The English Football Association recently celebrated what’s been a landmark year for soccer’s oldest governing body when the national team face old foes Germany in a friendly at the home of soccer.
Other events, such as the first-ever soccer game at Buckingham Palace, gala dinners and many other high-profile appearances from legendary players and managers, have stretched throughout the special year as the game the English invented has become the most popular sport in the world.
In 1863 the FA was formed and over the last 150 years so many sensational players have graced the English First Division, and now the Premier League, as fans across the globe have marveled at the talent on display.
To celebrate the English FA’s 150 anniversary, myself and my colleague Mike Prindiville thought it would be great to look back and rank our favorite players that helped shape England’s top flight as it is today. It wasn’t easy, as this list could be extended to 250 and plenty of worth players would’ve been omitted.
Anyway, here it goes, our 150 favorite players in English top flight history is about to be revealed. Do you agree?
Top 20
1. George Best
The loveable playboy who dazzled and delighted us all with his mesmerizing skills sits at the top of our mammoth list, he was an entertainer who always delivered. Best was the darling of Manchester United and Northern Ireland and was the most famous man on the planet in his prime. Two league titles and a European Cup plus 181 goals in 474 games for United say it all. Legend. JPW
2. Sir Bobby Charlton
A United 1-2 at the top and they both played in that remarkable Red Devils team that won the 1968 European Cup at Wembley. Charlton was the symbol of United’s rise from the dark days of the Munich air disaster to champions of Europe. He was a terrific midfielder who possessed a hammer of a shot from distance. Charlton still holds the goalscoring record for United and England. JPW
3. Sir Stanley Matthews
When his name is uttered, old black and white footage of a man dribbling and gliding down the wing spring to mind. Matthews was known as the “Magician” and played until he was 50 years of age. Described as one of the finest crossers of the ball the game has ever seen, his status as the first true great of English soccer remains intact today. Blackpool and Stoke City were the only two teams he played for, as well as representing England. JPW
4. Sir Bobby Moore
Still the only man to captain England to World Cup glory, Moore is revered as the best central defender the Three Lions have ever had. His reading of the game was superb and the effortlessness in which he constantly thwarted opposition forwards was a joy to behold. Famous battles with Brazilian legend Pele live on long in the memory during England’s golden generation. The nation was in mourning following his death at an early age, England’s heroic captain now guards Wembley as his statue sits out front of the home of soccer. West Ham legend, Moore will always be remembered as the man who led England to glory on home soil in 1966. JPW
5. Ryan Giggs
With a little more than a week to go before his 40th birthday, there’s no questioning that Giggs is a Premier League legend. The only player to have ever played and scored in every Premier League season, Giggs has won 12 Premier League titles, four FA Cup’s and two Champions Leagues. Individually, he’s been named to the Premier League Team of the Year six times, the PFA Team of the Century and the UEFA Champions League 10 Seasons Dream Team. MP
6. Alan Shearer
Newcastle’s all-time leading goalscorer and the highest scoring player in the history of the Premier League, Shearer is a god to the Toon Army. He broke Jackie Milburn’s famous goalscoring record and scored 206 times for his hometown club, while also winning a league title with little Blackburn Rovers in 1995. Captained England at both World Cup ’98 and Euro 2000, Shearer was the finest striker of his generation. JPW
7. Thierry Henry
Arsenal’s all-time leading scorer, Henry’s va-va-voom made him a cult hero in North London and across the globe. He led Arsene Wenger’s revolution with the Gunner from the very start and the young Frenchman turned into one of the greatest strikers the planet has ever seen. Winning a World Cup and European Championship with France and several league championships (including their invincipled season and other domestic honors with Arsenal, Titi will forever by the king of North London. JPW
8. Gary Lineker
England’s second highest goalscorer in history, Lineker’s career was full of poached goals and supreme professionalism as he scored for whatever club he suited up for. Leicester City, Everton, Tottenham Hotspur and FC Barcelona all loved his predatory instincts as he scored 281 times in over 500 games during his glittering career. JPW
9. Kenny Dalglish
A fierce competitor and goalscorer for Liverpool, Dalglish netted 199 times in the League and formed a tremendous partnership with Ian Rush. King Kenny was arguably the most successful player-manager the English game has ever known, leading Liverpool to a League and FA Cup double in 1986. Dalglish also endeared himself to Liverpudlians as an inspirational figure following the Hillsborough Disaster. MP
10. Peter Shilton
With 125 appearances, Shilton is England’s most capped player ever. Known for his remarkable agility, Shilton’s career spanned an incredible two decades (he retired at the age of 47) where he won back-to-back European Cups at Nottingham Forest and played in a World Cup semi-final. He will forever be best known, however, as the victim of Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God.” MP
11. Steven Gerrard
Stevie G is Liverpool. The one-club man is one of the best midfielders of all time and remains the only player to have scored in an FA Cup Final, a League Cup Final, a UEFA Cup Final and a Champions League Final. Named to the Premier League Team of the Year seven times and the FIFA World XI three times, Gerrard captains the England side for which he has made over 100 appearances. MP
12. Nat Lofthouse
He scored 30 goals in 33 games for England… a sublime goals to game ratio that nobody has ever beaten. Lofthouse was one of the finest forwards England has ever seen as he played for his hometown side Bolton from 1946-60. Was dubbed the “Lion of Vienna” after England beat Austria 3-2 and he scored the winner despite being battered around the pitch. His bravery to stick his head in where it hurt grabbed him many goals, a poacher of epic proportions. JPW
13. David Beckham
A global superstar who has won titles in England, Spain, France and the USA, Becks has done it all. He holds the record for most caps picked up by an outfield player for England (115), his performances on the pitch were always of the highest quality. His crossing ability was phenomenal and his spectacular goals saw him elevate his legendary status further. Manchester United, Real Madrid, LA Galaxy, AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain were lucky to have him on their side. A true England great. JPW
14. Eric Cantona
Part footballer, part philosopher, part artist, perhaps no man had greater influence on the Premier League than Cantona. Credited by Sir Alex Ferguson as the signing that changed everything for Manchester United, Cantona won four Premier League titles, two FA Cups, was part of the Premier League Team of the Year in 1993-94, and was voted the club’s Greatest Ever Player by the magazine Inside United. He’ll forever be known for his kung fu kick of a Crystal Palace supporter but with the bad came so much good, including one of the best goal celebrations of all time – the popped collar stare down. MP
15. Wayne Rooney
When you think of English football it’s impossible not to think of Rooney. The Everton product announced himself to the world with his blistering strike against Arsenal in his first Premier League appearance and he hasn’t looked back since, transferring to Manchester United where he has won four Premier League titles and one Champions League trophy. Individually, Rooney has been named in the Premier League Team of the Year three times, the Fifa World XI (2011) and was awarded the greatest ever Premier League goal for his bicycle kick against Manchester City in 2011. MP
16. Tony Adams
He’s nicknamed “Mr. Arsenal” for good reason – with 504 total appearances, 255 of which were in the Premier League, no one encompasses the Gunners more than Adams. A fierce defender who had a knack for getting forward and scoring big goals, Adams was named in the Premier League Team of the Year three times and also earned a place in the Team of the Decade (1992/3 – 2001/2) at the Premier League 10 Seasons Awards. MP
17. Kevin Keegan
One of the finest midfielders in English history, Keegan rose from the depths of Scunthorpe United to starring for Liverpool, Southampton, Hamburg and his hometown side Liverpool and won the European player of the year award. For England he was the first name on the team-sheet throughout the 1970’s and Keegan’s delightful perm inspired a generations hairstyles! Magnificent athlete and leader who squeezed out every inch of his talent. JPW
18. Cristiano Ronaldo
Ronaldo’s time in England may have been cut short but it will long live in the memory of fans across the Premier League. Ronaldo remains the most expensive player of all time and made 196 appearances for Manchester United, winning three Premier League titles and one Champions League trophy. On an individual level he was named to the Premier League Team of the Year four times and also won the Ballon d’Or in 2008 while at Old Trafford. Arguably the best player in the world, Ronaldo’s time at United will go down as the major turning point in his career. MP
19. John Charles
A world-class center-forward and a world-class center-half, Big John Charles was one of Leeds best ever players. Despite playing half his games in defense, Charles scored 93 goals in 155 League matches before becoming one of the first-ever British players to move abroad, to Juventus in 1957 for a world-record £65,000. The Welshman was adored in Turin where he was affectionately known as King John and would often start up front, score a goal and then move back into defense. MP
20. Paul Gascoigne
Perhaps the best raw talent of any British player on this list, Paul Gascoigne’s career has sadly been overshadowed by his ongoing battles with alcohol. As a player though, few were more unpredictable or inspiring than Gazza, whose performance at the 1990 World Cup was unbelievable and whose goal for England at Euro 96 easily goes down as one of the best ever. MP
The best of the rest…
21. Paul Scholes
22. Dennis Bergkamp
23. Dixie Dean
24. Roy Keane
25. Dennis Law
26. Alan Ball
27. Frank Lampard
28. Bert Trauttman
29. Billy Wright
30. Ian Rush
31. Michael Owen
32. Didier Drogba
33. Gordon Banks
34. Graeme Souness
35. Peter Schmeichel
36. Liam Brady
37. John Terry
38. Bryan Robson
39. Patrick Vieira
40. Ashley Cole
41. Stan Mortensen
42. Robin van Persie
43. Pat Jennings
44. Geoff Hurst
45. Duncan Edwards
46. Johnny Haynes
47. Mark Hughes
48. Cliff Bastin
49. John Barnes
50. Gareth Bale
51. Andy Cole
52. Matthew Le Tissier
53. Luis Suarez
54. Neville Southall
55. Jurgen Klinsmann
56. Trevor Francis
57. Tom Finney
58. Jackie Milburn
59. Ruud van Nistelrooy
60. Marcel Desailly
61. Jimmy Greaves
62. Steve Heighway
63. Patrice Evra
64. Ian Wright
65. Robbie Keane
66. Wilf Mannion
67. Peter Osgood
68. Danny Blanchflower
69. Jim Baxter
70. Petr Cech
71. Gary Speed
72. Steve McManaman
73. Gareth Barry
74. Dave Mackay
75. Gianfranco Zola
76. Ossie Ardiles
77. Joe Mercer
78. Bobby Tambling
79. John Greig
80. Sol Campbell
81. Jimmy Armfield
82. Terry Butcher
83. Pat Rice
84. Teddy Sheringham
85. Paul McGrath
86. Robbie Fowler
87. Malcolm Macdonald
88. Jamie Carragher
89. Johnny Giles
90. Cesc Fabregas
91. Peter Beardsley
92. Dwight Yorke
93. Mark Hateley
94. Dean Saunders
95. Andy Gray
96. Rio Ferdinand
97. Gary Neville
98. Shay Given
99. Carlos Tevez
100. Paul Mariner
101. Juninho
102. Roger Hunt
103. Emmanuel Petit
104. Georgi Kinkladze
105. Les Ferdinand
106. Juninho
107. Harry Gregg
108. Mark Viduka
109. John Aldridge
110. Dennis Mortimer
111. Sergio Aguero
112. Steve Bloomer
113. Billy McNeil
114. Michael Carrick
115. Tommy Taylor
116. Martin Keown
117. Michael Thomas
118. Robert Pires
119. Glenn Hoddle
120. Terry Paine
121. Yaya Toure
122. Alan Gilzean
123. Arjen Robben
124. David James
125. Joe Harvey
126. Ray Wilson
127. Ian Callaghan
128. Kerry Dixon
129. Nemanja Vidic
130. John Robertson
131. David Ginola
132. Ole Gunnar Solkskjaer
133. David Platt
134. Chris Sutton
135. Colin Bell
136. Peter Reid
137. Martin Chivers
138. Vincent Kompany
139. John Toshack
140. Paolo Di Canio
141. Diego Forlan
141. Jermain Defoe
142. Kevin Phillips
143. Jaap Stam
144. Freddie Ljungberg
145. Harry Kewell
146. Stan Collymore
147. Darren Anderton
148. Billy Bonds
149. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink
150. Paul Ince
