Top 10 greatest strikers in Premier League history

These stars have been the faces of the league in different decades

Since its inception back in 1992, the English Premier League has continued to dominate the club football stage of its rich history and action-packed football. In all these years, the English top flight has seen many elite-level strikers keeping the fans in awe of their magical touches and beautiful goals. Whether it’s a penalty box poacher or the kind of complete forward who can do everything, some of the best sides from the 1990s onwards have featured an incredible array and variety of strikers.

The list of outstanding strikers in English football history is too large to count, making it difficult to rank the top 10. The following list includes strikers who translated their natural ability in these domains into great success in the Premier League.

10. Michael Owen

Owen played for some big clubs over his career, Liverpool, Newcastle United, Manchester United and Stoke City. It was his time with Liverpool that was most promising, but serious injuries meant that Owen didn’t go on to become as great as his promise suggested he might be able to. He was a defender’s nightmare when he was fit and healthy. He remains one of the only few players to win the Ballon d’Or while playing in the English Premier League.

9. Robin van Persie

The Dutchman joined Arsenal in 2004 and soon established himself as their talisman. But, with the Gunners failing to be as successful as he had liked, Van Persie angered their fans when he made the controversial move to their fierce rivals Manchester United in 2012. In total, the Dutchman netted 144 times in England’s top tier, and his level of technique and power made him one of the most feared strikers during his peak years.

Also Read: Premier League’s all-time top scorers

8. Andy Cole

Cole is a legend to the fans of two clubs – Newcastle United and Manchester United. Those who weren’t watching at that time don’t know just how good Cole was in front of the goal, with the Englishman bagging 187 goals in the Premier League. That tally is even remarkable given he did not even take penalties. His partnership with Dwight Yorke was something which fans loved to watch.

7. Eric Cantona

Cantona is one of the most popular strikers and a cult hero of the Premier League. He was fondly called ‘King Eric’ due to his contributions to making Manchester United one of the elite clubs in modern-day football. The French superstar won four Premier League titles in his five-season stint at Old Trafford.

He scored 70 goals and made a significant impact beyond his efforts up top, securing a legendary status for United and in the Premier League as a whole. It’s a flair to say there has never been quite another character like Cantona to grace English shores.

6. Dennis Bergkamp

Dennis Bergkamp’s 87 goals don’t tell the full story of his incredible technique, vision and ability to create for Arsenal. He was a key part of successful Arsenal sides in the 1990s and early 2000s and Arsene Wenger wouldn’t have wanted to swap him for anyone else. Bergkam was in the “PFA Team of the Year” once, had the most assists in the Premier League once, and was runner-up in the 1993 Ballon d’Or. He also played 79 times for the Netherlands.

Also Read: Top 10 players with most appearances in Premier League history

5. Harry Kane

Known for his consistency, shooting accuracy and ability on the ball, Harry Kane was Spurs talisman for over a decade. Despite the Englishman’s brilliance, Tottenham were unable to win a trophy during his time at the club. The England captain had Alan Shearer nervously looking behind his shoulder at the top of all-time Premier League goalscoring list until he jumped ship to Bayern Munich last summer. Kane departed these shores on 213 Premier League goals, 47 fewer than Shearer.

4. Sergio Aguero

The Argentine is one such player who ensured Manchester City‘s rise from rags to riches within a decade. Aguero was one of the best players in the Man City side that dominated English football, helping the Manchester outfit become the global powerhouse that we know them to be today. He scored 20 times in five successive seasons and is also the highest goal-scorer in the club’s history.

Also Read: Top 10 players with most assists in Premier League history

3. Wayne Rooney

Rooney broke through at a very early age and was spotted by Everton. He is the cub’s youngest-ever goal scorer. At United, he won five Premier League titles, an FA Cup, three League Cups, the 2008 Champions League and the 2017 UEFA Europa League. Individually, Rooney was Player of the Season in 2010 and was in the PFA Team of the Year three times. He combined physical strength, stamina, and a powerful shot with a high level of technical skill, creativity, and long-range passing.

2. Alan Shearer

Alan Shearer’s consistency and longevity, combined with a potent mix of power and precision make him one of the best strikers to ever play in the league. The Englishman enjoyed great success at Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United and is regarded as a legend at both. Shearer’s 260 league goals speak volumes and even if he didn’t win the league with Newcastle, he left behind the greatest goalscoring legacy in English football history.

1. Thierry Henry

Thierry Henry won two Premier League and two FA Cups. He also played 123 times for France, winning the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000. For five consecutive seasons, Henry scored 24 or more goals in the Premier League, winning the Golden Boot a record four times. The Frenchman was known for his pace and composure when running behind defences to score with precise low strikes. His technical ability allowed him to score from a distance, from free-kicks or after dribbling past defenders.

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