Greatest Premier League Players Ever – Top 25 Legends
5. Steven Gerrard
Gerrard spent 17 seasons at Anfield, making his Liverpool debut in 1998, cementing his place in the first team in 2000, and succeeding Sami Hyypiä as team captain in 2003.
His honours include two FA Cups, three League Cups, one UEFA Champions League, one UEFA Cup, and two UEFA Super Cups. Gerrard scored Liverpool’s first goal and won the penalty kick for the third as Liverpool came from 3–0 down to defeat Milan in the 2005 Champions League Final.
Regarded to be one of the greatest midfielders of his generation, Gerrard came second to Kenny Dalglish in the “100 Players Who Shook The Kop”, a 2008 Liverpool fan poll, and first in 2013.
4. Paul Scholes
While he stood opposed to the glitz and glamour that surrounded the Premier League as it exploded in popularity, Scholes’ ability still shone through. A diminutive support striker when he came broke through into the Manchester United first team as part of a remarkable generation of talent, including David Beckham, Nicky Butt and Gary and Phil Neville.
Scholes blossomed into the one of the greatest central midfielders of his generation. Perhaps appreciated more by his peers than the casual fan, Scholes could deliver both raking passes and blistering shots with pinpoint accuracy. In total the England international would win 11 Premier League titles.
3. Alan Shearer
Alan Shearer was widely regarded as one of the world’s best strikers, being both Newcastle’s and the Premier League’s record goalscorer. Shearer scored 283 league goals in his career, including a record 260 in the Premier League.
A world record £15 million transfer to his boyhood heroes, Newcastle United , Shearer helped Newcastle United to finish runners-up in the Premier League and FA Cup with Newcastle, and won a second PFA Player of the Year award. His incredible Premier League goal record may never be beaten. The archetypal English striker, Shearer will always be remembered for banging the goals in from all angles.
2. Frank Lampard
The son of a West Ham legend, Lampard had to repeatedly conquer doubts about his own footballing merits through his early career at Upton Park.
It is amazing to think that Frank Lampard ever had doubters, but there were more than a few around when Chelsea forked out £11m for his services way back in 2001. We’ve no idea what those doubters are doing now.
A midfielder with an eye for goal on a par with none other in the Premier League era, Lampard got into double figures in goals for 10 consecutive Premier League seasons. His remarkable ability to arrive onto the ball around the edge of the box at the perfect time was crucial in Chelsea winning three Premier League titles.
1. Theirry Henry
Eight years at Arsenal where he is the club’s all-time record goalscorer. Under long-time mentor and coach Arsène Wenger, Henry became a prolific striker and Arsenal’s all-time leading scorer with 228 goals in all competitions. He won two league titles and three FA Cups with the Gunners. The Frenchman was at his best when Arsenal themselves were seemingly invincible.
In 2003 and 2004 Henry was runner-up for the FIFA World Player of the Year. He was also named the PFA Players’ Player of the Year twice, and the FWA Footballer of the Year three times. Henry spent his final two seasons with Arsenal as club captain, leading them to the 2006 UEFA Champions League Final.