10. He symbolised Liverpool, the club and the city. Heres how it works. These days, Ronaldo would seize the ball and stick the penalty into the net himself back then, Ruud van Nistelrooy had spot-kick duties and was denied by Jussi Jaaskelainen. Dilly ding, dilly dong: it was really on. 1 -- plus snubs, active players destined to crack the list in the future, and more -- we present our ultimate ranking. The 35-year-old has sharpened his positional sense, passing and tactical awareness to become indispensable for Manchester City. It was a measure of the uncompromising sod Fergies words. Manny Small helped to deliver Wengers first Double, and later moved to Stamford Bridge via one unhappy season at Barcelona. He was the one he was destined to be the man of that season. Slight, short, foreign: would Silva be able to cope in English football? No one else with a ton of Premier League goals for one team comes close to his ratio of 0.81 per game for Blackburn. He agreed to join Jose Mourinhos Chelsea but, over an emotionally draining sleepless night of panic attacks, realised he couldnt walk away from his boyhood club. Everyone present that afternoon knew that a star had been born. Vieira was, and continues to be, unique. Andrei liked a derby. It wasnt ridiculous at all playing with five attacking players, he insisted to FFT. Players will be listed by their 2019 team, and a lot of these could change with the merger. An inspirational ace. Liverpool, Newcastle United, Manchester United, Stoke City. He let in a poxy 15 goals in his maiden campaign at Chelsea, which set the tone for an outstanding top-flight career in which he won four titles and four Golden Gloves. He won a double in 1997/98 and the PFA Young Player of the Year award a season later, having top-scored for Arsenal with 17 goals - but discontent was never far away. From . Defences knew exactly what was coming the nightmarish, trademark chop inside but could do nothing about it. Team(s): Chicago White Sox (1990-2005), Oakland Athletics (2006, 2008), Toronto Blue Jays (2007-08) Editor's Picks. Henry picked up the ball by the centre circle, then strode beyond Didi Hamann, bamboozled Jamie Carragher, folded Liverpool inside-out and buried home in the bottom corner. Outrageous, sickening goals, eulogised Barcelona idol Xavi, who developed an obsession with Le Tissier. Lethal and incisive, Bergkamps gift to English football was his artistry. The prototype for the sweeper keeper. He read the game superbly. Those highs had all but died out long before; at one point though, there wasnt a child in Britain who didnt pretend to be Owen in the playground. He played so well in every match that his exceptional performances just became the norm.. An uncharacteristically mazy run from inside his own half preceded a cool finish against Fulham in March 2003, part of a fine hat-trick. Croatia's top scorer, Davor Suker was one of La Liga's most consecutive goal . Being the son of a legend didnt give Schmeichel much of a leg-up. On the pitch, he was a typical English defender: strong, good in the air, fearless and a great tackler. Having Ashley Cole in your team was like having two players in one on the left. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Rather than controlling, Di Canio met it on the volley with a scissor-kick that flew past Neil Sullivan. His 2002 volley at Chelsea was almost as good, though. Quiz! Criminally, the Guernsey demigod never finished above 10th in the Prem. First on our list is a more recent fan favourite, forward Curtis Glencross. We can get lost in the conversation about Vieira, Scholes and Gerrards individual brilliance, but what did they truly accomplish outside of winning silverware? Subscribe now and get every mag delivered to your door. The crowd on that side of the ground responded as if a Messiah had materialised before their eyes.. Sterling was almost a title winner at 19; key in the fearsome Liverpool frontline of 2013-14. HIGHLIGHT With Arsenal chasing down Manchester United for the 2002 title, Pires gorgeous lob over ex-Red Peter Schmeichel at Villa Park sealed all three points in style. The 2.6m arrival from Dutch outfit Willem II in 1999 was no headline-maker. Both are players who arrived from other important clubs and then stayed for a long time, even though they could have left and signed for other teams. Passionately disagree? HIGHLIGHT An 18-year-old Carra slotted into midfield on his full Liverpool debut at home to Aston Villa in January 1997 and headed the opening goal in a 3-0 victory. Warning: the following article will annoy you. HIGHLIGHT Captain for the final game of the 2001-02 season, Irwin was given the United send-off he deserved. Milner has enjoyed the career of a dozen different players. A special player taking great responsibility. 11 in 2001, where Jackson was No. Alex Hess, Marcus Alves, Alex Reid, Declan Warrington, Thore Haugstad, Michael Yokhin, Andrew Murray, Seb Stafford-Bloor, Jon Spurling last updated 9 November 2022 From Messi to Maradona, Cristiano. His England team-mates plundered more goals, yes, but remove Gerrards 32 Premier League penalties and his tally (88) drops well below Scholes 106. From No.100 to No. So let's take a look into the names left off that could grace the Top 50 PLL Players in 2021. He was the master of the feint, often beating the defender or goalkeeper an extra time before shooting. The highest ever goalscorer in Premier League history, Newcastle United and Blackburn Rovers legend Alan Shearer is considered to be the greatest English striker of all time. HIGHLIGHT Friedel bagged a 90th-minute equaliser for Blackburn against Charlton Athletic in February 2004 only for the Addicks to net an even later winner to take the spoils 3-2. HIGHLIGHT An explosive hat-trick for Coventry against Sheffield Wednesday in December 1995, coming during a purple patch where Dublin began to assert himself as one of the premier marksmen in English football. 1. If we're talking about pure impact, Eric Cantona would have this wrapped up before we started. Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest, Liverpool, Aston Villa, Leicester City, Bradford City. Allison Fisher Allison Fisher is an English-born pool player called the "Duchess of Doom" because of her destructive steady moves and no-joking playstyle. The most climatic moment of Premier League history in May 2012 is unlikely to be matched for its importance or drama. one can't help but feel like a time traveler stepping into the future, floored by a world both unrecognizable and oddly . Best for Beginners. Starting in place of the 2021 MVP once voted by his peers as the single best player in the. HIGHLIGHT A sumptuous drive in that 4-1 win against Chelsea. Make sure to let us know @FourFourTwo! Pure theatre. The Ghanaian could also read a game like few others, and was a linchpin in eight seasons at Stamford Bridge for Jose Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti. Okocha packed a vicious long shot and even a long throw, which almost definitely endeared him to Allardyce. He could fool foes using his fancy footwork, allied with seemingly elastic legs that appeared to bend during some skills. Also second in triples (295) and fourth in stolen bases (897), he's a top-10 lock. Probably the most complete full-back in football history. Duke Snider Age: 20 - 35 Although he initially struggled, Modrics mastery of the ball soon came to the fore over four brilliant seasons at White Hart Lane. Quiz! ARCHIVE Electric pace with a hunger for goals, how Fernando Torres became a Kop hero. HIGHLIGHT That brilliant brace against Arsenal in 2015, as Spurs fans returned Gooners taunts that he was one of their own. Author Tony Evans on a Scouse colossus, remembered as a hero for as long as football is played. Pires grew to love English football, shining during the Gunners greatest spell with 14 goals in three seasons running from 2002-03. His total may have been helped by longevity over innate scoring talent only six players have exceeded Heskeys 516 top-flight appearances but he earned every single strike through his tireless work ethic and selfless style. He was similarly combative: the local boys idea of injecting fun into the 1992 pre-season Makita Tournament involved hacking Roberto Mancinis riled Sampdoria team to bits, with a mischievous grin. Beckham would win three more Premier League crowns after that, before leaving for Real Madrid for 25m. Second only to Lauren Jackson among the best Australian players in WNBA history, Taylor was a draft-day steal at No. HIGHLIGHT He was a man for the biggest occasions. The Spaniard was defter than past midfield generals, his gift an ability to kill teams with devastating simplicity. For 28 years, we've witnessed incredible sights - and some of the greatest players to ever live. Death, taxes and Van Nistelrooy tap-ins. A well-respected member of the Premier League who is missed by the football community. The frontman recovered from a slow start to thrive among fierce Old Trafford competition. Quiz! MLL All-Time 20. It would prove to be Zolas final act in blue. In fact, he more than exceeded them. De Bruynes highlight reel of assists deserve an adult rating, but his inch-perfect pass to tee up Leroy Sane in a 7-2 thumping of Stoke in October 2017 was next level. As Edgar Davids found out, he was also hard as nails. Can you name every Club World Cup finalist ever? Queens Park Rangers, Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United, Leicester City, Bolton Wanderers. Great hair, too. He replaced Ruud van Nistelrooy as a superior all-round striker to help United continue their dominance in the face of new Premier League forces. Mane has evolved from a talented, but erratic winger at Southampton into a world-class forward at Anfield, turning raw talent into consistent numbers. No one has terrorised defenders with such a combination of bewitching grace and phenomenal power. Coles lesser-heralded chip against Everton that Boxing Day was ace. We asked former teammate Michael Ballack to tell us the importance of the man that Chelsea fans unfurled the Captain, Leader, Legend in honour of. HIGHLIGHT United went unbeaten for the last 20 games of their Treble season. West Ham United, Manchester United, Manchester City. Manchester United were labouring against Bolton in their league season opener, leading 1-0 after an hour, when Ronaldo replaced Nicky Butt. HIGHLIGHT Being crowned Uniteds Player of the Year in 2013, as the Red Devils won a final Premier League title under Fergie. HIGHLIGHT Going unbeaten in 2003/04 was a team effort, but two goals to win the first North London derby at the Emirates Stadium in December 2006 were all Gilbertos. Four minutes and 33 seconds was all it took for Liverpool to go 3-0 up against Arsenal in August 1994 thanks to Fowlers record-breaking Premier League treble, which stood for more than two decades. On a field of athletes, Berba invariably looked the artist: operating in his world, at his speed, a man apart from everyone else. The fireworks, while brief, were also quite brilliant. Somehow, Seaman made his 1.3m British record move (for a goalkeeper) from QPR to Arsenal in 1990 look like a steal. His star may have diminished with each return, but the schemers twinkle-toed displays at the tip of Bryan Robsons midfield in his first spell secure his standing as one of British footballs most-loved imports. Shearer retired with 283 league goals and one celebration. Fabio Carvalho at Liverpool: What went wrong and what does his future look like? Two cruciate ligament injuries forced him to evolve from an eager channel-runner who liked playing alongside a targetman, to the physical focal point who, aided by Sir Bobby Robsons advice, remained potent. First, a bullet derby header swung the 2011/12 title race to City. Newcastle followed, before a free transfer to Manchester United all but killed his Liverpool legacy. It also proved the last league treble against the Merseysiders for a decade, until Ollie Watkins shock glut for Aston Villa in October 2020. He is Leicesters best-ever player. 'ACCESS ALL AREAS' pass to exclusive interviews with the biggest and best names in the game. A high school player on budget should consider the Nike Vapor 2.0 (unstrung $69.99) or the ECD Rebel Offense plus CF5 Shaft (complete stick strung $149.99). Manchester United, Aston Villa, Manchester City. Ultimately, the Belgians record 113 goals in 252 appearances stands up for itself. That's a combinationof their ability, status and the moments they gave us over the years. HIGHLIGHT Five straight clean sheets near the end of 2015/16, when everybody began to believe in the impossible. Henry had immense power but made football look weightless. 20-16 15-11 10-6 5-1 5. HIGHLIGHT A goal and two assists in a 2019 5-2 derby thrashing of Everton set a new Red record of 32 top-tier league games unbeaten but nothing beats his ludicrous Saints treble against Aston Villa in May 2015: struck in just two minutes and 56 seconds. 5. The 2023 edition, which starts July 20 in Australia and New Zealand, will be no different. More than anyone else, he made Bolton fashionable with a dazzling array of flicks and tricks, rabonas and stepovers. FOOTBALL MANAGER 10 of the game's greatest cult heroes. Carvalho was horrible to play against, Bobby Zamora told FFT in 2020. HIGHLIGHT Four assists to different players plus a goal against Blackburn in October 2009. These players are treated like strikers now. HIGHLIGHT Cole bested Cristiano Ronaldo in a draw against Manchester United in 2006. Then he helped the Foxes maintain their top-flight status before the natural conclusion of, er, winning the bloody thing. Predictably, Cole hit 93 more league strikes for the Red Devils, bagging five titles over seven full campaigns. The brilliant Italian scored more than one fantastic volley in his #BPL careerhttps://t.co/rgL9pxGq1YJuly 9, 2015. Country: Sweden. He couldnt believe the physicality. Pubs, fish and chips and British Bulldog injuries: Nigel Winterburn on being part of Wimbledons Crazy Gang. HIGHLIGHT That final game at The Dell, Southamptons home for 103 years. The 30 Best NBA Players of All Time, Ranked By Adam Caparell, Zion Olojede, Angel Diaz, Zach Frydenlund Jun 17, 2022 Image via Complex Original The toughest debates may not be the obvious ones.. When Liverpool went toe-to-toe with Manchester United for the 2008-09 title, they did it with their greatest midfield of the Premier League era. After a wobbly start, De Gea grew into a world-class stopper who bailed an ailing Red Devils side out for years, and was their player of the season in four of the five campaigns from 2013/14. Only seven men have scored more Premier League goals than Defoe, who struck 162 times for five teams. To be honest, I cant think of a particular match where John stood out for Chelsea but thats just because he was such a consistent performer. In fact, Phillips outscored anyone in Europe in his first top-flight season, as the Black Cats finished seventh. Do you agree with our list? Just Done It. He had only equalled Cliff Bastins 60-year record, so netted two more before full-time to make sure. Future historians may struggle to summarise Lukakus career. HIGHLIGHT As Arsenal gunned towards the finish line in 1998, Petits terrific goal decided a tight April encounter against Derby which set up their imminent trophy lift at Highbury. Alan Shearers record haul of 260 is a lofty, but certainly not insurmountable target. FourFourTwo Legends of the Premier League - celebrating the top 100 players and iconic names of the Premier League, Liverpool, Blackburn Rovers, Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur. And an FA fine. Arsenal trailed 2-1 to the Reds at half-time, their Invincibles status in jeopardy, but Henry seemed to slow down time by the touchline after the break; jogging, his right leg hovering like a magicians handkerchief over a dove, before passing to Ljungberg who looped Pires in to level proceedings. He has no weakness, opined Sami Hyypia, who knows a thing or two on the subject. That Rooney became the Premier Leagues second-top goalscorer with 208 strikes is notable. When Rafael Benitez managed to convince La Ligas hottest prospect to swap sunny Spain for the watercolour sprawl of English football, pressure for a speedy start was on but the Spaniard was quick to deliver. HIGHLIGHT Pick from the solo run and missile to defeat West Ham and help keep Bolton up in 2003 or the dance with Big Sam when survival was secured. A fine leader, communicator and goalkeeper. Tim Howard and Brad Friedel both rank No. Glovemen in England have long had a reputation for being fiery or eccentric. HIGHLIGHT The FA Cup goal against Barnsley is Ginolas piece-de-resistance - but the Frenchman scored another cracker as Manchester United were thrashed 5-0 on their St James Park return. Yet, as Kenny Dalglish his manager at both Blackburn and Newcastle informed Shearer inelegantly last year, It didnt matter who you played for, you always battered them in.. 20-16. On August 16, 2003, a pair of substitutes made their debuts for Manchester United. Alex Ferguson was aggrieved when Ginola scooped the PFA Player of the Year award ahead of any of his players heroes, but the Frenchman was tremendous that season. Sunderland, Southampton, Aston Villa, Birmingham City, Crystal Palace, As a youngster with Southampton, Phillips would clean Alan Shearers boots. Poor management cost the Reds that title, not the stumble. He was strong, quick and had a remarkable passing range. He is the only Englishman to win the European Golden Shoe. HIGHLIGHT With Carvalho in tow, Chelsea conceded just 15 goals as they sealed their maiden Premier League triumph in 2004/05. How was it created? HIGHLIGHT Breaking Ruud van Nistelrooys record by netting in 11 consecutive Premier League games en route to 2015-16 title glory. After almost three decades of thrills and spills, FourFourTwo ranks the ultimate icons who defined a generation. Yet the centre-back soon transformed Gerard Houlliers Merseysiders into a different beast; from leaking 49 goals in 1998/99, the Reds conceded only 30 in two of the next three league campaigns. Van Persie vexed the Gunners by swapping north London for Manchester after eight years and 132 goals at Arsenal but, desperate to bag a Premier League medal after a sensational 30-goal season in 2011/12, he was proved right. Batty went on to establish a steely midfield partnership at Blackburn with Tim Sherwood as they finished second in 1993/94, but then suffered a broken foot which ruled him out for the majority of their golden campaign a year later. By the time Ronaldo left the field at the final whistle, the Old Trafford faithful were chanting his name. HIGHLIGHT His perfect volley from a raking Wayne Rooney pass part of a title-sealing hat-trick against Aston Villa in April 2013. The American stopper holds the record for the most consecutive Premier League appearances. It didnt matter: Ronaldo soon grabbed hold of possession again and whipped in a cross that eventually led to Ryan Giggs making it 2-0 from close range. I remember the first time I ever saw him, recalled Alex Ferguson of Giggs in his 2013 autobiography. HIGHLIGHT His September 2010 hat-trick for United against Liverpool featured a fine overhead kick. Dubbed God by the Kop for his supreme natural finishing, Fowlers later spells with Leeds, Manchester City and Blackburn were blighted by injury. The midfielder refused his winners medal, having only featured five times. And they're revealed The Athletic's. Updated 12/27/2022 To be eligible, position players needed 1,500 plate appearances and starting pitchers had to have started a minimum of 75 games for the franchise. The only answer is Scholes and I havent even mentioned his trophies. Fabregas trained with the Invincibles at 15 and grew to become a new revolutions poster boy, persuading Arsene Wenger to bend his philosophy. At his best, there are few you would rather watch. Newcastle followed before a triumphant return to Leeds but Batty wasnt like other players. That may be a stretch, but there was little doubting the schemers talents or the ease with which he could destroy defences single-handedly. Again and again. Manchester United were successful under Alex Ferguson with a group of English players, and when I was at Bayern Munich there were several influential German guys at the club. The incident may haunt him, but it shouldnt: that failure in 2014 was one of tactics rather than individual errors. Instead, he became a cult hero at Everton before shorter stints at Manchester City and Southampton. Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access, Enjoy your first month for just 1 / $1 / 1, *Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription. Vardy is now chomping into the Premier Leagues top 20 scorers of all time, having not played a game in it until the age of 27. HIGHLIGHT Netting twice from inside his own half. Now, we made our own All-Pro team for the Championship Series, but just because we didn't get a vote this time doesn't mean we don't want to talk about it. Aston Villa, Manchester United, Blackburn Rovers, Birmingham City, Sunderland. At 6ft 7in tall and with an impressive goal return, while he appeared for the likes of Aston Villa and Southampton early on in his career, not even Liverpool or Tottenham could resist the temptation of Crouchs abilities. Coles shock 7m switch to Old Trafford in January 1995 had Newcastle fans seething with manager Kevin Keegan. Not only did he have the balls, he frequently had the ball in the final half-hour, becoming Uniteds go-to man as it became obvious how devastatingly effective he could be. Can you name the 50 most valuable English players according to Transfermarkt? No one assisted more in a season. McEnroe's left-handed serve-and-volley game may have been the best of all time, to the point where a common saying went that the best doubles team of all time was "John McEnroe and anyone." 6. The players voted on who they believe is the best in the world. Instead, after leading Blackburn to a first top-flight title in 81 years, he endured five lower-half finishes with his hometown club. While you're here,subscribe to FourFourTwo today and save 37%. Shaquille O'Neal. The 29-year-old has won two league titles and equalled Thierry Henrys long-standing single-season assist record of 20. HIGHLIGHT Vidic endured a difficult first six months after moving from Spartak Moscow, but was captain by 2010. He kind of put his hand up and said, I want to go off I think that was a good time to say I had him in my pocket, winked Cole. Both players had extensive success overseas, Howard with Manchester United and Everton, Friedel with . The Dutch maestro celebrated three titles and 87 league goals in north London, but its his elegance which endures. As a lad, the Peckham native famously turned down a five-year scholarship at the Central School of Ballet to focus more on football. HIGHLIGHT Successive PFA Young Player of the Year awards in 1994-95 and 1995-96, after stellar campaigns of 25 and 28 goals. Conor Pope is the former Online Editor of FourFourTwo, overseeing all digital content. Yorke had already hit 60 Premier League goals by the time he arrived at Old Trafford in the summer of 1998 but better was to come. Only Ryan Giggs can beat his Premier League assist haul of 111. HIGHLIGHT A masterful performance as City gubbed Manchester United 6-1 at Old Trafford in October 2011. INTERVIEW European football was the aim: A year after taking the job, Brendan Rodgers explains his new ambitious plans for Leicester. Then there's the like's of the best soccer players in the world today, a few of whom also might have claim to the title, such as Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Kylian Mbappe, Robert Lewandowski, and Karim Benzema. Its why people speak of Diego Maradona in such glowing terms. He began his professional career at Manhasset High School in New York and played lacrosse for Syracuse University from 1955-57. A four-time NBA champion and three-time Finals MVP, O'Neal averaged a double-double during a career that spanned almost two decades. Forest finished third upon their return to the big time, qualifying for the UEFA Cup thanks to their unplayable frontman. Kante did in 2015 then enjoyed one of footballs most magnificent breakout seasons in the unlikeliest of Premier League titles. QUIZ Can you name Barcelona's sextuple-winning line-ups? HIGHLIGHT Look no further than Newcastle. Few have found more imaginative ways to lift a ball; indeed, one mind-boggling piece of magic involved a rainbow flick over a baffled Ray Parlour. Arsenal came 10th in the first Premier League campaign but won both the FA Cup and League Cup, with their No.8 tallying 30 in all competitions; in fact, he bagged at least 15 league goals in the first six of his seven Highbury seasons, and at least 23 in half of those, thriving alongside Alan Smith or Kevin Campbell in attack for George Grahams last few league campaigns. The talisman took on cult status in the 90s, with his long-legged stride, rocket shot and infectious energy endearing him to those who watched on. The Scot gave a 17-year-old Giggs his debut in March 1991, the Welshman becoming a regular the following season and repaying his managers faith with back-to-back PFA Young Player of the Year campaigns. He was the catalyst in two Premier League titles for Arsenal, carried them on his back during the dark days and lit up English football with his signature swagger. His career was no less on pointe. Great in attack as well as defence Thank you for the memories, Ashley Cole pic.twitter.com/3H0F952WrEAugust 18, 2019. He could play in any position, too. Bale went 24 Premier League matches without a win for Tottenham, stretching from his bow in August 2007 through to September 2009. Anelka was 17 years old when he became Arsene Wengers first official signing at Highbury. Carew also had a 15 year stretch where he never dropped below .300, which is one of the best stretches in MLB history. Lee Zink. All the exclusive interviews, long reads, quizzes and more but with more than a third-off normal price. The best pool players of all-time may not have names you recognize, but they are part of a long tradition of billiards (and snooker and carrom) that has been passed down for generations in pool halls and bars across the land. You get it. The Ivorian embodies Abramovich-era Chelsea. Captain Steven Gerrard rampaged, Javier Mascherano hared and, next to them, Alonso glided. The Frenchman's transfer from Leeds to Manchester United in June 1992 heralded two things: the dawn of the new Premier League era and the start of a period of unprecedented success for the Red Devils. When the clock was ticking down and there was one final opportunity to save the day, he was the man you wanted with the ball at his feet. HIGHLIGHT A thunderbolt at Old Trafford in 2000 was one of numerous Jimmy specials, opening the scoring in a see-saw 3-3 draw. Both physically elite and mentally resilient, he was an ace card in the Blues biggest games, but a flat-track bully as well.