Ranking the top 5 midfielders in Premier League history

Paul Scholes is one of the best midfielders in the Premier League era.
Paul Scholes is one of the best midfielders in the Premier League era.

#3 Roy Keane

Roy Keane played 12 seasons in the Premier League.
Roy Keane played 12 seasons in the Premier League.

Roy Keane was signed by Premier League giants Manchester United in 1993 for a reported £3.75 million. Four years later, he became the club captain.

Renowned for his hot-headedness and sometimes reckless style of play, Keane was a nightmare to play against. Several players have openly admitted their fear of the Irishman and their apprehensions about playing at Old Trafford, thanks to Keane. The Irishman captained one of the strongest Manchester United teams in history, winning silverware almost every season.

He was United's midfield general, controlling the tempo of games from his position. His positional intelligence and passing prowess particularly stood out. Keane was most revered for his leadership ability and was pretty vocal on the field.

In 12 seasons at Manchester United, Keane won a staggering seven Premier League titles and four FA Cups. His laurels as captain are unmatched to this day, and Keane remains one of the most successful players in Premier League history.


#2 Paul Scholes

Paul Scholes is a bonafide Premier League legend.
Paul Scholes is a bonafide Premier League legend.

Paul Scholes is a well-known name in Premier League history and for good reason. Part of the famous 'Class of '92', Scholes broke into the Manchester United first team in 1994-95.

Renowned for his trademark passes, Scholes had an uncanny ability to pick out teammates with consummate ease. Many players have called Scholes one of the best passers of all time, alongside the likes of Xavi and Andres Iniesta.

Playing a deep-seated role in midfield, Scholes regularly conducted play from his position. He was often the go-to person on the field once his team had the ball as Scholes flourished with the freedom to dictate play. The Englishman had an eye for goal as well, often pitching in with magnificent long-range efforts.

Scholes made 499 appearances for the Red Devils, scoring 107 goals and winning numerous trophies. The Englishman won the Premier League a record 11 times, and also won three FA Cups and League Cups. He also won the Champions League twice and the Club World Cup once.

Scholes has won the most Premier League titles of any player except one, which is an outstanding achievement.


#1 Frank Lampard

Frank Lampard playing for Chelsea in the Premier League
Frank Lampard playing for Chelsea in the Premier League

Frank Lampard is arguably the best midfielder to grace the Premier League. A Chelsea legend, Lampard spent 13 seasons with the Blues. His midfield heroics in tandem with his goalscoring ability made him one of the best players of his generation.

Joining Chelsea in 2001, Lampard didn't take long to break into the first team. With the arrival of Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho, the stock of Lampard skyrocketed. The midfielder enjoyed two impeccable seasons, winning the Premier League title in successive years, as Chelsea emerged as a new force in English football.

Lampard was also renowned with his versatility. He was able to play as an attacking midfielder, defensive midfielder and also as a second striker. He is one of the most prolific goalscoring midfielders in Premier League history.

In 13 seasons with Chelsea, Lampard bagged 177 goals and 102 assists, putting him in the top five in the Premier League's all-time goalscoring leaderboard.

Lampard helped Chelsea to three Premier League and four FA Cup titles. Chelsea also won the UEFA Champions League in 2012, with Lampard playing a key role. The Englishman won several individual accolades as well, most notably finishing second in the Ballon d'Or race in 2005 and winning the Player of the Season award in 2004.


Also Read: Strongest possible starting XI for England | UEFA Euro 2020.

Quick Links