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Ledley King: A Tribute To The Best Centre Back Of A Generation
Today Ledley King announced his retirement, here's a tribute to the Rolls Royce defender we've always needed...
Whoever Fabio Capello picks for his squad, England are destined to start the opening match of their Euro 2012 campaign without their best central defender. But it won’t be because Rio Ferdinand’s form has fluctuated, or because John Terry has been proven a racist. No. The reason will be a troublesome knee. And that knee will belong to Ledley King, no doubt sat with his feet up watching the drama unfold live on the telebox. Tottenham Hotspur’s captain proved again this week that, when fully fit, he is unrivalled in his reading of the game, his physical prowess and his calmness under pressure.
Anfield used to strike fear into the hearts of visiting defenders and, while it is fair to say it does not represent the nightmare it once did, King’s performance did enough to suggest that even Liverpool in their pomp would have troubled to rouse a sweat from King’s far-from-forrowed brow. Faced with a £35million Andy Carroll, a chomping at the bit Luis Suarez and a tigerish as ever Craig Bellamy, King strolled through the match like a Victorian squire enjoying a Sunday afternoon jaunt on a seaside prom.
Born in the same year as Terry – and having spent time at the same London junior team as the Chelsea misfit – King has managed just 258 appearance in the same time that Terry has clocked up 357. That represents almost two full seasons, cup runs included, that Spurs have been without their main man while Chelsea could happily rely on their defensive rock.
Look at the England stats and it becomes even more depressing. Since his 2002 debut against Italy, King has played just 21 times for the national side. Terry took his bow a year later, but has pulled on the Three Lions a total of 73 times. That works out at almost, but not quite, four caps for every one collected by King.
Deputising for Terry against France in Euro 2004, King showed his international class. Sadly, it was one of the few occasions he could. Injury robbed him of a slot at the 2006 World Cup and when, four years later, he looked set to finally make his mark on a major tournament, King last just 45 minutes of England’s opening World Cup match-up with the USA being limping off with a groin injury.
King strolled through the match like a Victorian squire enjoying a Sunday afternoon jaunt on a seaside prom
It seems that, after defensive linchpin, limping is King’s default setting. Which is a shame. Not just for Spurs fans, but for everyone who has ever hoped England could once again compete on the world stage.
To stop the likes of Spain, Germany and the South American giants, you need more than Gary Cahill. More than Phil Jagielka. More than just another Premier League plodder, happy to defend the edge of the box and marshall the near post. You need someone with pace, positional sense and an unswerving ability to stay calm under pressure. In short, you need someone exactly like Ledley King could be. Described by Capello as one of the best defenders in the country, King’s career has been tragically short-changed. Like a classic film cut down for cinema, only with no retrospective director’s cut year’s later.
Ledley Brenton King. The best centre back this country has produced since Bobby Moore and a man with less caps than Kieron Dyer, Phil Neville, Nicky Butt and Mark Wright.
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COMMENTS
one of the best centre back i've ever seen
Best hyped defender.....
A great article, really does make you wonder!!!
no doubt he is a master of his craft, he just needs to be fit. Dont matter how good you are if youre sitting on the bench or in the treatment room!
While I completely agree that King is a class act, the fact remains, he has never been fit for long enough to prove how good he can be on a consistent basis, not his fault but true nevertheless. To try and rubbish Terry at King's expense is simply laughable. You can't even compare the two. Terry has competed in the Champions League, more often than not in the latter stages, for the last ten years. King has played in it once. Terry has inspired his team to three league titles and countless cups, Spurs, contrary to what their supporters are saying at present, have never even competed for the title. Repelling a mediocre Liverpool side is hardly a big achievement, just look at the defensive records Chelsea set under Mourinho, marshalled impeccably by Terry. Terry is constantly voted into the FIFA Pro team and has been awarded the captaincy of his country twice. King doesn't even come into this reckoning. The list goes on, and while, like I say, I am a big fan of King's, he's not in Terry's league
Good player, unfortunately people feel vindicated in saying that King is the "best centre back this country has produced since Bobby Moore" because just enough pundits and hacks have floated the idea over the years that people mistake it for common knowledge. The idea that he would have been this and that is something left for Spurs fans and haters of the "big four" and the "golden generation" to convince themselves of, but ultimately its over-excited nonsense.
King is defentaly better than Terry-Terry is slow and not very good in distribution of the ball. Unfortunately King is just a crock-but when his fit his in the top 2/3 english defenders-him & cahill/Lescott would be a good partnership for the Euros-Rio is past it.
He's rubbish. And this article is rubbish. Capello has been sacked by the way.
Murp I'm retarded
Great player,but should have retired 2 years ago for the good of Tottenham,we have never been able to play a steady back 4 with him in and out of the side and he always gave the excuse to Levy not to buy a replacement
JOHN SMITH GOT IT ABSOLUTELY RIGHT -- MUCH AS I LIKE KING -- ITS ABOUT MEDALS AND PLAYING TIME NOT POTENTIAL -- mr bean you are mr bean indeed -- the idea that Jt has no distribution shows you clearly don't chelsea week in week out - which is precisely the problem with ledley King
ALSO FORGOT TO MENTION THAT-John Terry is alledgedly better at the ole racism too- Ledders just wasn't in the same league with regards to abusing people based on the colour of their skin
John Terry may have won medals but thats only because he was in a team that became a russian billionairs toy. If it wasnt for Roman plouging millions into chelsea he would have won nothing either. Ledley is a far more cultured defender than Terry and I bet if you asked Terry he would say the same, Terry is a great defender but Ledley was in another league, against France Ledley was played out of position as a DM and still won man of the match, JT would never have been able to do the same thing. LEDLEY YOU WILL BE MISSED!!!!!!!!
Terry & Ferdinand would have had only the odd cap each if Woodghate and King hadn't had the injuries they have..
All those people saying terry is better because he's won more...means nothing. The fact of the matter is King showed his loyalty by staying at a team that, until only a few years ago, were clearly beneath him. Had it not been for injuries he would be a man utd, barca or real madrid player. How many trophies did Tom Finney, Stanley Matthews win?
I remember reading somewhere about Terry and King playing together as kids and Terry gushed about King like a school kid. Lost one game in a ridiculously long period. It was the one game King missed. I honestly believe Terry would have struggled to make the England side if King had've stayed fit.
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