Infographic: The 10 best defensive players in the Premier League

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Minutes per goal conceded data reveals most effective defensive contributors

You may have noticed – this week on FourFourTwo.com we're rolling out our annual list of the planet's 100 best footballers (#FFT100, if you want to shout at us).

So we thought we'd also weigh up the best contributors from Premier League Land over the last 12 months. Which defensive-minded players have proved the most effective for their teams over that period? Looking at appearances, clean sheets and minutes per goal conceded, we've got it covered*.

No.1 really won't surprise you... 

(*Minimum 10 clean sheets, only goals conceded when players on pitch counted.)

FourFourTwo’s Best 100 Football Players in the World 2016

Joe Brewin
Joe Brewin

Joe was the Deputy Editor at FourFourTwo until 2022, having risen through the FFT academy and been on the brand since 2013 in various capacities. 

By weekend and frustrating midweek night he is a Leicester City fan, and in 2020 co-wrote the autobiography of former Foxes winger Matt Piper – subsequently listed for both the Telegraph and William Hill Sports Book of the Year awards.