Veteran Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg named a artful Actual Madrid legend as his favorite defender of all time on the most recent episode of Whistleblowers.
Whistleblowers is soccer’s most unique new podcast, hosted by Mark Clattenburg alongside Mail Sport Soccer Editor Ian Ladyman and broadcaster Gordon Good.
Debating which centre again was the best of all time, Clattenburg championed ‘nasty’ Portuguese defender Pepe.
Over his 229 appearances for Actual Madrid, Pepe gained 15 main trophies however developed a infamous status with officers for his feisty tackling and behavior.
‘One of the best centre half I ever noticed, though he might be fairly nasty, was Pepe,’ the previous official revealed.
‘I watched him at Euro 2024, the final worldwide event he performed in, and he was unbelievable for his age at 41.
‘What I favored about him was that he was an unbelievable professional – he achieved an terrible lot. It was just like the ball was glued to him, each ball that went in, he was on the different finish of.
Veteran Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg named a artful Actual Madrid legend as his favorite defender of all time
Debating which centre again was the best of all time, Clattenburg championed ‘nasty’ Portuguese defender Pepe (left)
Mark Clattenburg: ‘Pepe was an unbelievable professional – he achieved an terrible lot.’ Listen here
‘As a referee, I had run-ins with him. Within the Champions League last particularly – however he was simply an unbelievable centre half.’
Pepe returned from a thigh harm to ship a man-of-the-match efficiency in Portugal’s Euro 2016 last victory over France, a match Clattenburg refereed.
Clattenburg additionally officiated the defender throughout Actual Madrid’s 2016 Champions League last victory over Atlético Madrid.
He controversially awarded a doubtful penalty in opposition to Pepe for a deal with on former Liverpool ahead Fernando Torres – which Atlético scored to degree the match.
When requested who he would pair with Pepe for the final word defensive partnership, Clattenburg urged Vincent Kompany, arguing that the Belgian’s ball-playing skill would complement the Portuguese defender’s tenacity.
‘I’d desire a shot stopper and a ball participant’, Clattenburg defined.
‘I like Vincent Kompany alongside Pepe. Kompany had an incredible perspective, very completely different to Pepe.’
Whereas Clattenburg favoured newer defenders, co-host Ian Ladyman delved additional again in soccer historical past for his finest defender, naming Liverpool stalwart Alan Hansen.
Hansen gained eight league titles, three European Cups, two FA Cups, and 4 League Cups throughout his decade-plus spell at Liverpool, establishing himself as one of the embellished centre-backs in English soccer historical past.
Ladyman defined: ‘You may’t look previous Alan Hansen. Actually, you could not get previous him.
Whereas Clattenburg favoured newer defenders, co-host Ian Ladyman delved additional again in soccer historical past for his finest defender, naming Liverpool stalwart Alan Hansen
Ian Ladyman: ‘If in case you have a trendy distributor of the ball, you want somebody subsequent to him who can scare the life out of individuals. I’d go along with Vidic.’ Listen here
‘What a footballer: great reader of the sport. He was courageous, athletic, most likely might have performed in about seven positions.
‘An excellent passer of the ball, a pacesetter. He would all the time look pristine after a sport as a result of he would by no means must go to floor – he was that good.’
Alongside Hansen, Ladyman named a controversial Liverpool-Manchester United defensive pairing, selecting Nemanja Vidić for his physicality.
Ladyman argued: ‘If in case you have a trendy distributor of the ball, you want somebody subsequent to him who can scare the life out of individuals.
‘I’d go along with Vidic – he might head the ball; he was a monster within the deal with.’
To listen to extra debates like this one, together with which single participant had the best affect on soccer, seek for the most recent episode of Whistleblowers now – obtainable wherever you get your podcasts.
