Virgil van Dijk debate reignited as John Terry and Rio Ferdinand 'better'

Former Chelsea midfielder Jody Morris has snubbed Virgil van Dijk when naming John Terry and Rio Ferdinand as the Premier League's two greatest-ever center-backs

Virgil van Dijk is one of the greatest Premier League players of all time(Image: Getty Images)

Jody Morris overlooked Virgil van Dijk when selecting former teammates John Terry and Rio Ferdinand as the Premier League's two finest-ever center-backs.

The former Chelsea midfielder spent seven years at Stamford Bridge from 1996 to 2003 and represented England's youth teams. Throughout his spell in west London, he featured alongside an emerging Terry in the early 2000s.

In his younger days, Morris also moved in the same grassroots football circles as Ferdinand and turned out for the Three Lions' U21s alongside him. Morris, who later became a first-team coach at Chelsea under Frank Lampard, was questioned about his all-time greatest Premier League central defenders - a debate that's been doing the rounds recently.

The 47-year-old couldn't separate his contemporaries Ferdinand and Terry, but did highlight one element that, in his view, distinguishes the duo from Reds legend Van Dijk.

"If you're picking a Premier League best XI, if anyone picks another center-half over JT and Rio, then they're not taking it seriously," Morris told In The Mixer, brought to you by Sky Bet.

"On Van Dijk, it is [a recency bias]. Van Dijk is an unbelievable player.

Jody Morris has offered his opinion(Image: Getty Images)

"But if you want to go to the Premier League's best, JT and Rio have to be your two center-backs. They just have to. It's longevity. I'm not playing down Virgil van Dijk as a player here.

"But you go, he was at Groningen, then Celtic, then Southampton. If you think about those first little six or seven years, JT and Rio are playing in the Premier League. One has won the league five times as captain, the most ever.

"Rio won the league six times and played for the biggest club in the world, or one of the biggest clubs in the world.

"That's the only thing. You can't pick [Van Dijk]. I actually think there are other center-halves that come after them that are still getting in over Virgil. I think you still would have to pick people like Sol Campbell and Tony Adams."

Morris reflected upon his time alongside Terry, remarking: "JT's underrated as a footballer as well. Like people always think, JT was like, put his body on the line, winner. He was a footballer. He had both feet.

"He could play center-midfield if he wanted to, same as Rio. JT had both feet, long-distance, short passing. You only realize how good he is if you're in and around it.

"Like you'd be in the England squad and you'd think he was a much better footballer than people give him credit for.

"When everyone always speaks about Rio, they go, 'Ah, ball-playing center-half.' And you go, 'By the way, JT was the exact same.'"