Lesley King Names Favourite Defender Growing Up

When talking to anyone who loves football and asking them who their favourite defender is, sometimes you can expect them to pick someone from their own team or the same nationality. However, occasionally, someone will reveal a name that is difficult to argue with. Recently, Ledley King spoke to John Terry, revealing Paolo Maldini as his favourite defender growing up.

Ledley King Talks Favourite Defender Growing Up

King Reflects on Defensive Idol

When asked by John Terry, to name his favourite  growing up: “When I started switching to defenders, the ones I remember watching were (Paolo) Maldini and Lilian Thuram. Italian football was a big thing back in the 90s. They were two defenders that I immediately gravitated towards, so I think Maldini is my favourite of all time,” said King.

Back in 2023, on the CBS Sports Golazo coverage before the huge Champions League semi-final between the two Milan clubs, Thierry Henry and Jamie Carragher were joined by Maldini and full of praise for the Italian legend:

“What I want to tell you is very important and never had the opportunity to say it,” Henry said. “We played against each other in ’98, I’m not talking about the game as that’s not important as I have too much respect for you for that.

“When I realised I was coming on and playing on the right, I suddenly got scared because of what you represented. The defender that you were, for me, you epitomised what defending was about,” said Henry.

How Good Was Paolo Maldini?

Paolo Maldini remains one of the greatest defenders of all time. His intelligence on the pitch always stood out. His anticipation was second to none, intercepting countless dangerous attacks.

Maldini timed his tackles brilliantly and was a born leader for club and country. He spent all 25 seasons of his career with AC Milan, making 647 appearances. He also earned an astonishing 126 caps for the Italian national team.

He was graceful in possession and an accomplished passer of the ball. His ability to read the game made him a 1v1 demon, cancelling out many great attackers during his illustrious career.

Brilliant with both feet, an exceptional reader of the game, and many other key qualities made Paolo Maldini a complete defender. Where does Maldini rank in your list of greatest defenders?