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The Premier League is arguably the pinnacle of league football across the world. Home to legends aplenty, the English top-flight boasts quality across all 20 contesting squads.
Over the last 29 years, there have been several additions to the never-ending list of Premier League greats. Every summer and every season brings in fresh faces who take the league by storm. If they stay long enough and manage to win some silverware as well, they are instantly recognized in England and across the globe.
Here, we look at a very select group of players who have graced the Premier League in the history of the competition. Left-footed players are a precious commodity in the modern era and the English top-tier has certainly seen its share of fantastic left-footed players.
Here's a look at the top-five left-footed Premier League players over the last 29 years:
#5 Ashley Cole
Ashley Cole is one of the greatest left-backs to have graced the Premier League. The English international, who largely turned out for Arsenal and Chelsea, enjoyed a tremendous playing career at club level.
Cole went from Arsenal's reserve team to their first team in 1999 but was loan out to Crystal Palace. He then returned to the club in 2000 and quickly established himself as one of the cornerstones of the side. The Englishman excelled as a left-back during his six-year stay at Arsenal and was part of the Gunners' incredible Invincibles side.
He made 228 appearances for Arsenal, recording nine goals and 22 assists. Cole won two Premier League titles and three FA Cups with the Gunners before heading to Chelsea under controversial circumstances.
Plenty of criticism came Cole and Arsenal's way following his move to Stamford Bridge but the full-back didn't let it affect his game. He continued to build on his reputation as an excellent left-back during his time at Chelsea. Cole also added plenty of trophies, winning four FA Cups, a Premier League, a League Cup, a Champions League and a Europa League with the Blues. He eventually left Chelsea for Roma in 2014.
To this day, Cole remains one of the key reference points for any budding full-back in global football.
#4 Robin van Persie
Robin van Persie is one of the greatest strikers to have graced the Premier League. A scorer of numerous left-footed stunners, the Dutchman's records for both Arsenal and Manchester United were largely excellent.
Van Persie joined the Gunners from Feyenoord in 2004. The forward managed 10 goals in his very first season for Arsenal, which set the tone for the years to follow. He quickly became one of the best strikers in the Premier League and scored goal after goal for the Gunners. Overall, he managed 132 goals in 278 appearances for Arsene Wenger's side, while also registering 56 assists.
The downside, of course, was Arsenal's inability to win silverware at the time. After an eight-year stay in London, van Persie's quest to win trophies inevitably and controversially led him to Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United in 2012.
The Dutchman took hardly any time to settle and was incredible during the 2012-13 campaign. van Persie managed 30 goals in 48 appearances, with 26 strikes in the Premier League, as United secured the title with relative ease.
However, Ferguson's departure at the end of that season seemingly put the brakes on the forward's career at Old Trafford. David Moyes and Louis van Gaal, who succeeded Ferguson, failed to use van Persie to his full potential. With age also catching up with the striker, he ultimately left the club in 2015 to join Fenerbahce in Turkey. His career stats with United saw him record 58 goals and 21 assists in 105 matches before bidding farewell.
#3 Mohamed Salah
Much has been written about Mohamed Salah since his transfer to Premier League giants Liverpool in 2017. While the Egyptian has scored goal after goal, he still receives plenty of flak for either being selfish or not scoring against big sides.
Salah, however, has routinely proved his critics wrong. Originally signed by Chelsea from FC Basel in 2014, Salah featured very sparingly for the Blues. He was on the Premier League club's books until 2016, but made just 19 appearances for Chelsea, recording two goals and four assists.
Consequently, many believed Salah would not survive the physicality and pace of the Premier League. However, the winger broke that perception in his very first season with Liverpool. He burst into life in the 2017-18 campaign, netting 32 goals in 36 Premier League games. He ended the season with 44 goals and 16 assists in 52 matches. The Reds finished within the top four of the league and made it to the Champions League final.
The years since have seen a reduction in his goal output, but Salah has continued to have some prolific seasons regardless. On the whole, his Liverpool tally stands at 130 goals from 209 appearances, and he also has 49 assists to go with it. The Egyptian recently became the fifth-fastest player to breach the 100-goal mark in the Premier League as well.
Salah also played a starring role in Liverpool's 2018-19 Champions League and 2019-20 Premier League victories. Still only 29, the English top-flight could see him break numerous records before his time in the country comes to an end.
#2 David Silva
One of the greatest creative midfielders of the 21st century, David Silva makes this list with relative ease. The Spaniard has had a club journey many would envy. He was one of the driving forces, alongside Vincent Kompany and Sergio Aguero, for Manchester City's success in the last decade.
Signed by the Cityzens in 2010 from Valencia, Silva quickly became the focal point of his new side's midfield. The little magician, with a wand for a left foot, contributed 15 assists in his very first season for Manchester City in addition to scoring six goals. Silva quickly took to life in the Premier League and improved his assist tally to 21 the following season.
On the whole, the midfielder managed 141 assists and 77 goals in 436 matches for City in addition to winning plenty of silverware before leaving the club in 2020. Silva collected four Premier League trophies, two FA Cups and five EFL Cups with the club.
Though City's domestic dominance never grew into European glory, the Spaniard got them a decent 10 goals and 16 assists in 67 matches across European competitions
#1 Ryan Giggs
Ryan Giggs is be a prime candidate for the greatest Premier League player of all time, let alone the greatest left-footed one. The Welshman was pivotal to Manchester United's dominance in the Premier League era.
Giggs, a member of the Red Devils' famous "Class of '92," made his debut for the club in 1991. The returns in his first season were modest as he scored four goals and assisted once in 28 matches. However, his manner of playing and dedication to the cause won him several laurels.
The Welsh winger quickly grew to prominence in United's first eleven and enjoyed a staggering 23-year career with the first team. Giggs' trophy haul over that period is mind-boggling and almost unimaginable for most players. He won 13 Premier League titles, four FA Cups, three League Cups and nine Community Shields domestically.
In Europe, Giggs played a starring role in the Red Devils' success in the 1999 and 2008 Champions Leagues. He also won an Intercontinental Cup, a UEFA Super Cup and a Club World Cup. By the time Giggs hung up his boots, he had played a scarcely believable 932 matches for United, scoring 163 goals and providing 250 assists.
