4. Paul McGrath (Republic of Ireland)
“He scared me when I played against him. I was further forward back then and you could hear him coming up behind you! That, plus his ability, made him really tough.”
5. Jaap Stam (Netherlands)
“I preferred having Jaap on our team, to be honest, rather than facing him with Milan. He was tough, fast, a good reader of the game – everything a defender should be really.”
6. Xavi (Spain)
“He’s been one of the best players in the world. His passion and vision are incredible and he’s at the heart of probably the best team I’ve played against [Barcelona].”
7. David Beckham (England)
“It was strange to play against Becks after knowing him for so long. I think he kicked me, if I remember rightly, but he’s been absolutely brilliant for years and been a top player.”
