Following Manchester City’s 4-0 victory over Norwich City at Carrow Road, Raheem Sterling grabbed the headlines with his sensational hat-trick, but one of his teammates stood out for Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp. Veteran midfielder Fernandinho was the man who received high praise from the former Liverpool man who labelled him as the the “number one defensive midfielder that the Premier League has ever seen.”
The Brazilian is undoubtedly one of the best to have graced the top-flight of English football and he has had such an impact for Pep Guardiola and the Citizens in their recent domestic dominance, contributing hugely to their gargantuan haul of silverware. Redknapp’s statement sparked a lively debate regarding the best players in that position to have featured in the Premier League and with this in mind, we have decided to put together our top five standout defensive midfielders.
Fernandinho
Of course, we start with the man who excelled upon his return to the Manchester City lineup at the weekend. The 36-year-old has been a stellar figure in midfield for the reigning champions since his arrival in the north west back in 2013. He has claimed four Premier League titles, six League Cups and one FA Cup over the course of his nine-year spell with the club and has established himself as one of the best and most consistent defensive midfielders in the game.
His game awareness and intelligence in particular has allowed him to excel in that position. He reads the game extremely well so he knows where to be and when, while there are not many that have better positional awareness than him. This allows him to snuff out any counter-attack that threatens his side and why he is lauded by City fans and neutrals alike. His ability on the ball has been quite impressive too, as he has never shied away from carrying it forward to kick-start an attack for his side.
One of football’s loveable pundits for his no-nonsense attitude, this all stemmed from Keane’s personality on the pitch as a player. A Manchester United legend, Keane epitomised the old school way of playing this role, effectively as a ball-winner who was always quick to let his opponent know he was there.
Although there was a sweet simplicity to the Irishman’s game, he doesn't get the credit he deserves for his footballing ability. He struck up a formidable partnership with Paul Scholes as that one of them would know to sit if the other pushed forward and that helped Keane become the legendary player that we all remember. He established himself as a great leader, and his attitude allowed him to command a dressing room, especially when he became captain. His success at Old Trafford saw him become the most-decorated Irish footballer of all time as he won seven Premier League titles, four FA Cups and one Champions League.
N’Golo Kante
This little French star continues to astonish with the way he plays as a defensive midfielder and his personal trophy cabinet is proof of the impact he has had on the game. The first time Kante stepped into the spotlight was during Leicester City’s historic Premier League title win in 2015-16.
As a complete unknown, Kante’s incredible fitness was something to behold. He was simply everywhere. He would chase every ball and he was always in great positions to intercept opposition attacks. Leicester City wouldn’t have won the Premier League without him. Those attributes carried over to west London when he joined Chelsea and he has already won a Premier League and an FA Cup with the Blues. Arguably his recent European success, which includes a Europa League, a Champions League, a UEFA Super Cup and a Club World Cup - to go alongside his World Cup winners medal - sets him apart from others on this list.
Claude Makelele
Another Chelsea hero makes the list and he is the one who redefined how to play the position, laying the blueprint for current stars Fernandinho and Kante to follow. When he arrived at Stamford Bridge he was already decorated in success, having won titles with Nantes and Real Madrid.
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Like Kante and Fernandinho, Makelele appeared to be everywhere and he was excellent at reading play to break up counter-attacks and he never shied-away from a strong tackle. But his role in Jose Mourinho’s 4-3-3 meant he was a vital part of one of the greatest teams in Premier League history, as Chelsea conceded just 15 goals in 2004/05. His ability with the ball was second to none while his excellent short passing skills also allowed him to set the tempo in matches as he dictated play. He won everything there was to win domestically in England, including two Premier League titles.
Patrick Vieira
Famously remembered as Roy Keane’s rival on the field, the Frenchman was also an immensely talented defensive midfielder. He was instrumental to Arsenal’s Premier League success under Arsene Wenger and he was able to thrive alongside several different midfield partners. He particularly struck up a great relationship alongside Gilberto Silva at the heart of the Invincibles’ midfield, and while the Brazilian is also a worthy contender of this list, Vieira’s leadership and towering personality sets him apart.
Vieira was integral to that famous Invincibles season and has been the only player to be named in the Team of the Season on six occasions. He won three Premier League titles and four FA Cups at Arsenal and left behind a legacy that many will struggle to eclipse.
