The English premier league is arguably the best league in world’s football.
It is known to be the most physical league, which attracts many footballers to play in it.
Since the league was formed in 1992, a lot of world-class players have been watched playing in the league, both English-born and foreigners.
The League has served as a harbor for world’s best talents ever, but who makes it in our best premier league 11?
1. Petr Cech
Many football fanatics and pundits may argue that Peter Schmeichel is the best goalkeeper in the premier league, but statistics between Schmeichel and Cech speaks volumes.
Cech signed for the Blues from French outfits FC Rennes in July 2002 on a $5M (Sh682.7M) transfer fee.
The former Czech Republic international went ahead to be among the key players in Chelsea’s dressing room, helping the team to gain 202 league clean sheets, a record that is yet to be broken.
He was a reliable figure in the goalpost, which made him be the most preferred number-one goalkeeper, for the 10 managers that he played for at Chelsea and Arsene Wenger at Arsenal.
2. Garry Neville
When you mention his name, what pops up in the minds of premier league lovers is that he is the best right back to have played in the league.
Neville was an academy player from Carrington, before going on to spending his entire football career playing for Manchester United.
The now Sky Sports pundit was not gifted with pace or physicality, but he made up for it with his passion, hard work on and off the pitch, together with his amazing intelligence that could quickly read the game.
He helped Manchester United win 12 PL titles, booking him a spot in our top list as the best right back to have graced the PL.
3. Ashley Cole
The former English International was an integral figure of Arsenal’s invisibles squad of 2004, making him premier league’s undisputed Left back of all time.
Cole broke the headlines in the summer of 2006, when he made a controversial transfer move to Chelsea.
Cole was gifted with skill, speed and stamina, making him to be a complete package for a wing back.
The English international won three league titles in his career, two with Arsenal and one at Chelsea, before signing for AS Roma in 2014.
4. Rio Ferdinand
Rio Ferdinand was a top-quality center back who was gifted with pace, athleticism, leadership and strength, which most defenders lack.
He had the composure and good game-reading ability whenever he was faced with opposition pressure, which helped him to win six PL titles with the Red Devils.
Nonetheless, Ferdinand helped Manchester United secure total of 189 clean sheets, becoming one of the few icons in our list.
5. John Terry
Besides winning five PL titles with Chelsea, Terry proved to be an iconic figure at the Stamford Bridge, hence his longevity with the Blues.
Terry was a defensive warrior and a true leaders for Chelsea, which made him to spend 19 years of his professional career playing for Chelsea.
He built his reputation as a dependable center back whenever the team was under pressure, and was rock solid defender for the blues, which saw him make 492 PL appearances for the Londoners.
6. Patrick Viera
It makes sense to wonder why we have chosen Patrick Viera ahead of Roy Keane for the spot, but Viera is arguable the best option to go for if you are a football manager.
The French international was a midfield colossus in every sense for Arsenal, who was strong in every single tackle that he made, and was composed whenever he was in possession of the ball.
The 1998 FIFA world cup winner with France marked his name as PL greatest ever after captaining Arsenal to become invincible in 2004.
Viera was Arsenal’s heartbeat in the midfield, and he won three league titles with the Gunners.
7. Paul Scholes
One of the greatest debates in the English league has always been, between Paul Scholes, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard, who is the greatest midfielder ever?
To compliment Patrick Viera in the midfield, you will need creative player, a genius of a player in the attacking phase of play, and Scholes is the exact guy for any manager to go for among the three.
The now Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola once praised the midfielder in an interview saying, “All respect to Frank [Lampard], to Steve [Gerrard], but Paul Scholes is my favorite one. I think he had everything.”
Not only that but also, Scholes was once described by the now Barcelona head coach Xavi Hernandez as the best midfielder of his generation.
8. Mesut Ozil
Having Ozil in this chart as one of premier league’s best players may spark an unending debate, but Ozil deserves all the credit to be here.
On a poll, many football fans would toss between Kevin De Bruyne, Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard for the spot, but it is fair to say Ozil was beautiful to watch whenever he had the ball.
The former Real Madrid star signed for the Gunners on the deadline of the 2013 summer, marking the start of his PL career.
The Turkish born German international had an eagle-like vision, complimented with a pin point long range passing accuracy that astonished the fans.
The now retired super star was naturally gifted with vision, passing, creativity, skills and dribbling, which makes him to appear in our greatest PL 11 of all time.
9. Wayne Rooney
The English star is the record goal scorer for Manchester United, and at the international stage, he was the top scorer for England national team from 2015 to 2023.
Rooney had a glistening career in the PL, which saw him scoring 253 goals for Manchester United and 53 goals for England football team.
The Englishman was a creative playmaker and second striker that made him be a pivotal player at Manchester United, helping the Red Devils to win five PL titles.
10. Alan Shearer
When it comes to Premier league’s greatest 11 of all time, Shearer is the only man that has no peers.
The former English striker scored 260 PL goals for Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United, making him a top player to have graced the PL.
During his footballing career, Shearer made two British record-breaking transfer moves; His $3.6M (Sh491.58M) move from Southampton to Blackburn, and his $18M (Sh2.5BN) transfer move to Newcastle United from Blackburn in 1996.
Nonetheless, Shearer still stands as the PL top goal scorer of all time, with a record 260 goals.
He is also remembered for inspiring Blackburn Rovers to premier league triumph in 1995, making him to be a key figure in our chats.
11. Thierry Henry
It is undebatable that Thierry Henry was a Premier league king during his footballing career.
Arsenal legend Thierry Henry is the undisputed PL forward of all time, making him a top cream in this chart.
He has a record four Golden Boots in the competition, and his role in the legendary Arsenal invisibles season is most likely enough to hail him as the king of PL.
Henry had lightening pace, silky dribbling skills and a predatory eye for goal. The French International scored 175 goals in his 258 PL games, which made him an all-time great.
