Barcelona's best ever XI ... The first centre back 💪 | OneFootball

With the football on hold at the moment, we’ve been thinking about who gets in Barcelona’s all-time XI.

Today we’re choosing the first centre-back.

Here are the nominees …

3rd – Joan Segarra

Known as ‘the Great Captain’, Segarra’s CV speaks for itself. But we’ll continue anyway.

The first legendary centre-back in club history, Segarra was the ultimate professional, in perfect physical shape and known as a “true gentleman” on and off the pitch. From 1963 to 1979 he held the club record for most appearances.

His speed and technical ability meant he could play in other positions too and he won 15 trophies in his 15 years at the club.

2nd – Migueli

Migueli wasn’t only referred to as ‘Tarzan’ for his shaggy hair, but also his rough and ragged style. He played much of the 1979 Cup Winners’ Cup final with a broken collarbone.

A formidable opponent who pulled no punches, he helped Barcelona to two LaLiga titles as well as 10 cup wins, including three in Europe.

The club website says he played an astonishing 668 games for the club in total, scoring 30 goals over a 16-year spell at Camp Nou.

And the winner is … Carles Puyol

Three absolute titans are here on this list, but we couldn’t look past Puyol. A man who inherited Migueli’s ‘Tarzan’ moniker, Puyol’s recognisable scruffy look (he refused to cut his hair when told to at La Masia) undersold how talented he actually was.

A true hero of the modern game and one of the best defenders to ever grace the game. Puyol broke into the side at right-back and was told to mark Luis Figo, a world class player hated in Barcelona for leaving for Real Madrid, in his first Clásico. He never looked back.

Though it took until he was 27 for Puyol to win his first trophy with the club, he would retire with 17 winners’ medals, including three Champions League titles.

His time under Pep Guardiola proved the tough centre-half wasn’t half bad on the ball, either. The perfect physique, brain, and mentality all came together to form one of the most dominant and passionate defenders football has ever seen.

Here’s how the team is looking so far …

GK: Andoni Zubizarreta RB: Dani Alves CB: Carles Puyol LB: Sigfrid Gràcia

Check back tomorrow when we will be choosing the second centre-back.