Seven Premier League players to have scored a hat-trick on Boxing Day

Two players from Tottenham have scored a Boxing Day hattrick

Premier League Boxing Day is celebrated the day after Christmas. Every year on 26 December. And it is not at all related to what comes into the mind of people initially. Actually, in the past, the rich and affluent people used to pack stuff or one can say gifts into ‘boxes’ for their servants or the less privileged. This tradition came to be known as Boxing Day.

In the modern-day United Kingdom, a national bank holiday is observed on this day. And also people have begun doing a lot of shopping activities. In the context of football, previously many games were played during Christmas. But it was cherished more as a time for family gatherings, the games were moved to a day later which also happens to be the Boxing Day.

Since the beginning of the Premier League era, only seven footballers have netted a hat trick on this special day. We will have a look at each of the names one by one.

7. Thierry Henry (2000)

Back in the days when Arsenal used to play their football at the historic “Highbury” stadium, Thierry Henry inked his name on a special record. It was just the second season of the French centre-forward in England. Henry had arrived in the summer of 1999 from Juventus. The Gunners won the 26 December tie of the 2000-01 season 6-1 against Leicester City. In that game, Thierry Henry was phenomenal. A hat trick helped him take the match ball home while he also had two assists on the day. Henry became the first-ever footballer to score a hat trick on Boxing Day in the Premier League

6. Kevin Phillips (2000)

Another centre forward was involved in taking home the match ball on 26 December 2000. It was England’s very own Kevin Phillips who was playing as a centre-forward for Sunderland on that special day against Bradford City. The Black Cats were playing away from home and almost 6 hours after Thierry Henry’s boxing day hat trick. Phillips was in his groove as the striker scored three past Bradford goalkeeper Gary Walsh.

5. Robbie Fowler (2001)

A local from Liverpool left Liverpool FC for Leeds United in 2001 November end. The player who made this move was Robbie Fowler. A month later, in the away kits of the Whites, Fowler and his teammates were up against Bolton Wanderers which was led by Sam Allardyce. In that game, which happened to be on 26 December, Boxing Day, the former Liverpool centre forward scored a hattrick. The game also finished 3-0 in favour of Leeds United.

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4. Dimitar Berbatov (2011)

After Robbie Fowler’s thee goal haul, the English top-flight game had to wait for ten long years to see another player score a Boxing Day hat trick. In a matchday 18 fixture from the 2011-12 Premier League season, Manchester United played hosts to Wigan Athletic. The Red Devils were playing with two strikers up front namely – Dimitar Berbatov and Javier Hernández. Berbatov’s three goals included a left-footed effort, a right and a goal from the penalty spot kick. United also won the game 5-0 at Old Trafford.

3. Gareth Bale (2012)

In Gareth Bale’s final season with Tottenham Hotspurs before moving to Real Madrid for the then-record fee of £ 85.3 million, the Welsh wizard scored 21 league goals while making 33 appearances. In that 2012-13 season, Bale managed to score just one hat trick in all competitions. And that hat trick came on Boxing Day against Aston Villa at Villa Park in the Premier League.

2. Harry Kane (2017)

After a 2023 summer move to Bayern Munich, Harry Kane has settled quite well in the Bundesliga. Kane is leading the goalscoring charts in the German first tier at present.

During his career with Tottenham, in the 2017-18 season, the England national football team captain became the second player from Spurs to net a Boxing Day hattrick. The feat was achieved five years after Gareth Bale’s magical three. It was in a game against Southampton at a special venue, the Wembley Stadium, where Kane scored his 26 December Premier League hattrick.

1. Chris Wood (2023)

One former Newcastle United striker came back to St James’ Park only to haunt his former side in the colours of Nottingham Forest. Chris Wood was on an initial six-month loan at Forest which was made permanent in the summer. Even though the Magpies scored the opener, it was a motivated New Zealand international who changed the final game outcome. In added time of first half, Wood levelled the game 1-1. And two more goals in the second half meant a match ball for Chris Wood. Plus the player became the seventh ever to score a PL hat trick on Boxing Day.

The Murillo assist 🪄The composure from Woody 🥶The perfect way to round off Boxing Day 🤌 pic.twitter.com/hoxJMo9qfQ

— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) December 26, 2023

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