One of the best centre-back partnerships this millennium will come to an end this summer when Giorgio Chiellini brings an end to his 17-year stay at Juventus.
The 37-year-old, who is third on Juventus’ all-time appearances list behind Alessandro Del Piero and Gianluigi Buffon, will leave the Old Lady as a free agent this summer.
The Italian legend has been a part of one of the most iconic and dominant pairings in footballing history alongside his good friend Leonardo Bonucci.
The duo, who have played 342 matches together, have been at the heart of Italy and Juventus’ defence for the last 12 years and were instrumental in the Azzurri winning the European Championship’s last summer.
Chiellini and Bonucci may never have got their hands on the Champions League after losing two finals, but they did win eight Serie A titles together.
Never afraid of producing some darks arts in order for their side to win, throwing their bodies on the line to protect their goal – the pair never gave the opposition an inch and they would relish a physical encounter.
TBR have already had a look at Juventus’ best XI during Chiellini’s 17 years at the club, but here we look at the five best centre-back partnerships from this millennium.
Best centre-back partnerships this millennium
Alessandro Nesta and Paulo Maldini – AC Milan and Italy
Like Franco Baresi and Alessandro Costacurta, Nesta and Maldini were a dream pairing that screamed class and elegance.
The pair rarely broke a sweat and everything looked far too easy for the ageless Italian legends who were a joy to watch.
Maldini had 25 seasons with the Rossoneri and won 25 trophies, but his transition from left-back to centre-back was testament to his quality, adaptability and longevity.
But playing alongside 2006 World Cup winner Nesta, who read the game so well, made Maldini’s task so much easier and they won two Champions Leagues together.
John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho – Chelsea
After winning the Champions League with Jose Mourinho at Porto, Carvalho followed his manager to Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2004.
While Mourinho’s Chelsea side may have been set up to frustrate and punish on the counter, Terry and Carvalho, who had Petr Cech behind and Ashley Cole to the left of them, didn’t give the opposition a sniff.
Carvalho, who had no issue adapting to the rigours of English football, and Chelsea’s ‘Captain, Leader, Legend’ will always be remembered as one of the best.
The Blues won back-to-back Premier League trophies in Mourinho’s first two seasons in England and in one season only conceded 15 goals. The duo would win a third Premier League title together in 2010 before Carvalho linked up with Mourinho once again at Real Madrid.
Carlos Puyol and Gerard Pique – Barcelona and Spain
After struggling to break the Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand partnership at Old Trafford, Pique returned to Barcelona in the summer of 2008.
In his first season back at the Nou Camp he won the treble under Pep Guardiola which included a 2-0 win against the Red Devils in the Champions League final.
Pique played next to Puyol 159 times and the pair dominated for club and country. Puyol was the aggressor and Pique was the ball-playing centre-halve and in tandem they formed a key part of a dominant Barcelona and Spain side.
The Spaniards won 18 trophies together, including the World Cup, two Champions Leagues and four La Liga titles.
Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic – Manchester United
Ferdinand had already got his hands on the Premier League at Manchester United prior to Vidic’s arrival at Old Trafford in January 2006.
Following the Serbian’s arrival to the Reds from Red Star Belgrade, the commanding pair spent eight-and-a-half years alongside one and other before they both left United in 2014.
Ferdinand was the Rolls-Royce defender who would stroll out of defence with the ball at his feet, and Vidic would be the warrior who would crash into tackles and clear anything that came into the Manchester United penalty area.
They were a dream combination under Sir Alex and they would go on to win five Premier Leagues and one Champions League together.
Raphael Varane and Sergio Ramos – Real Madrid
As Pepe’s game time with Los Blancos reduced following Varane’s growing emergence and importance, the Frenchman conjured up a powerful and trophy-laden partnership with Ramos.
The pair won 18 trophies together, including three consecutive Champions Leagues under the stewardship of Zinedine
Zidane.
While Ramos was very much the on the front foot aggressor, Varane’s pace and calming presence would often sweep up the back and limit the chances of Los Blancos being broken on.
Since they have both moved on from one and other, the pair have struggled to find a partnership in the same ilk.