Duncan Disorderly has placed one of our best centre backs as his most difficult/toughest defender he ever facedā¦ Dismissing the likes of Tony Adams, Sol Cambell, Ferdinand, Vidic, keown and Steve Bouldā¦ see how he describes it hereā¦
Liverpool Icon Was Fergusonās āToughest Opponentā
āThe amount of respect I had for that manā
The rough and tumble of Premier League football is always on display in the Merseyside Derby. Itās why Liverpoolās encounters with cross-city rivals Everton sit atop the list for the most red cards in top-flight derbies (23).
Ferguson first came across Sami Hyypia during his time at Newcastle and immediately learned how tough the Finnish centre-back was. He recalled a collision between the pair:
āBig Sami Hyypia at Liverpool, I always say, was my toughest opponent. He was big, good in the area, not the quickest, brave. I remember once I flattened him at Anfield.
I was playing for Newcastle, and he was probably getting the better of me, and Iām thinking, 'this big f**r, heās getting the better of meā. I came across and banged him and out he wentā¦ gone. He got stretchered off and came back on."
He added:
"The amount of respect I had for that man after he came back on the pitch, he could have just easily swallowed it and walked away.
I gave him a cheap shot, I flattened the boy because he was getting the better of me. He was carted off at Anfield and five minutes later, he was back on. I thought: āYouāre more than a good player, you are tough as wellā."
Hyypia was unbelievably consistent during his 10 years at Anfield, helping the Reds win the Champions League in the Miracle of Istanbul in 2005. He cost just Ā£2.5m, which has proven to be one of the biggest bargains in Premier League history.
The fact that he ranks higher than the previously named English defenders as Fergusonās toughest centre-back speaks volumes about his physical and mental toughness.
āI just have to go over and feel the atmosphere, be in the stadium and see them lift the trophy."
