Thierry Henry believes that only one Premier League defender was capable of cleanly dispossessing him without committing a foul.
Widely considered one of the greatest forwards in Premier League history, Henry netted 175 goals during his remarkable tenure at Arsenal. Throughout his career, he faced off against elite defenders like Manchester United’s Rio Ferdinand and Chelsea’s John Terry.
However, when asked to name the only defender who could stop him fairly, Henry chose not to mention either Ferdinand or Terry. Instead, he singled out Tottenham Hotspur legend Ledley King, praising his ability to defend skillfully and without fouling.
In a 2006 interview, Henry said: “I don’t like defenders who pull shirts. The only defender here who doesn’t do that and can still take the ball off my feet easily is Ledley King. He’s the only one who doesn’t grab at players—he just wins the ball without you even realizing it. To me, that’s a great defender. He plays without making contact, yet still comes away with the ball.”
Although injuries, particularly chronic knee issues, limited King’s career, his talent made a lasting impact on opponents and teammates alike. Former Spurs striker Dimitar Berbatov echoed Henry’s sentiments, putting King on par with Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidić. Berbatov said, “He was incredibly smart, always reading the game and intercepting passes because he knew exactly where the striker would be.”
King made 323 appearances for Spurs and earned 21 caps for England before retiring in 2012 due to persistent knee problems.