What Is The Premier League All Time XI?
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What Is The Premier League All Time XI?

What Is The Premier League All Time XI?

The Premier League, the biggest and most lucrative league in world football. From global sponsors, to global stars, the Premier League has produced unforgettable moments since it's creation in 1992.

With 128 nationalities being represented in the Premier League, the vast array of players that have featured in the league has been like no other.

From "streets won't forget ballers" to Balon D'or winners, today we will be taking a look at the greatest XI of players to ever play in the league, with a few honourable mentions along the way.

Without further adieu, let's get into it!

GK - Petr Cech

Petr Cech signed for Chelsea in 2004 from French club Rennes in 2002, and the Czech Republican enjoyed a 15 year career in the Premier League before retiring.

During his career, Cech lifted 4 Premier League titles, 5 FA Cups, 3 League Cups, 1 Champions League, and 1 Europa League. It is also worth noting that Cech holds the record for the most clean sheets in the league with 202, as well as the record for the most clean sheets in a single season (24 in the 2004/05 season).

Some may say it's a miracle Petr Cech managed to have the career he had after his near life-threatening injury vs Reading in 2006. After colliding with Reading's Stephen Hunt, Cech underwent immediate surgery on his skull, fitting two metal plates into his skull.

To this day, the Czech Republican states he has no memory of the incident, and this led to him wearing the iconic protective helmet for over a decade.

Petr Cech's sheer brilliance helped Chelsea reach new heights of success for over a decade. In 2015, Cech moved to Arsenal after falling out of favour at Chelsea, he enjoyed 4 seasons at Arsenal before retiring in 2019.

Honourable Mention: Peter Schmeichel

RB: Kyle Walker

Perhaps a bold pick, this modern fullback dominated the Premier League for over a decade. After signing for Manchester City from Spurs back in 2017, Walker was the best right back in the league for a long time.

His blistering pace and physicality bullied attackers up and down the country. Walker helped Man City win 6 Premier League titles, 2 FA Cups, 4 League Cups and 1 Champions League. It is also worth noting that Kyle Walker captained the Sky Blues in the 2023/24 season, helping them to a fourth consecutive league title.

Walker was also a part of Man City's famous 2023 treble winning side. Now playing his football at Burnley, Walker recently became the right back to play the most matches in that position. He will be looking to enjoy the latter years of his career by helping keep the newly promoted side in the league.

Honourable Mention: Gary Neville

CB: John Terry

John Terry was Chelsea's captain for over a decade. In this time, he won 5 Premier League titles, 5 FA Cups, 3 League Cups, 1 Champions League, and 1 Europa League. Terry was named PFA Player of the year in 2005, and was included in the Premier League Hall of Fame in 2024.

Regarded by many as the greatest centre back to ever play in the league, Terry helped Chelsea keep 214 clean sheets during his time in the backline. In addition to this, he is the Premier League's highest scoring defender with 41 goals.

Terry was never known for blistering pace, but rather for his brute style of defending, and his "no-nonsense" approach. Over his career, he formed formidable partnerships with many different players, with his most notable partnership being with Ricardo Carvalho, where the pair helped Chelsea keep 24 clean sheets in the 2004/05 season, only conceding 9 goals.

A true legend of the game, Terry retired in 2018 after spending a season in the Championship with Aston Villa.

Honourable Mention: Nemanja Vidic

CB: Virgil Van Dijk

Virgil van Dijk is a two time Premier League champion with Liverpool. Famously, the now captain of the side was once the most expensive defender in history after signing for Southampton for a £75 million fee.

Van Dijk has also won a Champions League with Liverpool, and has twice been a runner up with the side. A monster in aerial duels, a bulldozer in tackling, and deceptive pace has helped the Dutchman become one of the best the modern game has seen.

In the 2018/19 season, Van Dijk famously went the entire season without being dribbled past, a feat no defender has ever achieved before. He also boasts an impressive record at Anfield, only losing 4 times there since joining the club.

In 2019, Van Dijk finished second in the Balon D'or, only coming second to none other than Lionel Messi. Now, Van Dijk marshalls Liverpool's backline as one of the seasoned veterans in the side. He will be will be looking to bring glory back to Anfield once again this season, and uphold his legacy.

Honourable Mention: Rio Ferdinand

LB: Ashley Cole

After being part of Arsenal's invincible Premier League season, Ashley Cole made what was perhaps the most controversial transfer of it's time, switching from North to South London and signing for Chelsea in 2006.

Dubbed, "Cashley Cole" after his transfer, we don't reckon that bothered him too much. Baring in mind he already had 1 Premier League and 3 FA Cup trophies under his belt before joining the Blues, Cole went on to win a further 3 Premier League title, a further 4 FA Cups, 1 League Cup, 1 Champions League, and 1 Europa League trophy.

Cole has the most FA Cup titles out of any other player, and he was inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame in 2024. A true icon of the game, many regard him as the best left backs ever, and if not, the best left back England has produced.

Honourable Mention: Patrice Evra

CM: Frank Lampard

Staying at Stamford Bridge for this selection, Frank Lampard is one of the best to ever do it in the Premier League.

His career started at West Ham, where he was the subject of criticism, with people saying his uncle Harry Redknapp was favouring him due to being related. Redknapp stuck to his guns however, and Chelsea fans are glad he did.

Signing from West Ham in 2001, Lampard enjoyed an illustrious career at Chelsea. Winning 3 Premier Leagues, 4 FA Cups, 2 League Cups, 1 Champions League and 1 Europa League, his trophy cabinet is not small by any means.

Lampard scored 177 Premier League goals, making him the highest scoring midfielder in the history of the league. He is also Chelsea's highest ever goalscorer with 211 goals for the club.

Lampard was inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame back in 2021.

Honourable Mention: Paul Scholes

CM: Patrick Vieira

Patrick Vieira was a monster in the Arsenal midfield for years. Making over 400 appearances for the Gunners, Vieira won 3 Premier League titles and he was the core of the midfield in the side that famously went invincible in the 2003/04 season.

Vieira was named Premier League Player of the season in 2001, and he was also inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame. Famous for his on-field feuds with Man United's Roy Keane, Vieira was one of the Premier League's original "hardmen".

Honourable Mention: Roy Keane

CM: Steven Gerrard

Despite being the only player in the XI to never lift a Premier League title, Gerrard's dominance in the league lasted over a decade. From outrageous goals, to true heart on sleeve moments for Liverpool. Gerrard's numbers speak for themselves.

Gerrard netted 120 goals and notched up 92 assists during his time in the Premier League. He was awarded the PFA Player of the Year award at the end of the 2005/06 season.

A true one club man, Gerrard played over 40,000 minutes in the red of Liverpool before moving to the MLS to see out the end of his career. Gerrard was inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame in 2021.

Honourable Mention: Kevin de Bruyne

RW: Mohamed Salah

Mohamed Salah is the greatest African player to play in the Premier League. After becoming a two-time Premier League winner in the summer, Salah is now the fourth highest Premier League goalscorer of all time.

Salah holds the record for the most goal involvements in a single season, racking up an unbelievable 29 goals and 18 assists in the 2024/25 season. He is also tied first with the most player of the month awards. The Egyptian King is also the highest African goalscorer in the league with 186 goals, his next closest competitor is Sadio Mane who has 111.

As Salah enters the latter years of his career, the winger will be hoping to taste some more glory with Liverpool before finally calling it a day.

Honourable Mention: Cristiano Ronaldo

ST: Wayne Rooney

Wayne Rooney entered the Premier League stage as a 17 year-old for Everton and was instantly turning heads up and down the country. The teenager from Merseyside hit the ground running instantly, and this subsequently led to Man United signing the forward for a fee of around £27 million in 2004.

Rooney lifted 6 Premier League titles at United. He is the competition's third highest goalscorer of all time with 208 goals. The speciality with Wayne Rooney is that he was way more than just a number 9, his versatiliy allowed him to play in an array of different positions across the attack and the midfield. Rooney is the Premier League's fourth highest assister, with 103 assists to his name.

Famous for his spectacular moments in front of goal, as well as his controversial moments off the pitch, Rooney is an all time great, and players like him come around once in a generation. Rooney was inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame in 2022.

Honourable Mention: Alan Shearer

LW: Thierry Henry

Widely regarded as the best player to ever play in the league, Thierry Henry was nothing short of sensational. Winning 2 Premier League titles and 3 FA Cups with the side, Henry was a formidable part of the invincibles side, forming a deadly partnership with Dennis Bergkamp.

Henry's goal catalogue in the Premier League is one of disbelief, with the Frenchman scoring goals that some could only dream of. In the 2002/03 season, Henry scored 24 goals and notched up 20 assists, an assist record that has been matched by Kevin de Bruyne, yet it still hasn't been beaten. He was also a four-time golden boot winner in the Premier League.

Henry was a consistent danger for Premier League teams, whether that was out wide or up front, and his prowess will forever go down as some of the greatest displays the league will ever witness. Henry became a Premier League Hall of Fame member in 2021.

Honourable Mention: Eden Hazard

Closing Remarks

There you have it, the Greatest XI in Premier League History. Missing anyone?

How would this team fair in the Premier League today? Come argue your case, our DMs are wide open.

Benji Kosartiyer
Journalist

Arthur Turner

EFL Transfer and News Writer

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