Premier League's 5 greatest players in last 25 years

The English Premier League is the most competitive and the finest domestic league in Europe, and attracts footballing talents from all over the world. England is home to some of the biggest football clubs and the most passionate fans in the world, and it remains a dream for any budding footballer to play in the EPL.

Afetr the English first division was revamped and renamed as the Premier League in 1992, Manchester United has been the most successful club in the Premier League era with 13 titles. The likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City have also won quite a few titles, and Liverpool have come close to doing so on a few occasions.

Quite understandably, some of the biggest names in football have played in the Premier League in the last 25 years, and it is not easy to select the top 5 out of them. We have taken into account their quality, longevity and overall impact on the league while coming up with the list.

#5 Alan Shearer

Alan Shearer

Shearer quite possibly remains the greatest English striker in the last 25 years. Shearer had good ball-skills and aerial prowess, and could also outmuscle the opposition defenders at times. He scored a lot of important goals in his club career.

Shearer had a great club career with clubs like Southampton, Newcastle United and Blackburn Rovers. He made his debut with Southampton and then won the Premier League with Blackburn in 1994-95. He made a move to Newcastle in 1996 and spent 10 very successful seasons with the Magpies.

Overall, he scored 283 goals in 559 matches in the league and remains the highest goal-scorer ever in its history. He also won the Premier League Golden Boot thrice and finished 3rd in Ballon d'Or in 1996. He got selected in PFA's team of the Century in 2007, and Premier League football has not seen a better goal-scorer than him.

#4 Steven Gerrard

Steven Gerrard

Gerrard could not win the Premier League title in his 18-year long association with Liverpool, but did enough during his career to secure a place in Premier League’s hall of fame. He remained one of the best midfielders of his generation.

Gerrard was primarily a box-to-box midfielder, but could play in a purely defensive role or as a side midfielder. He had a very powerful shot on him, and scored quite a few goals with scorching shots. He was also a great leader and had a powerful presence on the pitch.

Gerrard captained Liverpool for a majority of his career and was looked up to by most of his teammates. He scored 120 goals in 504 league matches for the Reds and left the club in 2015.

#3 Paul Scholes

Paul Scholes

Paul Scholes played for almost two decades for the great Manchester United side under Sir Alex Ferguson and remains one of the finest central midfielders of his generation. Scholes’ passing and shooting accuracy were exemplary and he also spent 19 very successful seasons at United after graduating from their academy in 1992. Moreover, he won a staggering total of 11 Premier League titles with United.

Scholes was not very flashy or flamboyant, but his achievements on the field were enough to set him apart from the lesser mortals during his playing career in the 1990s and 2000s. Scholes played in 499 league matches for United and scored 107 goals. He was especially good at taking shots at the opposition goal from the edge of the penalty box, and scored quite a few goals in that fashion.

He also provided numerous assists to forwards like Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and Ruud Van Nistelrooy. He retired in 2013, and remains the finest passer to have played in Premier League.

#2 Thierry Henry

Thierry Henry

Henry was Premier League’s most consistent player for almost a decade, and remains the greatest player to have ever played for Arsenal. He spent almost a decade with Arsenal, and would go down as one of the most dominant players ever to have played in the Premier League.

Henry was a brilliant dribbler, and liked to cut in form the left wing to the opposition penalty box. He could play both as the main striker and the second striker. He was a very good shooter, and could score through heads and volleys as well. He won 3 Premier League titles with Arsenal, and the Onze d’Or in 2003 and 2006. Henry was Arsenal’s best player during their golden years in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

He scored 175 goals in 258 league matches for the Gunners in the Premier League and was selected in Premier League’s team of the century in 2007. Henry remains the greatest non-British player to have played in the Premier League, and would walk into any all-time Premier League eleven.

#1 Ryan Giggs

Ryan Giggs

Ryan Giggs symbolizes longevity and quality in English football. He spent 19 supremely successful seasons with the Manchester United and won a record 13 Premier League titles with them.

He also holds the record for most appearances in the Premier League. He has played in 672 league matches for United and scored 114 goals. Giggs was versatile as a footballer and comfortable playing in both central midfield and the flanks. He also had two strong feet and could play in either wing. Giggs’ dribbling, short passing and great vision made him a priceless footballer for United.

In his prime, Giggs was the best footballer in Great Britain and a talisman for the great United side under Sir Alex Ferguson. He was an intrinsic part of the great 4-man midfield featuring Roy Keane, Paul Scholes, David Beckham and himself. He would go down as the most successful footballer to have ever played in the Premier League and was selected in PFA's team of the century in 2007. No other player has delivered as much and for as long for his club as Giggs has done for United.