MLS: Top 5 centre-backs in the league right now

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SEATTLE, WA – OCTOBER 06: Minnesota United defender Ike Opara (3) in action during an MLS match between the Seattle Sounders and Minnesota United on October 06, 2019, at Century Link Field in Seattle, WA (Photo by Jeff Halstead/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

1. Ike Opara

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the man who takes the top spot on our list of the best current centre-backs in Major League Soccer is the only current defender to have been named MLS Defender of the Year on multiple occasions, Minnesota United’s Ike Opara.

From 2007-2009, the centre-back played for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons whilst at university there, featuring 65 times for the team, scoring nine goals. He also featured for the Cary Clarets in the USL Premier Development League at the same time.

MLS Career & Honours:

San Jose Earthquakes (2010-2012)
Sporting Kansas City (2013-2018)
Minnesota United (2019-)

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MLS Defender of the Year – 2017, 2019
MLS Best XI – 2017, 2019

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MLS Cup – 2013
U.S. Open Cup – 2015, 2017

Opara was taken with the 3rd overall selection in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft, with San Jose Earthquakes the team to select the defender. He made his debut in their opening game of the season and has since gone on to play in 180 regular-season matches across ten years.

He was unfortunately plagued with injuries through the first few years of his career, playing just 35 times for the Californian side before signing for Sporting Kansas City before the 2013 term. However, once more, injuries kept creeping in. SKC won the MLS Cup during his first season with the franchise, but he was on the bench for the final and he managed just single-figure appearances in both 2014 and 2015.

He returned with a vengeance and has gone on to become the best central defender in the league today, playing in at least 25 regular-season matches in each of the last four campaigns. Opara started all 30 regular-season matches he played in during the 2017 term and was named MLS Defender of the Year, as Sporting also won the U.S. Open Cup for the second time in three years.

dark. Next. MLS: Top 5 full-backs in the league right now

The 2018 term saw the defender make his international debut for the United States, along with setting a career-high for appearances and starts, with 31 in both categories during the regular season. He then moved to Minnesota United for the 2019 term and his impact was instant, as he helped lead the defence, with the Loons qualifying for the post-season for the first time in their short history. For his performances, Opara was named MLS Defender of the Year for a second time. When MLS gets back underway, the American will be looking to continue his great form and helped Minnesota continue their great start to the 2020 campaign.

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