The all-time Premier League XI is a topic discussed daily in pubs, workplaces, and football stadiums across the country. You could ask 1000 different people and get 1000 different answers.
Five members of Manchester United’s Class of 92’ - Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt, and Phil Neville - have clubbed together with Super 6 to unveil their greatest ever Premier League XI, although there’s a catch, they were not allowed to include any Red Devils players.
Here we go...
Goalkeeper: David Seaman
Thibaut Courtois was given a glowing reference by the five former players, but it’s David Seaman who got the nod in between the sticks. An unsurprising choice given the amount of times the group came up against the Arsenal legend during their playing days. “If you scored against him you’re some player,” said Giggs with a cheeky smile.
In total Seaman made 344 Premier League appearances for the Gunners and Man City, registering 140 clean sheets, and lifting two titles.
Left Back: Ashley Cole
Simple: Ashley Cole. There wasn’t even a discussion.
The veteran left-back won three league titles at Arsenal and Chelsea, helping his sides keep 147 clean sheets in 385 games. The former England international, 38, has since gone on to play for Roma and LA Galaxy, while he’s now joined up with Frank Lampard’s Derby, with whom he will be bidding to lead up to the top-flight.
Right Back: Pablo Zabaleta
With Giggs, both Nevilles, and Butt split between Lee Dixon and Pablo Zabaleta, it was up to Scholes to make the final call, and it was the Man City legend who was handed the honour. The tenacious Argentine, now at West Ham, was a pivotal part of the Citizens team, helping the club win their first ever Premier League title, which he would lift on two occasions in total.
“Backing a City player. What’s wrong with ya!,” said a gazumped Giggs.
Centre Back: John Terry
The group were unanimous in their decision to include John Terry. The Chelsea icon is widely viewed as one of the greatest defenders to ever ply his trade in the Premier League, making just shy of 500 appearances, winning five titles, scoring 41 goals - a record for a defender - and keeping 214 clean sheets.
Centre Back: Vincent Kompany
It was Giggs who made the final call on this one, and given his anti-City comments from moments earlier, he made a surprising choice in selecting Vincent Kompany over Tony Adams. “You’ve gone soft!,” was Butt’s response. The Belgian is currently enjoying his eleventh Premier League season at City, and it’s one he hopes will end in a fourth title.
Central Midfield: Patrick Vieira
Patrick Vieira was one of Man Utd’s major rivals in the late 90s and early 00s, during which he enjoyed frequent battles with United skipper Roy Keane. The Frenchman was a colossus in the centre of the Arsenal midfield, and it will surprise few that the Red Devils greats have opted to hand him a place in their side.
Central Midfield: Steven Gerrard
Steven Gerrard was another obvious choice. While he’s only one of the 11 players in this team to have never got his mitts on a Premier League title, he was a kingpin of the Liverpool side for 17 years. But while the title agonisingly eluded him, the midfield maestro accumulated 504 appearances, scored 120 goals, and grabbed 92 assists. Not bad.
Central Midfield: Frank Lampard
At first the group opted to overlook Frank Lampard in favour of two wide players. However, after a discussion, they simply had to include the now Derby boss, who is the Premier League’s highest-scoring goalscorer with 177 goals. In fact, only three players have ever scored more, while the three-time champion also recorded 102 assists.
Attacking Midfield: Eden Hazard
Eden Hazard, a two-time Premier League champion, was voted the 2014/15 Player of the Season. His future at Chelsea may be up in the air, but there’s no doubting that he’s been one of the stand-out Premier League players of his generation.
Striker: Alan Shearer
It would come as a huge shock if the league’s all-time goalscorer, Alan Shearer, was excluded. The sharp-shooter hammered home an eye-popping 260 goals for Newcastle and Blackburn, which is 52 more than his closest challenger, Wayne Rooney. He also won the title with Rovers, something he wasn’t able to replicate with the Toon.
Striker: Thierry Henry
A difficult final choice, with Luis Suarez, Sergio Aguero, and Dennis Bergkamp all touted, but in the end Thierry Henry won the race to partner Shearer in this blockbuster frontline.
The One Man Utd Player They Would Add Is…
“Me at right-back,” joked G Nev. Scholes actually agreed, but the group unsurprisingly opted for Cristiano Ronaldo, who took the place of Hazard.
