80. Robbie Keane
Coventry City, Leeds United, Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool, West Ham United, Aston Villa
Keane is remembered for his trademark cartwheel following 126 Premier League goals, including six straight seasons of double-digit returns in his first Spurs spell. As Edgar Davids found out, he was also hard as nails. “He went bang – one punch, gone,” said ex-Tottenham team-mate Jamie O’Hara of one training ground fracas. “Davids picked himself up and walked off.”
HIGHLIGHT Britain’s most expensive teen in 1999 tied Derby’s Jacob Laursen up in knots during a superb two-goal debut for Coventry.
79. Freddie Ljungberg
Arsenal, West Ham United
While Robert Pires was cultured and delicate down the left flank for Arsenal, there was nothing subtle about Ljungberg. The Swede was fearless, feisty and would frequently slip past centre-backs unnoticed to grab big goals. A generation of children dyed their hair pink thanks to Freddie – the Gunners’ action man.
HIGHLIGHT Injury to Pires forced Ljungberg to the left in 2001/02’s run-in, but he popped up with six goals and helped to create Sylvain Wiltord’s strike to win the title at Old Trafford.
78. Roberto Firmino
Liverpool
The Brazilian was once a promising, yet inconsistent attacking midfielder – then perfected the false nine role under manager Jurgen Klopp. Now, his vision and positional nomadism are the template for how traditional forwards – even Harry Kane – can improve their skill set.
“I would feel really embarrassed if I had to mention all the qualities of Bobby Firmino,” tooted Klopp.
HIGHLIGHT Three assists for three different players as Liverpool trounced Southampton 4-0 in February 2020 was Firmino at his finest.
77. Michael Essien
Chelsea
Whether Essien was bludgeoning footballs from 30 yards, charging through a sea of midfield legs or crunching into tackles, he did everything with the utmost commitment. The Ghanaian could also read a game like few others, and was a linchpin in eight seasons at Stamford Bridge for Jose Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti.
HIGHLIGHT Essien’s stonker against Arsenal in December 2006 combined brawn with beauty; a glorious outside-of-the-boot strike which almost decapitated Didier Drogba.
76. Gary Speed
Leeds United, Everton, Newcastle United, Bolton Wanderers
The late Gary Speed was a consistent and reliable midfielder during his long and established career in the Premier League. An important player for Leeds, Everton, Newcastle and Bolton during his time in England’s top-flight, Speed was also a natural-born leader and inspirational figure in football. The fact he played top-level football in a fast-paced league well into his thirties showed his strong levels of fitness and professionalism. A well-respected member of the Premier League who is missed by the football community.
HIGHLIGHT In November 1996, Everton beat Southampton 7–1 at Goodison Park with Speed scoring the only hat-trick of his career. He was simply unstoppable, that day, and became Everton's player of the year that season.
75. Jurgen Klinsmann
Tottenham Hotspur
In an Ossie Ardiles team built to score, Klinsmann thrived. “It wasn’t ridiculous at all playing with five attacking players,” he insisted to FFT. “I had a lot of fun, and I still think that had we been more consistent defensively, and not made so many individual mistakes at the back, we could have played that system.”
HIGHLIGHT Naturally, he opened with a goal on his Premier League debut: a trademark thumping header at Hillsborough, followed by his now-legendary diving celebration.
74. Patrice Evra
Manchester United, West Ham United
Alex Ferguson likened finding a decent full-back to “searching for a rare bird” in his 2013 autobiography. In Evra, he found what he was looking for. “He was quick, had superb technique and a strong personality,” wrote Fergie. United paid Monaco just £5.5m for the Frenchman in 2006, receiving more than eight years of fantastic service in return.
HIGHLIGHT It takes strength to recover from being subbed at half-time on your debut. He hung on, delivering a terrific goal-and-assist display against Everton later that year.
73. Sami Hyypia
Liverpool
The £2.6m arrival from Dutch outfit Willem II in 1999 was no headline-maker. Yet the centre-back soon transformed Gerard Houllier’s Merseysiders into a different beast; from leaking 49 goals in 1998/99, the Reds conceded only 30 in two of the next three league campaigns. “He was so consistent, it was a shock if he had a bad game,” Jamie Carragher told FFT.
HIGHLIGHT The Kop’s mosaic tribute for the Finn’s final Liverpool match in May 2009 was a fitting way to honour him.
72. David De Gea
Manchester United
Schalke giant Manuel Neuer had been sought by Alex Ferguson in 2011, but United’s goalkeeping coach Eric Steele believed the younger De Gea was a sounder option.
“In three years, he’ll be better,” stated Steele. After a wobbly start, De Gea grew into a world-class stopper who bailed an ailing Red Devils side out for years, and was their player of the season in four of the five campaigns from 2013/14.
HIGHLIGHT An unbeatable, 14-save display against Arsenal in 2017 helped United pinch a 3-1 win at the Emirates Stadium.
71. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink
Leeds United, Chelsea, Middlesborugh, Charlton Athletic
After netting 24 goals for Boavista in 1996-97, Dutch ball-batterer Hasselbaink picked Leeds ahead of Werder Bremen – then plundered 34 goals over two Premier League seasons. After leaving for a prolific year at Atletico Madrid, Chelsea paid £15m for him in 2000, and were rewarded by back-to-back scoring seasons of 23.
HIGHLIGHT A thunderbolt at Old Trafford in 2000 was one of numerous Jimmy specials, opening the scoring in a see-saw 3-3 draw.
