with them, but it’s exciting now. We’ve got a new group of players coming through. We’ll go home and reassess. We won’t make too many rash decisions, but we’ve got to look at the future now. And we’ve got some unbelievable talent coming through.”England’s defeat to South Africa was especially painful given that they had beaten the same opponents at the same venue in their tournament opener, after bowling them out for 69. This time, however, the match was played on a bouncier red-soil surface that was more conducive to the seamers, most notably Kapp with her match-sealing figures of 5 for 20.Asked whether there had been any temptation to tinker with the spin-heavy line-up that had brought them this far, Edwards replied: “Hindsight is a wonderful thing. We’ve stuck with that combination. It’s done us really well throughout the [competition].”England had seemed competitive, having reduced South Africa to 202 for 6 going into the final ten overs of their innings. But then Wolvaardt cut loose, adding 119 runs in partnership with Chloe Tryon, before Nadine de Klerk helped add the finishing touches.”At times, we just didn’t hit our straps today, certainly that back 10 really cost us,” Edwards said. “If we’d have kept them to 280, which probably was a par score, we may have been able to chase that down, but, yeah, it wasn’t to be.”It’s going to be a sad dressing-room,” she added. “I don’t think I’ll say too much tonight. I don’t think there’s anything you can say tonight that’s going to make things better. As we all know, life moves on very quickly. These girls will be off to Australia soon. But yeah, I’m hurting too.”

Over time, we have seen some iconic central defenders come and go, with Italy especially having the knack of producing some of the greatest centre-backs football has ever witnessed.

From Paolo Maldini to Franco Baresi, Gli Azzurri have had some of the best, but who ranks at the top as the premier centre-back?

The Best 15 Centre-Backs in World Football Ranked (2025)

Liverpool skipper Virgil van Dijk is one of the best defenders in the world.

ByCharlie Smith Nov 20, 2025

Here is a look at 20 of the greatest central defenders in footballing history, factoring in their longevity, consistency at the highest level, while also highlighting team and personal accolades.

20 Fernando Hierro

Starting the countdown is Fernando Hierro, who made more than 600 appearances for Real Madrid during a 14-year stint at the Bernabeu.

Even capable of playing in a defensive midfield role if required, Hierro had unbelievable ability on the ball for a centre-back, something which helped him play in the Premier League at the age of 39. The Spaniard won five La Liga titles and three Champions League trophies with Madrid.

19 Giorgio Chiellini

One of numerous Italians on the list is Giorgio Chiellini, who retired in 2023 at the age of 39 after a glittering 23-year career.

A no-nonsense defender with his aggressive, physical, and tenacious approach, Chiellini proved that an old-fashioned defender can still star in the modern game.

He spent 18 years with Juventus, winning nine Serie A titles and the European Championships with Italy.

18 Thiago Silva

Thiago Silva is one of those defenders who got better with age, starring in Italy, France and England with AC Milan, PSG and Chelsea.

A Champions League winner, Silva was an exceptional reader of the game and made defending at the highest level look incredible easy, while also having brilliant passing vision.

Nicknamed the ‘monster’ due to his imposing playing style, Silva possesses much more quality than just his physical ability.

17 Rio Ferdinand

Compared to Pele by a youth coach at just 11 years of age, Rio Ferdinand transformed into one of England’s best ever centre-backs across a 19-year career.

Quick and agile in his prime, Ferdinand was an extremely composed centre-back and great reader of the game.

Inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame, he won six top flight titles with Man Utd, while also captaining Sir Alex Ferguson’s side to Champions League glory in 2008.

16 Jaap Stam

Another iconic Red Devils centre-back was Jaap Stam, however, his stay at Man Utd was much shorter and his exit was a decision Ferguson regretted the most in his career.

A powerful defender in the air and quick across the grass, Stam was named as the Dutch Player of the Year in 1997 and also won the Champions League at Old Trafford.

15 Ronald Koeman

Continuing the Netherlands theme takes us to Ronald Koeman, who is the greatest goalscoring central defender the game has seen.

Incredibly, Koeman scored more than 250 goals during his career, impressing with his long-range shooting, free kick ability and reliability as a penalty taker.

A European Cup winner with PSV and Barcelona, Koeman, who sometimes played in midfield, was even the Champions League top scorer in 1994, and his defensive attributes were also world-class.

14 ​​​Lilian Thuram

​​​Lilian Thuram saved his only two France goals for the biggest stage, a World Cup semi final win over Croatia in 1998.

Known as an incredibly athletic defender in his prime, Thuram, who can also be considered one of football’s greatest ever right-backs, also starred centrally during a 17-year career which saw him star for Monaco, Parma, Juventus and Barcelona.

Thuram won the World Cup and Euros and was named France’s Player of the Year in 1997.

13 Marcel Desailly

Nicknamed The Rock, Marcel Desailly starred for France across 11 years, helping his country win the World Cup in 1998 and then the Euros in 2000 alongside Thuram.

He was named in the team of the tournaments for both of those triumphs, and at club level, Desailly starred for Nantes, AC Milan and Chelsea.

A versatile centre-back who led by example, Desailly improved any side he went into and arguably went under the radar during his career.

12 Virgil van Dijk

Arguably the best centre-back in world football since his move to Liverpool in 2018, Virgil van Dijk has helped transform the Reds into winners again.

Van Dijk has it all and makes defending look incredibly easy at the highest level. Physical presence, speed, ability on the ball, world-class attackers have struggled to get past the Dutchman on a regular basis.

One of the most expensive centre-backs in history, Van Dijk has been worth every penny of the £75m Liverpool spent.

11 Carles Puyol

A Barcelona and Spain legend, Carles Puyol won everything for club and country and was a part of the most dominant sides the game has ever seen.

Under Pep Guardiola at the Nou Camp, Puyol captained Barcelona to La Liga and Champions League glory, while with Spain, he won the 2008 Euros and 2010 World Cup.

He was named UEFA’s Defender of the Year in 2006 and in the World XI Team of the 21st Century.

تحدث تشابي ألونسو، المدير الفني للفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي ريال مدريد عن مباراة فريقه أمام جيرونا ضمن منافسات بطولة الدوري الإسباني.

ومن المقرر أن يخوض ريال مدريد مباراته أمام جيرونا مساء غدٍ الأحد، ضمن منافسات الجولة الـ 14 من بطولة الدوري الإسباني.

ويحل ريال مدريد ضيفًا على جيرونا في تمام الساعة العاشرة مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة، الحادية عشر بتوقيت مكة المكرمة.

وقال ألونسو، في المؤتمر الصحفي الخاص بالمباراة، والتي نقلته صحيفة “آس”: “نعلم أن هذه مباراة بعد آخر مباراة في دوري أبطال أوروبا في أثينا، في الدوري نحتاج إلى الفوز خارج أرضنا في ظل جدول مباريات مزدحم للغاية، نحتاج إلى مباراة جيدة وانتصار جيد”.

وعن الجدل التحكيمي حول أهداف مباراة إلتشي التي قالها لابورتا رئيس برشلونة أوضح: “هناك رسائل شعبوية خاصة لجماهيرهم، دعونا نركز على أنفسنا، والفوز بطريقة رياضية ومستحقة، كل مباراة هي اختبار لذلك”.

وأكمل: “لقد لعبنا فترات جيدة، نحتاج إلى تلك السيطرة والمزيد من السيطرة والاستمرارية والثبات وهو ما نقوم بتحسينه خاصةً دفاعيًا، لست راضيًا عن بعض الأمور وخاصةً الأهداف التي استقبلناها في المباريات الأخيرة، ما زلنا في مرحلة التطوير”.

وعن الإصابات، قال: “لقد تعافي بالفعل روديجر وميليتاو، ونأمل أن يتم ضم أسينسيو إلى التشكيل أما هويسن فلم يتم ضمه بعد كما تم ضم فرانكو (ماستانتونو) إلى التشكيل”.

اقرأ أيضًا | تدريبات ريال مدريد.. غياب جديد وموقف كورتوا من مباراة جيرونا في الدوري الإسباني

وأردف: “بيلينجهام؟ جود لديه الرغبة في التعلم وأن يكون أكثر كفاءة، هؤلاء اللاعبين الذين لديهم هذه المبادرة والذين يمكنهم اللعب في أكثر من مركز، عليك أن تعرف ما يحدث حوله”.

وأجاب عن سؤال آلام ماستانتونو في العانة قائلًا: “إنه في حالة أفضل ويتدرب دون أي إزعاج أو ألم ويتدرب بهذه الديناميكية”.

واستطرد: “حالة أرنولد الجيدة؟ نحن بحاجة إليه، هو في موسمه الأول والتكيف أمر طبيعي، وعلينا أن ندعمه في هذا التغيير الكبير بالنسبة له”.

وحول أداء ميندي أمام أولمبياكوس كشف: “لقد ترك انطباعًا جيدًا لديّ، إنها أول مباراة يلعبها معنا، لم نكن نعرف مستواه في البطولة، وقد قدم أداءً رائعًا، إنه مدافع رائع ويمنحنا أمانًا كبيرًا في الدفاع، أن يعود وأشعر بهذا الشعور هو خبر رائع”.

وحول استغلال مبابي وفينيسيوس المساحات في مباراة أولمبياكوس أوضح: “إنهما بارعان جدًا في ذلك، وقد فعلا ذلك في مباريات أخرى أيضًا، هذا الترابط والجودة وتناغمهما واضح في الملعب، كان من المؤسف أن فينيسيوس لم يتمكن من تسجيل هدف”.

وعن رسائل اللاعبين حول وحدة الفريق وشعوره بها أتم: “لطالما شعرتُ بوحدة الفريق وأننا جميعًا نعرف هدفنا وهو الوصول إلى النهائي مع فرصة الفوز بكل شيء، نحن معًا في السراء والضراء، تربطنا علاقة جيدة يوميًا ورغم كل الشائعات وما يريده البعض، نحن متماسكون جدًا من الداخل”.

The Dodgers are champions once again.

Behind a dramatic game-tying homer in the ninth inning from Miguel Rojas and a superhuman effort from Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Los Angeles defeated the Blue Jays 5–4 in 11 innings on Friday night to clinch its second straight World Series title.

The Dodgers now have a chance to become the third franchise in MLB history to win at least three straight World Series championships, and the first since the Yankees from 1998 to 2000.

Looking at the Dodgers’ roster, the star core of the team will return in 2026. Tyler Glasnow, Mookie Betts, Blake Snell, Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman and Yamamoto are all signed well past the 2026 campaign.

The Dodgers will have six players hit arbitration this offseason, and they have a $10 million team option on slugger Max Muncy and a $3.55 million team option to potentially bring back Alex Vesia. But there are seven players whose contracts will officially expire once the offseason begins. Here they are:

Michael Conforto, OF