Greatness: The state, condition, or quality of being great; as, greatness of size, greatness of mind, power, etc.
After a heated debate last night (alcohol induced) over who can lay rightful ownership of the title Premierships Greatest player, I thought it would be interesting to ‘try’ and devise a list of players who in my eyes had had such an effect on our top division since its rebirth in 1992 as the Premier League.
I do obviously realise this is a thankless task which is sure to ruffle feathers for whom ever reads this article. I can only apologise in advance for any offence caused if I in my unwitting state have missed your side’s top player(s). I can only assure you all that as a Birmingham City supporter myself that ‘Greatness’ is not something we are too familiar with, although latterly we have witnessed it on a few occasions normally from the sides visiting St Andrews.
Well, here goes, I have tried to collate them into a top 10. The criteria is simply the effect that the player in question has had on his particular teams fortunes over the period he was playing for them. For those still currently playing this criteria is stretched until present day for arguments sake.
Roy Keane – Manchester United – 1993-2005.
Put simply, the catalyst for United’s most successful period in their history. After king Eric hung up his boots many United fans thought the end of an era was on the horizon. Fortunately for them Corks finest hadn’t read that script and basically grabbed a young side by the horns and pulled it (sometimes single handily) through trophy winning season to trophy winning season.
Eric Cantona – Manchester United – 1992-1997.
The unveiling of the Premiership in 92 coincided with the start of Manchester United’s dominance of English football and in particular English footballs love affair with ‘King Eric’. Never out of the tabloids for long, the Marseille born maverick graced us all with his ability, vision and spectacular finishing.
Steven Gerrard – Liverpool – 1998-Present Day
Never before has one man endeared himself to a clubs following than Stevie G. When his beloved Liverpool have needed him he has never let them down. The scorer of spectacular goals and more assists than is humanly possible to count. Nevermore evident than one spectacular night in Istanbul. Has single handily held Liverpool in the title race in many a season.
Thierry Henry – Arsenal – 1999-2007
The greatest compliment anyone can pay Henry is that since he walked away from the Emirates, Arsenal have not competed on the same level as the 8 trophy laden years he spent there. Amazingly signed initially as a winger, Arsene Wenger moved the young Juventus flop into a striking role the rest is goal scoring history. Arsenals all time leading goalscorer with 226 goals.
Ryan Giggs – Manchester United – 1990-Present Day
The Welsh Wizard has truly lasted the test of time at the top of England’s football pyramid. Never before has one player won so many trophies at one club, he is the most decorated player in English football history. Has scored goals in every Premiership season since it began in 1992. He has been a constant thorn in the defences of opposition clubs up and down the country since he burst onto our screens as a jet heeled left winger, now occupies a more conserved role in the midfield.
Alan Shearer – Newcastle United – 1996-2006
When Kevin Keegan brought the Geordie boy back home in 1996 he had wrestling the Premiership from the grips of Old Trafford in mind. Granted this never took off as he would have liked but Shearer went on to endear himself to the St James’ Park faithful. The Premierships top goalscorer ever with 260 strikes to his name. Very rarely a Saturday went by without Shearers name appearing on the VidePrinter.
Dennis Bergkamp – Arsenal – 1995-2006
When Bruce Rioch signed the Dutch superstar from Inter in 1995 after a couple of unhappy seasons in Italy who would’ve known the effect the playmaker forward would have. Slowly getting to grips with the hustle and bustle of the English game, the arrival of Arsene Wenger in 1996 seemed to take Bergkamp to the next level and from then on there was no stopping the classy front man.
Gianfranco Zola – Chelsea – 1996-2003
Zola’s signing for the blues in the winter of 96 from Parma went almost unnoticed as Ruud Gullit turned Stamford Bridge into a multi cultural hotbed. Zola though outlived many of his counterparts he arrived with and went onto become a true Chelsea great. His amazing range of skills and his ability to see things that no other player could even think of let alone attempt made sure he joined this list.
John Terry – Chelsea – 1998-Present Day
Chelsea’s iconic captain epitomises everything that can be achieved with true grit and determination. Thus he is the only defender to appear on this list. When he first broke into the Chelsea side no-one could have imagined the colossal figure he would go onto become at the heart of the blues defence. Has 3 Premiership winners medals to show for his efforts for Chelsea as the blues look to take away the grip Manchester United have had over the trophy.
Cristiano Ronaldo – Manchester United – 2003-2009
When Ronaldo first arrived on our shores from Sporting, it was on a recommendation from pretty much the entire United squad after he single handily destroyed them in a pre-season friendly. Slightly built to start with which meant Sir Alex preferred to introduce him from the bench. He soon got to grips with the physical side and improved dramatically to become almost unplayable at times. A scorer of wonder goals and making just as many for teammates. Filled the number 7 shirt with the distinction of its former incumbents Best, Cantona, Robson and Beckham to name a few.
So there we have it. Like I said beforehand this Top 10 is not official but I feel represents a semi-accurate take on Premiership history.
Please feel free to tell me if you feel I have missed out your favourites.
Follow Steve Featherstone on Twitter @Feathersworld
