The 11 Best English Premier League Players Of All-Time
- Think Football Ideas
- Jul 9
- 6 min read
Updated: Sep 1
Who is the greatest English footballer in Premier League history? It’s a debate that can keep pubs buzzing for years without reaching a true conclusion. But having watched legends rise, fade, return, and roar through eras of glitz, grit, and goalmouth drama, there are a few who truly stamped their names onto Premier League folklore.
Some stood out for their sheer technical brilliance, others for their strength and character. And then there are those who embodied the ethos of English football, heart on the sleeve, chin up, boot in. As we run through this carefully picked eleven, you’ll find yourself nodding at names that didn’t just play the game, they shaped its very fabric.
Here Are The 11 Best English Premier League Players Of All-Time
11. James Milner
James Milner’s Premier League journey is a footballing marathon that began in 2002 with Leeds United, when he became the second-youngest scorer in league history at the time. What followed wasn’t a flash of brilliance, but a career sculpted from sheer persistence, tactical intelligence, and versatility.
He didn’t just “play,” he evolved. From Aston Villa’s midfield maestro to a Champions League-winning left-back at Liverpool, Milner’s adaptability became his superpower.
His spell at Manchester City between 2010 and 2015 brought two league titles, but it was his impact at Liverpool, where he added another title and a Champions League under Jürgen Klopp, that cemented his Premier League legacy.
In an era dominated by flair, Milner proved there’s still room for honest graft. With over 630 Premier League appearances and counting, he has been the perfect teammate, consistently selfless and utterly reliable.
10. Michael Owen
Before injuries stole his wings, Michael Owen was a phenomenon. He burst into our consciousness at just 18 years old with Liverpool in 1997, scoring with a swagger that belied his age. His pace was searing, his finishing ice-cold, and defenders could barely breathe when he ran at them.
He won the Premier League Golden Boot twice by age 20. Though his spell at Real Madrid and injury troubles dimmed the glow, he still managed 150 Premier League goals across stints with Liverpool, Newcastle, Manchester United, and Stoke.
Owen's trajectory was bittersweet, a blazing comet that lit up the early 2000s but faded too soon. Yet those early years were unforgettable, and his Ballon d'Or win in 2001 remains a testament to how jaw-droppingly good he was at his peak.
9. Ashley Cole
There was a time when full-backs weren’t expected to do much more than mark their man and lump the ball forward. Ashley Cole changed that.
Starting at Arsenal, where he formed part of the iconic “Invincibles” squad in 2003–04, Cole was fearless both in defence and attack.
His move to Chelsea in 2006 made headlines and fury, but it only elevated him. He won another Premier League title and became arguably Europe’s best left-back for the better part of a decade.
Pace, timing, tackles, overlaps, and the occasional goal, Cole made the left-back role sexy. His battles with Cristiano Ronaldo were legendary, and his 385 Premier League appearances proved how consistently elite he was, cementing him as the best left-back the Premier League has ever seen.
8. John Terry
Love him or loathe him, John Terry was a colossus. A one-club man at heart, he captained Chelsea through its most successful era, lifting five Premier League titles and establishing himself as one of the most dominant defenders in Premier League history.
Debuting in 1998, Terry wasn’t the fastest, but he read the game like an author reads silence. He’d throw his body in front of a shot, head away crosses with bloodied brows, and bark his backline into order with the voice of a general.
Under Mourinho and beyond, Terry was the bedrock of Chelsea’s back four. With 41 goals, he remains the highest-scoring defender in Premier League history, which was proof of his threat from set-pieces.
7. David Beckham
Sometimes the glitz overshadows the grind, but David Beckham was always more than just a global brand. His right foot was an instrument of precision. His crosses weren’t just whipped, they were painted.
Beckham emerged as part of Manchester United’s fabled Class of '92, and by 1996–97, he was already lighting up Old Trafford. That goal from the halfway line against Wimbledon? Iconic. His assist tally? Ridiculous. His work rate? Underrated.
He won six Premier League titles with United before heading to Real Madrid in 2003. Though his time in the Premier League was relatively short, his 62 goals and 80 assists in just 265 appearances speak volumes about the impact he had.
6. Harry Kane
You don’t just score 213 Premier League goals without entering the pantheon. Harry Kane, once written off as a loan journeyman, exploded into the scene in 2014–15 with Spurs and has never looked back.
He isn’t just a goalscorer. He’s a creator, a deep-lying playmaker in a striker’s body. From screamers to poachers’ finishes, Kane’s repertoire is vast. He is also England's all-time leading goalscorer.
Now plying his trade in Germany with Bayern Munich, his Premier League legacy is temporarily on pause. But make no mistake: Kane is already one of the league’s all-time greats, and had he stayed in England, he might have shattered Shearer’s record.
5. Paul Scholes
If you know football, you know Paul Scholes. He wasn’t flashy, he didn’t seek the limelight, but he controlled the rhythm of every game he played.
Making his debut in 1994, Paul Scholes was Sir Alex Ferguson’s metronome. With 107 goals and 55 assists across 499 Premier League appearances, he wasn’t just a passer, he was a goalscoring midfielder with an eye for the spectacular.
Legends like Iniesta, Xavi and Zidane have sung his praises. That alone tells you how special he was. And let’s not forget the 11 Premier League titles he won at Old Trafford, more than any other English player.
4. Frank Lampard
No English midfielder has scored more Premier League goals than Frank Lampard. In fact, only Alan Shearer, Wayne Rooney, Andrew Cole and Harry Kane have more. That’s staggering.
Lampard was Chelsea’s heartbeat through the 2000s and early 2010s. From 2001 to 2014, he became Chelsea's all-time top goalscorers, scoring 177 league goals and providing 102 assists, combining elegance with ruthless efficiency. His late runs into the box became a trademark. His consistency? Legendary.
A three-time Premier League winner, Lampard also reinvented what it meant to be a No. 8, as he blended intelligence, leadership, and goals into one devastating package.
3. Steven Gerrard
There’s a reason Steven Gerrard inspired undying loyalty from Liverpool fans. He was everything to that team, the brain, the brawn, and often the only hope.
From his debut in 1998 to his farewell in 2015, Gerrard was a force of nature. His range of passing, thunderous strikes, and box-to-box intensity made him a one-man wrecking crew.
While he never won a Premier League title (painfully close in 2013–14), his 504 appearances, 120 goals, and 92 assists tell part of the story. The other part? Champions League comebacks, derby-winning screamers, and a legacy that transcends medals.
2. Alan Shearer
260 Premier League goals. Let that marinate. Alan Shearer didn’t just score, he dominated. With thunderclap headers, cannonball shots, and a celebration that became iconic, Shearer was every centre-back’s nightmare from 1992 to 2006.
He won the title with Blackburn Rovers in 1994–95, then chose Newcastle United over Manchester United, a move that said everything about the man.
Loyalty over glory. He still finished with 441 appearances, 64 assists, and that immortal goal tally. No one has topped it yet. And maybe no one ever will.
1. Wayne Rooney
There are players who score goals. Then there are players who do everything and still score goals. Wayne Rooney was the latter.
From his debut goal for Everton in 2002 at age 16 to becoming Manchester United’s all-time top scorer, Rooney was relentless. He could pass like Scholes, shoot like Shearer, tackle like a defender, and sprint like a winger.
He scored 208 Premier League goals, racked up 103 assists, and won five league titles. But numbers alone don’t do him justice. Rooney evolved from boy wonder to midfield general, always doing what the team needed. His football IQ? Off the charts.
Rooney, who ranks high among the best forwards in Manchester United's history, wasn’t just great, he was complete.
Agree? Disagree? That’s the beauty of the game. The debate lives on, and that’s exactly how legends should be remembered.
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