All-time Premier League British XI

It has been 23 years since the inauguration of the Premier League and since then, it has gone on to become one of the most-watched leagues in the world. The league started out when the clubs competing in the Top Division in England opted for the formation of a Premier League in 1992, which would give them access to lucrative television deals. These profits would be used to lure the best foreign talent available to try and improve the quality of the game in the country.Players like Eric Cantona, Thierry Henry and Cristiano Ronaldo have graced the EPL with their brilliance, but there have also been some real gems that were unearthed from the British territory. These players have picked up multiple honours with their clubs and have gained recognition and adulation worldwide thanks to their consistent performances.Here is the all-time Premier League XI of British Players in a 4-4-2 formation.Note: The players have to be from the Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales)

#1 Goalkeeper: David Seaman

Seaman kept 130 clean sheets from 1992-2002.

David Seaman was an England international and is among the best goalkeepers to have ever played for the country. He earned the nickname ‘Safe Hands’ due to his agility, awareness, and supreme concentration, and has made close to 400 appearances in the Premier League.

Seaman joined Arsenal for £1.3m which was a British record transfer fee for a goalkeeper at the time. Having joined the Gunners in 1990, the Englishman consistently excelled during his 13 years in North London, and won two titles since the inception of the Premier League.

He played 325 games for Arsenal and, even though he was protected by one of the best defences in the game, he managed 130 clean sheets between 1992 and 2002, and won an award for the most clean sheets at the Premier League 10 Seasons awards.

	Club	Appearances	Titles
1990-2003	Arsenal	325	1997/98, 2001/02
2003-2004	Manchester City	9	-

#2 Right Back: Gary Neville

Gary Neville has won the Premier League 8 times!

Gary Neville was a solid right back, and a great example of how one can overcome his limited technical gifts by applying himself well. He was a born leader who was obsessed with Manchester United, and that coupled with his performances made him the darling of the Old Trafford crowd.

The England international has played 400 games for Manchester United and scored five goals. He is a defensively sound player with an astute reading of the game, and he provided brilliant support to David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo on United’s right wing.

He has been included in the PFA Team of the Year five times in his career, and was also given a spot in the Overall Team of the Decade, at the Premier League 10 seasons awards.

	Club	Appearances	Goals	Titles
1992-2011	Manchester United	400	5	1995/96, 1996/97, 1998/99, 1999/2000, 2000/01, 2002/03, 2006/07, 2008/09

#3 Centre Back: John Terry

Terry is the EPL’s highest scoring defender of all tim

John Terry is a tenacious, commanding and physical defender who is considered to be one of the best central defenders of his generation. He has been a loyal Chelsea player throughout his career and is now entering his 17th year with the club.

Known for his aggressive tackling, positioning and ability to read the game, Terry has made close to 500 appearances in the league for Chelsea. He is the club’s highest scoring defender of all-time with 39 goals so far. He won four League titles with the West London club, and his individual awards include winning the PFA Player of the Year in 2005, and being chosen in the PFA Team of the Year four times, in 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2015 respectively.

	Clubs	Appearances	Goals	Titles
1998-	Chelsea	459	39	2004/05, 2005/06, 2009/10, 2014/15
2000	Nottingham Forest(on loan from Chelsea)	6	0

#4 Centre Back: Tony Adams

Tony Adams has lifted the first division title in three separate decades.

Tony Adams was one of the best defenders of his time and one of Arsenal’s greatest ever players. The English centre back was formidable in the air, had fantastic tackling and was an astute reader of the game. His ability to organize and inspire his teammates were signs of a born leader, and it was his passion for the club that got him the nickname ‘Mr Arsenal’ and he even has his own statue outside Emirates Stadium.

Adams played 504 league games for the Gunners, and lifted the title twice in the Premier League era. He became the youngest Arsenal captain ever at just 21 and has the distinction of winning the First Division title for the same club in three different decades.

When Arsene Wenger joined Arsenal, there were early suspicions that Adams wouldn't be a part of the French manager’s methodology, but he set those aside to enjoy a new lease of life under Wenger’s management. Despite his growing age, he remained motivated, and his improved fitness and focus helped Arsenal win the Premier League in 1998 and 2002.

	Club	Appearances	Goals	EPL Titles
1983-2002	Arsenal	504	32	1997/98, 2001/02

#5 Left Back: Ashley Cole

Ashley Cole was named England’s Player of the Year in 2010.

Ashley Cole is England’s best ever left-back, if not the best in the world, according to former England left-back Stuart Pearce, and a host of others who feel the same. He was an automatic starter in every team he played in, and racked up more than 400 appearances during his spells in London.

He played 156 games for Arsenal between 1998 and 2006 and won two Premier League titles with the Gunners, following which he controversially left for Chelsea. His attacking instincts were somewhat kept in check by Jose Mourinho, but the spell with the Blues improved his marking and positioning, which were considered to be his weaknesses. He is very good at making goalline clearances and was one of the fastest players in the world in his position.

He was included in the PFA Team of the Year in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2011 and was also named England’s Player of the Year in 2010.

	Clubs	Appearances	Goals	Titles
1998-2006	Arsenal	156	8	2001/02, 2003/04
1999-2000	Crystal Palace(on loan from Arsenal)	14	1
2006-2014	Chelsea	229	7	2009/10

#6 Right Midfield: David Beckham

David Beckham EPL — David Beckham became famous for his incredible free-kick taking ability

David Beckham is easily one of the most recognizable footballers of all time, if not one of the most gifted. He was a part of the golden generation of footballers at Old Trafford, which included the likes of the Neville brothers, Ryan Giggs, Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes.

Beckham played 265 matches and scored 62 goals for Manchester United during 11 years at the club, winning the Premier League 6 times in that spell. He was voted as England’s Player of the Year in 2003, and also made the PFA Team of the Year four times.

The ex-England international was a quick, hard-working player who had the ability to take long-range efforts, although it was his set-piece expertise that defined him as a player. He usually started on the right side of midfield for the Red Devils and possessed an uncanny ability to pick out his team-mates from crosses or set-pieces.

The #7 is also one of the best dead-ball specialists to have ever played the game and has scored plenty of memorable free-kick goals throughout his career.

	Club	Appearances	Goals	Titles
1992-2003	Manchester United	265	65	1995/96, 1996/97, 1998/99, 1999/2000, 2000/01, 2002/03

#7 Central Midfield: Frank Lampard

Lampard spent 13 years at Chelsea, scoring 177 league goals.

Frank Lampard is unarguably one of the most versatile midfielders to have ever played in the Premier League. His vision, passing range, technique and creativity are his best traits, and he has established himself as a legend in his 13 years at Chelsea.

Lampard’s father was a West Ham legend, so he was under a lot of pressure to prove himself after Chelsea picked him up for £11m from West Ham in 2001. The investment proved to be a shrewd one on Chelsea’s end, with the attacking midfielder inspiring Chelsea to three Premier League titles during his time there.

He was the assist leader in 2004/05, 2005/06, and 2009/10, and has also won the Player of the Season award twice in 2005 and 2006. The English international has 177 goals to his name in 618 career appearances, which places him at fourth in the list of the highest scoring Premier League players.

Lampard is a hard-working player with good stamina and a fantastic ability to read the game. Besides his obvious creative and defensive strengths, Lampard used to make a lot of attacking runs and had a powerful shot, which allowed him to maintain his prolific goalscoring record throughout his career.

He left Chelsea in 2014 and spent a season at Manchester City, and will now ply his trade in the United States MLS with New York City FC.

	Club	Appearances	Goals	Titles
1995-2001	West Ham	148	24
1995-1996	Swansea (on loan)	9	1
2001-2014	Chelsea	429	147	2004/05, 2005/06, 2009/10
2014-2015	Manchester City	32	6

#8 Central Midfield: Paul Scholes

Scholes won 11 league titles with Manchester United

Paul Scholes has been regarded by many of his peers as the best English midfielder of his generation. He was often overlooked as a quiet guy, but he was a part of the Manchester United team that completely dominated the first decade of the Premier League. Originally deployed as a forward, he made the switch to midfield later in his career.

Scholes began his youth career with Manchester United, before making his way into the first team squad along with fellow youth team members David Beckham, Nicky Butt, Gary Neville, Ryan Giggs and Phil Neville. He won 11 league titles with Manchester United and has scored 107 goals in 499 appearances for the club.

A player with very good technical skills, he was renowned for his pin-point passing, intelligent movement and powerful shooting from range. He possessed a tactical intelligence that allowed him to easily create offensive plays after winning back possession and was part of the PFA Team of the year in 2002 and 2007.

	Club	Appearances	Goals	Titles
1993-2013	Manchester United	466	102	1995/96, 1996/97, 1998/99, 1999/2000, 2000/01, 2002/03, 2006/07, 2007/08, 2008/09, 2010/11, 2012/13

#9 Left Midfield: Ryan Giggs

Ryan Giggs has the most number of appearances in the Premier League

Manchester United’s Ryan Giggs is the most decorated player of the Premier League era. He was voted as the Premier League’s best player for its 20th anniversary, and has an incredible career to back it up.

The Welshman has been a loyal servant of the Manchester club throughout his career, winning 13 Premier League titles amongst a host of other honours. He has the distinction of being the only player to have scored in every Premier League season since its inception, except for his final season in 2013/14 when he managed none. He was inducted into the English Football Hall Of Fame in 2005, and won the PFA Players’ Player of the Year in 2009.

Giggs’ incredible longevity and success should be the subject of envy for many players, but it is his dedication to football and his intelligence to adapt that has helped him stay active for so long. Starting off his career as a quick left-winger who ran circles around defenders, the Welshman steadily grew into a technically astute and composed midfielder over the years.

His ability to dictate play from midfield and make accurate passes made him an almost irreplaceable element of the Manchester United team, and there might not be anyone like him again.

	Club	Appearances	Goals	Titles
1990-2014	Manchester United	672	114	1992/93, 1993/94, 1995/96, 1996/97, 1998/99, 1999/2000, 2000/01, 2002/03, 2006/07, 2007/08, 2008/09, 2010/11, 2012/13

#10 Striker: Wayne Rooney

Rooney is just 20 goals short of Sir Bobby Charlton’s record at Manchester United

Wayne Rooney’s sensational long-range shot for Everton against Arsenal reverberated around the football world and set him up on the path to glory. A record-breaking £27m transfer to Manchester United beckoned, and that is where he would go on to make history in the EPL.

The current England captain has scored 170 goals in 340 appearances so far for the Red Devils, which is quite impressive considering that he often plays as a midfielder. He has picked up 5 Premier League titles and is on-course to eclipse Sir Bobby Charlton as the club’s all-time leading goalscorer.

He won the Premier League Player of the Season in 2010, and has won England’s Player of the Year thrice in his career.

	Clubs	Appearances	Goals	Titles
2002-2004	Everton	67	15	-
2004-	Manchester United	340	170	2006/07, 2007/08, 2008/09, 2010/11, 2012/13

#11 Striker: Alan Shearer

Shearer has scored the most goals in the Premier League era

Alan Shearer is perhaps the best English striker to have ever graced the Premier League. He was a complete striker who was strong, good in the air and deceptively quick in his prime. He scored a record 260 Premier League goals throughout his career – a record which is unlikely to be broken anytime soon.

In the same season the Premier League was formed, he was bought by a cash-rich Blackburn Rovers for a British record transfer fee of £3.6m. The Englishman went on to score 112 goals in 138 games for the Rovers at an impressive rate of 0.8 goals per game, before joining his boyhood club Newcastle United in 1996 for another British record fee of £15m.

He then went on to establish himself as a legend at the club and played well over 300 games, notching 148 goals for the Tyneside club. His individual honours include winning three consecutive Golden Boots between 1994/95 and 1996/1997, Player of the Season in 1994/95, and PFA Players’ Player of the Year in 1995 and 1997.

	Club	Appearances	Goals	Titles
1992-1996	Blackburn Rovers	138	112	1994/95
1996-2006	Newcastle United	303	148	-

#12 Manager: Sir Alex Ferguson

Sir Alex Ferguson won 13 league titles in his 26 seasons at the club.

Sir Alex Ferguson is one of the most admired, respected, and sucessful managers in the history of the game. The Scot retired from managing Manchester United after 26 years at the club in 2013 and has won 13 Premier League titles during his reign at Old Trafford.

Fergie has won 11 Premier League Manager of the Season awards, which is a testament to his hard work and love for Manchester United. He has created a legacy at the club, and many of his former players including the likes of Roy Keane, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Mark Hughes and Paul Ince have gone on to become football managers.

He nurtured the Class of ‘92 that went on to win numerous domestic and a European title in ‘99 and won a hat-trick of EPL titles twice.