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The Premier League has entered a new stratosphere of popularity as we enter deeper into the 2020s. A key reason behind the popularity is for the stage the league gave to mercurial talents such as Thierry Henry, Wayne Rooney, Eden Hazard, Sergio Aguero and many others.
Much admiration, however, is reserved for players who hadn't quite played for the biggest of teams, but nevertheless managed to make their way into the hearts of many fans with their talent and ability. Here is a list of "Top 5 greatest Premier League Cult Heroes of the 2010s" that the streets will never forget.
#5 Adel Taarabt
Modern football is so very often reduced to a statistical reading of goals scored, passes completed, xGs and "successful dribbles". Some players, though, go beyond the numbers. Morocco's Adel Taarabt is one such player whose wizardry graced the Premier League.
Blessed with lazy elegance and the audacity of a true "street baller," Queens Park Rangers's Taarabt took dribbling and technical ability to near Ronaldinho levels, armed as he was with an arsenal of dummies, feints, stopovers and nutmegs.
Massively entertaining for the masses, Taarabt, in his near five-year spell baring loan stints at Fulham and AC Milan, alternated between a frustrated participant and an electric attacker seemingly possessed by the spirit of Johan Cruyff himself. Queens Park Rangers twice suffered relegation during his stay and he was very so often the lone bright spark for the club.
#4 Hatem Ben Arfa
Hatem Ben Arfa at his very best lit up Newcastle United's St. James’ Park stadium with his silky smooth dribbles and control of the ball. Some adoring Newcastle supporters might even go on to compare his left foot to that of Leo Messi! Joining the likes of Yohan Cabaye, Papis Cisse and Demba Ba, Ben Arfa was a bonafide star in the Newcastle United team of the early 2010s, as they defied expectations with a 5th place finish in 2012.
Armed with creativity, brilliance and a direct attacking ability, many fans would say that Ben Arfa has had a far less successful career in comparison with individuals such as Eden Hazard though possessing similar traits.
Aged 33, the Frenchman has recently been trying to write a new chapter in his legacy with Bordeaux after less than impactful spells with Paris Saint Germain and OGC Nice.
#3 Papiss Cisse
Papiss Cisse, at his prime in a Newcastle shirt, was a deadly quick and deceptively lethal centre-forward. Together with Demba Ba, he formed possibly the most devastating modern day two-man strike partnership to help Newcastle to 5th place in 2011/12 against most odds.
Signed in January for the money received from Andy Caroll's move to Liverpool, the Senagaleese forward went on to net 44 goals for Newcastle United. Not only was he a great goalscorer, but a scorer of great goals such as his iconic air bender versus Chelsea in 2012.
#2 Dimitri Payet
It's hard to pick a singular moment of magic to define the brilliance of Dimitri Payet. Whether it's his magical rabona assist against Watford or the inspired free kick that found the top corner against Crystal Palace, Payet produced many magical moments in the Premier League.
The man West Ham fans swore to be "better than Zidane" spent just 18 months with the Hammers, dazzling everyone with his ball control, playmaking and simply outrageous finishing. After joining West Ham in 2015, the Frenchman racked up 14 goals and 23 assists in just 60 games for the club, and was easily one of the most gifted players to have played in the 2010s. His acrimonious departure back to Marseille did muddy his legacy to an extent, but he will always be a Premier League legend.
#1 Michu
Miguel Perez Cuesta, or Michu, is perhaps the greatest bolt from blue the Premier League has ever seen. Signed from Rayo Vallecano by a Swansea City team who had lost manager Brendan Rogers to Liverpool, little was known and expected from the Spaniard despite his impressive goal haul in Spain. His 2012/13 campaign may go down as one of the greatest individual seasons in Premier League history in which he scored 22 goals in all competitions.
What made him stand out was the class and comfort he had on the ball, despite being a tall, physically imposing player. He possessed a lethal left-foot shot that found the top left corner of the net with surprising regularity.
He even had a trophy to his name as Swansea City ran out as League Cup winners that season in a massive upset. Sadly, a career plagued by injuries meant Michu's star shone very briefly before he retired aged just 31 years .
His intelligence and technical ability left an unforgettable mark on many despite his brief spell at the top, not the least Erling Haaland who frequently cites Michu as an inspiration for his playing style.
