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The Premier League came into being in the year 1992 and, since then, the amount of TV money that has come entangled with the change in branding has led to one of the most drastic changes in English football's history.
Through the years, the 'one club man' has resided into oblivion as English players are shipped out in exchange for a host of pricey imports. Some argue the transfers have increased the lure of the English top flight, while others believe it has caused the dearth of homegrown talent.
Whatever way one looks at the transfer business, it cannot be denied that England's top football division has skyrocketed in popularity over the years and is showing no signs of slowing down. With this in mind, we have picked an all-time XI of the best foreign players to have played in the PL since its rebirth 26 years back.
#1 GK - Peter Schmeichel
A UEFA Champions League winner with Manchester United, Peter Schmeichel was undoubtedly a force to be reckoned with. His eight seasons with the Red Devils represent one of the remarkably successful tenures for a goalkeeper in history, where he won five Premier League title under Sir Alex Ferguson.
Schmeichel had everything--agility, reflexes, distribution, organization but, most importantly, he was a creator. He had a unique 'star jump' technique which was derived from handball and was never seen before in football.
Schmeichel's legacy still continues in the game with his son, Kasper, currently playing for Leicester City in the PL. Like father like son, Kasper has tasted Premier League glory as well.
#2 RB - Branislav Ivanovic
Ivanovic is often overlooked when talking about the great foreign players to have played in the PL--and understandably so, considering the abundance of world-class right-backs the league has seen--but his achievements in nine years with Chelsea is something which is phenomenal, and very few can match such record.
He won three PL titles, an FA Cup, a Champions League and a Europa League playing mostly at right-back. He was the one constant throughout a tumultuous period at the club during which he played under 11 different head coaches before leaving for Zenit last year.
#3 CB - Nemanja Vidic
The defensive partnership of Nemanja Vidic and his partner-in-crime, Rio Ferdinand, is arguably the best in Manchester United's history. They were a nightmare for the opposition center forward. Vidic, in particular, was one of the toughest players PL had ever seen.
Under Sir Alex Ferguson, he never really got the taste of failure, winning five league titles, a UCL trophy, among a myriad of other titles. He was a part of the team which won three league titles in a row surpassing Liverpool as the most successful side in England.
Vidic left for Inter in 2014, but by then he had already established himself as one of the greatest defenders on the planet.
#4 CB - Vincent Kompany
Vincent Kompany has spent a considerable part of his career on the sidelines, but despite his traumatic injury record, he has remained an ever-present face in the Manchester City backline whenever fit to play.
Undoubtedly, Kompany is one of the modern greats of defending. He has won the league title with ManCity under three different managers in spite of managing to play only 250 PL matches in his City career.
#5 LB - Patrice Evra
When he came to Man United in 2006, he was already a quality left-back. But it was under Sir Alex Ferguson that he flourished on the highest stage and went on to become of the best left-backs in history, captaining both his club and country during that period.
Since leaving Old Trafford, Evra's playing career has somewhat gone downhill. However, there is no reason to doubt his fantastic contribution to the PL, especially his role in the five league triumphs that he enjoyed under Ferguson's tutelage.
#6 CM - Patrick Vieira
Patrick Vieira had all the qualities a central midfielder should have--strength, energy, ability on the ball and the vision to pick out a pass. He was pivotal in Arsenal's success under Arsene Wenger, especially during the 'Invincibles' season.
Vieira's importance can be gauged by the fact that, even 13 years after his departure, the Gunners are yet to find a suitable replacement. The legendary midfielder's trophy cabinet includes three PL titles with Arsenal.
Post his time in London, the Frenchman had a five-year spell in Italy, before, eventually, returning to England with Manchester City. For City, he played one season in 2010-11 and, following that, he transitioned into the role of Head of the Club Academy.
#7 CM - Yaya Toure
Manchester City signed Yaya Toure from Barcelona in 2010--and what a signing it proved to be, even though, it left many unconvinced at the time.
Yaya was a consistent presence in Man City's starting lineup for eight consecutive years. The Ivorian's mixture of defensive rigidity and explosive attacking play was utterly unmatched.
However, during Toure's last two seasons at the Etihad, his declining relationship with Pep Guardiola substantially reduced his playing time, and tempted him to leave them this summer.
Still, for the Cityzens, it is safe to say that he will always be a legend, who has played a big role in taking the club to the next level.
#8 RM - Cristiano Ronaldo
Though it is fair to say that Ronaldo achieved more success outside England with Real Madrid, but he still did enough with Man United to be called one of the greatest foreign players ever to play in the PL.
A deadly combination of pace, power, skill and a ferocious appetite for goals justified United's decision to sign him, from Sporting Lisbon, at a price which made him the most expensive teenager back then.
Since his departure, the no. 7 shirt hasn't yet found a worthy successor at Old Trafford. His 84 goals in 196 league appearances give evidence of his impact in England.
#9 LM - Robert Pires
Robert Pires was one of Arsene Wenger's many gems at Arsenal. He took some time to get into the rhythm after signing from Marseille in 2000, but once he got going, he never looked back in a PL career that was nothing short of legendary.
Pires won two league championships and three FA Cups during his time at Arsenal. He scored 62 goals in 189 games despite playing as a left midfielder for the most of his career.
The Frenchman's second spell in the PL saw him play for Aston Villa in 2010, but he failed to hit the same heights and retired soon thereafter.
#10 SS - Dennis Bergkamp
Bergkamp is one of the countable Arsenal legends who shone at Arsenal before the onset of Wenger's era. He was one of ex-manager Bruce Rioch's last signings at the club and served as the leading man around whom Wenger built what would turn out to be the greatest Arsenal team, who went on to become 'invincible' in one of their total three league triumphs.
The Dutchman was renowned for his ability to pull off entertaining skills on the pitch which left the fans dumbfounded.
According to a recent poll held in 2017, Bergkamp's memorable goal against Newcastle is still the most significant goal scored in the PL era.
#11 ST - Thierry Henry
When we talk about the great strikers of the PL era, the first name that comes to mind is of Thierry Henry. The French legend could do absolutely everything you would want from a striker. Henry's partnership with Bergkamp is one of the most devastating in the history of the PL.
As a Gunner, Henry won two league titles, two FA Cups and scored 228 goals. He remains the highest goalscorer for both Arsenal and France even today.
The final lineup in a 4-4-1-1 formation
