Top 10 players with most appearances in Premier League history
Four of these players have even made more than 600 PL appearances.
The Premier League is widely considered among the toughest football leagues in the world. It is definitely the most popular, considering the 4.7 billion viewership per season. This is due to the fact that the league boasts top footballers from across the globe.
The financial might of the respective clubs allows them to bring the best players from various parts of the world. Playing at the highest level consistently is one of the toughest achievements in football. Many players, who have incredible talent, do not last for many years in the league.
However, some legendary figures of the game have showcased exceptional longevity. The following players have made the highest number of appearances in the Premier League. Some of them have also won the league multiple times.
Top 10 players with the most appearances in the Premier League:
10. Phil Neville – 505 appearances
Phil Neville started his career at Manchester United and was one of the Neville brothers who came through the academy. He played majorly for the Red Devils and also turned out for Everton, making 505 appearances overall. Neville won six Premier League titles, all with Manchester United.
9. Jamie Carragher – 508 appearances
Jamie Carragher is one of Liverpool’s all-time greatest players. Although he never won the Premier League, he did make 508 appearances. The centre-back is also regarded as one of the best players in his position.
He performs the role of a football pundit today and is very popular amongst the community. Carragher also holds the unfortunate record of scoring seven own-goals, the second most in Premier League history.
8. Emile Heskey – 516 appearances
Emile Heskey is one of the strikers with the highest number of appearances in the history of the league. The Englishman made 516 appearances and played for teams like Liverpool, Leicester City, Wigan Athletic, Birmingham City and Aston Villa.
Although Heskey scored 111 goals and had a good PL career, he did not have the fortune to lift the league title. Most of his career honours came during his time with Liverpool.
7. Gary Speed – 535 appearances
Gary Speed is a very respected name in the Premier League. He made 535 appearances in the league during his career. The midfielder scored 80 goals and featured for teams like Leeds United, Everton FC, Newcastle United and Bolton.
Speed won the league back in 1992 with Leeds. He sadly passed away on 27 November 2011 at the age of 42.
6. Mark Schwarzer – 544 appearances
Mark Schwarzer is the only non-European player in the Premier League to make more than 500 appearances. He represented various teams including Middlesborough, Fulham, Chelsea and Leicester City. The Australian goalkeeper made 544 appearances.
He also won the Premier League with Leicester City in 2016. He managed to keep 151 clean sheets, the third-highest in Premier League history. Schwarzer retired as a professional in 2016.
5. David James – 572 appearances
Former England goalkeeper David James holds the record for the fifth-highest appearances in the Premier League. Being a goalkeeper allows for some longevity, but featuring 572 times is a massive achievement.
The custodian is also the goalkeeper with the highest number of appearances in the league’s history. James has played 51,301 minutes of football, which is the second-highest overall.
4. Frank Lampard – 609 appearances
Heading into the top four next up is Frank Lampard with 609 appearances. He is regarded as one of the complete midfielders of his generation. The Englishman featured heavily for Chelsea apart from West Ham and Manchester City.
Lampard scored 177 goals in the league, the highest in this list and won the Premier League three times with the Blues.
3. Ryan Giggs – 632 appearances
Ryan Giggs is the third-highest appearance-maker in the Premier League with 632 outings. The midfielder only played for Manchester United in his career, spending 23 years with the senior team. He holds the record for most assists in the Premier League history.
Giggs won the title a record 13 times with the Red Devils. The Welshman had forayed into football management after his retirement.
2. James Milner – 652 appearances
James Milner is the only active player in the Premier League on this list. He has played 652 games as of now and will likely feature in more. The midfielder is known for his prowess in multiple positions and has represented teams like Leeds, Newcastle, Aston Villa, Manchester City and Liverpool.
He is also among the top 10 highest assist-makers in league history. Milner has three PL titles in his locker, two with City and one with Liverpool. He has also won the Champions League title with the Reds.
The English midfielder now plays for Brighton and Hove Albion.
1. Gareth Barry – 653 appearances
Gareth Barry is the player with the highest number of appearances in the history of the Premier League. He made 653 appearances in the league during his career and played for teams like Aston Villa, Everton, Man City and West Bromwich Albion. He won the Premier League title once with Manchester City in 2012 and retired as a professional player in 2020.
Who holds the record for most appearances in Premier League history?
Gareth Barry, who has played for teams like Man City and Everton, holds the record with 653 appearances.
How many players have made more than 600 appearances in Premier League history?
Four players – Gareth Barry (653), James Milner (652), Ryan Giggs (632) and Frank Lampard (609).
How many PL appearances does James Milner hold?
James Milner, a 40-year-old and still an active player for Brighton FC, has 652.
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Alex graduated in mass communication in 2016 and has been covering global sports for Khel Now since then. He is covering sports tech, igaming, sports betting and casino domain from 2017.