Conceding a last-gasp goal on Football Manager is one of the most harrowing gaming experiences you'll ever have to endure. It doesn't matter whether the strike sees the Champions League trophy slip through your fingers, or means your Braintree outfit loses a couple of points to Guiseley in the race for 12th in the Vanarama National League; the pain remains the same. Sometimes there's absolutely nothing you can do about it. You just have to suck it up and get on with rebuilding the pieces of your broken team, but the most obvious measure you can take to prevent as many horrifying moments as possible is to snap up a pair of unbreakable centre backs. There are countless solid defenders out there to patch up your lower league teams, but there's also a certain handful of players who will either slot straight into top level teams, or grow into one within a few seasons. You already know Gerard Pique, Thiago Silva and Giorgio Chiellini will bolster your defence, and you know they'll cost the Earth to sign. Forget them. Here's a selection of astounding centre backs who could transform your team for years to come without having to sell your soul to afford them.
What Culture contributor. NCTJ accredited Sports Journalist. Regret-filled Sunderland AFC season ticket holder. Optimism-filled NFL fan. Lover of all things Game Of Thrones, Breaking Bad, Walking Dead & more.
