30. Gianfranco Zola
Chelsea
“Gianfranco was iconic at Chelsea – he was part of the attraction,” ex-teammate Michael Duberry told FFT of Zola. “It was the influence he had on other Chelsea players like Frank Lampard, too. The attention to detail, to practise and work hard – it rubbed off on anyone who joined the club.”
“People talk about Jose Mourinho putting that mindset into Chelsea, but Zola had already been doing it. He had such an impact there. He transformed the club.”
Legacies don’t come much better than that. Chelsea’s successful era began back on that autumn day in 1996, when Gianfranco Zola walked through the door at Stamford Bridge.
HIGHLIGHT In the closing stages of the final game of the season, the 36-year-old schemer tormented a defender some 11 years his junior, turning Jamie Carragher inside out and sending the Liverpool stopper tumbling, before darting past two more bamboozled Reds in a sumptuous piece of skill. It would prove to be Zola’s final act in blue.
29. Edwin van der Sar
Fulham, Manchester United
The Dutchman had been a European champion at Ajax and regular at Juventus before joining newly promoted Fulham in a shock 2001 move. Four seasons later, Manchester United came calling, Alex Ferguson ending a six-year wait for the reliable stopper he had been hunting since Peter Schmeichel’s exit. The prototype for the sweeper keeper.
HIGHLIGHT A record 14 consecutive clean sheets between November and February led the Red Devils to Premier League title glory in 2008-09. Impregnable.
28. David Silva
Manchester City
Slight, short, foreign: would Silva be able to cope in English football? So pondered the pundits when City coughed up £24m for the Valencia man in 2010. ‘Merlin’ soon dropped jaws with his effortless displays for a side on the ascent, and proved the fulcrum of four league titles under three managers. They all adored him.
HIGHLIGHT A masterful performance as City gubbed Manchester United 6-1 at Old Trafford in October 2011. “The best individual display I’ve ever seen,” Micah Richards later told FFT.
27. Andy Cole
Newcastle United, Manchester United, Blackburn Rovers, Fulham, Manchester City, Portsmouth, Sunderland
Cole’s shock £7m switch to Old Trafford in January 1995 had Newcastle fans seething with manager Kevin Keegan. The striker had scored for fun at St James’ Park, including a stellar 34-goal 1993-94. Predictably, Cole hit 93 more league strikes for the Red Devils, bagging five titles over seven full campaigns.
HIGHLIGHT Cantona’s 1997 exit helped Cole, but Eric’s spirit lived on. Cole’s lesser-heralded chip against Everton that Boxing Day was ace.
26. David Beckham
Manchester United
Eight goals and seven assists over the 1996/97 season earned a 21-year-old Becks the PFA Young Player of the Year gong but, like so many United players, he enjoyed his greatest season in their Treble-winning campaign of 1998/99.
Beckham would win three more Premier League crowns after that, before leaving for Real Madrid for £25m. Has any player before or since boasted such natural ability to bend, spin and weigh passes with the effortlessness of United’s former No.7?
HIGHLIGHT That halfway line goal at Selhurst Park which shot Beckham into the Spice Girl-marrying stratosphere. Sullivan may still have nightmares.
25. Didier Drogba
Chelsea
The Ivorian embodies Abramovich-era Chelsea. Both physically elite and mentally resilient, he was an ace card in the Blues’ biggest games, but a flat-track bully as well. Drogba became the prototypical Mourinho forward who inspired a tactical change to lone frontmen in English football – every Chelsea striker since has had to measure up to his lofty standards.
HIGHLIGHT Drogba struck 29 goals in a title and Golden Boot-winning 2009/10, his brace at Arsenal in November featuring a stonking free-kick to wrap up a 3-0 victory.
24. Virgil van Dijk
Southampton, Liverpool
To quantify Van Dijk’s influence at Liverpool is nigh on impossible. It’s not just the Dutchman’s terrifying 6ft 4in frame and effortless approach to defending which stand out, his leadership spreads calm where others breed chaos. “He has no weakness,” opined Sami Hyypia, who knows a thing or two on the subject.
HIGHLIGHT A towering header at home to Manchester United in a January 2020 win. Face to face with Harry Maguire, Van Dijk proved why he’s a different class altogether.
23. Kevin De Bruyne
Chelsea, Manchester City
City now orbit around De Bruyne. The Belgian is more than Pep Guardiola’s creative hub, he has a midfield role all of his own; their multi-talented action hero with a passing range unrivalled. The 29-year-old has won so many trophies and equalled Thierry Henry’s long-standing single-season assist record of 20.
HIGHLIGHT It’s almost unfair to choose one. De Bruyne’s highlight reel of assists deserve an adult rating, but his inch-perfect pass to tee up Leroy Sané in a 7-2 thumping of Stoke in October 2017 was next level.
22. Nemanja Vidic
Rio Ferdinand’s 2002 arrival at Old Trafford was huge, but the picture was incomplete until £7m bargain Vidic rocked up at the start of 2006. United uncovered another leader with no significant weaknesses in the terrace favourite – the Serb is still the only defender to be named Premier League Player of the Season twice.
HIGHLIGHT Vidic endured a difficult first six months after moving from Spartak Moscow, but was captain by 2010. It was a measure of the “uncompromising sod” – Fergie’s words.
21. Vincent Kompany
Manchester City
Captain Kompany was the constant throughout City’s astonishing ascent. From his raw arrival at a club still finding its way in 2008, to becoming its beating heart across four title triumphs, the Belgian led by example in steering the team to hitherto unscalable heights.
HIGHLIGHT He was a man for the biggest occasions. First, a bullet derby header swung the 2011/12 title race to City. Seven years on, his swerving 30-yard thunderbolt at home to Leicester meant another winner’s medal. An iconic Premier League moment.
