The top 10 foreign players in the Premier League ever.
10. Jurgen Klinsmann – Germany – Tottenham Hotspur
The German international was one of the first international megastars to head over the the Premier League in 1994 and he quickly set about setting the league alight with 30 goals in 50 appearances during his first spell with the club.
He returned briefly four years later for a loan spell and made a modest but commendable return of nine goals in 15 games.
He also started the trend for young boys to fling themselves face down into the dirt at top speeds after scoring.
9. David Ginola – France – Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa, Everton
The Gallic genius was one of the most electrifying performers during the ’90s, and was central to Newcastle’s challenges for the Premier League title under Kevin Keegan. A stint at Spurs shortly after confirmed him as one of the best players that the Premier League has ever seen and he capped off his stay there with a Player of the Year award.
Short stints with Villa and Everton saw him wind down his career in England.
8. Brad Friedel – USA – Liverpool. Blackburn Rovers, Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur
The American international may not have enjoyed the most trophy laden career, but what he lacks in silverware he more than makes up for with respect.
Since the early ’90s the evergreen stopper has been one of the most consistent goalkeepers the Premier League has ever seen and it’s a testament to his character and ability that he is still going at the ripe old age of 41.
7. Xabi Alonso – Spain – Liverpool
The Spaniard may not have been with the club for as long as the fans would have liked, but during his time at Anfield his central midfield partnership with Steven Gerrard saw them form one of the most complete midfield’s in Europe and he played a key role in overcoming the deficit that night in Istanbul.
6. Dennis Bergkamp – Holland – Arsenal
Bergkamp was a master of the deft touch and had a class about his style of play that nobody has been able to replicate since. He was the perfect foil for Thierry Henry during their time leading the line at Arsenal and played major role’s in every trophy the club picked up since 1998.
5. Roy Keane – Ireland – Nottingham Forest, Manchester United
Undisputedly the Premier League’s most fearsome competitor, and it is hard to imagine a player coming along that will ever match him for intensity.
He got his first taste of PL action under Brian Clough at Forest before heading to Old Trafford where he captained the club through their most successful period ever.
4. Gianfranco Zola – Italy – Chelsea
The diminutive Italian wasted no time in making himself at home at Stamford Bridge and it now held in the highest esteem in west London.
Learned his trade from Diego Maradona at Napoli, he brought his distinctive brand of dribbling to the UK where he continued to terrorise defences for the best part of seven years before returning home to a heroes welcome with hometown team Cagliari.
3. Patrick Vieira – France – Arsenal, Manchester City
Like Keane at United, the Frenchman was a born warrior and led the Gunners to their own dominant purple patch in the late ’90s and early ’00s.
He has a stung case for being billed as the best central midfielder the Premier League has ever seen and many were left scratching their heads when Arsene Wenger let him leave for Italy.
Topped of his career with a short stint at Manchester City, where he won the FA Cup and helped facilitate their transformation as one of the league’s powerhouses.
2. Eric Cantona – France – Leeds United, Manchester United
They didn’t call him King Eric for nothing. With his popped collar and effortless cool he became the league’s most iconic player and played a vital role in United’s continued domination of the league until his unprecedented retirement in 1997.
He had his moments of madness, but that only furthered the legend and made him all the more fascinating.
1. Thierry Henry – France – Arsenal
The French have taken to the English game with consummate ease and have dominated this list, and it would only be fitting that Thierry Henry topped it.
On his day, of which he had many, he was unplayable, unstoppable and impossible to ignore. Added a certain va-va-voom to the Arsenal’s attack and once he got going he never stopped.
Made a short cameo return in 2012 where he showed the despite his advancing years he could still put the ball in the back of the net if given the chance.
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