Taking a look at the careers of the England centurions.
England and Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney is set to become the ninth England player to receive 100 international caps when he leads his nation out against Slovenia in a Euro 2016 qualifier at Wembley this evening – joining an illustrious list of names to earn the achievement.
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This is how we would rank the nine men, including Rooney, to have reached the landmark, based on their contributions for their country:
9) Billy Wright
A one club man with Wolverhampton Wanderers, centre back Billy Wright had an illustrious career for the Three Lions and had an exemplary disciplinary record, but in an era just before great success under Alf Ramsey.
8) Wayne Rooney
Despite the fact that he is set to make his 100th appearance for England, it is hard not to feel that his international career has not quite taken off in the way that it could’ve done. He has never quite shown the exciting, explosive form of Euro 2004 and it is hard to view someone who so often suffers from calls to be dropped as an all-time great.
7) Frank Lampard
Lampard very rarely let his country down and his goalscoring record for the Three Lions is superb, but his international career often suffered from the constant debate over whether he and Steven Gerrard could operate successfully together.
6) Steven Gerrard
Much the same criticism that can be leveled at Lampard applies to his midfield partner Gerrard – the Liverpool skipper was never quite as decisive for his country as he was for his club.
5) Peter Shilton
Goalkeeper Peter Shilton is still England’s record appearance maker with an incredible 125 caps and is one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time. His battle with Gordon Banks for a place in an all-time England team is a fascinating one.
4) Ashley Cole
Like it or not, Cole was the best left back of his generation and perhaps the only England player of his time to truly replicate his club form on the international stage. Consistent and reliable, Cole was a fantastic servant to England despite the off-the-field controversy.
3) David Beckham
David Beckham is an icon and the defining England player of his era – his huge off-the-field profile makes it easy to forget just how decisive he was for England at times and just how much of a leader he was to players and fans alike.
2) Sir Bobby Charlton
Possibly England’s greatest ever footballer and one of the finest midfielders ever to grace a football pitch, Bobby Charlton was a legend for Manchester United and lifted the World Cup with England. A great man.
1) Bobby Moore
As the only England captain ever to hold the World Cup trophy aloft, it is only right that the legendary Bobby Moore heads this lift. One of the greatest centre backs of all time and also an icon at West Ham United, Moore is a true hero.