Top 5 highest scoring Premier League defenders of all time

Manchester United v Hull City - Premier League
Vidic was a constant threat during his time at Man United, but is he on the list?

The primary job of defensive players is to stop goals going in rather than score them. Premier League players today are goal threats from any position they play in because of the fluidity of the modern game.

Central defenders are generally aerial threats at set pieces while wing back or fullbacks are dribblers with incredible work rate who like to get forward in attack. Since the inaugural Premier League season in 1992, a number of defenders have hit the back of the net, but only a few manage or managed to do so consistently.

Here we take a look at five defenders who were also big goal threats for their side and top the list for the highest scoring Premier League defenders.


#5 Gary Cahill - 27 goals*

Tottenham Hotspur v Chelsea - Premier League
Cahill is also England's vice-captain

Chelsea captain and England international Gary Cahill is two-time Premier League winner, a Champions League winner and a Europa League winner. The club captain is an experienced robust defender who has scored 27 times during his Premier League career and is fifth on the list.

Having made 10 appearances for the Blues this season, Cahill has been part of four shutouts. However, the England vice-captain needs to step up his game and lead the club through a period of dominance to stake their claim in the title race.

The defending champions Chelsea and their manager Antonio Conte will turn to their captain, Cahill for leadership through tough parts of second half of the season. With his contract also running out in 2019, the England defender will need to make his mark this season in order to remain at the club and extend his stay.

Cahill will bring solidarity to the backline and help ease the pressure of young defenders Andreas Christensen and new signing Rudiger. A challenge for the crown is still on provided the Chelsea players buckle up and stay hot on the heels of the two Manchester clubs.

#4 Ian Harte - 28 goals

Harte celebrates scoring second goal
Harte celebrates scoring a goal for Leeds

Former Republic of Ireland and Premier League player Ian Harte began his career in 1996 with Leeds United and stayed at the club making over 200 appearances for the club, during his eight-year stay. The left-back was a quick and robust defender who loved to run down the left channel and add to the team's attack.

With 28 goals all coming for Leeds in the Premier League, Harte established himself as one of the best full-backs at the time in the league. The Irishman sits in the fourth spot on the list ahead of some of the best defenders the league has had on offer.

Since his departure from Leeds, Harte enjoyed a three-year spell with Levante in Spain. Before moving back to England and playing for various Championship teams such as Sunderland, Blackpool, Reading and Bournemouth till he retired in 2016. The former Republic of Ireland player is now a football agent.

#3 Leighton Baines - 32 goals*

Everton v Manchester United - Premier League
Baines celebrates a goal for Everton

32-year-old England and Everton international Leighton Baines is third on the all-time list with 32 goals and is still active, not too far behind the top two on the list. The England international began his career at Wigan Athletic in 2002 and made his mark during his five-year stay with the club.

Everton signed the talented fullback, in 2007, who went on make his first appearance for the national side in 2010 and played in Euro 2012. Still, in contention for a place in Gareth Southgate's World Cup squad, Baines is a veteran Premier League player and a set-piece specialist, an area of the game that is very important in a tournament like the World Cup.

An attacking full-back Baines can fluently operate in a back three as well as a back four. The Englishman has been named Everton's footballer of the year on three separate occasions and is considered to be one of the best, consistent left-backs the league has seen in the last decade.

#2 David Unsworth - 38 goals

Cheltenham Town v Everton - EFL Checkatrade Trophy
Former Everton interim manager and player, David Unsworth

Recently replaced interim manager of Everton, David Unsworth was a former Premier League player who played for Everton, West Ham United, Portsmouth, Sheffield United and Wigan Athletic. During his 15-year long career in the English top flight, Unsworth netted a total of 38 goals and is second on the list of highest scoring defenders in the league.

The Englishman made just the single appearance for his country in 1995 but was an exceptional player who could play both centrally and at left-back. He began his career in 1992 with Everton and spent the majority of his career at the Blue half of Merseyside.

He was recently replaced by Sam Allardyce as manager of the club, as he was in charge temporarily, since the sacking of Ronald Koeman earlier this season. A retired defender, now coach, had and still has great ambition and passion for the game and the club he truly adores.

#1 John Terry - 41 goals*

Chelsea v Sunderland - Premier League
Former Chelsea captain Terry with the PL title

Although John Terry might not be playing in the Premier League he is still an active footballer with Aston Villa, captaining the Championship team's bid for promotion to the top flight. If Villa get promoted this season and Terry remains active, the former Chelsea captain will be back in the Premier League.

The multiple time Premier League winner holds the record for being the highest scoring Premier League defender of all time with 41 goals. The 36-year-old began his Chelsea career in 1998 and became club captain in 2004 and guided Chelsea too many trophies.

He spent a year on loan at Nottingham Forest in 2000 and left Chelsea before the start of the season to join Steve Bruce at Aston Villa. The former England captain has been one of the best Premier League defenders of all time.

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Edited by Amit Mishra