Assume Spanish soccer and the primary place that springs to thoughts is greater than doubtless midfield.
Spain have been blessed with great midfielders and the nation’s unprecedented success at worldwide stage in recent times got here by way of precision passing and management within the centre of the park.
However these groups have been additionally constructed on agency foundations and remarkably, La Roja didn’t concede any objectives within the knockout phases of their three event wins between 2008 and 2012.
Here’s a have a look at one of the best Spanish defenders from that interval and throughout the historical past of Spain’s nationwide workforce…
32. Julio Alberto
Julio Alberto received 34 caps for Spain within the Eighties, showing at Euro 1984 and on the 1986 World Cup.
The left-back spent 9 years at Barcelona between 1982 and 1991, having beforehand performed for 4 seasons at Atletico Madrid. Identified for his tempo, he was utilized in central midfield within the closing of Euro 1984 as Spain misplaced to France.
31. Juanfran
Juanfran Torres began out as a midfielder, however went on to develop into among the best full-backs in Spain and was as soon as described as “a winger and a full-back multi function” by Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone.
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A part of the Spain squad which received Euro 2012, Juanfran didn’t play a single minute in Poland and Ukraine. He did play as soon as on the 2014 World Cup and began all 4 video games at Euro 2016, profitable 22 caps in all.
30. Alvaro Arbeloa
Alvaro Arbeloa was within the Spain squads for his or her three event wins between 2008 and 2012, however spent most of his worldwide profession as back-up.
After enjoying towards Greece within the group phases of Euro 2008 and that includes for 14 minutes on the 2010 World Cup, the previous Actual Madrid and Liverpool defender was a starter at right-back at Euro 2012 as Sergio Ramos moved to central defence within the absence of Carles Puyol by way of damage. Spain conceded simply as soon as in six fixtures en path to the title.
29. Gallego
Francisco Gallego, recognized merely as Gallego, had lengthy spells at Sevilla (twice) and Barcelona in a profession spanning virtually twenty years within the Nineteen Sixties and Seventies.
A part of the Spain squad which received the European Nations’ Cup in 1964, he didn’t characteristic in that run, however went on to earn 36 caps for his nation betwen 1966 and 1973.
28. Nacho Monreal
Nacho Monreal got here by way of the youth ranks at hometown membership Osasuna and went on to play for Malaga, Arsenal and Actual Sociedad.
A left-back or central defender, Monreal made his Spain debut in 2009 and received 22 caps in complete, however he was not within the squads for La Roja’s event victories in 2010 or 2012.
27. Ivan Helguera
Ivan Helguera made near 350 appearances for Actual Madrid between 1999 and 2007 and in addition had spells at Espanyol and Valencia.
A centre-back or defensive midfielder for membership and nation, Helguera received 47 caps for Spain and appeared in three main tournaments for La Roja.
26. Albert Ferrer
Albert Ferrer was a key participant for Barcelona within the Nineteen Nineties, profitable 5 La Liga titles and a European Cup with the Catalan membership earlier than becoming a member of Chelsea in 1998.
The Barcelona-born right-back was additionally a daily for Spain in that point and received 36 caps between 1991 and 1999. He performed on the 1994 and 1998 World Cups and was additionally a starter within the workforce which received the gold medal on the Barcelona Olympics in 1992.
25. Aymeric Laporte
Aymeric Laporte represented France at youth stage however finally opted to symbolize Spain after a scarcity of alternatives with Les Bleus.
The previous Manchester Metropolis defender made his Spain debut in 2021 and went on to develop into an vital participant for his adopted nation, beginning on the again for La Roja of their 2023 UEFA Nations League success. Born in France to French dad and mom, he certified for former aspect Athletic Membership as a Basque (a part of the Basque Nation is in southern France) and for Spain courtesy of his eight years with the Bilbao outfit.
24. Nacho
Nacho Fernandez has spent most of his profession as a back-up participant at Actual Madrid, however has amassed over 350 appearances for Los Blancos and is a six-time Champions League winner as of 2024.
Usually ignored by Spain prior to now, Nacho made his worldwide debut in 2013, was a UEFA Nations League winner a decade later and began within the first recreation at Euro 2024. Comfy at centre-back or in both full-back place, the reliable defender is a helpful man to have round.
23. Gregorio Benito
Gregorio Benito (finest often called Goyo Benito) received six La Liga titles with Actual Madrid within the Seventies and was a European Cup runner-up with Los Blancos in 1980/81.
Probably the greatest centre-backs of his era, Benito received 22 caps for Spain. He performed within the 1968 Olympics in Mexico, however by no means appeared in a World Cup or European Championship as Spain did not qualify for these tournaments throughout his time within the nationwide workforce.
22. Sergi Barjuan
Sergi Barjuan got here by way of the youth system at La Masia and spent 9 seasons with Barcelona’s first workforce, earlier than occurring to play for 3 years at Atletico Madrid.
An attacking left-back, Sergi received 56 caps for Spain between 1994 and 2002, showing at two World Cups and two European Championships in that point.
21. Rafael Alkorta
Rafael Alkorta was born in Bilbao and performed for hometown aspect Athletic Membership throughout two lengthy spells. He additionally spent 4 years at Actual Madrid.
An vital participant for Spain, he featured in three World Cups – in 1990, 1994 and 1998 – and in addition at Euro 96. The tough-tackling centre-back received 54 caps in complete.
20. Cesar Azpilicueta
European champion at Beneath-19 and U-21 stage with Spain, Cesar Azpilicueta has gone on to win over 40 caps for La Roja.
One of the vital versatile gamers of his era, Azpilicueta has performed at right-back, left-back and in central defence in a profitable profession and received a number of trophies in an 11-year spell at Chelsea between 2012 and 2023.
19. Ferran Olivella
Ferran Olivella, a centre-back who performed for 13 years at Barcelona between 1956 and 1960, was the primary Spanish participant to get his palms on a global trophy.
Olivella captained Spain to victory on the 1964 European Nations’ Cup on dwelling soil and went on to win 18 caps in complete for his nation. He was additionally a part of the squad on the 1966 World Cup in England, however did not play.
18. Jose Ramon Alexanko
Jose Ramon Alexanko began his profession at native workforce Athletic Membership, however the Basque defender is finest recognized for his 13-year spell at Barcelona between 1980 and 1993.
Alexanko (usually spelled Alexanco) received 4 La Liga titles and a European Cup at Barcelona and was captain of Johan Cruyff’s Dream Crew. The centre-back was capped 34 instances by Spain, however retired from worldwide responsibility after the 1982 World Cup on the age of simply 26.
17. Andoni Goikoetxea
Andoni Goikoetxea is finest remembered for his notorious problem on Diego Maradona which left the Argentine with a damaged ankle and noticed the Basque nicknamed “The Butcher of Bilbao”.
However Goikoetxea was additionally an completed central defender. A two-time La Liga winner with Athletic, the centre-back additionally had a spell at Atletico Madrid and received 39 caps for Spain. He represented La Roja at Euro 1984 and the 1986 World Cup.
16. Antonio Maceda
Antonio Maceda performed as a centre-back for Sporting Gijon and Actual Madrid within the Seventies and Eighties, profitable 36 caps for Spain between 1981 and 1986.
He most likely would have had many extra, however was compelled to retire from worldwide responsibility after struggling a critical damage on the 1986 World Cup. Maceda scored twice in Spain’s historic 12-1 win over Malta as La Roja secured the 11-goal margin wanted to qualify for Euro 1984. Within the event itself, he netted the winner towards West Germany within the semi-finals, however was suspended as Spain misplaced to France within the closing.
15. Migueli
An uncompromising centre-back who was nicknamed Tarzan, Migueli was Barcelona’s all-time document look holder till he was surpassed by Xavi in 2011.
A two-time UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup champion and double La Liga winner with Barça in an extended profession at Camp Nou after beginning out at Cadiz, Migueli received 32 caps for Spain between 1974 and 1980.
14. Abelardo
Abelardo Fernandez got here by way of the youth ranks at Sporting Gijon and went on to spend eight years at Barcelona.
A Spanish worldwide for a decade between 1991 and 2001, Abelardo received 54 caps for La Roja, showing in two World Cups and two European Championships. He was additionally a part of the Beneath-23 aspect which received gold on the Barcelona Olympics in 1992, scoring in each the semi-final and the ultimate.
13. Michel Salgado
Michel Salgado spent a decade at Actual Madrid and made near 350 appearances for Los Blancos, profitable 4 La Liga titles and two Champions Leagues in that point.
An aggressive and no-nonsense right-back, Salgado went on to win over 50 caps for Spain and was unlucky as damage dominated him out of two main tournaments. He ultimately misplaced his place to Sergio Ramos for membership and nation, however was among the best right-backs round within the early 2000s.
12. Raul Albiol
One of the vital reliable centre-backs of his era, Raul Albiol received 58 caps for Spain between 2007 and 2021 and featured of their three event wins.
Albiol was the one outfield participant in Spain’s 2010 World Cup-winning squad who didn’t characteristic for a single minute after choosing up an damage early on within the event. He didn’t play at Euro 2012 both, however did characteristic in two matches at Euro 2008.
11. Carlos Marchena
A part of the Spain sides which received the FIFA World Youth Championship in 1999 and a silver medal on the 2000 Olympics, Carlos Marchena went on to win 69 caps for La Roja at senior stage.
A starter at Euro 2008 alongside Carles Puyol, the previous Valencia defender misplaced his place to Gerard Pique for the 2010 World Cup, however was a part of the Spain squad in South Africa. Forward of that event, he broke Garrincha’s document of 49 worldwide appearances with out defeat as he performed in a win over Saudi Arabia, ultimately going 56 video games unbeaten.
10. Jose Antonio Camacho
Jose Antonio Camacho received 81 caps for Spain between 1975 and 1988 and the legendary Actual Madrid left-back was a mainstay within the defence for a lot of that point.
Camacho made near 600 appearances for Actual Madrid, regardless of spending virtually two years out by way of damage within the late Seventies, and received 9 La Liga titles with Los Blancos. He featured in two World Cups and two European Championships for Spain and later had a four-year spell as their coach.
9. Joan Capdevila
Essentially the most unheralded member of Spain’s beginning XI on the 2010 World Cup, Joan Capdevila was additionally a part of the workforce which received Euro 2008.
The Catalan left-back performed for the likes of Deportivo La Coruña, Villareal, Atletico Madrid, Espanyol and Benfica in a profitable profession throughout greater than twenty years. He received 60 caps for Spain between 2002 and 2011.
8. Dani Carvajal
Dani Carvajal got here by way of the youth system at Actual Madrid and was the participant chosen to put the primary brick at their new La Fabrica academy, together with membership legend Alfredo Di Stefano.
And it turned out to be an impressed selection as Carvajal went on to develop into certainly one of Madrid and Spain’s biggest defenders. A global since 2014, he hit the profitable penalty as La Roja received the UEFA Nations League in 2023 and have become a six-time Champions League winner in 2024.
7. Manuel Sanchis
Manuel Sanchis remodeled 700 appearances for Actual Madrid and spent his total profession with Los Blancos, profitable an array of silverware between 1983 and 2001.
Sanchis was a dedicated centre-back who might additionally function in midfied. He earned 48 caps for Spain and in addition received the European Championship with La Roja at Beneath-21 stage.
6. Miguel Angel Nadal
Bodily robust and tactically clever, Miguel Angel Nadal performed for Mallorca and Barcelona at membership stage in a wonderful profession and received 62 caps for Spain.
A part of Barcelona’s European Cup-winning aspect in 1992 below Johan Cruyff, Nadal featured for Spain within the 1994, 1998 and 2002 World Cups. He’s additionally the uncle of tennis nice Rafael Nadal.
5. Jordi Alba
Jordi Alba made his Spain debut in 2011 and rapidly turned a key participant, beginning as left-back for La Roja as Vicente del Bosque’s aspect received Euro 2012.
Probably the greatest attacking full-backs of the trendy period, Alba loved enormous success at Barcelona between 2012 and 2023. He received 93 caps for Spain in complete and retired from worldwide responsibility after serving to La Roja to the UEFA Nations League title as captain in 2023.
4. Fernando Hierro
An aesthetic centre-back who might additionally play in midfield, Fernando Hierro received 89 caps for Spain and scored a formidable 29 objectives for La Roja.
Unlucky to play in a much less profitable period for Spain, Hierro is extensively thought-about one of many nation’s best-ever defenders. He performed 601 official matches for Actual Madrid, profitable 5 La Liga titles and three Champions Leagues.
3. Gerard Pique
Gerard Pique made his Spain debut in 2009 and went on to develop into a key participant for La Roja of their event wins on the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012.
Pique shaped a stable partnership with Barcelona team-mate Carles Puyol in central defence in 2010 after which alongside Sergio Ramos in 2012. Usually outspoken for his criticism of Actual Madrid and in addition a proud Catalan, the centre-back at all times gave his all for Spain and received 102 caps in a wonderful period. Massively profitable at Barcelona, he retired from worldwide soccer after the 2018 World Cup.
2. Carles Puyol
Passionate, highly effective, courageous and at all times 100 per cent dedicated, Carles Puyol led by instance in a Spain shirt and performed an enormous half in La Roja’s success at Euro 2008 and on the 2010 World Cup.
A rock on the again, Puyol additionally bought ahead to attain a significant winner towards Germany within the groups’ 2010 World Cup semi-final. At Barcelona, he was captain of the workforce which received all of it in a wonderful period. He missed Euro 2012 by way of damage and was compelled to retire prematurely in 2014, however earned 100 caps for Spain.
1. Sergio Ramos
Sergio Ramos was a starter for Spain in all three of their event wins between 2008 and 2012, later captained La Roja and went on to win 180 caps in a 16-year worldwide profession.
A right-back within the Spain aspect for the 2008 European Championship and 2010 World Cup wins, Ramos moved to central defence for Euro 2012 after Carles Puyol was dominated out. He additionally scored 23 objectives for La Roja and received an array of silverware at Actual Madrid, together with 4 Champions League crowns.
