Best Atletico Madrid defenders of all time

As the Brazilian phootball legend, Peles said, "No individual can win a game by himself", and this is a fact no one can deny. A football club can achieve success in domestic and international competitions only by fostering teamwork among its players.

The defenders and strikers must function together in harmony, providing an effective defensive wall while creating opportunities for the team's goal scorers. As one of the most successfil football clubs in the world,  Atletico Madrid is also aware of this fact and has shown for many times that they know how to cooperate, resulting in numerous victories over the years. But who are some of the great names to remind us of the club's glorious moments, when it comes to the defense line? Join us in this article today to find the answer out. 

All-time best Defenders at Atletico Madrid

The purpose of this article is to introduce the best-ever

defenders, but first let's seize this opportunity and take a quick look at the history and honors of the team.

A Brief Review on History and Honors of Atletico Madrid Club

On 26 April 1903, Club Atlético de Madrid (Athletic Club of Madrid) was founded by three Basque students living in Madrid. Dissident members of Real Madrid had joined them by 1904, and they started playing matches wearing halved blue and white shirts.

Athletic's first ground was the Ronda de Vallecas-the working-class area on the south side of the city. After several years, Atletico Madrid chose Estadio Vicente Calderón stadium as their home ground. They played there from 1966 until 2017, when they moved to Metropolitano Stadium. Going through many ups and downs all these years, Atletico Madrid is now the third most successful club in Spanish football, behind

 and

.

A brief look at Atletico Madrid's honors & achievements

Domestic competitions

• Ten times La Liga winners: 1939–40, 1940–41, 1949–50, 1950–51, 1965–66, 1969–70, 1972–73, 1976–77, 1995–96, 2013–14, 2020-21

• The 2001-02 Segunda División winners

• Ten times Copa del Rey winners: 1959–60, 1960–61, 1964–65, 1971–72, 1975–76, 1984–85, 1990–91, 1991–92, 1995–96, 2012–13

• The 1985 and 2014 Supercopa de España winners

• The 1940-41Copa de los Campeones de España winners

• The 1947 Copa Presidente FEF winners

• The 1951 Copa Eva Duarte winners

International competitions

• The European Cup / UEFA Champions League runners-up in 1973–74, 2013–14, 2015–16

• European Cup Winners' Cup winners in 1961–62

• UEFA Europa League winners in 2009–10, 2011–12, 2017–18

• UEFA Super Cup winners in 2010, 2012, 2018

•  Intercontinental Cup winners in 1974

• UEFA Intertoto Cup group winners in 2007

Awards & recognitions

• Globe Soccer Special Award: 2014

• Globe Soccer Best Club of the Year: 2012, 2018

Best Atletico Madrid Defenders ever

Now that we know more about Atletico Madrid honors and achievements, it's time to go through the team's greatest defenders of all time. Although it is indeed difficult to select only twenty soccer players out of hundred loyal and committed ones, we have chosen a list of the

best ever Atletico Madrid defenders

in our opinion in th following article. 

Tomás Reñones

The first player on our list of

Best Atletico Madrid defenders of all time

is Pedro Tomás Reñones Crego. He was born on 9 August 1960 in Compostela, Spain.

He started his football career in his hometown club- SD Compostela- in 1988 and after a season he joined Atletico Madrid. At first, he played for B-side (Atletico Madrid B), and later on, in 1984–85 season he made his La Liga debut. He spent most of his professional career with Atleti. Between 1984-1996 he made 396 appearances and scored two goals.

He had achieved the following victories:

Atlético Madrid

• La Liga: 1995–96

• Copa del Rey: 1984–85, 1990–91, 1991–92, 1995–96

• Supercopa de España: 1985

• UEFA Cup Winners' Cup: Runner-up 1985–86

Diego Godín

Our second Best Atletico Madrid defenders of all time, is generally cited as one of the best defenders in the world. Diego Roberto Godín Leal was born on 16 February 1986 in Rosario, Uruguay. When he was 17, he started his professional career with C.A. Cerro and soon due to his great performances, had been transferred to Primera División powerhouse Club Nacional de Football.

Later on, he chose La Liga to continue his football and so in August 2007 by a five-year contract he joined Villarreal CF. After three years and experiencing his best season at Villarreal, with 36 games and three goals, he took a bigger step and joined Atletico. On 4 August 2010, he signed his five-year contract worth around €8 million or £6.6 million. He spent nine years with the Red and Whites, during these years he had 389 appearances, scored 27, and had 14 assists. In 2019 he joined Inter Milan , but shortly later, left them to join Cagliari where he stayed for the next two years, before joining Atlético Mineiro in 2022. Today, the brilliant player kicks the ball at Vélez Sarsfield.

Some of his achieved victories are:

Atlético Madrid

• La Liga: 2013–14

• Copa del Rey: 2012–13

• Supercopa de España: 2014; runner-up: 2013

• UEFA Europa League: 2011–12, 2017–18

• UEFA Super Cup: 2010, 2012, 2018

• UEFA Champions League runner-up: 2013–14, 2015–16

Uruguay

• Copa América: 2011

• China Cup: 2018, 2019

Individual

• La Liga Player of the Month: April 2014, May 2014

• La Liga Team of the Season: 2013–14, 2015–16

• UEFA Champions League Squad of the Season: 2013–14, 2015–16, 2016–17

• UEFA Team of the Year: 2014

• UEFA Champions League Team of the Group Stage: 2015

•  La Liga Best Defender: 2015–16

• UEFA La Liga Team of the Season: 2015–16

• FIFA World Cup Dream Team: 2018

Juan Carlos Aguilera

The next

best Atletico Madrid defenders of all time

is a footballer whose professional career spanned almost two decades. Juan Carlos Aguilera was born on 22 May 1969 in Madrid, Spain. In 1987 he started his football as a right-winger in Atlético Madrid B and after a year he was promoted to the Atletico Madrid main team and made his debut for the first team on 26 March 1988 against Sporting de Gijón.

Until 1993, he played for the Red and Whites. Then he was transferred to

and stayed there for three years. Once again in 1996, he returned to his hometown club, and till his retirement, he remained loyal to the El Atleti. During his time in Atletico, he made 370 appearances, scored 24, and had 6 assists.

He had achieved the following victories:

Atlético Madrid

• Copa del Rey: 1990–91, 1991–92; Runner-up 1998–99, 1999–2000

• Segunda División: 2001–02

Juanfran

The former right-back of São Paulo FC is our next name on the list of the best Atletico Madrid defenders of all time. Juan Francisco Torres Belén was born on 9 January 1985 in Crevillent, Spain. To start his professional football, he joined Real Madrid's youth academy and had his first main squad opportunity on 24 January 2004, playing 15 minutes in a 2–1 home win against

CF. he soon got promoted to the main team.

Despite his successful performance, in 2005 he was loaned to RCD

. As his time in RCD finished, he decided to join CA

and for almost five years he stayed there.

After his great experience in Osasuna, on 11 January 2011, he joined Atletico Madrid to make a name for himself in 

. Two days after signing his contract, he made his formal debut for the Colchoneros, starting in a 1–3 away loss against his former first professional club Real Madrid for the quarter-finals of the Copa Del Rey. He spent nine seasons wearing the shirt of Los Colchoneros and during these years he made 355 appearances, scored 6, and had 41 assists.

He had achieved the following victories:

Espanyol

• Copa del Rey: 2005–06

Atlético Madrid

• La Liga: 2013–14

• Copa del Rey: 2012–13

• Supercopa de España: 2014; runner-up: 2013

• UEFA Europa League: 2011–12, 2017–18

• UEFA Super Cup: 2012, 2018

• UEFA Champions League runner-up: 2013–14, 2015–16

Spain U19

• UEFA European Under-19 Championship: 2004

Spain U20

• FIFA World Youth Championship runner-up: 2003

Spain

• UEFA European Championship: 2012

Individual

• La Liga Team of the Season: 2013–14

• UEFA Champions League Squad of the Season: 2015–16

• UEFA La Liga Team of the Season: 2015–16

Filipe Luís

Our next

best Atletico Madrid defenders of all time

, is a Brazillian player who was subsequently voted the best defender in the Spanish League. Filipe Luís Kasmirski was born on 9 August 1985 in Jaraguá do Sul, Brazil. He started his football in his hometown club- Figueirense- in 2003 and later on moved to Europe to chase his dreams. He experienced the European football in the

 reverse team in 2004 and soon broke into the main team.

On 23 July 2010, he decided to sign a five-year contract with Atletico Madrid. His debut came on 26 September at home against

, where he set up compatriot Diego Costa for the game's only goal, receiving Man of the Match award. He spent four years with the Red and Whites and during these years he made 333 appearances, scored 13, and had 30 assists. He left Atletico in 2014 and joined

. But he couldn't last so long and after a year once again in 2015 rejoined Atletico and for another four years, he played for colchoneros. Since 2019, the great defender is kicking the ball for 

club, having 100 appearances for the team, with four goals. 

He had achieved the following victories:

Atlético Madrid

• La Liga: 2013–14

• Copa del Rey: 2012–13

• UEFA Europa League: 2011–12, 2017–18

• UEFA Super Cup: 2012-2018

• UEFA Champions League runner-up: 2013–14 2015–16

Chelsea

• Premier League: 2014–15

• Football League Cup: 2014–15

Flamengo

• Campeonato Brasileiro Série A: 2019,2020

• Copa do Brasil: 2022

• Supercopa do Brasil: 2020, 2021

• Campeonato Carioca: 2020, 2021

• Copa Libertadores: 2019, 2022

• Recopa Sudamericana: 2020

• FIFA Club World Cup runner-up: 2019

Brazil U20

• FIFA World Youth Championship third place: 2005

Brazil

• Copa América: 2019

• FIFA Confederations Cup: 2013

Individual

• La Liga Team of the Season: 2013–14

• FIFPro World XI: Fifth Team 2014

• ESM Team of the Season: 2015–16

• UEFA La Liga Team of The Season: 2015–16, 2016–17

• Campeonato Brasileiro Série A Team of the Year: 2019

• Campeonato Carioca Team of the Year: 2020, 2021

Luis Amaranto Perea

Luis Amaranto Perea Mosquera is our next best Atletico Madrid defenders of all time. He was born on 30 January 1979 in Turbo, Colombia. He started his professional career with Independiente Medellín, and in 2003 he was moved to Argentina with

and won that year's Intercontinental Cup.

After experiencing the touch of Argentinian football, in June 2004 by a four-year deal he joined Atletico Madrid and soon proved himself as a strong central defender who could also be adapted at right back. He was gifted with incredible stamina and pace.

He spent most of his senior career with Atlético Madrid and received so many honors. On 29 September 2011, following a Europa League match against

, Perea became the foreign player with most competitive appearances for Atlético Madrid with 289, surpassing Argentine Jorge Griffa. Until the end of 2012, he played for Atletico and then by the age of 33, he left the club and continued his football for another two years with Mexico's

.

He had achieved the following victories:

Independiente Medellín

• Categoría Primera A: 2002-II

Boca Juniors

• Argentine Primera División: 2003–04

• Intercontinental Cup: 2003

Atlético Madrid

• UEFA Europa League: 2009–10, 2011–12

• UEFA Super Cup: 2010

• UEFA Intertoto Cup: 2007

• Copa del Rey runner-up: 2009–10

Cruz Azul

• Copa MX: Clausura 2013

• CONCACAF Champions League: 2013–14

Antonio Muñoz Gómez

Our next

best Atletico Madrid defenders ever

is Antonio Muñoz Gómez known as Toni. He was born on 4 February 1968 in Córdoba, Spain. He started his football in 1987 with his hometown club-Córdoba CF- and later on, in 1989 he joined Atletico Madrid and played for the reserves in his first year and soon got promoted to the main team.

He spent ten seasons with colchoneros and in 2001 officiated his retirement but worked with the club in various directorial capacities until 2006. He made 290 appearances and scored 3 goals for the club.

He had achieved the following victories:

Atlético Madrid

• La Liga: 1995–96

• Copa del Rey: 1990–91, 1991–92, 1995–96

Roberto Solozábal

The Madrid-born Solozábal footballer is the next name on our list of the 

best Atletico Madrid defenders of all time

. He was born on 15 September 1969 in Madrid, Spain. He joined Atlético Madrid's youth system and played for the first team from 1989 to 1997, his debut was on 2 September in a 3–1 away win against Valencia CF.

Solózabal formed a solid center-back partnership with another colchoneros youth graduate, Juan Manuel López, as the capital side achieved a historic double, with the former featuring in 40 league matches. After almost a decade, he left his home club and played in

for three years. He made 265 appearances and scored 3 goals.

He had achieved the following victories:

Atlético Madrid

• La Liga: 1995–96

• Copa del Rey: 1990–91, 1991–92, 1995–96

Spain U23

• Summer Olympic Games: 1992

Antonio López

The next name in the list of the greatest Atletico Madrid defenders of all time is the Atlético Madrid's youth system graduate. Antonio López Guerrero was born on 13 September 1981 in Benidorm, Spain. Being trained in Atlético Madrid's youth system, he first performed for the first team in 2000–01 whilst the Colchoneros were in the second division, and contributed with 20 matches the following season for a La Liga return, after a two-year break.

He spent twelve years of his professional career in Atletico and during all these years made 260 appearances, scored 13 goals, and had 12 assists. Below is a list of his achieved victories:

Atlético Madrid

• UEFA Europa League: 2009–10, 2011–12

• UEFA Super Cup: 2010

• UEFA Intertoto Cup: 2007

• Segunda División: 2001–02

• Copa del Rey: Runner-up 2009–10

Juan Carlos Arteche

The next best Atletico Madrid defender of all time is a Spanish footballer who played as a central defender, a player of imposing physical presence with great aerial skill. Juan Carlos Arteche Gómez was born on 11 April 1957 and passed away on 13 October 2010.

He started his sportive life by playing Basketball and tennis but then decided to join Racing de Santander- his hometown local club. After one more year with Racing, Arteche signed for Atlético Madrid and soon became one of the main key players of the team. Having spent almost a decade in Atletico, due to serious personal problems with elusive Atlético chairman Jesús Gil, he officiated his early retirement at the age of 32.

He made 257 appearances and scored 19 goals wearing the shirt of the red and white. He achieved the following victories during his professional life time:

Atlético Madrid

• Copa del Rey: 1984–85; Runner-up 1986–87

• Supercopa de España: 1985

• UEFA Cup Winners' Cup: Runner-up 1985–86

Santi Denia

The eleventh name on our list of 

all-time best Atletico Madrid defenders

, is the former Spanish footballer and current manager, Santiago Denia Sánchez, born on 9 March 1974 in Albacete, Spain.

He started his football career in

Balompié- his hometown club. He made his La Liga debut when he was 18.

After around three years, he signed with Atlético Madrid, and following his first season, the club became Copa Del Rey champion. His golden time with the red-and-white didn't last so long. Due to his aggressive behavior-receiving 17 yellow cards- he gradually lost his importance in the team's plans and by the arrival of Pablo Ibáñez in 2004, he played in no games at all during the first half of the season. Consequently, he was allowed to leave on loan in January 2005 for his first club- Albacete. He couldn't get along with his new situation and he retired after two more years, with Albacete.

From 1997 till 2004, he made 248 appearances and scored 8 goals. He had achieved the following victories:

Atlético Madrid

• La Liga: 1995–96

• Copa del Rey: 1995–96

Spain U21

• UEFA European Under-21 Championship: Runner-up 1996

Miguel Ángel Ruiz

The former player and general manager of the colchoneros, is the next

best defenders in Atletico Madrid history

. Miguel Ángel Ruiz García was born on 5 January 1955 in Toledo, Spain. He started his professional career by joining Atletico Madrid B in 1975 and after two years in 1977 got promoted to the first team and quickly became an essential defensive member for the red-and-white club and rarely missed La Liga matches. He made 213 appearances, scoring 10 goals during his time at Atletico.

After ten years with َAtletico, he moved to CD Málaga and played there for three years. Subsequently, in 1990, he joined Albacete but to everyone's surprise, just after one appearance, he officiated his retirement at the age of 38. He had achieved the following victories:

Atlético Madrid

• Copa del Rey: 1984–85

• Supercopa de España: 1985

• UEFA Cup Winners' Cup runner-up: 1985–86

Málaga

• Segunda División: 1987–88

Albacete

• Segunda División: 1990–91

José Giménez

One of the most powerfull and fast moving footballer of Uruguay national team is our next all-time best Atletico Madrid defenders. José María Giménez de Vargas was born on 20 January 1995 in Toledo, Uruguay. At the age of 12, he started his professional debut for

in the Uruguayan Primera División, and just after a year, he took his most influential step.

On 25 April 2013, it was officiated that by a €900,000 contact, Giménez joined Atletico. He made his Atletico debut- likewise La Liga debut- on 14 September, in a 4–2 win match against UD

. He is indeed one of the most loyal footballers in Atletico. since 2013 he has made 280 appearances, scored 12 goals, and had 10 assists.

He had achieved the following victories:

Atlético Madrid

• La Liga: 2013–14, 2020–21

• Supercopa de España: 2014

• UEFA Europa League: 2017–18

• UEFA Super Cup: 2018

• UEFA Champions League runner-up: 2013–14, 2015–16

Uruguay U20

• FIFA U-20 World Cup runner-up: 2013

Individual

• Copa América Team of the Tournament: 2019

Pablo Ibáñez

Our next best Atletico Madrid defenders ever, is Pablo Ibáñez Tébar- known as just Pablo. He was born on 3 August 1981 in Madrigueras, Spain. He started his football in a local club as a midfielder or occasional forward and later on as his parents had a connection with the Albacete Balompié club, he could join them when he was 14. He started his football in their youth system and soon worked his way through the senior team.

As he was playing in Albacete, his great performances attracted the attention of some famous clubs including

,

,

,

, Internazionale, reportedly willing to pay around €3 million for the player and then loan him back to Albacete for a season. But in the end, he decided to join Atletico Madrid. He signed a four-year contract with Atlético Madrid for a fee of €3.5m plus add-ons and officially became the defender of the reds-and-whites.

He spent almost six years in Atletico and during these years he had 189 appearances, scored 9 goals and had one assist. He had achieved the following victories:

Albacete

• Segunda División promotion: 2002–03

Atlético Madrid

• Copa del Rey: runner-up 2009–10

Juan Manuel López

The next footballer on our list of the best defenders in Atletico Madrid history is one of the most aggressive soccer players. Juan Manuel López Martinez was born on 3 September 1969 in Madrid, Spain. He started his football debut, in Atletico Madrid B and after four years he had promoted to the first team.

During the 1995-96 season, Lopez (often called Super Lopez) formed an unbroken center-back partnership with another Atlético graduate, Roberto Solozábal. Unfortunately, this prolific defender who was prone to suspensions (due to being over-aggressive) faced consistent injuries which limited his chances to be a part of team arrangement. Consequently, he retired on account of an anterior cruciate ligament sickness from which he never fully healed. From 1991 till 2001, he had 187 appearances, scored 3 goals and had 2 assists.

He had achieved the following victories:

Atletico Madrid

• La Liga: 1995–96

• Copa del Rey: 1990–91, 1991–92, 1995–96

Spain U23

• Summer Olympic Games: 1992

That's all on our article of the all-time best defenders at Atletico Madrid. As you have probably noticed, the order in which these players are included in the list is simply the number of their presence as one of the Atletico players. All these soccer players fought until the last moment for the success of their team. They tried hard to keep their flag flying and they defended their team's goals as strong as possible. Who else do you think should be on the list above? Share your opinion with us.

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