5 of the greatest centre-backs to have played for FC Barcelona

Gerard Pique(L) and Carles Puyol(R) - Two of the greatest Barcelona centre-backs of all time

Stout defending is not something people would normally associate with a club like FC Barcelona, instead, it's usually intricate passing, mesmerizing number 10s, glorious central midfielders and the odd excellent goalkeeper.

However, no football team can win as much as the Blaugrana have over the years without having an excellent defensive structure and Cules have been blessed over the years to have seen some very excellent centre-backs ply their trade at the Nou Camp.

With that being said, here are 5 of the greatest centre-backs of all time to have worn the blue and red of this great club:

Honourable mention: Javier Mascherano

#5 Miguel Ángel Nadal (1991-1999)

Nadal's thou-shall-not-pass mentality won him the admiration of Cules

Just as famous for his familial connections (he is a paternal uncle to tennis superstar Rafa Nadal) as for his defending, Nadal was one of the unsung heroes of Johan Cruyff’s Dream Team.

A hard-as-nails and no-nonsense centre-back who also played in different positions depending on the team’s needs, he was one of the unsung heroes of a Barca team that was a purist’s delight with players like Bulgarian legend Hristo Stoichkov, Pep Guardiola, Romario among others - the headline grabbers in the team.

Notable for his tough tackling, aerial prowess and leadership from the back, Nadal was one of the first names on the team sheet and aptly nicknamed “The Beast of Barcelona” as he was adept at terrorizing strikers of all shapes and sizes.