Greatest Premier League XI of all time

There have been some truly great players who have graced the Premier League ever since its inception in 1992. Some world class stars have thrilled and enthralled all of us with their astonishing performances.

The Premier League is considered to be the most exciting league in the world and to pick an all-time XI from such a vast choice of so many great players is no easy task. However, we took up the challenge and the team looks absolutely unbeatable.

Some huge names have missed out but this XI is really formidable

Formation: 4-3-3

Goalkeeper – Peter Schmeichel

Manchester United legend Peter Schmeichel is the goalkeeper of this amazing team. The Dane is considered by many to be one of the greatest goalkeepers to ever play the game. A giant between the goal sticks, Schmeichel's intimidating presence made it an almost impossible task to score against him.

A commanding presence in the box, Schmeichel was very good at dealing with set-pieces and was a vocal and inspiring leader for the Manchester United defence. The Dane was also an excellent shot stopper and his heroic saves made Manchester United a very tough team to beat.

He won 5 Premier League titles with the Red Devils including a famous treble in 1999. He later went on to represent Aston Villa and Manchester City before calling time on his amazing career in 2003. His son Kasper Schmeichel is also following in his footsteps having performed amazingly for Leicester City this season.

Peter Schmeichel is easily one of the best goalkeepers to have played in this generation.

Ashley Cole – Left Back

The Premier League’s greatest left-back is undoubtedly England international Ashley Cole. Cole was a left-back who never feared going forward. In Arsenal, Cole was a huge attacking threat working tirelessly on the flanks and helping out in both defence and attack.

Cole was an integral part of the Arsenal’s invincibles side putting in some stunning performances for the Gunners. However, he soon managed to rub Arsenal fans the wrong way when he made a controversial transfer to bitter rivals Chelsea in 2006.

He had some of his best years at Chelsea, playing a pivotal part in the Blues’ successes. Cole has won 3 Premier League titles in his career, with 2 coming at his spell in Arsenal and the third one coming with Chelsea when they won the League under Carlo Ancelotti.

Love him or hate him, one cannot deny that Ashley Cole is one of the best left-backs of all time.

John Terry – Centre Back

Captain. Leader. Legend. Three words that aptly sum up one of the finest centre-halves of this generation. A true champion, John Terry has earned several accolades for his services to both club and country.

Consistency has been the key for John Terry. In an illustrious career that has spanned 18 years and still counting, there has hardly been a day when Terry’s commanding presence hasn’t been felt on the pitch. A no-nonsense and uncompromising defender with flawless aerial ability perfectly describes Terry’s style of football. He might not be the quickest player around, but he makes up for lack of pace with his intelligence.

Having made more than 700 official appearances for the club he loves, there is no denying the fact that John Terry is Chelsea through and through. One of the most important players in the Mourinho era, Terry was one of the key factors in making Chelsea the European superpower it is today.

Cesc Fabregas underlined the importance of Terry to the Chelsea squad when he said:

“Even from outside the game you can appreciate that John Terry is the boss of the Chelsea side in all ways.”

Tony Adams – Centre Back

One of Arsenal’s greatest players ever, Tony Adams was a man revered by the Arsenal fans. The London-born Adams showed remarkable loyalty throughout his 19-year long career sticking to his boyhood club Arsenal from the start of his career till he retired.

Tony Adams was made the captain of the side at a very young age in 1988. However, it proved to be one of the best decisions ever as Adams went on to lead the Gunners for 14 long and successful years. One of the most inspirational captains of all time, Adams was like a rock in defence playing a key role in the 1997/98 title triumph under Arsene Wenger.

He finished with two Premier League titles under Arsene Wenger and he was immortalised in stone when Arsenal unveiled a statue of their legendary captain outside the Emirates stadium.

Tony Adams is an Arsenal legend and one of the best leaders of all time.

Gary Neville – Right Back

Gary Neville is a Manchester United legend and was a crucial member of the side that went on to win a plethora of titles under Sir Alex Ferguson. This alone gives an indication of how important and efficient Neville was in carrying out his duties.

Not only is Neville a Man Utd legend, he is also considered as one of the greatest if not the greatest right-backs in the Premier League and there isn’t anyone else who can boast his longevity or his success.

Technically, Neville didn’t have the attributes to be a top full back as he lacked pace – one of the most important attributes needed for a full back as they have to bomb up and down the flank. He wasn’t the strongest of players either, but his tactical awareness, intelligence, work-rate, professionalism and determination made him one of the best defensive full backs in the game.

Neville won 8 Premier League titles in his stunning career and his passion for Manchester United made him a firm fan favourite at Old Trafford.

Patrick Vieira – Central Defensive Midfielder

A dynamic midfield player whose ability to bring the ball from defence to attack was a marvel to behold,Patrick Vieira was the captain of the incredible Arsenal “invincibles” side. Vieira led his team by example. A player whose quality of tackling, passing energy and determination made him a natural fit to the League and an easy player for Arsenal fans to fall for.

The ability to regularly beat people with the ball, especially in the middle, is a rare one, but to Vieira this seemed to come naturally. A combination of height and strength added to technique and composure led to him rapidly becoming a vital cog within Arsenal’s gameplan.

Vieira's battles with Manchester United’s Roy Keane were legendary and it was a treat to watch two of the best midfielders of this generation go all out for the win.

The facts of Vieira’s career speak for themselves; at the time of his retirement he had amassed 107 caps for France (including the ’98 World Cup and 2000 Euros), featured in six seasons in a row in the PFA team of the year at Arsenal, won three Premier Leagues and four FA Cups.

He had a brief spell at Manchester City before retiring but the legendary French midfielder is best remembered for his time at Arsenal.

Steven Gerrard – Central Midfielder

Steven Gerrard is the one truly world class player who stuck with Liverpool throughout their good and bad times. A one-club man, Gerrard is a creative midfielder with limitless energy, who is renowned for scoring crucial goals at crucial times. A real leader, Gerrard is a tireless runner and has superb vision. A true hero at Anfield, Gerrard truly deserves the word ‘legend’.

Renowned for his pace, work-rate, stamina and thunderous long-shots in his prime, Gerrard almost singlehandedly inspired an average Liverpool side to some great victories and consistent performances in the Premier League era.

Steven Gerrard is also widely regarded for his leadership abilities and his capability to inspire his team-mates during the toughest of situations. Although he has never won the Premier League title, Gerrard remains one of the best midfielders to have graced the Premier League.

Paul Scholes – Central Midfielder

Xavi called Scholes as “the best central midfielder he has seen in the last 15-20 years”. The ginger genius has been one of the best players the Premier League has ever seen. He has won an astonishing 25 trophies with Manchester United which includes 11 Premier League titles and two Champions League titles.

Scholes was highly regarded for his technical skills, renowned for his accurate passing, intelligent movement and powerful shooting from long range. A well-rounded, tenacious, and versatile box-to-box player, he was capable of playing in any midfield position, often alternating between defensive,offensive and playmaking roles, due to his stamina, vision, and work-rate, as well as his ability to make attacking runs.

Widely regarded by his peers as one of the best in the world, Scholes has received praise from players like Zidane, Edgar Davids and Guardiola. One of the best players Manchester United have ever had, Scholes was capable of pulling the strings in midfield and control the flow of the game effortlessly.

Scholes is arguably the best midfielder of the Premier League era.

Ryan Giggs – Left Winger

Ryan Giggs one of Manchester United’s greatest players needs no introduction. The most decorated player in British Football, the marauder of the left flank, the man who left defenders with twisted blood. There was a time when people used to say “you cannot see his feet when he runs”.

The major honours won by him with Manchester United(not including his personal achievements) are: 13 Premier League titles, 4 FA cups, 3 League Cups, 2 Champions league, 1 Club World Cup, 1 Intercontinental Cup and 1 UEFA Super Cup.

His longevity at the top of the game was just amazing and his ability to influence games left everyone spellbound. He broke into the first team at the age of 17 and made the left flank his own. After having played the majority of his career on the wings, he also excelled as a central midfielder in the latter stages of his amazing career.

The most successful player of the Premier League era, Ryan Giggs is a true legend.

Cristiano Ronaldo – Right Winger

One of the two stand out footballers of this generation along with Lionel Messi, Ronaldo is one of the greatest players ever to play the beautiful game. Ronaldo spent six years at Manchester United and here is where he announced himself as one of the best footballers in the world.

Having a burning desire to be the best, Ronaldo has worked hard to hone his undoubtedly prodigious talent and become one of the greatest players ever to grace this game.

The Portuguese superstar’s mazy runs and dribbles left defenders flat-footed and it is a no-brainer that one of the legends of the game is included in the all time Premier League XI.

Thierry Henry – Forward

Thierry Henry is an Arsenal legend and one of the greatest forwards to have graced the Premier League. When Henry was at his best, he was almost unplayable and he tormented defences with his quick runs, close control and clinical finishing.

Henry always delivered in the biggest of games and he was an integral part of the Arsenal invincibles squad. His stunning goals and run on the wings made Arsenal a very threatening side at their peak. Henry won two Premier League titles with Arsenal. He also won the Premier League Golden Boot for four seasons.

Henry is a Premier League legend and possibly its greatest player not just for what he did on the field, but for the way he did it, making the game look like an art.

Although the 11 is now over, the formation of this amazing team, substitutes and manager are given in the next slide.

Formation, Substitutes and Manager

For the manager post, there can be only one choice and it is undoubtedly Sir Alex Ferguson. The Scotsman won an astonishing 13 Premier League titles with Manchester United and he managed to knock Liverpool off their f****ng perch like he promised to.

There are some truly great players who just missed out on the all time Premier League XI. The most notable among them being Roy Keane and Alan Shearer. Here are the 7 amazing substitutes for the greatest Premier League XI of all time.

Petr Cech

Rio Ferdinand

Alan Shearer

Roy Keane

Frank Lampard

Wayne Rooney

Dennis Bergkamp

Here is how our star-studded Premier League XI lines up.