Sportskeeda Football Awards 2014: Defenders of the Year

Defenders are the unsung heroes in a football team. On a personal level, I think they don’t even get the plaudits the goalkeepers receive these days. Goalkeepers get a lot of appreciation when they make incredible saves, especially when they are match saving. Take for example the praises that were showered upon Manuel Neuer for his performance at the World Cup or David De Gea for his incredible saves that have saved many points for Manchester United or Iker Casillas whose incredible performance against Dortmund last season kept Real Madrid in the Champions League. Of course, forwards and midfielders are always in the spotlight because they get to score and display their flamboyant skills to the spectators.In comparison to this, the interceptions and tackles the defenders make are not given the credit they deserve. For example, Jerome Boateng is in the form of his life now, but fans and pundits alike talk more about Manuel Neuer than the defenders ahead of him, who do bulk of the dirty work.  So we take a look at some of the best defenders in the calendar year 2014 and give them the credit they deserve.Honourable Mentions: Marcelo, Raphael Varane, Jordi Alba, John Terry, Dani Carvajal, Dani Alves, Branislav Ivanovic and Vincent KompanyStatistics taken from Squawka.VOTE at the end of the slideshow for the best defender of 2014.

#1 Sergio Ramos - Real Madrid and Spain

The Real Madrid star had a year to remember after winning many individual awards as well as team honours. His year got off to a great start after making the FIFProXI for 2013, which was his third inclusion in succession and fourth overall. Ramos was an undisputed starter in the Real Madrid team, thereby forcing Pepe and Varane to fight for the right to partner him.

His best moment of the year came in the final of the UEFA Champions League when he headed in a goal against city rivals Atletico Madrid in the dying minutes of the game to take the game to extra time. If it wasn’t for his goal, Real Madrid would have surrendered another chance to win their tenth Champions League title.

Ramos was also named the La Liga’s best defender for the previous season and he has carried his form from the previous season into the ongoing one. He was also in the shortlist for the FIFA Ballon d’Or and is nominated for the FIFPro XI for 2014.