7 Best Canadian Soccer Defenders Of All-time

Canadian soccer has been responsible for the development of some fine defensive players over the years with a number making their mark in well-known leagues and proudly representing their country at high-profile competitions.

So who are the best Canadian Soccer defenders of all-time?

7. Alistair Johnston

One of the best Canadian Soccer defenders of all-time is right back Alistair Johnston, who has won 45 caps for his country and scored a single goal in 2021, versus the Cayman Islands during a 6-0 win in 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification.  

Johnston has played most notably for Canadian side Vaughan Azzurri, MLS teams Nashville SC and CF Montréal along with Celtic. He has made 166 domestic appearances so far and scored eight goals. Johnston has won the Scottish Premiership twice, a pair of Scottish Cups and a Scottish League Cup. With Canada currently competing in the 2024 COPA tournament be sure to place your bets on Canada and any of your favorite teams at Novibet sportsbook.

6. Colin Miller

Scottish born defender Colin Miller played nearly 400 times for the likes of Doncaster Rovers, Hamilton Academical and Dunfermline, finding the net a total of 12 times throughout his club career.

As one of the best Canadian Soccer defenders of all-time, Miller won 61 caps for his country and scored five goals including two during 1994 World Cup qualifying. The left back and former captain also took on the role of Canada’s interim coach back in 2013.

5. Derek Cornelius

Amongst the best Canadian Soccer defenders of all-time, centre-back Derek Cornelius made his international debut in 2018 and has played 23 times for Canada to date. He has previously been named in CONCACAF Men’s Olympic Qualifying Best XI and as Canadian Men’s Youth International Player of the Year for 2018.

Cornelius has already appeared over 180 times for his clubs, most notably for Serbian side Javor Ivanjica, MLS’ Vancouver Whitecaps and Malmo FF with a total of 11 goals to date. So far he has won the Swedish Allsvenskan League and Svenska Cupen whilst at Malmo.

4. Mark Watson

Mark Watson is one of the best Canadian Soccer defenders of all-time. He played 322 times for teams such as Hamilton Steelers, Oxford United and Charleston Battery, finding the net seven times throughout his club career. He also won the USL A-League with Charleston Battery in 2003. 

Watson went on to claim 78 caps for his country and scored three goals including two during both 1994 and 1998 World Cup qualification. He won the 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup, named Canadian Player of the Year for 1997 and was inducted into the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame in 2008.

3. Kevin McKenna

Centre back Kevin McKenna has played for a number of clubs such as Heart of Midlothian, German team Energie Cottbus and FC Koln, appearing 331 times in total and scoring a respectable 42 goals!

Amongst the best Canadian Soccer defenders of all-time, McKenna has made 63 international appearances and scored eleven times including three strikes in the CONCACAF Gold Cup. He was named in the CONCACAF Gold Cup Best XI of 2002 and became a member of the Canada Soccer Hall of Fame in 2019.

2. Richard Hastings

Richard Hastings is one of the best Canadian Soccer defenders of all-time. The left-back played nearly 400 times for the likes of Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Ross County having scored four goals in total.

He won 59 caps for his country and scored a single goal against Mexico at the 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup. He helped Canada secure the CONCACAF U-20 Championship in 1996, senior CONCACAF Gold Cup four years later and was named in the CONCACAF Gold Cup All-Tournament team for 2007.

1. Alphonso Davies

Alphonso Davies has made nearly 300 appearances for Bayern Munich so far and found the net 25 times. Whilst at the German club he has already won five Bundesliga titles, two DFB-Pokal trophies, the FIFA Club World Cup and the 2020 Champions League.

Davies is perhaps the best Canadian Soccer defender of all-time. He has won 45 caps so far with the dynamic left-back scoring 15 goals to dat. He was crowned CONCACAF Men’s Player of the Year twice, named Canadian Men’s Player of the Year four times and even included in UEFA’s Team of the Year for 2020.