Former Tottenham Hotspur star Ledley King labels Eric Dier as England’s best centre-back in the last year
Ledley King thinks Tottenham Hotspur star Eric Dier has been England’s centre-back in the last 12 months ahead of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
The former Sporting CP midfielder is now a senior figure at N17 having joined the club in 2014. Since then, he has found himself playing as a centre-back in the past couple of seasons, with King playing a part in it.
The 41-year-old is currently a club ambassador after having spent his entire career with the Lilywhites. In July 2020, Jose Mourinho oversaw the appointment of King as an assistant coach at the club – a position he has since vacated.
Speaking in an interview with Standard Sport, King said:
“As an English centre-back, he has already been around it and for me, he has virtually been the best English centre-back over the last 12 months, so I am delighted he got recalled in the England squad.”
After a long layoff from the Three Lions set-up, Dier was named in Gareth Southgate’s squad for his team’s two UEFA Nations League group stage games in September. Dier played the full 90 minutes against Italy and Germany.
King also noted the leadership quality that the 28-year-old star possesses. He added:
“What goes unnoticed with Eric is his leadership qualities. He is the vocal person at the back. Even when he was new in the position he was which says a lot.”
Dier has been an important part of Spurs’ impressive start to the season. He has made himself a real leader at the back and commands the backline with distinction.
Southgate can perhaps see that quality and we cannot rule out our very own defender being a regular for England in Qatar. Harry Kane, the national team’s captain, is virtually guaranteed to make that plane in November.
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He would hope Dier is on it as well. The two have barely put a foot wrong this season and if Southgate bases his team selection on club form, Dier has a very strong case for selection.
