A decade on he won the Premier League with Chelsea, playing an instrumental role as Diego Costa's provider. One of the best full-backs ever to grace the Premier League. Holds the record for most Premier League Player of the Month awards, as well the best strike-rate (0.70 goals per game) in the tournament’s history. LO. A natural and formidable leader who helped to redefine what we expect from his position, while dragging United’s defence up to a new level of excellence. A case can be made that the Dutchman was equal to any goalkeeper in the league's history.
SL. A mercurial talent who never truly settled in the league due to injuries, but for a short spell was arguably the best on display.
Uniquely, he captained a title-winning team across three different decades, during which time he won four top-flight division titles, three FA Cups, two Football League Cups, a UEFA Cup Winners' Cup and two FA Community Shields. A first-team regular from 1997 until he retired, in 2013. A bargain at £4.5m. A three time Premier League winner who has scored 161 goals, regularly exceeding the once-fabled 20 goal a season mark. Before he was an unexpectedly high-achieving interim manager, he was one of the best strikers in the business. A threat in the opposition's penalty area and with the positional nous at the back due to his versatility to play inside at centre-back. Took a little while to hit the ground running at Anfield, but his contribution to Liverpool’s famous 2013/14 campaign will live long in the memory.
Formed a formidable partnership with Frank Leboeuf and captained the side. The flying Dutchman could turn passive possession into danger in a flash with his exceptional control when running at speed. We all knew he was going to be special from the moment he stunned David Seaman from distance as a 16-year-old, ending Arsenal’s 30-match unbeaten run. The team competes in the Championship, the second tier of the English football league system. LB. Alex Neil … Asserted himself as one of the best defenders in the world before famously falling out with Sir Alex Ferguson and leaving for Lazio. How on earth did Okocha – Ronaldinho’s mentor at Paris Saint-Germain – ever end up at Bolton? 672 Premier League appearances. In his first season, he won the 2012/13 Premier League and finished as the league's top scorer with 26 goals, winning his second consecutive Golden Boot award. He would go on to make over 300 league appearances for the club, winning an extraordinary five titles.
LB. Capable of bamboozling the league's toughest defenders, Zola's class deserved to be surrounded with better quality. And he may be a divisive character at the Emirates. Where he to have resisted Real’s inevitable approach, there is no doubt he would top this list. Prolific for both Queens Park Rangers and Newcastle, while also becoming hugely popular at White Hart Lane. JR. "I feel I have achieved everything I set out to achieve,” the goalkeeper said upon announcing his retirement for the end of the season. SL. Often controversial but a born leader: won five Premier League titles, making close to 500 appearances. Rarely troubled by injury or suspension, Speed made 535 Premier League appearances during his career – putting him at fifth in the all-time list. There's been speculation and now it's confirmed, we're pleased and we're looking forward to it. The 14th-most successful goalscorer in the history of the Premier League. Never as big a hit on the international stage as he might’ve been but his domestic achievements more than justify his place here. MC. An extremely versatile and well-rounded player, who completely remodeled his game as he grew older.
LO. He scored 118 goals for the Reds across 216 league appearances. TK. A move to Manchester United followed, where he won five Premier League titles, eclipsed Sir Bobby Charlton to become the club’s all-time leading goalscorer, and formed one of the most fearsome strike forces ever seen alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez. Now the manager has come in, we're really looking forward to it. Still only 25, Kane is already the fifteenth highest scorer in the history of the Premier League, level with Nicolas Anelka and only one behind fellow Tottenham favourite Robbie Keane. JDM. Then, as the years ticked by and the shock of black hair grew steadily shorter, he moved into the middle, dominating matches with his composure and outstanding passing range. But Jose Mourinho nurtured him with tough love at Chelsea, where he picked up three Premier League titles. MC. Welcome to the Sheffield Wednesday Football Manager 2020 thread... Sheffield Wednesday Football Club is a professional association football club based in Sheffield, England. Not bad for a £765k signing from Stoke which also saw Steve Bould join the Gunners. Bruce, who could join the team in China before the end of the week if he can obtain a visa, will have seen his new side on TV concede three goals in the first half as Diogo Jota fired past Karl Darlow twice either side of a Morgan Gibbs-White effort, before Wolves claimed a fourth late on when Newcastle substitute Thomas Allan headed into his own goal. One of the very few England players of a generation who could claim to be the absolute best in the world in his position. JDM. LO. His effortless defensive skill was the epitomy of Arsenal's Invicibles and earned him a place in the PFA Team of the Year.
The greatest defender in Premier League history. Hughes was an all-round striker who could hold up the ball, lose his marker in the box and finish, but above all it was undying tenacity that Ferguson most valued. Chelsea’s all-time leading scorer, he hit 22 in a single season in 2009/10, netting a grand total of 147 Premier League goals. Has an argument to be the best right-back in the league's history: Tougher and stronger than most, with a tremendous appetite to attack - chipping in with 34 goals and 34 assists in his time in London.
The 2012/13 PFA Young Player of the Year, FWA Footballer of the Year and Premier League Player of the Season. The diminutive Italian sparked a period with the Blues of expansive, attractive football. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images) How much does a streaming pass cost and where can I buy one? Available for everyone, funded by readers. TK. “The former Manchester United defender, who enjoyed a glittering career as a player, has twice steered Hull [2013 and 2016] and Birmingham [2002 and 2008] to the top flight. LO. Captain of the greatest side in Premier League history.