Top 10 greatest English footballers of all time

The former world champions have produced a number of legends over the years.

Football is a religion in England. The football culture is spread far and wide across the nation, and people are very passionate about the sport. 

England have always been a hub of producing some of the greatest players to have played the game. Their top-class grassroots system and club football system allow the local lads to get their best shot at becoming a seasoned professionals.

Football, as we know it today, evolved in Britain, which is why they are proudly known as ‘the home of football’. From stadium tours to exciting championships and the electric atmosphere of a live game, there is no better place to be if you’re a football fanatic.

So today, we take a look at 10 such players, who are deemed by many to be the greatest ever footballers produced by this football-frenetic nation.  

10. Gary Lineker

A prolific goalscorer and a true poacher, Gary Lineker’s career was nothing short of remarkable. Lineker had a wonderful scoring record at every club he played, netting the ball 238 times in 461 club appearances. 

As for the National team, Gary won the Golden Boot at the 1986 World Cup, scoring six goals, including a famous hat-trick against Poland to secure England’s place in the knockout stage.

9. Wayne Rooney

England’s poster boy in the early years of the 21st century, Wayne Rooney is the sort of player who left onlookers mesmerized with his subtle style of playing football, topped off with moments of sheer brilliance. 

Rooney’s greatest career moment came when he scored a world-class overhead kick against Man City to win his team the derby.

8. Alan Shearer

A beast in the face of the goal, Alan Shearer to this day remains the top scorer in the Premier League, with a total of 260 goals. At his peak, Shearer won three straight Premier League Golden Boots from 1995 to 1997. 

For the National team, Shearer had 30 goals to his name in 63 games, five of which came in the 1996 Euros, rendering him as the top goalscorer of the tournament. 

7. David Beckham

Renowned for his world-class precision in delivering crosses and free-kicks, David Beckham is an English football legend. For a decade straight, Beckham was the face of the English National team, and rightfully so. 

Beckham’s peak with the National team came during the qualifiers for the 2002 World Cup, when he scored a last-minute free kick to save England from disqualification. Beckham’s ability to score from distance and his pinpoint accuracy with long passes made him a key figure in the England setup.

Also read: Top 10 Goalkeepers with most Penalty Saves

6. Harry Kane

Harry Kane is a special player. England’s all time top goalscorer and a Spurs legend, Kane has consistently performed at the highest level of football for around a decade. Kane’s clinical finishing and goal-scoring instincts have seen him rise to the top of the scoring charts for England, and with him still continuing at a great pace, the player seems to be going miles ahead of anyone’s reach. 

Harry also won the Bundesliga top goalscorer award in his first season with Bayern Munich, further showcasing his versatility and class.

5. Gordon Banks

Named FIFA Goalkeeper of the Year six years in a row between 1966 and 1971, Gordon Banks was exceptional in between the sticks. A part of the 1966 World Cup winning squad, Banks has made some outrageous saves throughout his glorified career, the best of which was the jaw dropping save against Pele at the 1970 World Cup.

Gordon was ranked by the IFFHS as the second-best ‘keeper of the 20th century – behind only the immortal Lev Yashin. 

4. Jimmy Greaves

Widely regarded as England’s greatest ever striker, Jimmy Greaves was a generational talent who to this day, doesn’t get enough credit for his brilliance. The Spurs and Chelsea legend chalked up a record 357 top-flight goals and finished as First Division top scorer no fewer than six times.

Jimmy unfortunately missed out on the 1966 World Cup due to an unfortunate injury. However, the forward has 44 goals in 57 caps and remains one of the most efficient goalscorers in English football history. 

3. Bobby Moore

England’s legendary World Cup winning captain, Sir Bobby Moore was no less than a beast at the back. Being called out by Pele as the greatest defender that he had ever faced, is something that in itself speaks volumes about Sir Bobby’s brilliance. 

Bobby Moore spent the majority of his club career with West Ham, captaining them to FA Cup and Cup Winners’ Cup success in 1964 and 1965 respectively.

2. Sir Geoffrey Charles Hurst MBE

Sir Geoffrey was another hero from the 1966 World Cup campaign, who led Engalnd to their historic triumph. Hurst’s historic hat-trick against West Germany in the final solidified his legendary status in English football history.

A club legend for West Ham, Sir Geoffrey scored 180 goals for the Hammers in 411 appearances. His clinical finishing and ability to turn up at crucial moments made him the legend he is today. 

1. Sir Bobby Charlton

Perhaps the biggest football legend England has ever seen, Bobby Charlton’s career was special. Having survived the horror of the Munich Air Disaster, Bobby went on to script his name as England’s greatest ever. 

“Nobody embodies the values of Manchester United better than Sir Bobby Charlton,” notes the club’s official website, and rightly so. Charlton won the English first division three times, and was also an European Champion in 1968. His exploits in the 1966 World Cup also helped the Three Lions become World Champions. 

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