50. Michael Owen
Liverpool, Newcastle United, Manchester United, Stoke City
History tells us that Owen never managed 20 goals in a Premier League campaign, yet his record at Liverpool stood at an excellent 118 goals in 216 league games by the time he departed for Real Madrid in 2004. Newcastle followed, before a free transfer to Manchester United all but killed his Liverpool legacy.
Although Owen wasn’t quite done: his 96th-minute winner against rivals City in September 2009 sealed a famous 4-3 derby win. Those highs had all but died out long before; at one point though, there wasn’t a child in Britain who didn’t pretend to be Owen in the playground.
HIGHLIGHT An 18-year-old Owen, floating after France 98 and at the peak of his powers, slotted four goals past Nottingham Forest four months later.
49. Claude Makelele
Chelsea
A man so good that he has a position named after him, Makelele was perhaps Chelsea’s most important signing of the early Abramovich era. A defensive midfielder who kept the Galacticos grounded, he played the same role at Stamford Bridge, providing the engine for two Premier League crowns.
HIGHLIGHT Bundling in the rebound of his own missed penalty against Charlton on the final day of 2004-05’s title-winning season: his Blues team-mates loved him that much, they gave him the spot-kick.
48. Jamie Vardy
Leicester City
He is Leicester’s best-ever player. His eye-bulging effort and pantomime hustling lend themselves to cult status, but the former factory worker has backed that up season upon season with a stream of talismanic strikes. Vardy is still chomping into the Premier League’s top 20 scorers of all time should he get back there – we don't bet against it – having not played a game in it until the age of 27.
HIGHLIGHT Breaking Ruud van Nistelrooy’s record by netting in 11 consecutive Premier League games en route to 2015-16 title glory.
47. Teddy Sheringham
Nottingham Forest, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United, Portsmouth, West Ham United
Sheringham was 31 when he joined Manchester United in 1997, handed the unenviable task of replacing Eric Cantona. The frontman recovered from a slow start to thrive among fierce Old Trafford competition. Teddy scored in Forest’s first Premier League game in 1992, was still going at West Ham by 2006, aged 40, and was loved at Tottenham in between.
HIGHLIGHT A superb hat-trick at home to Southampton in October 2000 preceded PFA and FWA Footballer of the Year gongs.
46. Denis Irwin
Manchester United
Out of anyone Alex Ferguson had the privilege of mentoring, he named Denis Irwin his greatest signing. They don’t make full-backs like him anymore: imperious and unflinchingly consistent, he barely laid a toe out of step in 12 years at the top. Ferguson trusted the Irishman with his life - and rightly so.
HIGHLIGHT Captain for the final game of the 2001-02 season, Irwin was given the United send-off he deserved. Oh, and he helped keep a clean sheet - the important bit.
45. Yaya Toure
Manchester City
The 6ft 2in powerhouse, who had resented playing at centre-back in Barcelona, was moved into his natural midfield domain – frequently, as the most advanced man.
Alongside Silva’s subtle artistry, Toure’s impressive passing range, tackling and box-to-box bursts helped to take Mancini’s talented team to another level. In his second campaign, the Ivorian was at the heart of City’s Premier League title – his sixth assist of the season teed up Pablo Zabaleta’s opener during the nail-biting 3-2 final-day win over QPR.
HIGHLIGHT A March 2014 hat-trick against Fulham, with a trademark screamer, helped City to a rampant 5-0 win. A captain’s display en route to a second league triumph.
44. Robbie Fowler
Liverpool, Leeds United, Manchester City, Blackburn Rovers
Four minutes and 33 seconds was all it took for Liverpool to go 3-0 up against Arsenal in August 1994 thanks to Fowler’s record-breaking Premier League treble, which stood for more than two decades. Dubbed ‘God’ by the Kop for his supreme natural finishing, Fowler’s later spells with Leeds, Manchester City and Blackburn were blighted by injury.
HIGHLIGHT Successive PFA Young Player of the Year awards in 1994-95 and 1995-96, after stellar campaigns of 25 and 28 goals.
43. Robert Pires
Arsenal, Aston Villa
“Wow, this football is not for me,” Arsenal’s new £6m signing muttered before coming off the bench for his August 2000 Premier League debut. He couldn’t believe the physicality. Pires grew to love English football, shining during the Gunners’ greatest spell with 14 goals in three seasons running from 2002-03.
HIGHLIGHT With Arsenal chasing down Manchester United for the 2002 title, Pires’ gorgeous lob over ex-Red Peter Schmeichel at Villa Park sealed all three points in style.
42. Xabi Alonso
Liverpool
When Liverpool went toe-to-toe with Manchester United for the 2008-09 title, they did it with their greatest midfield of the Premier League era. Captain Steven Gerrard rampaged, Javier Mascherano hared and, next to them, Alonso glided. The Spaniard was an instant hit from Real Sociedad in 2004, stunning team-mates with his pristine passing. Gerrard later called him “my most enjoyable partner”.
HIGHLIGHT Netting twice from inside his own half. The second, in September 2006 against Newcastle, put Steve Harper on his backside.
41. Tony Adams
Arsenal
The only player to captain a title-winning team across three different decades. For all Arsene Wenger’s sexy football, it’s the rugged Adams who supporters hold among their dearest. His leadership offered Wenger the canvas on which to create art – not least after returning from rehab to win the league in 1997-98.
HIGHLIGHT Latching onto Steve Bould’s looping ball to batter home Arsenal’s fourth goal against Everton in May 1998. A third title was his – would you believe it, indeed.
