10 Most Underrated English Players in Football History [Ranked]

Throughout the years, the English national team has seen some incredible players pass through its ranks and become staples in the set-up. Players like Wayne Rooney, Sir Bobby Charlton and even current captain Harry Kane are always going to be remembered for their exploits, whether at club or international level, but often thoughts are not spared to some of the unsung heroes that allowed these stars to flourish without getting the respect they deserve.

With so much talent at their disposal across multiple generations, there were always bound to be players that were overlooked and underappreciated, but some of the biggest examples of that never even got the chance to play for their country. With that in mind, these 10 names are perhaps the most underrated that English football has ever produced.

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10 Gareth Barry

England international caps: 53

Gareth Barry holds the all-time record for Premier League appearances, with an impressive 653 matches, yet remains overlooked in discussions of the league’s greatest midfielders. Known for his unparalleled consistency, the former Aston Villa captain played a pivotal role in every team he represented.

Barry was a key figure in Manchester City’s Premier League title win and continued to make an impact with Everton and West Bromwich Albion in the latter stages of his career. Despite his remarkable longevity and contribution to the English top-flight, his name often goes unmentioned among the elite midfielders of the competition’s history.

9 Jermaine Defoe

England international caps: 57

Jermaine Defoe netted 162 goals across his Premier League career, ranking him as the tenth-highest scorer in the competition’s history. With 496 appearances to his name, he established himself as a clinical striker, but what makes his record so impressive was that he never featured for any of the truly top teams in the country that were vying for silverware.

Instead, he spent much of his career at clubs outside that elite bracket, with Tottenham being the biggest leap up the ranks. Perhaps this hindered the perception of Defoe, who should’ve been a consistent partner alongside Wayne Rooney once Michael Owen’s injuries began to catch up to him.

8 Peter Crouch

England international caps: 42

Standing at six-foot-seven, Peter Crouch’s towering presence made him a fan favourite, but his technical ability was often unfairly overlooked. A skilled goalscorer, he was capable of scoring all types of goals, from stunning overhead kicks to long-range volleys. In fact, Crouch is considered one of the finest bicycle kick specialists in football history.

Regarded as one of the Premier League’s cult heroes, the contradiction between Crouch’s appearance and his actual ability with the ball at his feet may be one of the biggest contrasts in recent football memory, and while it made him more unique to watch it sometimes made him a sideshow that undersold how brilliant he actually was.

7 Darren Anderton

England international caps: 30

Darren Anderton was an exceptionally gifted midfielder known for his precise passing, vision, and outstanding crossing ability. A regular fixture for Tottenham Hotspur when fit, he could control the tempo of the game with ease. Unfortunately, injury struggles plagued his career, earning him the nickname ‘sicknote,’ but when he was available, he was indispensable.

The combination of his injury record and the fact that the player who took over the mantle on the right-hand side following hims was David Beckham, means that Anderton’s talent often gets overlooked. Had he stayed fit though, he could easily be talked about alongside some of the other English greats.

6 James Milner

England international caps: 61

James Milner’s footballing journey began at Leeds United, where he made a mark as one of the youngest goalscorers in Premier League history. From then on, he continued to prove his worth and find success at clubs like Aston Villa and Manchester City, but never really won the hearts of the England hierarchy.

The perception of Milner was that he was reliable but not someone who was going to break into the first tea, Ironically, this started to change in the latter end of his career at Liverpool, where his versatility shone and he became a go to guy for Jurgen Klopp when the going got tough.

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5 Steve Bruce

England international caps: 0

A dominant and reliable presence in defence, Steve Bruce made over 400 appearances for Manchester United and became one of the club’s most steadfast players. Known for his no-nonsense approach and professionalism, it’s baffling that despite his stellar club career, he never earned a single cap for England.

During a time when England boasted a number of quality defenders, it remains a major oversight that Bruce never represented his country. Given that he was a Premier League-winning captain, one would imagine Bruce may have to go down as one of the greatest players to never win a senior cap for the Three Lions.

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4 Steve McManaman

England international caps: 37

Steve McManaman is remembered by fans of a certain generation as one of Europe’s finest wingers. A talented attacker, he made the move from Liverpool to Real Madrid in 1999, where he went on to become one of the most decorated British players to play abroad.

Despite his skill and success, McManaman didn’t quite achieve the prominence for England that many felt he deserved, often overshadowed by the wealth of midfield talent available during his time. In certain aspects, he seemed to suffer from the fact that he went off to play for Madrid, as his success in the Champions League perhaps wasn’t as appreciated by the England selectors as they should’ve been.

3 Jordan Henderson

England international caps: 81

Jordan Henderson’s departure from Liverpool, which stirred controversy, shouldn’t overshadow his pivotal role in the club’s success during the Jurgen Klopp era. As captain, the experienced English midfielder led Liverpool to both Champions League and Premier League triumphs, yet his contributions were often downplayed. Rather than being celebrated, he was frequently criticised by rival fans.

The current Ajax captain was a true leader, delivering consistent, commanding performances in midfield. His reliability both on and off the ball was solid, even if not necessarily spectacular, always putting in the hard graft and driving his team forward.

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2 Michael Carrick

England international caps: 34

Regarded as one of the most elegant ball-playing midfielders to have ever played at Old Trafford, Michael Carrick earned the admiration of Manchester United fans for his consistency and control in the middle of the park. When he took to the ball and dictated play, many supporters would sing at the top of their lungs, ‘it’s hard to believe it’s not Scholes.’ That’s how good he was on his day.

Despite his talent, however, many outside of United still fail to fully appreciate Carrick’s brilliance. Even England’s managers rarely saw him in a prominent role, leaving him out of the spotlight despite his crucial influence in Sir Alex Ferguson’s midfield. If anything, Carrick was exactly what was needed at the base of the Three Lions midfield when Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard struggled in the middle of the park together.

1 Andy Cole

England international caps

Andy Cole’s brilliance is often overlooked, and even now, many outside of Manchester United fail to fully appreciate the former England striker’s exceptional talent. He was a true poacher in the box, with a natural instinct for finding space and a clinical finishing ability that made him a constant threat in the Premier League.

His partnership with Dwight Yorke at Old Trafford remains one of the most lethal in recent memory. Despite facing constant criticism throughout his career, Cole consistently delivered, scoring at least nine goals in eleven Premier League seasons and securing the Golden Boot in 1993-94. At the peak of his career, he was undeniably one of the best goalscorers in English football, and it remains baffling how his international career never reached the heights it deserved.