Rafa Benitez’s imminent departure from Newcastle United following the failure to reach an agreement for an extension to the Spaniard’s contract has been met with a mixture of disbelief and frustration from across the football world.
Benitez, who has been in charge for the past three seasons, has faced constant power struggles with Newcastle owner Mike Ashley regarding transfer funds and proper backing.
The club’s failure to secure Benitez to a new deal has yielded a mass of reaction, with many fans and commentators denouncing both Ashley’s commitment and position.
In a club statement, Newcastle said: “It is with disappointment that we announce manager Rafael Benitez will leave Newcastle United upon the expiry of his contract on June 30, 2019.
“We have worked hard to extend Rafa’s contract over a significant period of time, however it has not been – and will not be – possible to reach an agreement with Rafa and his representatives.”
1/101 #IndyPL100
Join us for the complete countdown through the 100 greatest players in Premier League history.
Independent
2/101 100. Graeme Le Saux
A title winner with Blackburn, sandwiched between two spells at Chelsea, the latter of which saw him pick up plenty more silverware. Le Saux oozed quality on the ball when getting forward from left-back and quietly added 37 caps for England. JR.
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3/101 99. Cesar Azpilicueta
Always reliable and diligent when defending, his versatility has also seen him establish himself as one of the great defenders of the last decade in the Premier League. Rarely injured, the Spaniard has proven to be a genuine bargain since his £7m move from Marseille. He played every minute of the 2016/17 title-winning campaign in the second of his two titles, one of just four players to accomplish that feat (joining John Terry, Wes Morgan and Gary Pallister). JR.
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4/101 98. Fernandinho
The Brazilian has been at Manchester City since 2013 but it’s only in the past two seasons, under Pep Guardiola, that his qualities and value as a player have come to light – notably his disruptive influence and controlled poise. Indeed, his absence from notable City defeats this season have demonstrated his importance at the base of the side’s midfield unit. At 33, he will be sorely missed when he moves on. SL.
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5/101 97. James Milner
One of the most versatile players in Premier League history, with successful spells at Leeds, Newcastle, Aston Villa, Manchester City and Liverpool. A two-time title winner who seems to get better with age. MC.
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6/101 96. Joe Cole
Outrageous talent and skill some may argue was never fulfilled. But Jose Mourinho nurtured him with tough love at Chelsea, where he picked up three Premier League titles. He peaked in 2006, playing an integral part to that title-winning side, winning himself a place in the PFA Team of the Year and starring for England at the World Cup. His best moments arguably both came against Man United: the solo goal at Stamford Bridge to clinch the title in 2006 and the clever flick to break the deadlock at Old Trafford in 2010 – which would prove to be pivotal as the Blues won the title again that season. JR.
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7/101 95. Juninho
What a surprise when a 22-year-old Juninho snubbed some of the leading sides in Europe to sign for Middlesbrough. A long-lasting love affair ensued with the Brazilian enjoying three separate spells at the club. LO.
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8/101 94. Marcel Desailly
The Frenchman was already a two-time Champions League winner and world champion with France when he signed for Chelsea. Formed a formidable partnership with Frank Leboeuf and captained the side. LO.
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9/101 93. Arjen Robben
A mercurial talent who never truly settled in the league due to injuries, but for a short spell was arguably the best on display. The flying Dutchman could turn passive possession into danger in a flash with his exceptional control when running at speed. Injuries plagued his time in England with spells at Real Madrid and Bayern establishing himself as one of the greats of his generation. JR.
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10/101 92. Robbie Keane
The 14th-most successful goalscorer in the history of the Premier League. Played for numerous clubs but enjoyed the most success at Spurs, scoring just shy of 100 league goals. LB.
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11/101 91. Chris Sutton
A gifted goalscorer and Premier League title-winner at Blackburn, Sutton was your quintessential out and out No 9. Never as big a hit on the international stage as he might’ve been but his domestic achievements more than justify his place here. BB.
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12/101 90. Sami Hyypia
His contribution and importance to the Liverpool defence is often overlooked due to Jamie Carragher’s constant presence, but Hyypia was a mainstay of the Reds for a decade and a key part of their Champions league triumph in 2005, not to mention a much-loved captain. JDM.
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13/101 89. Edin Dzeko
His arrival at Manchester City, along with the likes of Robinho and Co, marked a new era for the club as it looked to refashion itself into a Premier League giant. The Bosnian helped play a role in this transformation, scoring 50 goals during his time at the club. SL.
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14/101 88. Lee Dixon
A stalwart of the Arsenal team that won the 1997/98 and 2001/02 Premier League titles. Not bad for a £765k signing from Stoke which also saw Steve Bould join the Gunners. TK.
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15/101 87. Nani
Emerged from the shadow of Cristiano Ronaldo to become a crucial part of the Alex Ferguson’s side and can look back proudly on his five Premier League titles. When he was on his game he was one of the most naturally-gifted players in the league. JDM.
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16/101 86. Peter Beardsley
A No 10 with a gifted football brain, Beardsley was a star of the early years of the Premier League even if his best came before 1992 in fan-favourite spells with both Newcastle and Liverpool. BB.
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17/101 85. Fredrik Ljungberg
Won two Premier League titles and three FA Cups, scoring in two finals. A key part of the legendary team which won the title without tasting defeat in 2003/04. TK.
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18/101 84. Emmanuel Petit
A converted defensive midfielder who formed a crucial partnership with Patrick Vieira. Only spent three years in north London but helped Arsenal to win the double in 1997/98. TK.
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19/101 83. Patrice Evra
A former Manchester United captain who won an astonishing five league titles during his nine years at Old Trafford. LO.
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20/101 82. Jay Jay Okocha
How on earth did Okocha – Ronaldinho’s mentor at Paris Saint-Germain – ever end up at Bolton? The Nigerian had magic in his boots and became a cult hero in Lancashire, forming a brilliant partnership with French World Cup winner Youri Djorkaeff. LB.
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21/101 81. Steve McManaman
Ignore the acrimonious exit. McManaman was one of Liverpool’s best players throughout the nineties, before becoming the most decorated Englishman to have played abroad. MC.
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22/101 80. Branislav Ivanovic
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. 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. Everything you would want and more from a right-back. JR.
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23/101 79. Gary Speed
A Premier League giant. Rarely troubled by injury or suspension, Speed made 535 Premier League appearances during his career – putting him at fifth in the all-time list. His tragic suicide shocked the sport, marking a turning point in the conversation around mental health in football. SL
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24/101 78. William Gallas
Not many players have the skill, or the gall, to become first-team regulars at Chelsea, Arsenal AND Tottenham. It was at Stamford Bridge the enigmatic Frenchman enjoyed the most success, winning two league titles. TK.
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25/101 77. Mesut Ozil
He may be inconsistent. He may drift in and out of games. And he may be a divisive character at the Emirates. But when he is on song, there are few players who can read the game like Mesut Ozil. Often an unbridled joy to watch: he has been Arsenal’s key player for over five years now. LB.
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26/101 76. Gilberto Silva
The invisible Invincible. Played a key if understated role in the best Arsenal team of all-time, alongside Patrick Vieira. A bargain at £4.5m. TK.
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27/101 75. Jamie Carragher
A one-club man, Liverpool’s vice-captain for 10 years, and the club’s second-longest ever serving player. Never won a league title with Liverpool, but did win two FA Cups, three League Cups and a Champions League. A first-team regular from 1997 until he retired, in 2013. MC.
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28/101 74. Paul Ince
At his best, Ince played a crucial role in both of Alex Ferguson’s first two Premier League titles. He was the midfield enforcer who never stopped, but he also weighed in with his fair share of goals arriving on the edge of the box. After six years at Old Trafford, Ince moved to Inter Milan before later spells at Liverpool, Middlesbrough and Wolves. LO.
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29/101 73. Les Ferdinand
The eighth highest scorer in the Premier League with 149 goals. Prolific for both Queens Park Rangers and Newcastle, while also becoming hugely popular at White Hart Lane. LB.
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30/101 72. Raheem Sterling
A genuine superstar in the making, Sterling has hit new heights in the past two seasons. His contributions both with and without the ball have proved vital at Manchester City, and have similarly injected a sense of energy and purpose into England’s frontline. And at 24, he’s only going to get better. SL.
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31/101 71. Mark Hughes
Sparky had success at Chelsea before two-year spells at Southampton, Everton and Blackburn, but his high-point came earlier as the perfect foil for Eric Cantona in Manchester United’s first two title wins. 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. LO.
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32/101 70. Gary Pallister
Pallister won four titles at Old Trafford as the sidekick to Steve Bruce at the heart of Alex Ferguson’s early success. Coming off the back of winning the PFA Player of the Year Award in 1991-92, Pallister played every minute of the first Premier League season in 1992-93, as United became champions for the first time in 26 years. LO.
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33/101 69. Jurgen Klinsmann
Often foreign strikers can take a season or two to acclimatise to the rigours of the Premier League. Not this man. Arrived at Spurs from Monaco and immediately scored 20 goals in 41 league matches, despite a turbulent season which saw Osvaldo Ardiles replaced by Steve Perryman and then Gerry Francis. LB.
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34/101 68. Ricardo Carvalho
His partnership with captain John Terry in central defence was hailed as a major factor behind Chelsea’s two early titles under Jose Mourinho. Intelligent on the ball and a fantastic distributor, Carvalho complemented the traditional, hard-nosed approach adopted by Terry. SL.
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35/101 67. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
Before he was an unexpectedly high-achieving interim manager, he was one of the best strikers in the business. Few could have expected quite how successful the Norwegian would become at Old Trafford when he was signed on the cheap to provide backup to Eric Cantona and Andy Cole. MD.
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36/101 66. David Ginola
One of the most charismatic players ever to grace the Premier League who delighted fans at Newcastle, Spurs, Everton and Aston Villa with his mazy dribbling and sumptuous first touch. LB.
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37/101 65. Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink
Prolific for Leeds and Middlesbrough, but his prime was probably spent with Chelsea, who made him their club record signing for £15m in 2000. He also formed one half of one of the best strike partnerships in the league’s history alongside Eidur Gudjohnsen. While known for pounding the ball with tremendous force, his intelligent movement and ability to perfectly deliver the ball for a team-mate made him a great striker. JR.
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38/101 64. Diego Costa
Chelsea’s raging bull, Costa terrorised opposition defences during his three years at the club. In that time he scored 52 goals from 89 league appearances, scoring a number of pivotal goals in the title run-in under Antonio Conte. A forceful presence who knew how to lead the line all by himself. SL.
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39/101 63. Ledley King
Arguably the most naturally gifted defender of his generation. What a shame his was a career blighted by injury. When asked what defender he most disliked playing against, Thierry Henry once replied: “Ledley King was the best defender I’ve played against and the only one that didn’t have to foul me to get the ball.” LB.
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40/101 62. Michael Essien
A complete midfielder who would have mixed it with Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira in their prime. The Ghanaian was immense as a box-to-box presence during perhaps the peak years in the league’s history. His bending strike against Arsenal at Stamford Bridge stands out as one of his finest moments. JR.
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41/101 61. Marc Overmars
Initially struggled at Arsenal. But soon found his feet, ending his debut campaign with 12 goals and becoming a key player in the Arsenal side which won the double in 1998. Eventually left for Barcelona in a £25m deal, making him the most expensive player in Dutch football history. TK.
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42/101 60. Fernando Torres
The Spaniard exploded on to the English football scene at Liverpool and never looked back becoming one of the most feared No 9s in the history of the league. A big-money move to Chelsea didn’t go as planned but that relentless early run at Anfield was matched by few we’ve ever seen. BB.
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43/101 59. Kevin de Bruyne
His legacy will be defined by what comes next, but at his peak, De Bruyne might be the finest midfield seen in the Premier League. After City pounced on the Belgian just a few years after Chelsea’s foolish decision to sell him, De Bruyne’s dynamism has seen him able to influence games no matter the circumstances. Capable of swiping the ball into the top corner from distance, whip the ball around corners for team-mates to chase or simply to establish a pattern of possession, De Bruyne has it all. JR.
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44/101 58. David Seaman
A cult hero with Arsenal Seaman set the standard for English goalkeeping for over a decade. Twice a Premier League champion and a four-time FA Cup winner even his late-career ponytail can be forgiven. BB.
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45/101 57. Luka Modric
The Croatian would ascend to greater heights at Real Madrid, where he has won four Champions League titles and a Ballon d’Or. But before that he was a key player for Tottenham Hotspur, helping the north London side into Europe’s premier club competition for the first ever time. LB.
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46/101 56. Dennis Irwin
One of the best full-backs ever to grace the Premier League. Irwin was a mainstay in the Manchester United team during his decade at Old Trafford, winning seven Premier League titles (only Gary Neville, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs have more). He could play either side, took free-kicks and penalties, and dovetailed brilliantly with Giggs, who later said he was able to stay high up the pitch because Irwin needed such little defensive cover. LO.
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47/101 55. Gary Neville
No defender has more Premier League winner’s medals than Neville’s eight. He was consistent and reliable defensively and formed a fruitful partnership with his close friend David Beckham on United’s right, before later becoming captain of his one and only club. LO.
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48/101 54. Xabi Alonso
A key part of the Liverpool team which won the most thrilling Champions League final in history. Helped usher in Rafa Benitez’s Anfield revolution, forming a wonderful midfield partnership with Steven Gerrard before departing after five seasons for Real Madrid. LB.
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49/101 53. Paolo Di Canio
The Italian was one of most exciting among a raft of imported No10s who arrived in the late 1990s and lit up the Premier League show. His early success at Sheffield Wednesday was effectively ended when he pushed over referee Paul Alcock, receiving an 11-game ban, but he shone at West Ham and his volley against Wimbledon will go down as one of the great Premier League goals. LO.
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50/101 52. Edwin Van Der Sar
A case can be made that the Dutchman was equal to any goalkeeper in the league’s history. After years of failure to find a successor to Peter Schmeichel, Sir Alex Ferguson stole Van der Sar for a meager £2m from Fulham, securing a key cog in four titles during his time at the club. JR.
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51/101 51. Dimitar Berbatov
A player whose brilliance was defined by an artisanal elegance and the complete elimination of any superfluous movement. Struggled in his first few games for Tottenham before finding his rhythm, eventually moving to Manchester United for a club-record fee. Won two league titles before departing for Fulham. Arguably the most misunderstood player in Premier League history, and among the more underrated. LB.
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52/101 50. Steve Bruce
Alex Ferguson’s defensive lieutenant captained United to three Premier League titles during the 90s, scoring two famous late headers against Sheffield Wednesday to win United’s first title for 26 years. He is widely considered the greatest Englishman never to have represented his country. LO.
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53/101 49. Nicolas Anelka
Scored goals wherever he went. Won league titles with both Arsenal and Chelsea, while becoming a key player at Liverpool, Manchester City, Bolton and West Brom. JDM.
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54/101 48. Dwight Yorke
Another striker who positively plundered goals in his prime Yorke is most famous for his near unstoppable partnership with Andy Cole at Manchester United. But it’s his record at Aston Villa – 73 goals over nine years – that earns him his place here. BB.
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55/101 47. Jaap Stam
Asserted himself as one of the best defenders in the world before famously falling out with Sir Alex Ferguson and leaving for Lazio. Ferguson would later admit to making a mistake. “At the time he had just come back from an achilles injury and we thought he had just lost a little bit,” he wrote. “We got the offer from Lazio, £16.5m for a centre back who was 29. It was an offer I couldn’t refuse. But in playing terms it was a mistake. He is still playing for Ajax at a really good level.” MC.
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56/101 46. Claude Makelele
His immense legacy is that a position was defined after him and that Real Madrid were haunted by his sale to Chelsea for years to come. Adept at playing his role without the need to fly into challenges or impose his physicality, Makelele simply pinched possession and kept the ball moving with sheer ease. A master. JR.
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57/101 45. Teddy Sheringham
The eleventh-highest goalscorer in the history of the Premier League with 146 goals, and the competition’s 19th-highest appearance maker. A cult hero at Spurs thanks to two prolific spells at White Hart Lane, but it is at Manchester United that he enjoyed the most success, winning three consecutive Premier League titles between 1998-2001. LB.
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58/101 44. Michael Carrick
Possibly the most under-utilised and underrated English footballer in modern times. A vital cog for both West Ham and Tottenham before his big move to Manchester United. He would go on to make over 300 league appearances for the club, winning an extraordinary five titles. JDM.
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59/101 43. Ian Wright
From the Hackney Marshes to Highbury Wright’s story is the stuff of fairytales. An all-round, out and out striker Wright scored every type of goal, famously breaking Cliff Bastin’s Gunners record despite spending his first seven years at Crystal Palace. Only Thierry Henry has more in the famed red and white. BB.
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60/101 42. Robbie Fowler
One of the most ruthless goalscorers the Premier League has ever seen. 120 goals in just 236 league appearances in his first stint at Liverpool, before more troubled spells Leeds, Manchester City and Blackburn. No matter. You do not earn the only semi-ironic nickname ‘God’ for no reason. JDM.
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61/101 41. Carlos Tevez
Always controversial, always deadly in front of goal, always a delight to watch. Pitched up at West Ham in 2006, scoring seven priceless goals to help keep the Hammers up. From there he formed a formidable strike partnership with Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo, winning two league titles, before his acrimonious move to City. He would spend four successful seasons across town, scoring another 58 league goals and winning the title once more. JDM.
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62/101 40. David de Gea
Undoubtedly the best goalkeeper in the Premier League for the past five years, perhaps even the world. A Premier League title winner in 2012/13, the Spaniard has been included in the PFA Team of the Year on five separate occasions and was named United’s Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year for three consecutive seasons between 2013-2016, the first player in the award’s history to win on three successive occasions. MC.
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63/101 39. Sol Campbell
The centre-back is one of very few players to have enjoyed successful stints at both Tottenham and Arsenal. His effortless defensive skill was the epitomy of Arsenal’s Invicibles and earned him a place in the PFA Team of the Year. LO.
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64/101 38. Tony Adams
Another one-club man, Adams spent all 22 years of his professional career at Arsenal. 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 true legend, he is considered one of the greatest Arsenal players of all time. SL.
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65/101 37. Robert Pires
The winger came in as a replacement for Marc Overmars and after taken some time to adjust to the Premier League’s physicality, he lit up Enlgish football with his smooth dribbling style and collection of memorable goals. His peak was his hugely fruitful relationship with Thierry Henry during the Invincibles season. LO.
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66/101 36. N’Golo Kante
From the humblest of beginnings to the dizzying heights of Premier League success – first with Leicester and then with Chelsea – N’Golo Kante has proved a revelation. His willingness to do the dirty work, while allowing his teammates to grab the headlines further up the pitch, have earned him the admiration of fans across the league. And if it wasn’t for him, it seems unlikely Leicester would have gone on to win the league when they did. SL.
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67/101 35. Matthew Le Tissier
The dictionary definition of a one-club man Le Tissier would’ve won more trophies and notoriety away from his beloved Southampton but that loyalty didn’t stop him becoming one of the most technically gifted players of his generation. Criminally overlooked by England Le Tissier was a creator and scorer of great goals and also goes down as one of best penalty takers in the history of the game. BB.
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68/101 34. Harry Kane
The player most likely to drastically improve his ranking in years to come. 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. 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. LB.
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69/101 33. Luis Suarez
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. The Uruguayan hit an extraordinary 31 goals in 33 matches as Liverpool went so, so close to ending their long wait for a league title. A complete centre forward, who worked tirelessly, assisted his team-mates and was utterly ruthless in front of goal. MC.
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70/101 32. Gianfranco Zola
A pioneer thanks to his time at Chelsea, where he charmed a generation of fans with his fancy tricks and delightful free-kick goals. The diminutive Italian sparked a period with the Blues of expansive, attractive football. Capable of bamboozling the league’s toughest defenders, Zola’s class deserved to be surrounded with better quality. JR.
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71/101 31. Petr Cech
“I feel I have achieved everything I set out to achieve,” the goalkeeper said upon announcing his retirement for the end of the season. It’s hard to dispute. Indeed, how could you after a career that brought one Champions League, four Premier Leagues, one Europa League, five FA Cups and three League Cups? At the peak of his powers, he was simply one of the best goalkeepers to have graced the Premier League. SL.
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72/101 30. Cesc Fabregas
Fabregas broke into Arsenal’s first team as a teenager and quickly starred in midfield with his technical quality, eventually taking up the club captaincy. A decade on he won the Premier League with Chelsea, playing an instrumental role as Diego Costa’s provider. Also famous for throwing a slice of pizza at Sir Alex Ferguson. LO.
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73/101 29. Yaya Toure
Once a player who looked slow and sometimes used as a centre back, Yaya Toure’s game was almost entirely reinvented when he moved to Manchester. A goalscoring midfielder, powerful runner with pin-point accuracy. One of the leaders of City’s domestic dominance. AH.
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74/101 28. Michael Owen
England and Liverpool’s boy-wonder, Michael Owen’s best years game in his youth before injury took its toll – both physical and mentally. Owen was the last Englishman to win the Ballon d’Or, having notably helped Liverpool to a Treble in the 2000/01 season. He scored 118 goals for the Reds across 216 league appearances. SL.
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75/101 27. Robin van Persie
One of the best strikers of his generation, there are too many moments of brilliance to list when it comes to RVP. His move from Arsenal, where he made a name for himself, to Manchester United will always remain a point of contention but it certainly paid off. 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. A world-class player. SL.
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76/101 26. Gareth Bale
The 2012/13 PFA Young Player of the Year, FWA Footballer of the Year and Premier League Player of the Season. How amusing that, at the beginning of his Spurs career, fans thought he was jinxed, with the Welshman coming close to a cut-price move to Birmingham. Over six seasons he developed from a promising left-back into one of the best forwards in the world, eventually recruited by Real Madrid for a world-record fee as Cristinao Ronaldo’s heir apparent. LB.
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77/101 25. Andy Cole
Never the most talented Cole earned every one of his 187 Premier League goals with a relentless will to win. A journeyman career spanning 13 clubs it is his time at Manchester United alongside favourite running mate Dwight Yorke that he is remembered for. A five-time champion only two players in history have scored more. BB.
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78/101 24. Vincent Kompany
Mr Manchester City few sum up the rise and rise of his football club than Kompany. A three-time title-winner and instrumental in two the Belgian led from the front as the beating heart of some of the best teams we’ve seen. A modern defender with athletic prowess and technical skill to match Kompany will be remembered as one of the finest foreign imports the English game has seen. BB.
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79/101 23. Eden Hazard
Irresistible at his absolute best and one of the very few players capable of not only deciding games on his own, but doing so without the help of team-mates. The Belgian showcases total control when dribbling the ball, a skill he can stake claim to be the very best at throughout his time in the league. The finest player in the league in two title-winning seasons, Hazard is a true Premier League great who may only be appreciated when he has gone. JR.
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80/101 22. Ruud van Nistelrooy
Van Nistelrooy broke 20 goals in four of his five Premier League seasons, winning a Golden Boot and a PFA Player of the Year Award en route. He perhaps should have won more than his solitary title, but was competing in an era of Wenger’s Invincibles and Mourinho’s Chelsea. Even so, he is undoubtedly one of the league’s greatest finishers. LO.
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81/101 21. David Beckham
The lowest ranked of Manchester United’s famous midfield four in our list but no less impactful during his time in England, racking up 15 league assists during the treble-winning campaign. Beckham won six titles, made four PFA Teams of the Year and scored several iconic goals, and his record of 15 Premier League goals scored from direct free-kicks still stands. LO.
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82/101 20. Peter Schmeichel
The impenetrable foundation upon which five of Manchester United’s Premier League titles were built. 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. Sir Alex Ferguson’s long struggle to adequately replace him demonstrates just how brilliant he was. LB.
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83/101 19. Nemanja Vidic
Struggled slightly after his £7m move from Spartak Moscow, before forming the best centre-back partnership in the history of the Premier League with Rio Ferdinand. Freakishly strong and hardly ever beaten in the air, Vidic was also an important goalscorer, memorably scoring five times as United won the 2010/11 title. Eventually left in 2014 for Internazionale; were it not for injuries he would have remained at Old Trafford for even longer. LO.
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84/101 18. Didier Drogba
The greatest signing of the Roman Abramovich era was the spearhead of Jose Mourinho’s title-winning teams of 2004-05 and 05-06, linking brilliantly with a young Frank Lampard. His most prolific season came in winning the 2009-10 title under Carlo Ancelotti, scoring 29 league goals, before leaving and then returning in 2014, a decade after he first arrived, to win his fourth and final Premier League medal. LO
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85/101 17. David Silva
A midfield maestro capable of playing the game at his pace; speeding up and slowing down while painting a picture amid the frantic action in Premier League games.
Silva has never been flustered and can always be relied upon to stand up in the most opportune moments, a cornerstone of the Manchester City era and a candidate for their best ever player, despite the money lavished on numerous other players. JR.
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86/101 16. Rio Ferdinand
The prototype defender of the modern age Ferdinand was the trailblazer for, and best example of, what is now a staple of every backline: the ball-playing centre-half. At his elegant peak Ferdinand made defending look easy and while others were perhaps more effective few did it so effortlessly. His partnership with Nemanja Vidic was the standard all others aspired to for years and still do to this day. BB.
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87/101 15. Steven Gerrard
The greatest player in our list to never win a Premier League title. He instead remained at Liverpool, spending 17 seasons at Anfield during which he captained his side to two European titles as well as five domestic cups. An extremely versatile and well-rounded player, who completely remodeled his game as he grew older. TK.
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88/101 14. Ashley Cole
One of the very few England players of a generation who could claim to be the absolute best in the world in his position.
Cole could defensively lock down the very best in the world and his longevity at the top makes him an all-time great with an enviable trophy cabinet stuffed with every major honour in the club game. JR.
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89/101 13. Dennis Bergkamp
If this was a technically gifted list then the non-flying Dutchman would be even higher. A pleasure to watch Bergkamp didn’t just play, he conducted, regularly dictating games to his own particular tune. A great goalscorer and a scorer of great goals it is his telepathic partnership with Thierry Henry in one of the great teams in Premier League history that most fans remember most fondly. Nikos Dabizas probably disagrees. BB.
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90/101 12. Paul Scholes
His numbers are simply extraordinary. 499 Premier League appearances. 107 goals. Eleven league titles. One of Fergie’s Fledglings, Scholes developed into one of the finest midfielders in the world, renowned for his crisp passing, intelligent movement and eye for goal. Xavi famously remarked that Scholes was a “spectacular player who has everything”, while Pele once commented: “If he was playing with me, I would have scored so many more.” SL.
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91/101 11. Eric Cantona
The man who helped transform Manchester United from a promising side into the greatest team English football has ever seen. Before that he was a cult hero at Leeds, but it was his £1.2m move to Manchester that truly made him. Oozed both class and arrogance, while scoring a slew of memorable goals. And of course there was the controversy, with his infamous attack on a Crystal Palace fan resulting in a two-week prison sentence (which he avoided), 120 hours of community service and an eight month ban. LO.
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92/101 10. Sergio Aguero
Manchester City’s great survivor. A first-team regular for eight seasons now – no mean feat in a side which is constantly and ruthlessly evolving. A three time Premier League winner who has scored 161 goals, regularly exceeding the once-fabled 20 goal a season mark. But why write any more words when just one will suffice: ‘AGUEROOOOOOOOOOOOO!’ LB.
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93/101 9. Patrick Vieira
Captain of the greatest side in Premier League history. A true box-to-box midfielder: dominating, aggressive and always ready to lead from the front. Without his bite in midfield there is simply no way the likes of Dennis Bergkamp and Thierry Henry would have scored so many goals. TK.
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94/101 8. John Terry
The greatest defender in Premier League history. Brash, brave but above all technically brilliant: he possessed an uncanny ability to read play and be in exactly the right place to sniff out danger. Often controversial but a born leader: won five Premier League titles, making close to 500 appearances. SL.
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95/101 7. Alan Shearer
The best to ever do it Shearer’s record 260 Premier League goals may never be matched. A relentless scorer of all types of goals he made his name and won his only trophy as a Blackburn player but it is his time at Newcastle, where he broke Jackie Milburn’s scoring mark over 10 years of devoted service to his hometown club, that he is most fondly remembered for. Blessed with every conceivable asset you could want from a No 9, born in a different era Shearer would’ve easily been a £100m player. BB.
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96/101 6. Wayne Rooney
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. 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. A modern great. LO.
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97/101 5. Frank Lampard
A midfielder with the goalscoring record of an elite-level striker. 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. Incredibly versatile, deployed everywhere across the midfield in Chelsea blue, before enjoying an unexpectedly profitable Indian Summer at Manchester City. TK.
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98/101 4. Roy Keane
Sir Alex Ferguson once described Keane as the embodiment of his winning attitude on the pitch and that is all the more appropriate because, if the great manager is the figure to have influenced the Premier League more than anyone, Keane is the player to have psychologically influenced the Premier League more than anyone. That really isn’t an exaggeration, not when you consider his longevity, the number of titles he won and his absolutely key role in all of them. MD.
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99/101 3. Ryan Giggs
13 titles. 672 Premier League appearances. 114 goals. Another player who adapted his game as he grew older, proving his class across multiple roles. First he was the wiry winger, beating statuesque defends with his mazy footwork and turn of pace. 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. LO.
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100/101 2. Cristiano Ronaldo
One of the greatest players of all time. But before all of the titles at Real Madrid, Cristiano Ronaldo matured into the player he is now at Manchester United. He made an instant impression at Old Trafford, eventually scoring 84 goals in 196 Premier League matches – over half of those coming in his final two seasons when he was utterly unstoppable playing alongside Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez. Where he to have resisted Real’s inevitable approach, there is no doubt he would top this list. LB.
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101/101 1. Thierry Henry
The greatest player in the history of the Premier League. When Thierry Henry first arrived at Arsenal in 1999 from Juventus, there were those who doubted whether he would be able to cut it in the boisterously physical Premier League. How he silenced his critics. Scored 174 goals for Arsenal, winning two titles. But he was about so much more than just the goals. A true athlete, Henry was also a natural creator, and although Arsene Wenger moved him into the middle he never lost his eye for an assist, almost 50 alone between 2002-2004. A total player. An all-time great.
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1/101 #IndyPL100
Join us for the complete countdown through the 100 greatest players in Premier League history.
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2/101 100. Graeme Le Saux
A title winner with Blackburn, sandwiched between two spells at Chelsea, the latter of which saw him pick up plenty more silverware. Le Saux oozed quality on the ball when getting forward from left-back and quietly added 37 caps for England. JR.
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3/101 99. Cesar Azpilicueta
Always reliable and diligent when defending, his versatility has also seen him establish himself as one of the great defenders of the last decade in the Premier League. Rarely injured, the Spaniard has proven to be a genuine bargain since his £7m move from Marseille. He played every minute of the 2016/17 title-winning campaign in the second of his two titles, one of just four players to accomplish that feat (joining John Terry, Wes Morgan and Gary Pallister). JR.
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4/101 98. Fernandinho
The Brazilian has been at Manchester City since 2013 but it’s only in the past two seasons, under Pep Guardiola, that his qualities and value as a player have come to light – notably his disruptive influence and controlled poise. Indeed, his absence from notable City defeats this season have demonstrated his importance at the base of the side’s midfield unit. At 33, he will be sorely missed when he moves on. SL.
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5/101 97. James Milner
One of the most versatile players in Premier League history, with successful spells at Leeds, Newcastle, Aston Villa, Manchester City and Liverpool. A two-time title winner who seems to get better with age. MC.
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6/101 96. Joe Cole
Outrageous talent and skill some may argue was never fulfilled. But Jose Mourinho nurtured him with tough love at Chelsea, where he picked up three Premier League titles. He peaked in 2006, playing an integral part to that title-winning side, winning himself a place in the PFA Team of the Year and starring for England at the World Cup. His best moments arguably both came against Man United: the solo goal at Stamford Bridge to clinch the title in 2006 and the clever flick to break the deadlock at Old Trafford in 2010 – which would prove to be pivotal as the Blues won the title again that season. JR.
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7/101 95. Juninho
What a surprise when a 22-year-old Juninho snubbed some of the leading sides in Europe to sign for Middlesbrough. A long-lasting love affair ensued with the Brazilian enjoying three separate spells at the club. LO.
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8/101 94. Marcel Desailly
The Frenchman was already a two-time Champions League winner and world champion with France when he signed for Chelsea. Formed a formidable partnership with Frank Leboeuf and captained the side. LO.
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9/101 93. Arjen Robben
A mercurial talent who never truly settled in the league due to injuries, but for a short spell was arguably the best on display. The flying Dutchman could turn passive possession into danger in a flash with his exceptional control when running at speed. Injuries plagued his time in England with spells at Real Madrid and Bayern establishing himself as one of the greats of his generation. JR.
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10/101 92. Robbie Keane
The 14th-most successful goalscorer in the history of the Premier League. Played for numerous clubs but enjoyed the most success at Spurs, scoring just shy of 100 league goals. LB.
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11/101 91. Chris Sutton
A gifted goalscorer and Premier League title-winner at Blackburn, Sutton was your quintessential out and out No 9. Never as big a hit on the international stage as he might’ve been but his domestic achievements more than justify his place here. BB.
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12/101 90. Sami Hyypia
His contribution and importance to the Liverpool defence is often overlooked due to Jamie Carragher’s constant presence, but Hyypia was a mainstay of the Reds for a decade and a key part of their Champions league triumph in 2005, not to mention a much-loved captain. JDM.
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13/101 89. Edin Dzeko
His arrival at Manchester City, along with the likes of Robinho and Co, marked a new era for the club as it looked to refashion itself into a Premier League giant. The Bosnian helped play a role in this transformation, scoring 50 goals during his time at the club. SL.
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14/101 88. Lee Dixon
A stalwart of the Arsenal team that won the 1997/98 and 2001/02 Premier League titles. Not bad for a £765k signing from Stoke which also saw Steve Bould join the Gunners. TK.
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15/101 87. Nani
Emerged from the shadow of Cristiano Ronaldo to become a crucial part of the Alex Ferguson’s side and can look back proudly on his five Premier League titles. When he was on his game he was one of the most naturally-gifted players in the league. JDM.
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16/101 86. Peter Beardsley
A No 10 with a gifted football brain, Beardsley was a star of the early years of the Premier League even if his best came before 1992 in fan-favourite spells with both Newcastle and Liverpool. BB.
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17/101 85. Fredrik Ljungberg
Won two Premier League titles and three FA Cups, scoring in two finals. A key part of the legendary team which won the title without tasting defeat in 2003/04. TK.
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18/101 84. Emmanuel Petit
A converted defensive midfielder who formed a crucial partnership with Patrick Vieira. Only spent three years in north London but helped Arsenal to win the double in 1997/98. TK.
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19/101 83. Patrice Evra
A former Manchester United captain who won an astonishing five league titles during his nine years at Old Trafford. LO.
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20/101 82. Jay Jay Okocha
How on earth did Okocha – Ronaldinho’s mentor at Paris Saint-Germain – ever end up at Bolton? The Nigerian had magic in his boots and became a cult hero in Lancashire, forming a brilliant partnership with French World Cup winner Youri Djorkaeff. LB.
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21/101 81. Steve McManaman
Ignore the acrimonious exit. McManaman was one of Liverpool’s best players throughout the nineties, before becoming the most decorated Englishman to have played abroad. MC.
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22/101 80. Branislav Ivanovic
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. 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. Everything you would want and more from a right-back. JR.
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23/101 79. Gary Speed
A Premier League giant. Rarely troubled by injury or suspension, Speed made 535 Premier League appearances during his career – putting him at fifth in the all-time list. His tragic suicide shocked the sport, marking a turning point in the conversation around mental health in football. SL
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24/101 78. William Gallas
Not many players have the skill, or the gall, to become first-team regulars at Chelsea, Arsenal AND Tottenham. It was at Stamford Bridge the enigmatic Frenchman enjoyed the most success, winning two league titles. TK.
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25/101 77. Mesut Ozil
He may be inconsistent. He may drift in and out of games. And he may be a divisive character at the Emirates. But when he is on song, there are few players who can read the game like Mesut Ozil. Often an unbridled joy to watch: he has been Arsenal’s key player for over five years now. LB.
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26/101 76. Gilberto Silva
The invisible Invincible. Played a key if understated role in the best Arsenal team of all-time, alongside Patrick Vieira. A bargain at £4.5m. TK.
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27/101 75. Jamie Carragher
A one-club man, Liverpool’s vice-captain for 10 years, and the club’s second-longest ever serving player. Never won a league title with Liverpool, but did win two FA Cups, three League Cups and a Champions League. A first-team regular from 1997 until he retired, in 2013. MC.
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28/101 74. Paul Ince
At his best, Ince played a crucial role in both of Alex Ferguson’s first two Premier League titles. He was the midfield enforcer who never stopped, but he also weighed in with his fair share of goals arriving on the edge of the box. After six years at Old Trafford, Ince moved to Inter Milan before later spells at Liverpool, Middlesbrough and Wolves. LO.
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29/101 73. Les Ferdinand
The eighth highest scorer in the Premier League with 149 goals. Prolific for both Queens Park Rangers and Newcastle, while also becoming hugely popular at White Hart Lane. LB.
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30/101 72. Raheem Sterling
A genuine superstar in the making, Sterling has hit new heights in the past two seasons. His contributions both with and without the ball have proved vital at Manchester City, and have similarly injected a sense of energy and purpose into England’s frontline. And at 24, he’s only going to get better. SL.
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31/101 71. Mark Hughes
Sparky had success at Chelsea before two-year spells at Southampton, Everton and Blackburn, but his high-point came earlier as the perfect foil for Eric Cantona in Manchester United’s first two title wins. 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. LO.
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32/101 70. Gary Pallister
Pallister won four titles at Old Trafford as the sidekick to Steve Bruce at the heart of Alex Ferguson’s early success. Coming off the back of winning the PFA Player of the Year Award in 1991-92, Pallister played every minute of the first Premier League season in 1992-93, as United became champions for the first time in 26 years. LO.
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33/101 69. Jurgen Klinsmann
Often foreign strikers can take a season or two to acclimatise to the rigours of the Premier League. Not this man. Arrived at Spurs from Monaco and immediately scored 20 goals in 41 league matches, despite a turbulent season which saw Osvaldo Ardiles replaced by Steve Perryman and then Gerry Francis. LB.
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34/101 68. Ricardo Carvalho
His partnership with captain John Terry in central defence was hailed as a major factor behind Chelsea’s two early titles under Jose Mourinho. Intelligent on the ball and a fantastic distributor, Carvalho complemented the traditional, hard-nosed approach adopted by Terry. SL.
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35/101 67. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
Before he was an unexpectedly high-achieving interim manager, he was one of the best strikers in the business. Few could have expected quite how successful the Norwegian would become at Old Trafford when he was signed on the cheap to provide backup to Eric Cantona and Andy Cole. MD.
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36/101 66. David Ginola
One of the most charismatic players ever to grace the Premier League who delighted fans at Newcastle, Spurs, Everton and Aston Villa with his mazy dribbling and sumptuous first touch. LB.
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37/101 65. Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink
Prolific for Leeds and Middlesbrough, but his prime was probably spent with Chelsea, who made him their club record signing for £15m in 2000. He also formed one half of one of the best strike partnerships in the league’s history alongside Eidur Gudjohnsen. While known for pounding the ball with tremendous force, his intelligent movement and ability to perfectly deliver the ball for a team-mate made him a great striker. JR.
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38/101 64. Diego Costa
Chelsea’s raging bull, Costa terrorised opposition defences during his three years at the club. In that time he scored 52 goals from 89 league appearances, scoring a number of pivotal goals in the title run-in under Antonio Conte. A forceful presence who knew how to lead the line all by himself. SL.
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39/101 63. Ledley King
Arguably the most naturally gifted defender of his generation. What a shame his was a career blighted by injury. When asked what defender he most disliked playing against, Thierry Henry once replied: “Ledley King was the best defender I’ve played against and the only one that didn’t have to foul me to get the ball.” LB.
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40/101 62. Michael Essien
A complete midfielder who would have mixed it with Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira in their prime. The Ghanaian was immense as a box-to-box presence during perhaps the peak years in the league’s history. His bending strike against Arsenal at Stamford Bridge stands out as one of his finest moments. JR.
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41/101 61. Marc Overmars
Initially struggled at Arsenal. But soon found his feet, ending his debut campaign with 12 goals and becoming a key player in the Arsenal side which won the double in 1998. Eventually left for Barcelona in a £25m deal, making him the most expensive player in Dutch football history. TK.
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42/101 60. Fernando Torres
The Spaniard exploded on to the English football scene at Liverpool and never looked back becoming one of the most feared No 9s in the history of the league. A big-money move to Chelsea didn’t go as planned but that relentless early run at Anfield was matched by few we’ve ever seen. BB.
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43/101 59. Kevin de Bruyne
His legacy will be defined by what comes next, but at his peak, De Bruyne might be the finest midfield seen in the Premier League. After City pounced on the Belgian just a few years after Chelsea’s foolish decision to sell him, De Bruyne’s dynamism has seen him able to influence games no matter the circumstances. Capable of swiping the ball into the top corner from distance, whip the ball around corners for team-mates to chase or simply to establish a pattern of possession, De Bruyne has it all. JR.
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44/101 58. David Seaman
A cult hero with Arsenal Seaman set the standard for English goalkeeping for over a decade. Twice a Premier League champion and a four-time FA Cup winner even his late-career ponytail can be forgiven. BB.
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45/101 57. Luka Modric
The Croatian would ascend to greater heights at Real Madrid, where he has won four Champions League titles and a Ballon d’Or. But before that he was a key player for Tottenham Hotspur, helping the north London side into Europe’s premier club competition for the first ever time. LB.
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46/101 56. Dennis Irwin
One of the best full-backs ever to grace the Premier League. Irwin was a mainstay in the Manchester United team during his decade at Old Trafford, winning seven Premier League titles (only Gary Neville, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs have more). He could play either side, took free-kicks and penalties, and dovetailed brilliantly with Giggs, who later said he was able to stay high up the pitch because Irwin needed such little defensive cover. LO.
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47/101 55. Gary Neville
No defender has more Premier League winner’s medals than Neville’s eight. He was consistent and reliable defensively and formed a fruitful partnership with his close friend David Beckham on United’s right, before later becoming captain of his one and only club. LO.
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48/101 54. Xabi Alonso
A key part of the Liverpool team which won the most thrilling Champions League final in history. Helped usher in Rafa Benitez’s Anfield revolution, forming a wonderful midfield partnership with Steven Gerrard before departing after five seasons for Real Madrid. LB.
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49/101 53. Paolo Di Canio
The Italian was one of most exciting among a raft of imported No10s who arrived in the late 1990s and lit up the Premier League show. His early success at Sheffield Wednesday was effectively ended when he pushed over referee Paul Alcock, receiving an 11-game ban, but he shone at West Ham and his volley against Wimbledon will go down as one of the great Premier League goals. LO.
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50/101 52. Edwin Van Der Sar
A case can be made that the Dutchman was equal to any goalkeeper in the league’s history. After years of failure to find a successor to Peter Schmeichel, Sir Alex Ferguson stole Van der Sar for a meager £2m from Fulham, securing a key cog in four titles during his time at the club. JR.
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51/101 51. Dimitar Berbatov
A player whose brilliance was defined by an artisanal elegance and the complete elimination of any superfluous movement. Struggled in his first few games for Tottenham before finding his rhythm, eventually moving to Manchester United for a club-record fee. Won two league titles before departing for Fulham. Arguably the most misunderstood player in Premier League history, and among the more underrated. LB.
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52/101 50. Steve Bruce
Alex Ferguson’s defensive lieutenant captained United to three Premier League titles during the 90s, scoring two famous late headers against Sheffield Wednesday to win United’s first title for 26 years. He is widely considered the greatest Englishman never to have represented his country. LO.
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53/101 49. Nicolas Anelka
Scored goals wherever he went. Won league titles with both Arsenal and Chelsea, while becoming a key player at Liverpool, Manchester City, Bolton and West Brom. JDM.
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54/101 48. Dwight Yorke
Another striker who positively plundered goals in his prime Yorke is most famous for his near unstoppable partnership with Andy Cole at Manchester United. But it’s his record at Aston Villa – 73 goals over nine years – that earns him his place here. BB.
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55/101 47. Jaap Stam
Asserted himself as one of the best defenders in the world before famously falling out with Sir Alex Ferguson and leaving for Lazio. Ferguson would later admit to making a mistake. “At the time he had just come back from an achilles injury and we thought he had just lost a little bit,” he wrote. “We got the offer from Lazio, £16.5m for a centre back who was 29. It was an offer I couldn’t refuse. But in playing terms it was a mistake. He is still playing for Ajax at a really good level.” MC.
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56/101 46. Claude Makelele
His immense legacy is that a position was defined after him and that Real Madrid were haunted by his sale to Chelsea for years to come. Adept at playing his role without the need to fly into challenges or impose his physicality, Makelele simply pinched possession and kept the ball moving with sheer ease. A master. JR.
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57/101 45. Teddy Sheringham
The eleventh-highest goalscorer in the history of the Premier League with 146 goals, and the competition’s 19th-highest appearance maker. A cult hero at Spurs thanks to two prolific spells at White Hart Lane, but it is at Manchester United that he enjoyed the most success, winning three consecutive Premier League titles between 1998-2001. LB.
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58/101 44. Michael Carrick
Possibly the most under-utilised and underrated English footballer in modern times. A vital cog for both West Ham and Tottenham before his big move to Manchester United. He would go on to make over 300 league appearances for the club, winning an extraordinary five titles. JDM.
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59/101 43. Ian Wright
From the Hackney Marshes to Highbury Wright’s story is the stuff of fairytales. An all-round, out and out striker Wright scored every type of goal, famously breaking Cliff Bastin’s Gunners record despite spending his first seven years at Crystal Palace. Only Thierry Henry has more in the famed red and white. BB.
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60/101 42. Robbie Fowler
One of the most ruthless goalscorers the Premier League has ever seen. 120 goals in just 236 league appearances in his first stint at Liverpool, before more troubled spells Leeds, Manchester City and Blackburn. No matter. You do not earn the only semi-ironic nickname ‘God’ for no reason. JDM.
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61/101 41. Carlos Tevez
Always controversial, always deadly in front of goal, always a delight to watch. Pitched up at West Ham in 2006, scoring seven priceless goals to help keep the Hammers up. From there he formed a formidable strike partnership with Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo, winning two league titles, before his acrimonious move to City. He would spend four successful seasons across town, scoring another 58 league goals and winning the title once more. JDM.
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62/101 40. David de Gea
Undoubtedly the best goalkeeper in the Premier League for the past five years, perhaps even the world. A Premier League title winner in 2012/13, the Spaniard has been included in the PFA Team of the Year on five separate occasions and was named United’s Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year for three consecutive seasons between 2013-2016, the first player in the award’s history to win on three successive occasions. MC.
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63/101 39. Sol Campbell
The centre-back is one of very few players to have enjoyed successful stints at both Tottenham and Arsenal. His effortless defensive skill was the epitomy of Arsenal’s Invicibles and earned him a place in the PFA Team of the Year. LO.
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64/101 38. Tony Adams
Another one-club man, Adams spent all 22 years of his professional career at Arsenal. 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 true legend, he is considered one of the greatest Arsenal players of all time. SL.
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65/101 37. Robert Pires
The winger came in as a replacement for Marc Overmars and after taken some time to adjust to the Premier League’s physicality, he lit up Enlgish football with his smooth dribbling style and collection of memorable goals. His peak was his hugely fruitful relationship with Thierry Henry during the Invincibles season. LO.
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66/101 36. N’Golo Kante
From the humblest of beginnings to the dizzying heights of Premier League success – first with Leicester and then with Chelsea – N’Golo Kante has proved a revelation. His willingness to do the dirty work, while allowing his teammates to grab the headlines further up the pitch, have earned him the admiration of fans across the league. And if it wasn’t for him, it seems unlikely Leicester would have gone on to win the league when they did. SL.
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67/101 35. Matthew Le Tissier
The dictionary definition of a one-club man Le Tissier would’ve won more trophies and notoriety away from his beloved Southampton but that loyalty didn’t stop him becoming one of the most technically gifted players of his generation. Criminally overlooked by England Le Tissier was a creator and scorer of great goals and also goes down as one of best penalty takers in the history of the game. BB.
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68/101 34. Harry Kane
The player most likely to drastically improve his ranking in years to come. 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. 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. LB.
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69/101 33. Luis Suarez
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. The Uruguayan hit an extraordinary 31 goals in 33 matches as Liverpool went so, so close to ending their long wait for a league title. A complete centre forward, who worked tirelessly, assisted his team-mates and was utterly ruthless in front of goal. MC.
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70/101 32. Gianfranco Zola
A pioneer thanks to his time at Chelsea, where he charmed a generation of fans with his fancy tricks and delightful free-kick goals. The diminutive Italian sparked a period with the Blues of expansive, attractive football. Capable of bamboozling the league’s toughest defenders, Zola’s class deserved to be surrounded with better quality. JR.
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71/101 31. Petr Cech
“I feel I have achieved everything I set out to achieve,” the goalkeeper said upon announcing his retirement for the end of the season. It’s hard to dispute. Indeed, how could you after a career that brought one Champions League, four Premier Leagues, one Europa League, five FA Cups and three League Cups? At the peak of his powers, he was simply one of the best goalkeepers to have graced the Premier League. SL.
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72/101 30. Cesc Fabregas
Fabregas broke into Arsenal’s first team as a teenager and quickly starred in midfield with his technical quality, eventually taking up the club captaincy. A decade on he won the Premier League with Chelsea, playing an instrumental role as Diego Costa’s provider. Also famous for throwing a slice of pizza at Sir Alex Ferguson. LO.
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73/101 29. Yaya Toure
Once a player who looked slow and sometimes used as a centre back, Yaya Toure’s game was almost entirely reinvented when he moved to Manchester. A goalscoring midfielder, powerful runner with pin-point accuracy. One of the leaders of City’s domestic dominance. AH.
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74/101 28. Michael Owen
England and Liverpool’s boy-wonder, Michael Owen’s best years game in his youth before injury took its toll – both physical and mentally. Owen was the last Englishman to win the Ballon d’Or, having notably helped Liverpool to a Treble in the 2000/01 season. He scored 118 goals for the Reds across 216 league appearances. SL.
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75/101 27. Robin van Persie
One of the best strikers of his generation, there are too many moments of brilliance to list when it comes to RVP. His move from Arsenal, where he made a name for himself, to Manchester United will always remain a point of contention but it certainly paid off. 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. A world-class player. SL.
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76/101 26. Gareth Bale
The 2012/13 PFA Young Player of the Year, FWA Footballer of the Year and Premier League Player of the Season. How amusing that, at the beginning of his Spurs career, fans thought he was jinxed, with the Welshman coming close to a cut-price move to Birmingham. Over six seasons he developed from a promising left-back into one of the best forwards in the world, eventually recruited by Real Madrid for a world-record fee as Cristinao Ronaldo’s heir apparent. LB.
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77/101 25. Andy Cole
Never the most talented Cole earned every one of his 187 Premier League goals with a relentless will to win. A journeyman career spanning 13 clubs it is his time at Manchester United alongside favourite running mate Dwight Yorke that he is remembered for. A five-time champion only two players in history have scored more. BB.
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78/101 24. Vincent Kompany
Mr Manchester City few sum up the rise and rise of his football club than Kompany. A three-time title-winner and instrumental in two the Belgian led from the front as the beating heart of some of the best teams we’ve seen. A modern defender with athletic prowess and technical skill to match Kompany will be remembered as one of the finest foreign imports the English game has seen. BB.
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79/101 23. Eden Hazard
Irresistible at his absolute best and one of the very few players capable of not only deciding games on his own, but doing so without the help of team-mates. The Belgian showcases total control when dribbling the ball, a skill he can stake claim to be the very best at throughout his time in the league. The finest player in the league in two title-winning seasons, Hazard is a true Premier League great who may only be appreciated when he has gone. JR.
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80/101 22. Ruud van Nistelrooy
Van Nistelrooy broke 20 goals in four of his five Premier League seasons, winning a Golden Boot and a PFA Player of the Year Award en route. He perhaps should have won more than his solitary title, but was competing in an era of Wenger’s Invincibles and Mourinho’s Chelsea. Even so, he is undoubtedly one of the league’s greatest finishers. LO.
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81/101 21. David Beckham
The lowest ranked of Manchester United’s famous midfield four in our list but no less impactful during his time in England, racking up 15 league assists during the treble-winning campaign. Beckham won six titles, made four PFA Teams of the Year and scored several iconic goals, and his record of 15 Premier League goals scored from direct free-kicks still stands. LO.
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82/101 20. Peter Schmeichel
The impenetrable foundation upon which five of Manchester United’s Premier League titles were built. 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. Sir Alex Ferguson’s long struggle to adequately replace him demonstrates just how brilliant he was. LB.
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83/101 19. Nemanja Vidic
Struggled slightly after his £7m move from Spartak Moscow, before forming the best centre-back partnership in the history of the Premier League with Rio Ferdinand. Freakishly strong and hardly ever beaten in the air, Vidic was also an important goalscorer, memorably scoring five times as United won the 2010/11 title. Eventually left in 2014 for Internazionale; were it not for injuries he would have remained at Old Trafford for even longer. LO.
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84/101 18. Didier Drogba
The greatest signing of the Roman Abramovich era was the spearhead of Jose Mourinho’s title-winning teams of 2004-05 and 05-06, linking brilliantly with a young Frank Lampard. His most prolific season came in winning the 2009-10 title under Carlo Ancelotti, scoring 29 league goals, before leaving and then returning in 2014, a decade after he first arrived, to win his fourth and final Premier League medal. LO
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85/101 17. David Silva
A midfield maestro capable of playing the game at his pace; speeding up and slowing down while painting a picture amid the frantic action in Premier League games.
Silva has never been flustered and can always be relied upon to stand up in the most opportune moments, a cornerstone of the Manchester City era and a candidate for their best ever player, despite the money lavished on numerous other players. JR.
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86/101 16. Rio Ferdinand
The prototype defender of the modern age Ferdinand was the trailblazer for, and best example of, what is now a staple of every backline: the ball-playing centre-half. At his elegant peak Ferdinand made defending look easy and while others were perhaps more effective few did it so effortlessly. His partnership with Nemanja Vidic was the standard all others aspired to for years and still do to this day. BB.
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87/101 15. Steven Gerrard
The greatest player in our list to never win a Premier League title. He instead remained at Liverpool, spending 17 seasons at Anfield during which he captained his side to two European titles as well as five domestic cups. An extremely versatile and well-rounded player, who completely remodeled his game as he grew older. TK.
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88/101 14. Ashley Cole
One of the very few England players of a generation who could claim to be the absolute best in the world in his position.
Cole could defensively lock down the very best in the world and his longevity at the top makes him an all-time great with an enviable trophy cabinet stuffed with every major honour in the club game. JR.
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89/101 13. Dennis Bergkamp
If this was a technically gifted list then the non-flying Dutchman would be even higher. A pleasure to watch Bergkamp didn’t just play, he conducted, regularly dictating games to his own particular tune. A great goalscorer and a scorer of great goals it is his telepathic partnership with Thierry Henry in one of the great teams in Premier League history that most fans remember most fondly. Nikos Dabizas probably disagrees. BB.
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90/101 12. Paul Scholes
His numbers are simply extraordinary. 499 Premier League appearances. 107 goals. Eleven league titles. One of Fergie’s Fledglings, Scholes developed into one of the finest midfielders in the world, renowned for his crisp passing, intelligent movement and eye for goal. Xavi famously remarked that Scholes was a “spectacular player who has everything”, while Pele once commented: “If he was playing with me, I would have scored so many more.” SL.
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91/101 11. Eric Cantona
The man who helped transform Manchester United from a promising side into the greatest team English football has ever seen. Before that he was a cult hero at Leeds, but it was his £1.2m move to Manchester that truly made him. Oozed both class and arrogance, while scoring a slew of memorable goals. And of course there was the controversy, with his infamous attack on a Crystal Palace fan resulting in a two-week prison sentence (which he avoided), 120 hours of community service and an eight month ban. LO.
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92/101 10. Sergio Aguero
Manchester City’s great survivor. A first-team regular for eight seasons now – no mean feat in a side which is constantly and ruthlessly evolving. A three time Premier League winner who has scored 161 goals, regularly exceeding the once-fabled 20 goal a season mark. But why write any more words when just one will suffice: ‘AGUEROOOOOOOOOOOOO!’ LB.
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93/101 9. Patrick Vieira
Captain of the greatest side in Premier League history. A true box-to-box midfielder: dominating, aggressive and always ready to lead from the front. Without his bite in midfield there is simply no way the likes of Dennis Bergkamp and Thierry Henry would have scored so many goals. TK.
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94/101 8. John Terry
The greatest defender in Premier League history. Brash, brave but above all technically brilliant: he possessed an uncanny ability to read play and be in exactly the right place to sniff out danger. Often controversial but a born leader: won five Premier League titles, making close to 500 appearances. SL.
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95/101 7. Alan Shearer
The best to ever do it Shearer’s record 260 Premier League goals may never be matched. A relentless scorer of all types of goals he made his name and won his only trophy as a Blackburn player but it is his time at Newcastle, where he broke Jackie Milburn’s scoring mark over 10 years of devoted service to his hometown club, that he is most fondly remembered for. Blessed with every conceivable asset you could want from a No 9, born in a different era Shearer would’ve easily been a £100m player. BB.
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96/101 6. Wayne Rooney
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. 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. A modern great. LO.
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97/101 5. Frank Lampard
A midfielder with the goalscoring record of an elite-level striker. 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. Incredibly versatile, deployed everywhere across the midfield in Chelsea blue, before enjoying an unexpectedly profitable Indian Summer at Manchester City. TK.
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98/101 4. Roy Keane
Sir Alex Ferguson once described Keane as the embodiment of his winning attitude on the pitch and that is all the more appropriate because, if the great manager is the figure to have influenced the Premier League more than anyone, Keane is the player to have psychologically influenced the Premier League more than anyone. That really isn’t an exaggeration, not when you consider his longevity, the number of titles he won and his absolutely key role in all of them. MD.
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99/101 3. Ryan Giggs
13 titles. 672 Premier League appearances. 114 goals. Another player who adapted his game as he grew older, proving his class across multiple roles. First he was the wiry winger, beating statuesque defends with his mazy footwork and turn of pace. 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. LO.
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100/101 2. Cristiano Ronaldo
One of the greatest players of all time. But before all of the titles at Real Madrid, Cristiano Ronaldo matured into the player he is now at Manchester United. He made an instant impression at Old Trafford, eventually scoring 84 goals in 196 Premier League matches – over half of those coming in his final two seasons when he was utterly unstoppable playing alongside Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez. Where he to have resisted Real’s inevitable approach, there is no doubt he would top this list. LB.
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101/101 1. Thierry Henry
The greatest player in the history of the Premier League. When Thierry Henry first arrived at Arsenal in 1999 from Juventus, there were those who doubted whether he would be able to cut it in the boisterously physical Premier League. How he silenced his critics. Scored 174 goals for Arsenal, winning two titles. But he was about so much more than just the goals. A true athlete, Henry was also a natural creator, and although Arsene Wenger moved him into the middle he never lost his eye for an assist, almost 50 alone between 2002-2004. A total player. An all-time great.
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Benitez took over the Newcastle in March 2016, but was unable to prevent the club’s imminent relegation to The Championship, despite finishing the season on a six-game unbeaten run. The former Valencia coach stuck with the club, making an immediate return to the Premier League after just one season in the second tier.
Newcastle’s statement continued: “We would like to thank Rafa and his coaching team for their efforts over the last three years and their significant contribution to what has been collectively achieved.
“We would also like to thank our supporters, players and staff for their patience during a period of uncertainty. The process to appoint a successor will now begin.”
The Magpies failure to secure Benitez’s future has now evidently left them in a state of flux, unprepared for the now unenviable task of finding a replacement for the much-adored manager.
As it stands, current Manchester City assistant Mikel Arteta is the bookies’ favourite for the role. Sean Dyche, Roy Keane and Garry Monk have also been earmarked as potential replacements.
