The Golden Boot. The title of the best scorer in the Premier League and one held by such scoring legends as Cristiano Ronaldo, Alan Shearer, Thierry Henry and Didier Drogba.
But while those names, along with Robin van Persie and Sergio Aguero, roll of the tongue rather easily, the 20-plus year history of the award since the formation of the Premier League is filled with players some don’t even remember winning the award.
Here we take a look at the forgotten winners of the prestigious awards – some of whom might even shock you:
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10. Ruud van Nistelrooy, Manchester United; 2002-03 – 25 goals
Van Nistelrooy’s Golden Boot in ’03 preceded the only Premier League title he would ever win. He managed 95 goals in just 150 games for the Red Devils, and his number 10 jersey was later given to a rising star named Wayne Rooney.
9. Teddy Sheringham, Tottenham Hotspur; 1992-93 – 22 goals
The first winner of the Golden Boot when the Premier League formed in 1992, Sheringham was arguably past his prime by the time he joined Man United and went on a title-winning spree.
8. Nicolas Anelka, Chelsea; 2008-09 – 19 goals
Still going strong over at Mumbai City at 36 years old, Anelka scored half of the 38 goals he would score with Chelsea in 2009 en route to an FA Cup title. He would win the Premier League and the FA Community Shield the following year.
7-6. Carlos Tevez, Manchester City / Dimitar Berbatov, Man United; 2010-11 – 20 goals
Few footballers’ careers boggle the mind more than Tevez and Berbatov. Once teammates at Old Trafford, both would go on to win two Premier League titles apiece, would later left their respective clubs – and now find themselves playing football in very small leagues.
5-4. Dion Dublin, Coventry City / Chris Sutton, Blackburn Rovers; 1997-98 – 18 goals
Most people remember Michael Owen being scoring machine for Liverpool, but both of his back-to-back Golden Boot titles were actually tied with stars for clubs that aren’t even in the Premier League anymore.
3. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Leeds United; 1998-99 – 18 goals
Speaking of Michael Owen, his second Golden Boot was a tie with Dwight Yorke but also with Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. The Dutch star would take the title all by himself two years later with Chelsea.
2. Kevin Phillips, Sunderland; 1999-2000 – 30 goals
The way they’re playing right now, it couldn’t hurt Sunderland to see if they can coax the 42-year-old striker out of retirement. Neither Thierry Henry nor Robin van Persie had more goals/game in a season than Phillips when either of them won the Golden Boot.
1. Andy Cole, Newcastle United; 1993-94 – 34 goals
Cole won trophy after trophy at Old Trafford but his greatest individual success came one fateful season at Newcastle United. After helping the club earn promotion to the Premier League the year before, Cole set a record for goals that was tied by Alan Shearer the following year but has yet to be broken. His .85 goals per game in a season still ranks fifth in league history.