The Premier League is arguably the greatest competition in world football – so it’s really no surprise that it’s housed some of the best players to ever grace the game.
Alongside the greatest ever players to grace England’s top flight, come even greater clubs – such as the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal, plus many more.
And with great clubs, come great Premier League managers. Sir Alex Ferguson, Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp, Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho spring to mind.
But a topic that is always open to debate, with all things considered, has to be what the greatest starting 11 in the league’s history is.
We’re basing our findings on trophies, longevity and, above all, genuine footballing ability. So, with this, here’s the greatest Premier League XI of all time.
GK – Peter Schmeichel
Premier League record
The big Dane in Peter Schmeichel kicks us off. He was an absolute monster of a goalkeeper for Manchester United.
Peter was a goalkeeper that simply filled the net, and was a master of commanding his box, alongside pulling off some remarkable, often game-winning saves.
Schmeichel won five Premier League titles, three FA Cups, and the Champions League with the Red Devils, and just pips Petr Cech to our top spot.
RB – Gary Neville
Premier League Record
A man who often understates his own footballing career, Gary Neville has the title of the greatest right-back to ever grace the Premier League.
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Neville spent his entire career with United under Alex Ferguson, and even without all the trophies, has to be included for sheer longevity alone.
During his time at Old Trafford, eight Premier League titles and two UEFA Champions League titles.
CB – Nemanja Vidic
Premier League Record
It’s becoming quite Manchester United-heavy here – but Nemanja Vidic has to take one of the centre-back slots.
The Serbian is one of the scariest footballers to ever grace the game. The phrase ‘rock at the back’ definitely epitomises his play style.
Vidic won five Premier League titles, three Football League Cups, five FA Community Shields, the FIFA Club World Cup and the UEFA Champions League at United, and was captain for four years. A leader and a warrior – Vidic was dynamite.
CB – Virgil van Dijk
Premier League Record
The first of the ‘modern-day Premier League era’, Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk partners Vidic at the back.
John Terry will feel hard done by, given his accolades and longevity, but Van Dijk’s footballing prowess simply has to see him included.
He transformed Liverpool and got them back into the big time – which means he has to be in our starting XI.
LB – Ashley Cole
Premier League Record
To round off the defenders, there simply may be no better left-back to grace the Premier League than Ashley Cole.
Cole won the league twice with Arsenal, infamously part of the ‘invincibles’ side under Wenger in 2003-04, with the former England international integral to the Gunners’ successes.
He later moved to Chelsea, where he would win the FA Cup and the League Cup – and the Premier League again, all the while cementing himself as the finest left-back ever to play English top-flight football.
CM – Paul Scholes
Premier League Record
An absolute mastermind of a passer is our first midfielder, it’s up for debate, but we think Paul Scholes trumps Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard for multiple reasons.
Scholes was a staple in the Manchester United side that simply couldn’t stop winning in the Premier League, and is highly regarded by sporting greats as one of the best midfielders to grace the pitch.
Scholes won a ludicrous 25 major trophies with Manchester United, including 11 Premier League titles, two Champions League titles (1999, 2008), three FA Cups, two League Cups, five Community Shields, one Intercontinental Cup, and a FIFA Club World Cup.
CM – Roy Keane
Premier League Record
No midfield is complete without a captain, and there is arguably none better in Premier League history than Roy Keane.
Keane really had it all. He could tackle, pass, drive forward – but it was his no-nonsense attitude that one of the greatest Premier League managers, Sir Alex Ferguson loved.
Keane won numerous trophies with Manchester United, including seven Premier League titles (1993–94, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2002–03), four FA Cups (1993–94, 1995–96, 1998–99, 2003–04), the UEFA Champions League (1998–99), and the Intercontinental Cup (1999).
CM – Patrick Vieira
Premier League Record
Alongside Keane, let’s have his fiercest competitor to make up the best Premier League midfield of all time – Patrick Vieira takes our final slot.
Captain of the Arsenal invincibles, Vieira was another who could do it all on the football pitch. He was the driving force behind Arsene Wenger’s side and was a major catalyst to the Gunners’ successes.
Vieira won multiple major trophies during his time at Arsenal, including three Premier League titles (1997–98, 2001–02, 2003–04) and four FA Cups (1998, 2002, 2003, 2005).
RW – Cristiano Ronaldo
Premier League Record
How can you not include a player like Cristiano Ronaldo? Although his stint in the Premier League was not among the peak of his illustrious career, his undeniable raw talent has him included alone.
The Portuguese winger announced himself to the world at Manchester United – and the rest is history.
He has three Premier League titles, a Champions League, an FA Cup, two League Cups, and the FIFA Club World Cup to his name for the Red Devils.
ST – Alan Shearer
Premier League Record
The most prolific Premier League player of all time has to lead the line, and that’s Alan Shearer.
Shearer only won England’s top flight once at Blackburn but was arguably the most feared striker in the world during his time at Newcastle United.
An expert in front of goal, despite the insane goal-scorers who grace the league, is not better than Shearer.
LW – Thierry Henry
Premier League Record
Dubbed by many as the most talented player to ever play in the division, we’ve squeezed Thierry Henry in at left wing.
He won two league titles and three FA Cups with the Gunners – dazzling defences all the while for Arsenal during his 10 years at the club.
More impressively, he won the Golden Boot on four separate occasions, and the PFL Player of the Season twice. A true legend, and a fitting way to cap off our list.