Manchester City have had some incredible defenders over the years.
Ruben Dias is a world-class centre-back, while John Stones is one of the best in the world when he’s fit and flowing.
Manuel Akanji, Josko Gvardiol and Nathan Ake aren’t half bad either.
Speaking to Goal on TikTok, Sol Campbell has been ranking and rating some of the best defenders in Premier League history, and he made quite an interesting claim about one former Manchester City defender and Virgil van Dijk.
Van Dijk is considered by many to be the best defender in the world, but, according to Campbell, in his prime, Vincent Kompany was better.
Sol Campbell picks Vincent Kompany over Virgil van Dijk
Campbell was asked to rate and compare some of the best centre-backs of the modern era.
The Arsenal legend had to pick between some massive names, and, at one point, he was asked to choose between Kompany and van Dijk.
Kompany and Van Dijk are bona fide legends at both Man City and Liverpool respectively, and Campbell picked Kompany over the Dutchman, saying:
“I would say, Kompany, for his, kind of, heroics.”
Vincent Kompany career achievements compared to Virgil van Dijk
It’s interesting to compare Kompany and van Dijk as they’re undoubtedly two of the best centre-backs of the Premier League era.
Kompany’s CV is perhaps greater than van Dijk’s domestically, but, Van Dijk has won the Champions League, and he came within a whisker of winning the Ballon d’Or.
| Vincent Kompany | Virgil van Dijk | |
| 265 | PL Games | 294 |
| 167 | PL wins | 186 |
| 50 | PL Draws | 63 |
| 48 | PL Losses | 45 |
| 94 | PL Clean sheets | 115 |
| 4 | League titles | 1 |
| 2 | FA Cups | 1 |
| 4 | League Cups | 2 |
| 0 | Champions Leagues | 1 |
| Never shortlisted | Highest Ballon d’Or ranking | 2nd |
Campbell says that he’s picked Kompany for his heroics, and it’s easy to understand why.
Indeed, not only was Kompany an incredible leader for Man City, he always turned up in the big moments too.
Kompany scored a crucial goal against Manchester United towards the back end of the 2011/12 season, while Kompany’s iconic goal against Leicester was a stunning moment too.
That said, Van Dijk has also turned up in big moments for Liverpool.
Van Dijk scored the winner in the Carabao Cup final last year, and in his first ever game for Liverpool, he scored the winner in a Merseyside derby.
Ultimately, both players are legends of the game, and it’s hard to pick who is better, but, according to Campbell, Kompany just about edges this debate.
