A list of the most underrated footballers to grace the game, featuring divisive Manchester United star and a forgotten Arsenal great…
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20) Shaka Hislop
Never one who played at a top club, but Shaka Hislop had a great Premier League career and certainly showed himself to be a consistent and reliable shot-stopper capable of some fantastic match-winning displays.
19) Des Walker
Another underrated star largely due to the teams he played for, Des Walker was still an unstoppable defender on his day, and an ever-dependable player for England.
18) Gheorghe Hagi
Hailed as the Romanian Maradona, Gheorghe Hagi is rarely spoken about as one of the greats now, but was a superbly gifted and entertaining performer.
17) Emile Heskey
A figure of comedy now after some harsh reviews throughout his career, Emile Heskey was a key player for Liverpool and England, and deserves more credit for his unselfish play and hard work upfront.
16) Miroslav Klose
Not much of a club career, but Miroslav Klose’s achievements at international level, winning the World Cup with Germany and becoming the competition’s all-time top scorer should see him held in higher regard.
15) Peter Beardsley
A Liverpool legend but not one spoken about in the same breath as the likes of Kenny Dalglish and John Barnes, Peter Beardsley played his part in the Reds’ immense success.
14) Dunga
Not the classic Brazilian flair player, but Dunga’s job in defensive midfield was one he perfected, and he was crucial for his team as they won the 1994 World Cup.
13) Ray Parlour
Not capped enough for England, Ray Parlour spent most of his career as a key player for Arsenal, winning a whole host of honours and often captaining the side even in the presence of the likes of Patrick Vieira and Robert Pires in midfield.
12) Matthias Sammer
Now working as a sporting director at Bayern Munich, Matthias Sammer is not held in the same regard as his colleague Franz Beckenbauer, but was certainly a superb player for Germany and for a number of Bundesliga clubs.
11) Denis Irwin
A long-serving member of some tremendously successful Manchester United sides, Denis Irwin is unfortunate to have been overshadowed by a number of other legends such as Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Roy Keane.
10) Claude Makelele
Not a flashy player by any means, but former Chelsea midfielder Claude Makelele was crucial for the Blues, France and at previous club Real Madrid, having his defensive midfield position named after him.
9) Youri Djorkaeff
Overshadowed by the likes of Zinedine Zidane in that 1998 World Cup-winning France team, Yori Djorkaeff played a key role in that success and deserves more credit.
8) Kevin Davies
An old-fashioned centre-forward perhaps playing in the wrong era, Kevin Davies was still a handful to play against and a highly consistent performer throughout his Premier League career.
7) James Milner
A victim of his own versatility, James Milner is a top peformer in a number of positions, but is still seen as a workhorse or squad player at Manchester City.
6) Chris Waddle
A great talent, Chris Waddle is unfairly remembered for THAT penalty miss, but was one of the finest English players of his generation.
5) Nigel Clough
A big player for Nottingham Forest, Nigel Clough perhaps didn’t fulfill his potential at Liverpool but still made a good career for himself.
4) Dirk Kuyt
Often mocked for his lack of technical skill, Dirk Kuyt has more than proven his worth in a great career for Liverpool and the Dutch national team, by no means an easy feat.
3) Stan Collymore
A player whose reputation has been marred by some off-the-pitch incidents and an admittedly dislikeable personality, Stan Collymore was still a superbly talented striker who lit up the Premier League.
2) Alessandro Costacurta
Not quite held in the same regard as another AC Milan legends like Paolo Maldini and Franco Baresi, but Alessandrio Costacurta is yet another world class centre-back to give decades of great service to the Rossoneri.
1) Michael Carrick
Still under-appreciated despite a long and successful career with Manchester United, Michael Carrick has not earned nearly enough England caps and is seen as somehow inferior to the more lively players like Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard, who have dominated the England midfield down the years.
List via the Daily Telegraph.
SEE ALSO: Why Michael Carrick is Manchester United & England’s most underrated player