The Elite Ten: English Footballers Who Achieved the Most in the Game
English football has produced some of the greatest players in the history of the sport. From legendary forwards to rock-solid defenders, English players have left an indelible mark on the game.
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- David Beckham – One of the most iconic English players of all time, Beckham played for Manchester United, Real Madrid, LA Galaxy, AC Milan, and Paris Saint-Germain, winning numerous domestic titles and helping England reach three World Cups.
Six English Premier League Titles (1996-97, 1998-99, 1999-2000, 2000-01, 2002-03, and 2006-07) with Manchester United
One La Liga Title (2006-07) with Real Madrid
Two MLS Cups (2011 and 2012) with LA Galaxy
One French Ligue 1 Title (2012-13) with Paris Saint-Germain
One UEFA Champions League Title (1998-99) with Manchester United
One Intercontinental Cup (1999) with Manchester United
Two FA Cups (1995-96 and 1998-99) with Manchester United
Four FA Community Shields (1993, 1994, 1996, and 1997) with Manchester United
Runner-up in the 1998 FIFA World Cup with the England national team
Runner-up in the 2002 UEFA Champions League with Manchester United
Runner-up in the 2003 UEFA Champions League with Manchester United
Runner-up in the 2004 UEFA European Championship with the England national team
In addition to these titles, David Beckham was also named the runner-up for the FIFA World Player of the Year award in 1999 and 2001, and was included in the UEFA Team of the Year in 2001 and 2003. - Bobby Charlton – A legendary midfielder who spent his entire career at Manchester United, Charlton helped England win the 1966 World Cup and was named the Ballon d’Or winner in 1966.
Three English First Division titles (1956, 1957, 1965) with Manchester United
One European Cup (1968) with Manchester United
One FA Cup (1963) with Manchester United
One Ballon d’Or award (1966) as the best player in Europe
One World Cup (1966) with the England national team, where he was a key player and scored three goals in the tournament
Inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2002
Knighted in 1994 for his services to football
Manchester United’s all-time leading goalscorer until surpassed by Wayne Rooney
Made 106 appearances for the England national team, scoring 49 goals. - Paul Scholes – A Manchester United legend, Scholes won 11 Premier League titles and two Champions League trophies, and was known for his superb passing and goal-scoring ability.
Eleven English Premier League titles (1995–96, 1996–97, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2012–13) with Manchester United
Two UEFA Champions League titles (1998-99, 2007-08) with Manchester United
Three English FA Cup titles (1996, 1999, 2004) with Manchester United
Two English League Cup titles (2006, 2009) with Manchester United
One FIFA Club World Cup (2008) with Manchester United
Made 66 appearances for the England national team, scoring 14 goals
Inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2008
Named to the UEFA Team of the Year three times (2003, 2007, 2008) - Gary Lineker – A prolific striker who played for Leicester City, Everton, Barcelona, and Tottenham Hotspur, Lineker won the Golden Boot at the 1986 World Cup and is one of England’s all-time leading goal scorers.
English Football Hall of Fame: 2003
PFA Team of the Century (1977–1996): 2007
PFA Players’ Player of the Year: 1985–86
FWA Footballer of the Year: 1985–86, 1991–92
PFA Team of the Year: 1989–90 First Division, 1991–92 First Division
English First Division top scorer: 1984–85, 1985–86, 1989–90
English Second Division top scorer: 1982–83
Ballon d’Or runner-up: 1986
FIFA 100
FIFA World Cup Golden Boot: 1986
FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 1986
Onze de Bronze: 1986
FIFA World Player of the Year bronze award: 1991
FIFA Fair Play Award: 1990
FWA Tribute Award: 1997
European Cup Winners’ Cup: 1988–89
Copa del Rey: 1987–88
Football League Second Division: 1979–80
FA Charity Shield: 1985 - Alan Shearer – One of the greatest strikers in Premier League history, Shearer played for Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United, winning the Premier League title with Blackburn in 1995 and scoring 260 goals in the league overall.
Premier League titles (1994-95
Three English Golden Boots (1994-95, 1995-96, 1996-97)
Inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2004
Awarded the OBE in 2001 for his services to football
Premier League Player of the Year: 1994–95
UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament: 1996
PFA Players’ Player of the Year: 1994–95, 1996–97
FWA Footballer of the Year: 1993–94
Records:
Most goals in Premier League history: 260 goals
Most Premier League goals in a 42-game season: 34
Most Premier League penalties scored: 56
Most Premier League goals scored from inside the box: 227
Most Premier League goals in a single match: 5
Fewest matches to score 100 Premier League goals: 124 matches
Top goalscorer in Newcastle United history: 206
Most European goals scored for Newcastle United: 30
- Steven Gerrard – A Liverpool legend, Gerrard won numerous domestic and European titles with the club and was also a key player for the England national team, earning 114 caps and captaining the team at three major tournaments.
One UEFA Champions League (2004-05) with Liverpool
One UEFA Cup (2000-01) with Liverpool
Three English League Cups (2000-01, 2002-03, 2011-12) with Liverpool
One English FA Cup (2005-06) with Liverpool
One UEFA Super Cup (2005) with Liverpool
Two English FA Community Shields (2006, 2007) with Liverpool
PFA Young Player of the Year (2000-01)
PFA Team of the Year (2000-01, 2003-04, 2004-05, 2005-06, 2006-07, 2008-09, 2013-14)
FWA Footballer of the Year (2008-09)
UEFA Club Footballer of the Year (2004-05) - Frank Lampard – A Chelsea legend, Lampard won three Premier League titles and the Champions League with the club, and also earned 106 caps for the England national team.
Three English Premier League titles (2004-05, 2005-06, 2009-10) with Chelsea
One UEFA Champions League (2011-12) with Chelsea
One UEFA Europa League (2012-13) with Chelsea
Four English FA Cups (2006-07, 2008-09, 2009-10, 2011-12) with Chelsea
Two English League Cups (2004-05, 2006-07) with Chelsea
One English FA Community Shield (2005) with Chelsea
PFA Players’ Player of the Year (2004-05)
FWA Footballer of the Year (2004-05, 2005-06)
Premier League Player of the Season (2004-05)
UEFA Club Midfielder of the Year (2008)
Inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2021 - Wayne Rooney – One of England’s all-time leading goal scorers, Rooney played for Everton, Manchester United, and DC United, winning numerous domestic titles and helping England reach three World Cups.
Five English Premier League titles (2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09, 2010-11, 2012-13) with Manchester United
One UEFA Champions League (2007-08) with Manchester United
One FIFA Club World Cup (2008) with Manchester United
Three English League Cups (2005-06, 2009-10, 2016-17) with Manchester United
One English FA Cup (2015-16) with Manchester United
One Major League Soccer Eastern Conference title (2020) with D.C. United
PFA Players’ Player of the Year (2009-10)
FWA Footballer of the Year (2009-10)
Premier League Player of the Month (six times)
Premier League Goal of the Month (11 times)
Scored a total of 253 goals in 559 Premier League appearances
Inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2021 - John Terry – A Chelsea legend and former England captain, Terry won numerous domestic and European titles with the club and was known for his leadership and defensive prowess.
Five English Premier League titles (2004-05, 2005-06, 2009-10, 2014-15, 2016-17) with Chelsea
One UEFA Champions League (2011-12) with Chelsea
One UEFA Europa League (2012-13) with Chelsea
Five English FA Cups (2000, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2012) with Chelsea
Three English League Cups (2005, 2007, 2015) with Chelsea
Two English FA Community Shields (2005, 2009) with Chelsea
Made 78 appearances for the England national team, scoring 6 goals
PFA Players’ Player of the Year (2004-05)
UEFA Club Defender of the Year (2005, 2008)
FWA Footballer of the Year (2004-05)
Premier League Player of the Season (2004-05)
Chelsea Player of the Year (2001, 2006, 2009)
Inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2021 - Rio Ferdinand – A former Manchester United and England defender, Ferdinand won numerous domestic and European titles with the club and was known for his skill on the ball and his ability to read the game.
Six English Premier League titles (2002-03, 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09, 2010-11, 2012-13) with Manchester United
UEFA Champions League (2007-08) with Manchester United
English League Cups (2005-06, 2009-10) with Manchester United
FIFA Club World Cup (2008) with Manchester United
81 caps for the England national team
PFA Young Player of the Year (1997-98)
Premier League Player of the Month (October 2001)
Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year (2006-07) with Manchester United
PFA Premier League Team of the Year: 2001–02, 2004–05, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2012–13
FIFPro World XI: 2007–08
UEFA Intertoto Cup: 1999 – West Ham
- David Beckham – One of the most iconic English players of all time, Beckham played for Manchester United, Real Madrid, LA Galaxy, AC Milan, and Paris Saint-Germain, winning numerous domestic titles and helping England reach three World Cups.
English footballers have accomplished a great deal in their careers, solidifying their positions as some of the sport’s most exceptional athletes. Their exceptional talent, unwavering passion, and unyielding drive have not only earned them a place among the all-time greats, but also served as a source of inspiration for countless football enthusiasts worldwide. Long may it continue.
See you in the next one.