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The art of defending in football seems simple on the surface - the defenders must prevent the opposition from scoring. However, every single defender has their own way of achieving this objective. While some are aggressive and occasionally rash, others are composed and prefer not to rush into tackles.
Which top defenders are the most disciplined on the pitch?
Defenders like Sergio Ramos are known for their aggressive nature. Others, like Paolo Maldini, are known for their composure and discipline.
The question is not always about their style of play though, it depends on a defender's judgment; as a bad tackle leads to a foul.
In order to find the most disciplined defender in the world right now, cards (yellow and red), as well as fouls conceded, have been considered in the following list.
Therefore, this may not be an accurate representation of their style of play. Rather, it indicates their quality of judgment, which often separates them from being reckless.
Note: Defenders from the top five leagues with minimum 20+ starts have been considered
#5 Jules Kounde (Sevilla)
Jules Kounde is an unlikely candidate on this list. The 22-year-old defender is known for his aggressive style of play, as he prefers to nip the danger in the bud instead of waiting it out. However, owing to his good judgment, he does not concede fouls despite this nature.
Over the course of the 2020-21 La Liga season, Kounde conceded just 20 fouls in 34 appearances, which worked out to 0.60 fouls per 90 minutes. The young French defender was shown the yellow card four times and did not get sent off even once.
Another impressive stat which further aids his good judgment are his aerial duels. Despite Kounde's height being lesser than his peers, he still won 63.8 per cent of his aerial duels. The highly-rated defender also won 61 per cent of his ground duels, which clearly shows his incredible judgment.
To add to this, Kounde boasted a passing accuracy of 94.1 per cent in La Liga in 2020-21. He was also ranked sixth among all players for progressive carrying distance in the same season. In short, the Frenchman is a fantastic all-round asset to have in defense.
#4 Marquinhos (PSG)
PSG club captain Marquinhos has been commended for his versatility. He has featured as a centre-back and right-back and has even slotted into midfield when required. However, the Brazilian predominantly played as a centre-back in the 2020-21 Ligue 1 season where he made 24 starts.
Marquinhos conceded just 14 fouls over the entire league campaign, which is 0.59 fouls per 90. Along the way, he collected just two yellow cards and no red cards. The 27-year-old defender also won 55 per cent of his ground duels.
Passing is also an attribute which Marquinhos excels at, as he boasts a passing accuracy of 93.1 per cent. His composure in possession is an asset for PSG. Following Thiago Silva's departure, he has taken over the leadership role in the team as well.
PSG will definitely rely on Marquinhos' level-headedness and composure at the back as they aim to win the Champions League this season.
#3 Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur)
Eric Dier is a defender who has been at Tottenham for seven seasons. The 27-year-old centre-back was never consistently in the line-up over the years due to the partnership between Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld. However, following the former's departure last season, Dier made 28 starts in the Premier League in 2020-21.
In the two games Dier has started for Tottenham in the 2021-22 Premier League season so far, he has remarkably not conceded a single foul. Over the course of the previous season, he conceded 16 fouls, which is 0.57 per 90 mins. He was also booked just three times and was not sent off.
The arrival of Cristian Romero, a defender who played for Atalanta in 2020-21, will pose a threat to Dier's game time in the 2021-22 Premier League campaign. However, the English defender, who won 62 per cent of his ground duels, will look to cement himself in defense as Alderweireld has also left the club this summer.
#2 Raphael Varane (Manchester United)
Raphael Varane is widely regarded as one of the best defenders in football. The 28-year-old centre-back joined Manchester United this transfer window. As he is yet to make an appearance for the Red Devils, his statistics for Real Madrid from the 2020-21 La Liga season have been considered for this list.
Sergio Ramos formed an incredible partnership with Varane; winning four Champions League titles together. Their pairing was successful due to them complementing each other perfectly. Ramos' aggression was compensated for by Varane's discipline.
The composure displayed by Varane is evident from his metrics. The defender conceded a mere 16 fouls in his 31 starts in the Spanish league in 2020-21 (0.53 per game). He received just two yellow cards over the entire season too, and zero red cards.
Varane's composure extended to his passing too, as he completed 91.1 per cent of his passes. The French defender was competitive in the air too, as he won 75.3 per cent of his aerial duels.
Harry Maguire will surely be counting down the days to when Varane is ready to make his Premier League debut. If everything goes well, Varane could join Maguire and become one of the most dominant defensive partnerships in Europe.
#1 John Stones (Manchester City)
If there ever was an example of an out-of-favor defender coming back into the line-up and becoming one of the best in the entire league, it was John Stones. The 27-year-old centre-back had an exceptional 2020-21 Premier League campaign and formed a formidable partnership with Ruben Dias en route to the title.
During the entirety of last season's Premier League campaign, Stones conceded just seven fouls in 22 appearances. Upon conversion to per 90 minutes, it adds up to 0.33 fouls, which is significantly lower than Varane who is the next best defender with 0.53 per 90 minutes.
Stones ranked highest in the league (among all players) in terms of pass accuracy as he completed 94.3 per cent of his passes.
The English defender also had a near perfect record when it came to cards - he was not handed a single yellow card. Although he was sent off in a game against Aston Villa for a rash challenge on Jacob Ramsey, the red card itself was subject to VAR review. In all likelihood, it would likely be overturned under the new regulations in place now.
He also won a resounding 75 per cent of his ground duels, which iterates his good judgment.
The defender extensively relies on his ability to read the game and it enables him to make the right decisions. Due to his participation with England in the Euros, Stones has yet to start a game in the 2021-22 Premier League, but he will be keen to maintain his form.
