Giorgio Chiellini’s season was rocked before it even began with the shock sale of long-time Juventus teammate Leonardo Bonucci to AC Milan. The duo had been the standout performers in what was arguably Europe’s best defence last season, and nobody would have predicted this premature end.

It only got worse, with Italy then crashing out of the World Cup qualifiers following their playoff loss to Sweden, robbing Chiellini of the chance to make amends for the Azzurri’s group stage exit in 2014.

Six months later, and the 33-year-old is again the star defender in a Juventus side that has won a seventh straight league title, standing tallest among his colleagues at the back yet again.

Here we look at the rest of our top ten centre-backs across Europe’s top five leagues.

1. Giorgio Chiellini, Juventus

There might be defenders who have had better individual seasons than the Juventus man. But that he could produce at this level at 33, having lost veteran partner Bonucci to Milan, is incredible.

Chiellini has led the Juve defence with his typical blend of fire and composure.

2. Diego Godín, Atlético Madrid

Another defender who is keeping age at bay. Fiery as ever, and in supreme command of a miserly Atlético back line – there’s a reason he’s one of Diego Simeone’s favourite players.

Godin remains as uncompromising a defender as ever.

3. Samuel Umtiti, Barcelona

Barcelona cannot let the Frenchman go. Admittedly it seems like the contract standoff is much ado about nothing, but he’s shown this season just how good he is at his craft. That it’s feasible to rank him above defensive partner Gerard Pique says it all.

Umtiti was Barcelona’s best defender this season.

4. Kalidou Koulibaly, Napoli

Napoli’s attack garnered all the praise this season, but Koulibaly’s presence in the defence was just as vital to their ultimately doomed Serie A title charge. In a cruel twist of fate, it was his red card, a week after scoring a late winner against Juventus, that killed off Napoli’s hopes – a sad end to a great season.

Koulibaly’s goal against Juventus nearly proved decisive in the title race.

5. Gerard Pique, Barcelona

Pique had extra motivation this season. Between saying he felt inferior to Real Madrid for the first time, to the Catalan independence referendum, events unfolded to rekindle a fire in the Barcelona defender – and he responded with aplomb.

6. Milan Škriniar, Inter Milan

The young Slovak has been one of the standout players in the Serie A this season, if not in all of Europe. At just 23, he emerged as a vital cog in Inter’s miserly defence.

Skriniar has been one of the finds of the season.

7. Federico Fazio, Roma

Fazio has put his Tottenham debacle behind him, earning a status as one of the top defenders in Serie A. The Argentine was a big part of Roma’s top-four push, and he’ll be crucial to Argentina’s hopes at the World Cup.

Fazio looks a completely different player to the one who flopped at Tottenham.

8. Stefan de Vrij, Lazio

If Inter do get De Vrij on a free transfer as expected, it will go down as one of the biggest swindles in Serie A history. The Dutchman, whose Lazio contract runs out at the end of the season, has been in superlative form.

De Vrij’s form caught the eye of suitors around Europe.

9. Naldo, Schalke

No one thought Schalke would be the team closest to this season, after they just about avoided relegation last season. Naldo’s form has been one of the biggest reasons for the improvement.

Naldo has epitomised Schalke’s rise from relegation battlers to second place.

10. Nicolas Otamendi, Manchester City

Otamendi is still prone to errors in defence, but playing in a Pep Guardiola side has hidden those weaknesses. His distribution and goal threat – not to mention, his fitness, as other City centre-backs kept getting injured -were key to his side’s title success.

Otamendi’s winner against Manchester United ended the title race in December.