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Nostalgia has been the theme of this summer of 2017, with some of the Premier League’s veterans bowing out to make way for new players. Manly tears have been shed in the past few months as fans bid farewell to club stalwarts of the likes of John Terry, Wayne Rooney, Pablo Zabaleta, and most recently Lucas Leiva.
But then there’s the other side of the coin, where this transfer window has seen a certain few simply turn their backs and 'Walker' out of their clubs. The virtue of loyalty overshadowed by the riches of the middle east. The promise of glory elsewhere seeming a more appealing prospect than climbing the ladder with your own.
So here’s saluting the select few who have withstood the test of time. Their commitment has remained unwavering, be it in the club’s lows or prime.
#5 Julian Speroni
No current player in the Premier League has spent more time at his club than the Crystal Palace stopper. The man has played under 10 managers in his time at the club and is set to meet an 11th gaffer in Frank de Boer at the start of the next campaign.
To put things into further perspective, the Argentinian was in goal when Didier Drogba scored his first of 164 goals for Chelsea.
Since signing for the Eagles back in 2004, Speroni has faced quite a bit of hardship. Palace have since been relegated, stripped off of 10 points in 2010 when they were placed under administration and then survived by the skin of their teeth. But then on, things have looked north for Speroni and co.
They returned to the top tier after 8 years in 2013 and have maintained their Premier League status since. In this time, the veteran stopper has made more appearances than any other keeper in Palace’s history. He’s been named the club’s player of the season for a record four times and if that doesn’t cut it, there’s a bar named in his honour at Selhurst Park. Cheers, good sir!
#4 John Terry
The Englishman has served Chelsea for 19 years. No presently active player in the top 5 leagues has served a club for longer than that duration. To further underline his love for the club, the man waved off multiple offers from the Premier League to join Aston Villa, stating that facing Chelsea would’ve been ‘too much’.
Yet, Terry wasn’t exactly Mr. Popular in the Premier League. He burnt some Bridges off the field (no puns intended), was embroiled in a racial abuse scandal, and who can forget the full kit celebration post the Champions League final he never played.
But nothing changes the fact that he’s the club’s most successful captain ever. And if you ever doubt his legendary status at Chelsea, simply watch his farewell speech at the Bridge. The overwhelming emotion is one that only a loyal leader can evoke.
#3 Andy King
He isn’t exactly the one you’d call high profile. Not often would you have seen the man make it to the back pages of the newspaper. And when he played in the third tier of English football in 2009, you wouldn’t expect him to lift the Premier League trophy in 2016. Andy King’s story is one for the ages.
In his debut season of 2007-08 with Leicester City, King and co. suffered relegation into the third tier of English football. But you know what they say about the night before dawn, don’t you?
They bullied their way to League One glory in 2009, winning it with three games to spare. After narrowly missing out on promotion twice courtesy playoff defeats, they pulled off one of the most impressive seasons of football, earning 102 points and automatic promotion in 2014.
King played a bit-part role in Leicester’s miracle season of 2015-16, but respected the manager’s choices and got behind the team nonetheless. Faith and patience were rewarded when Andy King became the only player to boast League One, Championship, and Premier League Gold with one club.
#2 Ryan Giggs
Manchester United have had a knack for producing top quality. Top quality that has been accompanied by a commendable dedication to the club. But of the many names that come to mind, the one that stands out is Ryan Giggs.
Over a 23-year playing career, the Welshman made a record 919 appearances for the club and won all there is to win. But his service to United didn’t end there as he continued at the club in a manager’s role. He rode through the lows of David Moyes’s spell, and sat through the antics of a falling Dutchman, before calling time on his United career to further his managerial ambitions.
A banner often seen at Old Trafford would till date see opposition quake in their boots - ‘Giggs - tearing you apart since 1991’. Which reminds me of the stunning 1999 FA Cup semi final winner, and brings me to the final name on this list.
#1 Arsene Wenger
Few people in football have divided opinion as much as this man. Of late, his most loyal fans have started to question his authority. Yet, one thing remains unquestionable - Arsene’s love for Arsenal.
To say the Frenchman has faced strife is an understatement. Vital players have abandoned him during times of need, horrific injuries have seen him lose incredible talents, and financial pressure has seen the man struggle to keep pace with the demands of the Premier League.
But Wenger fought on. He turned down several lucrative offers to stay with the club and it’s fair to say he’s established a legacy. He was the first non-British manager to win the league, thus ushering in a revolution.
With last year’s FA Cup triumph, he became the competition’s most successful manager in its 145-year history. And the feat of going an entire English season unbeaten is one that few believe can be repeated.
The 67-year-old could have thrown in the towel a number of times in his time at Arsenal, but he believed in his system. His decision to stay put and sign a 2-year contract this summer wasn’t exactly lauded, but class is permanent and persistence like this shall sooner or later be rewarded.
