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Italian football has been home to some of the best defenders in the history of the sport
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From Maldini and Baresi to modern icons, there are so options to choose from
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Who are the best defenders in Serie A history?
Football in Italy has changed over the last decade or so, but for a long time, Serie A was the home for defence.
Cautious football was expected in Italy’s top flight. The best defenders in Serie A history are widely considered among the greatest in their respective generations by those who bet on football.
We’ve had a shot at picking the top Serie A defenders of all-time. A couple still feature in Serie A odds to this day, while others require a longer memory.
10) Alessandro Nesta
First with Lazio for nine years and then with Milan for a decade, Alessandro Nesta was one of the best defenders in the world throughout his long prime.
He peaked in the early 2000s with four consecutive Serie A Defender of the Year awards, but the Italian maintained his brilliance throughout the decade, winning a second Champions League with the Rossoneri in 2007.
He was also named to the UEFA Team of the Year later that year. With more appearances than Cesare Maldini, there was no doubt that Nesta belonged among the best defenders in Serie A history.
9) Franco Baresi
Another one-club man, it is an understatement to say Franco Baresi is one of the best Serie A defenders of all-time.
Like Maldini, Baresi is simply one of the greatest footballers in the history of the game, and he was voted as such by World Soccer.
Reading the game like Baresi can make a great defender. Pair that with his mobility and technical talents, and you’ve got something special.
Baresi, despite standing at 5’9, was a central defender without weaknesses, a player who could stop opponents and get his team on the front foot in one smooth motion.
8) Giorgio Chiellini
A favourite of Serie A tips throughout his career, Giorgio Chiellini has been synonymous with Juventus in the 21st century
While others departed, Chiellini remained in Turin in the aftermath of Calciopoli. It was that season in Serie B that saw him become a centre-back full-time, and he hasn’t looked back since.
Under Antonio Conte and Max Allegri, Chiellini was the heart of Juventus, and he’s remained an integral player even into the twilight years of his career.
A 10-time Serie A winner, and with five selections to the Serie A Team of the Year, Chiellini is the greatest Italian defender of the last 15 years.
7) Leonardo Bonucci
As the ‘Beckenbonucci’ nickname suggests, Leonardo Bonucci’s main strength is playmaking. He’s played his best football in the middle of a back three, possessing the vision and technical ability to pick out long passes and dissect defences.
Bonucci has thrived in a partnership with Chiellini – the importance of Chiellini to Bonucci’s was on full show when the Viterbo native had an ill-fated spell with Milan.
While prone to the odd error, Bonucci is also a brave and imposing defender when he’s top form. You don’t fluke your way into the IFFHS World Team.
6) Gianluca Zambrotta
There’s not much full-back representation in the group of the best Serie A defenders of all-time, but we couldn’t leave out Gianluca Zambrotta.
While primarily remembered as a right-back, Zambrotta was two-footed and could play just as effectively on the left flank. His mix of attacking talent, engine and defensive awareness gave his managers flexibility to use him in a back four or five.
Zambrotta’s CV isn’t as loaded as many others mentioned here, yet he still saw his team top Serie A predictions three times, winning the Scudetto with Juventus and Milan.
5) Mauro Tassotti
Initially building a reputation at Lazio, Mauro Tassotti spent 17 years with Milan, becoming an integral member of arguably the greatest defensive group in the history of the sport.
Playing on the right of defence alongside Franco Baresi, Paolo Maldini and Alessandro Costacurta, Tassotti was a reliable performer and rock-solid defender.
He registered over 400 Serie A appearances across a decorated career, featuring five Scudetti and three Champions League wins.
4) Alessandro Costacurta
The fourth player on this list from those iconic Milan sides, Alessandro Costacurta played for the Rossoneri between 1986 and 2007, winning five Champions Leagues and eight Serie A titles.
Ultra-reliable and capable of slotting in wherever his team needed, Costacurta could mark the world’s best centre forwards or contribute on the overlap from full-back.
Fabio Cannavaro deemed Costacurta the best defender he ever played with – given Cannavaro’s illustrious list of teammates, that’s some very high praise.
Underrated in the shadow of Baresi and Maldini, Costacurta is a legend at Milan, even if he hasn’t always got the acclaim he deserves elsewhere.
3) Fabio Cannavaro
Only two defensive players have won the Ballon d’Or since 1990: Matthias Sammer and Fabio Cannavaro. Cannavaro led Italy to the World Cup in 2006, the same year he won the Ballon d’Or and departed Serie A for Real Madrid.
Playing for Napoli, Parma, Inter and Juventus (who he returned to for a brief stint after Real), Cannavaro became known for his consistent play.
He was a great athlete, with the pace to match most forwards and the leaping ability to compensate for a relatively small stature.
While the timing of his moves meant his medal tally is limited, Cannavaro’s individual performances are enough to lock him in for a place on this list.
2) Javier Zanetti
All but guaranteed of a place in the Serie A all-time XI, Javier Zanetti played in 19 seasons, and only Gianluigi Buffon, Francesco Totti and Paolo Maldini amassed more appearances.
Zanetti was ultra-versatile, yet he was from a jack of all trades. The Argentine excelled on both sides of defence, and performed well when used in central midfield.
Maintaining exceptional fitness levels deep into his thirties, Zanetti was an ironman, a consistent performer at the highest level.
Across his time at San Siro, he won 16 major trophies, breaking countless records in the process.
1) Paolo Maldini
Only Gianluigi Buffon has more Serie A appearances than Paolo Maldini. Il Capitano played in 25 seasons for Milan, winning numerous domestic and continental honours.
Still accumulating individual awards well into late-thirties, Maldini played across multiple generations and remained among the best players in his position throughout.
Whether playing at left-back or leading from the heart of the defence, he was adept in possession and faultless defensively.
The Italian finished third in Ballon d’Or voting on two occasions – he’s got a strong case to be considered the greatest Serie A player of all-time.
