Defenders usually are not often prolific scorers. Their principal job, in spite of everything, is self-explanatory: to defend their objective.
However through the years, there have been quite a lot of defenders recognized for chipping in with their justifiable share of targets on the different finish of the pitch.
A few of these are set-piece specialists; others a menace within the air at free-kicks and corners. However just a few simply had a knack of being in the correct place on the proper time.
Right here, a have a look at a number of the defenders from the lads’s recreation who scored hat-tricks throughout their careers…
16. Yassine Meriah
Yassine Meriah scored a hat-trick for Espérance de Tunis towards US Tataouine in June 2023, with all three targets coming from the penalty spot.
A Greek Cup winner at Olympiacos and Saudi Professional League champion with Al Ain, Meriah was named within the Group of the Match on the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations after his spectacular performances for Tunisia.
15. Musaed Neda
Musaed Neda gained over 100 caps for Kuwait and the defender was a prolific scorer throughout his profession.
Neda scored a hat-trick for Qadsia SC in a 3-0 win over Kuwait SC in Could 2004 within the Kuwaiti Premier League and added one other in a 3-1 victory towards Umm Salal within the 2005 Gulf Membership Champions Cup.
14. Ionuț Larie
Romanian defender Ionuț Larie began his profession at Farul Constanța and returned to his first membership in 2021.
The previous Steaua Bucharest defender scored a hat-trick for Farul in a 4-1 win over FC Voluntari in Romania’s high flight in 2023, changing three penalties.
13. Ronald Araújo
Earlier than shifting to Barcelona in 2018, Uruguayan centre-back Ronald Araújo performed for Rentistas and Boston River in his homeland.
Throughout his time at Rentistas, the Uruguay defender scored a hat-trick in a 3-2 win over Villa Española within the nation’s second tier in June 2017.
12. Réver
A centre-back who may additionally play as a defensive midfielder, Réver had two lengthy spells at Atlético Mineiro and in addition gained a handful of caps for Brazil.
In March 2013, he scored an ideal hat-trick for Atlético towards América MG within the Campeonato Mineiro.
11. Naldo
A Brazilian worldwide defender who spent 14 seasons within the Bundesliga with Werder Bremen, Wolfsburg and Schalke, Naldo was additionally a prolific scorer.
The centre-back scored over 70 profession targets and three of these got here in a 6-2 win for Werder Bremen towards Eintracht Frankfurt in December 2006.
10. Daley Blind
Ajax thrashed De Graafschap 8-0 within the Eredivisie in December 2018 and two gamers scored hat-tricks for the Amsterdam membership.
Winger Hakim Ziyech was one, finishing his treble halfway by way of the second half. The opposite was defender Daley Blind, who scored within the sixty fifth, 74th and ninetieth minutes to spherical off an enormous win on the Johan Cruyff Area.
9. Alvin Martin
Alvin Martin made near 600 first-team appearances in a 19-year profession at West Ham and gained 17 caps for England.
The defender additionally achieved the weird feat of scoring a hat-trick previous three totally different goalkeepers, beating Martin Thomas (who was then injured) after which outfield gamers Chris Hedworth and Peter Beardsley in an 8-1 win over Newcastle in April 1986.
8. Gary Gillespie
Gary Gillespie spent eight years at Liverpool between 1983 and 1991 and the previous Scotland defender helped the Reds to 3 First Division titles in that point.
Within the first of these title wins, Gillespie scored a hat-trick in a 5-0 win over Birmingham Metropolis at Anfield in April 1986, netting twice from open play after which with a penalty.
7. Layvin Kurzawa
Layvin Kurzawa turned the primary defender to attain a hat-trick within the Champions League when he netted thrice for Paris Saint-Germain towards Anderlecht in October 2017.
The left-back scored PSG’s third, fourth and fifth targets towards the Belgian facet on the Parc des Princes after first-half efforts from Marco Verratti and Neymar within the group-stage conflict in Paris.
6. Alpay Özalan
One of the-capped gamers in Turkey’s historical past, Alpay Özalan performed 90 video games for his nationwide facet between 1995 and 2005.
The defender scored three of his 4 worldwide targets in a 3-3 draw towards Macedonia in a World Cup qualifier in June 2001.
5. Bernard Dietz
A left-back or sweeper who captained West Germany and gained the European Championship in 1980, Bernard Dietz was additionally a prolific scorer.
Dietz hit 4 targets for MSV Duisburg towards Bayern Munich in a formidable 6-3 win for the Zebras in a Bundesliga conflict in November 1977.
4. Siniša Mihajlović
The most effective free-kick takers of all time, Siniša Mihajlović carved out a profitable profession in Serie A after successful the European Cup with Crimson Star Belgrade within the early Nineteen Nineties.
Mihajlović had lengthy spells at each Sampdoria and Lazio and the previous Serbia and Montenegro defender hit a hat-trick of free-kicks for the Rome-based facet in a 5-2 win over his ex-club in 1998.
3. Aad Mansveld
Aad Mansveld spent 13 years at ADO Den Haag and the previous Dutch worldwide later returned to the Storks for 2 extra spells.
The proficient libero scored two hat-tricks for the membership: the primary in a 4-3 victory towards West Ham United within the European Cup Winners’ Cup quarter-finals in March 1976; and one other in an 8-2 win over Go Forward Eagles within the Eredivisie in October that 12 months.
2. Ronald Koeman
Ronald Koeman scored the successful objective for Barcelona towards Sampdoria within the 1992 European Cup last because the Blaugrana claimed the trophy for the primary time.
The Dutch defender was a set-piece specialist and scored three profession hat-tricks at three totally different golf equipment: one for Ajax in a 14-0 win over Crimson Boys Differdange in 1984; one other for PSV in a 6-1 victory versus RKC Waalwijk in 1986; and a 3rd as Barcelona thrashed Trabzonspor 7-2 in 1990.
1. Fernando Hierro
Fernando Hierro was a central defender who may additionally play in midfield and the previous Actual Madrid captain scored 29 targets for Spain.
Hierro hit 4 hat-tricks throughout his time at Actual Madrid: the primary in a 5-1 win at Espanyol in 1991; 4 in a 7-0 victory over the Catalan membership in 1992; three in a 5-2 beating of Torpedo Moscow within the UEFA Cup later within the 12 months; and one other treble in a 3-1 success towards Actual Zaragoza in La Liga in 2002.
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