10. Fernandinho 

Arriving from Shakhtar Donetsk in 2013 following a £34 million transfer, Fernandino proved quickly that he was worth every penny. A box-to-box defensive midfielder, he appeared for the club in 383 in all competitions.  

Able to shoot from distance, his work-rate and energy was instrumental in leading City both defensive and on attack and is arguably the greatest Brazilian in Premier League history. 

9. Paul Doherty

We’ve got to go back to the 1940s and 1950s when Northern Irishman Paul Doherty was making a significant impact at Manchester City. Known for his exceptional dribbling ability, creativity, and prolific goal-scoring, he scored 74 goals for the club in 119 games. He was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2002, and Manchester City Hall of Fame in 2004.  

8. Bert Trautmann

Former Nazi soldier and Manchester City legend Bert Trautmann is our 8th best Manchester City player of all time. Despite vocal protests from fans, he fast became a fan favourite and featured in 508 league games for the club. 

Trautmann was a shot-stopping genius and saved 60% of penalties during his career. He was renowned for dedication and famously playing the 1956 FA Cup final with a broken neck.

7. Yaya Touré 

Powerhouse midfielder Yaya Toure was a driving force behind City’s rise to dominance after joining the club from Barcelona in 2010. Toure bossed the midfield from box-to-box with his physicality, skill and ability to score. In 8 seasons he won the Premier League three times as well as the 2010-11 FA Cup. 

6. Kevin De Bruyne

How Chelsea only used Kevin De Bruyne sparingly is beyond me and to Manchester City’s benefit, they gained one of the best players to ever play for the club. A complete footballer, De Bruyne’s playmaking ability took the club to even greater heights since joining in 2015. Joining for a then-record £54 million, there’s no doubt he repaid the fee with a third place finish for the Ballon d’Or in 2022, in addition to an abundance of trophies and individual accolades. 

5. Tony Book

Despite only joining the club as a 31-year old, Tony Book became one of the greatest ever defenders for the club. Playing at right back, he was forever consistent and helped to guide the club to four major trophies as captain – the 1970s European Cup Winners’ Cup the greatest of those achievements. 

4. Vincent Kompany 

A case could be made for Vincent Kompany being the best centre back in Premier League history. In 2008 he joined the club from Hamburger SV and quickly became a rock at the back, as well as one of the greatest leaders in world football. During his 11 seasons at Manchester City, Kompany served as captain in eight of those and he helped guide the club to four titles. 

3. Colin Bell 

Widely regarded as one of the greatest Manchester City players of all time, Colin Bell epitomized skill, versatility, and dedication. Known as “The King of the Kippax,” his performances in midfield during the late ’60s and ’70s earned him iconic status among fans. He finished his career having played 394 league games and scoring 117 times. 

2. David Silva

David Silva is second on our list of the best Manchester City players of all time. A magician with the ball, Silva’s vision, creativity, and technical brilliance helped propel Manchester City into one of the best clubs in world football. His ability to dictate play and create opportunities was exceptional and he played a total of 309 Premier League games, scoring 60 times and registering 93 assists.  

1. Sergio Agüero

Sergio Aguero is the best Manchester City player of all time. The club’s all-time leading scorer until his departure, Agüero’s impact on City’s success in the modern era is immeasurable. His knack for crucial goals, agility, and remarkable goal-scoring ability made him a legend.

Aguero scored 184 goals in the Premier League for City from 275 games, none more important than the title-winning injury time winner to clinch the 2011-12 Premier League title. 

The post 10 Best Manchester City Players of All Time appeared first on Football Blog FC.

10. Rio Ferdinand

Rio Ferdinand is one of the best defenders in Premier League history and one of the greatest Manchester United players. When he arrived from Leeds as a 23-year old for £30m he was the most expensive defender and British footballer ever at the time. 

Ferdinand helped transform United’s defense into one of the world’s best throughout the 2000s. An excellent tackler, passer and leader, Ferdinand won six Premier League titles in 12 seasons as well as the Champions League in 2008. 

9. Bryan Robson 

Wearing his heart on his sleeve, Robson is Manchester United’s longest ever serving captain and one of the club’s greatest leaders. His 345 league games, 74 goals, two Premier League titles and a European Cup Winners’ Cup doesn’t do justice to the impact he had. A midfield boss he controlled the game with crunching tackles and forward runs. 

8. Roy Keane

Roy Keane was a fearless leader on the pitch and he helped guide United to 17 major titles. The Irishman delivered iconic performances from midfield and was an inspiration to both his team and Red Devils fans. Keane is one of the best Manchester United players of all time and was the reliable presence needed as he owned the midfield through 366 Premier League games, registering 39 goals and 33 assists. 

7. Cristiano Ronaldo

One of the best soccer players of all time Ronaldo had a massive impact on the club. At 18 years of age he moved to Manchester United and won his first of five Ballon d’Or awards at age 23. 

While at the club he won three successive Premier League titles and the Champions League. Before a 2009 move to Real Madrid for a then-world record £80 million, Ronaldo finished his Manchester United career with 292 appearances and 118 goals. 

6. Eric Cantona

French bad boy Eric Cantona is one of Manchester United’s best ever players and was a key part of the club’s 1990s resurgence. Before Messi, there was Cantona and his presence upfront was colossal. There was some method to his madness and he wanted to win at all costs. His raw aggression caused issues we won’t talk about, but United were better for it and won four titles with Cantona in the team. 

5. Wayne Rooney 

One of the best players of his generation, Wayne Rooney was a genius upfront and is one of the greatest United players in history. Even his natural-born striker instincts run in the family with his son Kai following in his footsteps in the United youth academy. 

Rooney finished his career at United with a club-record 253 goals. His 183 goals in the Premier League has him behind only Harry Kane and Sergio Aguero for most goals at a single club. 

4. Ryan Giggs

A one-club man, Ryan Giggs won an astonishing 34 major trophies including 13 Premier League and two Champions League titles with Manchester United. Across a 24-year career, Giggs made 963 total appearances for the club with 672 of those in the top flight. Giggs was extremely versatile and could line up anywhere in attack. Toward the end of his career he even played as a defensive midfielder or as a fullback. 

3. Paul Scholes

The greatest one club player in Premier League history Paul Scholes started his career at Manchester United as a 14-year old in an academy player. A midfield maestro he went on to make 700 total appearances for the club, with 499 of those in the Premier League.

Scholes was known for his incredible passing and vision. So consistent was Scholes he scored 107 goals in the Premier League and found the back of the net in 19 consecutive seasons. He went on to win 11 Premier League titles, the most by any Englishman, and also won two Champions League titles. 

2. George Best

George Best is the second best Manchester United player ever. The Northern Irishman is one of the greatest wingers and was known for his incredible dribbling skills. In his 11 seasons with the club he won two First Division titles and the European Cup in 1968, the same year he was crowned Ballon d’Or winner. 

In total he made 474 appearances for United and scored 181 goals. So special was Best, even opposition fans would give him standing ovations because of his dazzling skills. 

1. Sir Bobby Charlton

The best English striker of all time, Sir Bobby Charlton helped guide England to World Cup glory in 1966, the same year he won the Ballon d’Or. Charlton joined United’s academy in 1953 and quickly excelled with his attacking instincts and a ferocious shot. 

Charlton is the best Manchester United player in history and he held the record for most games for the club with 758, since surpassed by Ryan Giggs in 2008. His 249 goals for the club was also a record until Wayne Rooney overtook his tally in 2017. 

The post 10 Best Manchester United Players in History appeared first on Football Blog FC.

10. Arsenal (93.7 million)

For a team that hasn’t won the Premier League since The Invincibles era in 2004, Arsenal have done well to remain one of the most popular football teams in the world. 

Players like Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka are their current generation of stars and the signing of Declan Rice for £105m from West Ham shows they mean business. 

9. Bayern Munich (127 million)

Over the years German giants Bayern Munich has attracted generations of fans with some of the greatest players ever. With almost 60 million Facebook fans and over 38 million Instagram followers, the club is known for its strong youth academy and world-class players. 

The recent signing of Harry Kane that could exceed £100m with add-ons is proof of the pulling power the club has.

8. Liverpool FC (131 million)

Liverpool arguably has the best football fans in England and with 131 million fans on social media is one of the most popular football teams in the world. 

There’s an aura with Liverpool, whether it’s the fans belting out the “You’ll Never Walk Alone” anthem, or the chants from “The Kop” at Anfield. Everyone loves backing a winner, and Liverpool is just that with the most combined English and European trophies.  

7. Manchester City (131 million)

Since the 2008 takeover of Manchester City by Sheikh Mansour the club has seen billions of dollars invested into it and has rapidly become one of the most popular football teams in the world. The club won its seventh Premier League title and first ever Champions League crown in 2023 and continues to grow in popularity as everybody loves a winner. 

6. Chelsea (134 million)

Chelsea have had their struggles in the post-Abramovich despite the big money being thrown around in the transfer market by Todd Boehly. It was Abramovich’s billions that helped Chelsea’s rise to worldwide popularity with superstars such as Frank Lampard, John Terry, Didier Drogba and Ashley Cole winning Premier League titles. The club will need to turnaround their recent poor seasons with other clubs surging in popularity because of their success and big name players.

5. Juventus (144 million) 

Juventus is a legendary football club located in Turin, Italy. The club is synonymous with Italian football excellence and has consistently dominated Serie A. Juventus has a global fanbase and has been home to football legends like Alessandro Del Piero and Roberto Baggio.

4. Paris Saint-Germain (187 million)

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) has emerged as a global football powerhouse ever since Qatar Sports Investments became a major stakeholder in 2011. The dominance in Ligue 1 and superstar signings including Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and Lionel Messi has helped PSG become one of the most popular teams in the world. 

3. Manchester United (206 million)

Similar to Chelsea’s situation, Manchester United’s lack of recent success is taking a hit on the club’s popularity. The Red Devils are still the fourth most popular football club in the world thanks largely to Sir Alex Ferguson’s legacy during his 27-year managerial career at the club.

A massive global fanbase exploded on the back of players such as Sir Bobby Charlton, Ryan Giggs, Eric Cantona, Roy Keane, Paul Scholes and Wayne Rooney to name a few. Old Trafford is the best stadium in the league and if you look beyond the “Glory Hunter” fans, the United fanbase is arguably the best in England.

2. FC Barcelona (342 million)

The second most popular football club in the world is Barcelona with 342 million followers on social media and climbing. A European powerhouse, they trail only behind fierce rivals Real Madrid both in Spanish and European football. 

Barcelona’s cultural and social relevance is arguably the most important of any football club in the world, and Lionel Messi was the perfect complement to the club’s history of attractive football during his 20 years at the club.  

1. Real Madrid (363 million)

Real Madrid is the most popular football club in the world with 363 million fans. Madrid won a record eighth Champions League title in 2022 and have been crowned champions of Europe 16 times.

Madrid also won a 35th La Liga crown in 2022 and their success both in Spain and Europe has earned them generations of fans. Cristiano Ronaldo’s nine glorious seasons in Madrid only fuelled Real’s global popularity as the world’s most popular football team.

The post Most Popular Football Teams in the World: 2023 Edition appeared first on Football Blog FC.

10. Ian Wright

One of the best Arsenal players of all time, Ian Wright dominated the early years of the Premier League and scored 185 goals in 288 appearances for Arsenal. Despite his goal scoring exploits, he never played in a major tournament for England, often overlooked for players including Nigel Clough, Paul Stewart, David Hirst and Brian Deane. 

9. Kevin Keegan

Kevin Keegan is one of best English strikers of all time, winning the Ballon d’Or back-to-back in 1978 and 1979. After beginning his career at Scunthorpe United, he became a star at Liverpool and Hamburger SV.

Keegan’s career for England is a case of what could have been. Capped 31 times, the Three Lions failed to qualify for the 1974 and 1978 World Cup tournaments. He did captain England at Euro 1980 and played 26 minutes at the 1982 World Cup which was limited by a chronic back injury.

8. Teddy Sheringham

Teddy Sheringham’s career was marked by longevity and consistency across a 24-year career.  He had an excellent presence in the box and an ability to score crucial goals which made him a beloved figure whenever he went. 

Sheringham earned 51 caps for England, and only made his first appearance as a 27-year old. He scored 11 times, forming a formidable partnership up front with Alan Shearer until the emergence of Michael Owen limited his game time.

7. Michael Owen

Michael Owen burst onto the scene with blistering pace, which took game time off the much slower Teddy Sheringham for England. He won the Ballon d’Or in 2001 and became the first Englishman to do so since Kevin Keegan in 1979. Owen scored 150 goals in 326 Premier League appearances, and scored 40 goals for England while featuring in five major tournaments, scoring in four of those.

One of England’s greatest ever strikers Owen is best remembered for his time at Liverpool but his move to Manchester United remains one of the most controversial Premier League transfers of all time.

6. Wayne Rooney

Wayne Rooney exploded onto the scene with Everton in 2002 as a 16-year old, and he went on to score 208 goals and won five Premier League titles. He was second all-time goal scorer in the EPL behind Shearer, before Harry Kane surpassed him in May 2023.

In 2003 he became the youngest player ever for England at 17 years and 111 days when he made an appearance against Australia. He made his first major competition at Euro 2004, scored 53 goals for England and played his last tournament at Euro 2016. Rooney is one of the best English football strikers of all time but could have been much higher on the list had he done better than the single World Cup goal he scored from 11 appearances in the tournament.

5. Gary Lineker

When Gary Lineker played his last game for the Three Lions at Euro 92, he fell one goal short of Bobby Charlton’s 49-goal record for the Three Lions. Before the tournament he missed a penalty against Brazil that would have brought him level with Charlton. Lineker was the ultimate goal-poacher and is fifth on our list of best English football strikers of all time. To this date he remains the only player to finish top scorer in the top-tier of England with three different teams.

4. Harry Kane

Before Harry Kane’s big money move to Bayern Munich he became Tottenham’s all time top goalscorer in March 2023. In the same month he became England’s highest ever goalscorer with his 54th goal for the Three Lions. The three-time Golden Boot winner is also the second highest goal scorer in EPL history with 213 goals and he led England to the Euro 2020 Final.

3. Alan Shearer

Alan Shearer is the greatest English striker in the Premier League era. A three-time Golden Boot winner, Shearer was unstoppable during his prime helping guide Blackburn Rovers to a shock league title in 1994-95. He’s also the greatest scorer in EPL history with 260 goals from 441 games. 

Shearer appeared for the England national team 63 times and scored 30 goals. He peaked at Euro 1996 scoring five goals to help England reach the semi-finals before being knocked out by Germany. 

2. Jimmy Greaves

Jimmy Greaves was a goal-scoring machine and he owns the record to this day of most goals in the English top-flight with 357 goals from 516 games. Greaves played with a natural scoring instinct banging in goals nonchalantly with the composure of a hitman. He finished third in the 1963 Ballon d’Or rankings and scored a very efficient 44 goals in only 57 games for England.  

1. Sir Bobby Charlton

Manchester United and English legend Sir Bobby Charlton is the best English striker of all time. He finished his international career in 1970 with 49 goals and it took until 2015 for Wayne Rooney to overtake his goalscoring record for the Three Lions. 

Charlton’s achievements in 1966 is to this day is the pinnacle of English football. He played a pivotal role in England’s 1966 World Cup victory with a brace in the semi-final, the same year he won the Ballon d’Or. 

The post 10 Best English Football Strikers of All Time appeared first on Football Blog FC.

Worst Football Jersey Sponsors

It’s necessary for a football club’s survival to take on jersey sponsors. These sponsorship arrangements reek of desperation though. Let’s take a look at the worst football jersey sponsors of all time.

14. Lyon – Le69

One of the funniest and worst football jersey sponsors of all time was with the partnership between Lyon and le69. Le69 was a classified ads section in the local paper with 69 being the region number for Lyon. Did they have to print the 69 so big?

Mick McCarthy lining out (back row, far right) at Lyon giving that deathly stare #Le69 pic.twitter.com/ffg0CAzul8

— Irish Football Pics (@irish_pics) April 13, 2021

13. Atletico Madrid – Columbia Pictures

You can probably tell that Atletico Madrid’s jersey sponsorship with Columbia Pictures was a desperate money grab for a club that was struggling financially at the time. From Spiderman, to Bad Boys 2 and even White Chicks, there weren’t any limits to the god awful jersey designs.

Em meados do anos 2000, o Atlético de Madrid fechou uma parceria com a Columbia Pictures para estampar diversos filmes em sua camisa. O patrocínio mudava, é claro, de acordo com os novos lançamentos do cinema.

Se liga nessa nostalgia! pic.twitter.com/cTNzxFiWAc

— PELEJA (@PELEJA) April 5, 2023

12. Hull – Flamingo Land

Hull City’s jersey sponsorship deal with Flamingo Land certainly grabbed people’s attention. It’s an anticlimax for fans when a Google search reveals its just your average zoo and theme park in Hull and so Flamingo Land ends as up as one of the worst football jersey sponsors.

Every now and again I think about the time Hull unveiled Flamingo Land as their shirt sponsor pic.twitter.com/jBDD9kIjQ6

— Jack Woody (@jwoddz01) August 13, 2023

11. West Brom – No Smoking

It was common for football fans to smoke in stadiums during the 80’s. West Brom banned it at the Hawthorns in 1984 which coincided with a public service sponsorship deal with West Midlands Health Authority, serving as a reminder for fans not to smoke inside the stadium.

One of the more unusual sponsorship deals of the 80s was the one between West Brom & the West Midlands Health Authority who opted to promote their ‘no smoking’ campaign on the shirts.#wba #westbrom #westbromwichalbion #wbakit #wbashirt #footballshirtsponsor #umbro pic.twitter.com/0f3tnI8uRw

— John Devlin (@TrueColoursKits) July 27, 2021

10. Portsmouth – TY

The Portsmouth deal with TY, the makers of Beanie Babies, was an odd relationship and made for a funny jersey sponsorship deal. It’s not the sort of deal that would strike fear in the hearts of opposing teams.

Portsmouth had the plush toy company TY (Beanie Babies) as their sponsor in late 90’s/early 00’s. The advert was actual fuzzy cotton plush material! pic.twitter.com/k1DbvYjCrt

— Snax Scherzer (@TezzaCFS) October 6, 2019

9. Getafe – Burger King

You’d be forgiven for thinking Getafe players were making fast food burgers for a living. The Spanish club signed a shirt sponsorship deal with Burger King in 2009 and 10 years later, English club Stevenage did the same too.

Very happy to see that Burger King are making a comeback in the shirt sponsorship game, adorning the new @StevenageFC kits.

Fond memories of their time with @GetafeCF. pic.twitter.com/MUxPkukF3Q

— Phil Delves (@phildelves) July 2, 2019

8. Fulham – Pizza Hut

One of the worst football jersey sponsors was when Louis Saha and Co looked more like pizza delivery drivers than professional footballers with the Pizza Hut logo across the shirt front. Nevertheless it’s still a cool jersey and one of the funniest football sponsorship deals of all-time.

Louis Saha wearing Fulham’s iconic 2001/02 Pizza Hut sponsored shirt. pic.twitter.com/1KI6Wa7vlz

— Football Tweet  (@Football__Tweet) July 3, 2020

7. Scunthorpe – Pleasure Island

English club Scunthorpe had a disgusting looking jersey in 1994 which appears inspired by confetti at a kids party. There’s no doubt however the jersey sponsor Pleasure Island made every fan curious where the island of debauchery was. Unfortunately it was only the name of an amusement park which ended up closing in 2016.

A REMINDER:

Scunthorpe’s away kit in 1994, sponsored by Pleasure Island was one of the worst kits we have seen. Does anything beat it? pic.twitter.com/f5w1pOl7L5

— Football Remind (@FootballRemind) February 16, 2017

6. AC Milan – Pooh Jeans

AC Milan’s Pooh Jeans jersey sponsorship is one of the funniest and worst football jersey sponsors of all time. Milan jerseys were emblazoned with the word “Pooh” across the front much to the delight of rival fans. Unfortunately in Italian the word doesn’t refer to human excrement and is the name of a casual jeans clothing brand.

When sponsors go bad!

“Pooh Jeans” – AC Milan

What else you folks got for me? pic.twitter.com/4SNsU3iiTx

— The Kitsman (@The_Kitsman) November 2, 2019

5. Oxford United – Wang

Oxford United’s jersey sponsorship deal with Wang Laboratories is one of the funniest of all-time and seems a ridiculous sponsorship deal today. It wasn’t a deal with someone’s male anatomy. Wang was a computer company that tried to complete with IBM and Oxford won the League Cup in front of 90,000 with their Wang’s proudly on the front of their jerseys.

#OTD in 1986, Oxford Utd won the League Cup in front of a crowd of 90,000 at Wembley.

All the while with WANG emblazoned proudly across their chests. Marvellous stuff. pic.twitter.com/hgTPTFkB8E

— These Football Times (@thesefootytimes) April 20, 2022

4. St. Johnstone FC – Bonar Textiles

One of the funny and worst football jersey sponsors of all-time was Bonar Textiles sponsoring St Johnstone FC’s. It did accurately reflect the mood of the clubs fans during the early 90s following strong top tier performances after spending some time in the lower divisions of Scotland. Bonar Textiles is a textile company, but just the word Bonar appears across the front of the jersey.

DEADLOCK: Oxford United’s Wang vs St Johnstone’s Bonar pic.twitter.com/VHBMjG2GP0

— AC Black★J0ck (@ACBlackJ0ck) July 4, 2017

3. Deportivo Wanka – D.Wanka

Although not a sponsor, Peruvian football club Deportivo Wanka has their club name written on the front of their jersey in the form of D.Wanka. There’s an innocent and less entertaining explanation to the jersey reference with the previous inhabitants of the area known as the Wanka people which the club is named after.

There but for the grace of God go I !
Deportivo Wanka Wanker Polmer Home Shirt Peru 2002/03 pic.twitter.com/fS4Q6e4XxN

— Phil Lowe – Derby County Shirts (@phillowe1) November 15, 2020

2. Everton – Angry Birds

Angry Birds developer Rovio became one of the worst football jersey sponsors when they partnered with Everton in 2017 on a £1 million a season sleeve sponsorship deal. Wayne Rooney was always seen as a ticking time bomb waiting to explode so the partnership between Rooney and Red makes it one of the most funny football jersey sponsorship deals of all-time.

#RedisABlue! We’re now official partners of @Everton F.C.! Check out the new Angry Birds sponsored jersey during today’s Premier League game pic.twitter.com/jZdgO0gzbG

— Red the Angry Bird (@AngryBirds) September 17, 2017

1. Club America – Bimbo

Multinational Mexican company Bimbo has around 200 bakery plants producing mostly bread, cookies and pastries. A bimbo is an attractive but unintelligent young woman. Club America’s shirt sponsorship deal with Bimbo formed an all-time legendary cocktail with Corona and Coke.

Club America #soccer team jerseys sound like quite the party…Coke, Corona & a Bimbo. #sportsbiz #sponsorship pic.twitter.com/WAjSA4OvjQ

— J.W. Cannon (@cannonjw) August 17, 2013

The post The Worst Football Jersey Sponsors of All Time appeared first on Football Blog FC.

Best Liverpool Players

Some of the greatest players of all time have called Anfield home. We take a look at the players that have had the biggest impact at the club and are the 10 best Liverpool players in history. 

10. Luis Suarez

Luis Suarez’s time in England was controversial at times but he’s one of the best Liverpool players of all time as well as one of the greatest Premier League strikers ever. In four seasons at Anfield he scored 69 goals.

His 31 goals in 33 games in 2013-14 goes down as one of the greatest ever seasons by any Liverpool player. Suarez had the pace, skill and finishing that elevated him to icon status but it’s the tenacity and passion that he played with that cements his status as a Liverpool legend. 

9. Graeme Souness

Graeme Souness only needed seven seasons at Liverpool to become one of the clubs greatest icons. The midfield general had the ability to dictate the tempo and take complete control of games. A commanding presence, he was a strong tackler and a creative maestro. 

Souness won five league titles and three European Cups at Liverpool, and he returned as manager in 1991 and led the club to FA Cup success in his first season in charge. 

8. Jamie Carragher

Jamie Carragher may have been playing in the wrong era, but his old-fashioned approach to defending worked as he had an impressive workrate, was strong and versatile. Carragher had a no-nonsense approach and is arguably the most loyal Liverpool player of all time. 

A one-club player, a rarity in modern football, he played 737 times for Liverpool and he won the Champions League in 2005, the UEFA Cup in 2001 and the FA Cup in 2001 and 2006.

7. Alan Hansen

Technically gifted and extremely intelligent, Alan Hansen dominated during his 13 years at Liverpool and was a major part of the club’s success during the 1980s. Jamie Carragher himself even recognised Hansen as the best centre-back to play for the club. 

Hansen was able to read the game almost telepathically and was able to anticipate plays and shutdown attacks. He won 8 league titles and three European Cups with the club and will be remembered as one of the best Liverpool players in history.

6. John Barnes

John Barnes played 314 league games and scored 84 times for Liverpool. He had speed, agility and power which made him one of the most devastating left wingers to contend with. He also shifted to central midfield with success later on in his career. 

So impactful was Barnes during his 10-year spell at the club he was Steven Gerrard’s greatest Liverpool hero growing up as is the case for many other supporters.

5. Virgil Van Dijk

Virgil Van Dijk joined Liverpool for £75 million in January 2018, a then-world record for a defender. Through his leadership, aerial prowess and ability to distribute the ball from the back, Van Dijk established himself quickly as one of the club’s best defenders ever.  

Van Dijk helped guide Liverpool to a Champions League title in 2019, the same year he earned Ballon d’Or runner-up. He also won the Premier League in 2020 helping to end a 30-year league title drought.

4. Ian Rush

Ian Rush enjoyed multiple spells at Liverpool and was a goal-scoring machine. In all competitions Rush is the leading scorer in the club’s history with 346 goals from 660 appearances.

Rush had predatory instincts as a striker. Naturally he could finish, had the power, speed, a great touch and intelligent positioning. While at Liverpool he helped guide the club to five league titles and the European Cup twice.

3. Mohamed Salah

Mohamed Salah is both an Egyptian and Liverpool icon and is one of the clubs best players ever. Signing from Roma for a then-club record fee of £36.9 million, Salah has excelled at Liverpool with his generational combination of dribbling, finishing and speed.   

Salah’s 32 goals from 36 games in 2017-18 is one of the greatest Premier League seasons of all time by a forward and was one of three Golden Boot seasons for him. He was also a key part of the 2018-19 Champions League winning team. 

2. Kenny Dalglish

Arguably Liverpool’s greatest ever player, Kenny Dalglish played 355 league games and scored 118 goals for the club. “King Kenny” was Ballon d’Or runner-up in 1983, won six league titles and three European Cups during the club’s golden era. 

Admired worldwide he had lightning speed which contributed to a technically brilliant pass-and-move-game. Dalglish also had great awareness, excellent vision and creativity.

Further cementing his status as a club legend was his managerial success. He won the league three times as manager of Liverpool.

1. Steven Gerrard

Steven Gerrard may not share the same amount of trophies as other Liverpool greats.but he was the ultimate competitor and was a hero for the entire city of Liverpool during his career. A hardworking box-to-box midfielder, he had exceptional intelligence, tactical awareness, had great skill, and was born to be a leader.

Gerrard played 504 Premier League games and scored 120 goals. He never won the league title but it wasn’t through a lack of passion or dedication. He’ll forever be remembered for his Man of the Match performance in the 2005 Champions League final. 

His goal sparked a comeback from 3-0 down and his leadership on the night forever cements his legacy as the greatest Liverpool player of all time.    

The post 10 Best Liverpool Players of All Time appeared first on Football Blog FC.

Best Football Commercials

Nowadays football’s way too commercialised and it seems everyone’s too lazy to create a commercial that would trick us into thinking otherwise. So lets reminisce when football was at its greatest as we take a look at the best football commercials of all-time.

Winner Stays On – Nike (2014)

Leading into the 2014 World Cup in South Africa, Nike delivered an iconic commercial by taking us all back to our childhoods with a game of “winner stays on”. We’ve all dreamt of being our favourite player and Nike’s commercial captured this brilliantly.

In the commercial young kids pick their favourite stars to transform into including Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Wayne Rooney, Eden Hazard, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Andres Iniesta.

The commercial had everything from non-footballing stars like MMA’s Jon Jones and Anderson Silva, the late and great Kobe Bryant, model Irina Shayk and even Marvel’s Incredible Hulk. All I dream of is footballing returning to being as magical as it once was. They don’t make commercials like this anymore.

Joga Bonito – Nike (2006)

Nike’s Joga Bonito campaign led us into the 2006 World Cup in Germany and is one of the best football commercials ever. Joga Bonito is Portuguese for “Play Beautifully” and the aim of the commercials was to show everyone the beautiful side of football.

At the time the game was going through an identify crisis, globally tarnished with player theatrics and poor sportsmanship. We all needed a hero we never asked for. In reality, Nike wanted to make money of course…

The host of the legendary commercials was Eric Cantona. Yes, the same Eric that kung-fu kicked a Crystal Palace fan earning himself a nine-month ban from football and an initial two-week prison sentence. The beautiful game they say.

But we all loved watching our favourite superstars including the likes of Ronaldino, Ronaldo, Kaka, Thierry Henry and Wayne Rooney.

Take It to the Next Level – Nike (2008)

The think tank at Nike earned every dollar by portraying what every young fan has imagined. The “Take It to the Next Level” commercial features a young professional footballer from a first-person perspective playing Sunday League football. The lad scores a free kick and at the end of the game we get to see that the young lad was scouted by Arsene Wenger.

He earns himself a contract a professional contract at Arsenal and shares the pitch with legends like Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Our fictional star even ends up playing international football with Holland.

He then ends up getting fouled against Portugal and prepares to take a free kick in the exact same position he scored his Sunday League screamer that earned him the gig at Arsenal. A simple concept but one of the best football commercials ever.

The Cage – Nike (2002)

In the lead up to the 2002 World Cup, Nike’s “The Cage” campaign – also known as “Secret Tournament” – involved a fictional tournament with eight teams of three. We’ve now established that Eric Cantona is Nike’s puppet as he again features as a host and playing the role of referee.

The commercials feature 24 of the best players in the world including Ronaldinho, Roberto Carlos, Edgar Davis, Rio Ferdinand, Thierry Henry, Figo and Patrick Viera among others.

What makes The Cage arguably the best football commercial of all-time? It literally inspired millions of kids worldwide to participate in 3-on-3 tournaments matching the rules of The Cage tournament.

The song featured in the commercial was a remix of Elvis Presley’s “A Little Less Conversation” by Junkie XL. It reached Number 1 on the music charts across large parts of the world making the commercial the perfect recipe for success.

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Best Defenders in Premier League History 

These players have left a mark on the game and their legacy will be felt for years to come. Let’s take a look at the 10 best defenders in Premier League history.

10. Tony Adams

One of the best one club players of all time, Tony Adams spent all of his youth career and a 19-year senior career at Arsenal.

Adams was renowned for his loyalty and for being one of the most dominant centre-backs in Premier League history. He displayed exceptional timing with his tackles and was dominant in the air. 

One of the best Arsenal players of all time, Adams featured in 669 games for Arsenal and is thought to have had 255 clean sheets – clean sheet records not tracked properly until 1992. 

9. Nemanja Vidic

Nemanja Vidic may not have possessed the pace of a wing-back, but what he lacked for in speed he made up for with his dominance in the air, his awareness, strength and defensive consistency.

Vidic is one of the best defenders in Premier League history and was never afraid of putting his body on the line. A rock at the back for Manchester United, he was one of the team’s leaders and showed remarkable consistency across a nine-season period. 

8. Sol Campbell

Sol Campbell was one of the best defenders in Premier League history. The former Tottenham and Arsenal superstar was a tough-tackling defender who was comfortable playing the ball out from the back and possessed great leadership.

Campbell was powerful, showed great athleticism and had good position awareness. He also showed great composure, consistency and was a colossus, proving to be a key member of the Arsenal’s Invincibles side.

7. Ashley Cole

Ashley Cole was the definition of a complete modern full-back. One of the best Chelsea players of all time, Cole was lightning quick, and he rarely ever had to make desperate tackles as he read the game extremely well.  

Both comfortable and dependable defensively, Cole was a brilliant dribbler and could get around opponents with ease. He would back it up with his ability to cross dangerous balls into the box and helped to revolutionise the modern day full-back role. 

6. Vincent Kompany

Vincent Kompany is widely regarded as one of the best defenders of his generation. He demonstrated almost unmatched leadership qualities. He captained and transformed Manchester City with four Premier League titles.

Defensively Kompany possessed a rare combination of strength, speed, and intelligence. He was a tough tackler who rarely gave away fouls, and his positional sense was close to flawless.

Kompany was also a threat up the pitch and could score goals when pushing forward.

5. Steve Bruce

Steve Bruce was a key member of Manchester United’s defence during their early Premier League success, helping the club to three Premier league titles.

A no-nonsense centre-back, Bruce always put his body on the line with his physical and aggressive approach, and he was also versatile enough to be pushed up into defensive midfield.

Bruce was consistent at the back and was especially good in the air. Not only did it make Bruce a strong defender, he was also a threat in attack and often scored goals.

4. Gary Neville

Gary Neville showed great consistency and longevity at the highest level of football and is considered to be one of the best right-backs and Premier League defenders of all-time.

A vital part of Manchester United’s success in the 1990s and early 2000s, he won 8 Premier League titles, 3 FA Cups and a Champions League title.

Neville was known for his leadership, work-rate, aggressiveness, tenacity and his consistency. Tactically he was one of the best, and his ability to deliver pinpoint crosses and set pieces was exceptional.

3. Rio Ferdinand

Rio Ferdinand joined Manchester United as a 23-year old in 2002 for £30m. When arriving from Leeds United he became the most expensive defender in the world, and the most expensive British footballer ever.  

At his peak Ferdinand was one of the best defenders of his generation. He was an excellent tackler, an excellent passer of the ball and an inspirational leader, all which made him one of the best defenders in Premier League history.

2. John Terry

John Terry isn’t just the second best defender in Premier League history, he’s also one of the best Chelsea players of all time. Terry built a reputation for being one of the most commanding and fearless leaders in the league. 

Terry was a fan favourite in his highly decorated 19 years at Stamford Bridge. He was almost always in the right place at the right time which led to critical interceptions, and was a threat up forward with his powerful header especially at set pieces. 

1. Virgil van Dijk

Van Dijk is the best defender in Premier League history. A commanding presence at the back, he’s been the catalyst for Liverpool’s transformation into one of the best teams in Europe.

Signing for £75m in early 2018, the 6-foot-5 (195 cm) centre-back is known for his ability in the air, his strength and leadership. 

Arguably his greatest strength is his positioning and Van Dijk is rarely ever caught out of position. He’s able to anticipate danger with ease and makes interceptions before having to make tackles.

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Best Chelsea Players of All Time

Chelsea’s recent history has seen them become one of the best football clubs in the world and fans have been lucky enough to have seen some scintillating play. Lets take a look at the 10 best Chelsea players of all time.

10. Ashley Cole

Despite coming through the ranks at Arsenal’s youth academy, Ashley Cole isn’t one of Arsenal’s best players of all time but rather one of Chelsea’s greatest ever. He was the complete modern full-back and had blistering pace and was great defensively. 

Considered one of the best left-backs in Premier League history, he was a fantastic dribbler who wasn’t afraid to push forward. Cole could get around opposing defenders with ease and whip in dangerous balls. 

Cole finished his career with Chelsea after winning a Premier League title, four FA Cups, a League Cup, and the Champions League in 2012. 

9. Claude Makelele

Claude Makelele is one of the best Chelsea players of all time and one of the greatest defensive midfielders of his era. He was extremely effective at breaking up opposition attacks and seemed to always be in the right place at the right time. 

Makelele pioneered the modern defensive midfield role and allowed other Chelsea greats the freedom to play forward due to his elite defensive abilities. He won two Premier League titles, an FA Cup and the League Cup twice during his time at Stamford Bridge. 

8. Eden Hazard

Arriving from French club Lille in 2012, a 21-year old Eden Hazard joined Chelsea as one of the most promising young talents in Europe and he lived up to those expectations. 

Hazard quickly became one of the best attacking players in the world, with insane dribbling skills, great technique and clinical finishing. He helped guide the club to two Premier League titles, an FA Cup, one League Cup and two Europa League titles. 

Chelsea were lucky to witness 26,956 minutes of Hazard on the pitch for the club during seven seasons, returning 110 goals and providing 92 assists. Hazard left for Real Madrid in 2019 as one of the best Chelsea players of all time.

7. Petr Cech 

One of the greatest goalkeepers of his generation, Petr Cech is one of the best Chelesa players of all time. He had astonishing reflexes, was commanding in his area and was a remarkable shot-stopper. 

Cech holds the record for most clean sheets in a Premier League season with 24. He also holds the record for most overall clean sheets with 202. He was a vital part of Chelsea’s most successful period, winning four Premier League titles, four FA Cups and the Champions League in 2012. 

6. Ron Harris

Ron Harris is one of Chelsea’s greatest ever defenders and made an incredible 795 games for Chelsea, a club record. Starting his career in 1961 he was an extremely tough tackler and earned himself the nickname “Chopper”.

A hardworking and physical defender, he built one of the greatest legacies while at the club and was a well respected leader. He was one of Chelsea’s most loyal ever players, sticking with the club despite experiencing two relegations. 

Harris won the League Cup in 1965, an FA Cup in 1970, and the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1971. 

5. Peter Osgood

Peter Osgood is one of the best Chelesa players of all time. He built himself into a fan favourite and he scored an impressive 150 goals in 380 appearances for the club.

Osgood had an eye for goal, and he had the personality to match which made him very liked. He was able to exploit his physical strength by holding off defenders and creating chances for both himself and teammates. 

Alongside Ron Harris, Osgood won a Football League Cup, FA Cup and a EUropean Cup Winners’ Cup. 

4. Gianfranco Zola

Not only is Gianfranco Zola one of the best Chelesa players of all time, he’s one of the most iconic players ever for the club with his creativity, flair and skill on show during his seven years at the club.

Zola built a cult-like following with phenomenal technical ability, unreal passing and vision, quick feet and he had an ability to score goals from anywhere, finishing with 80 goals in 312 appearances. 

He remains one of Chelsea’s most beloved former players and finished his spell at the club with two FA Cups, a League Cup, a UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup and a UEFA Super Cup. 

3. Didier Drogba

Didier Drogba is one of the best Premier League strikers of all time and one of the greatest to ever play for Chelsea. He brought a game of amazing physicality, strength and technical ability.

Drogba had a powerful impact and scored 164 goals in 381 appearances for the club. He also had a habit of scoring a lot of those goals during crucial games and at critical times.

In his eight seasons at Chelsea, Drogba won four Premier League titles, four FA Cups, three League Cups and the Champions League in 2012, in which he scored a late equaliser and the winning penalty. 

2. John Terry

John Terry is one of the best defenders in Premier League history and one of the best Chelesa players of all time. During a 19-year career at Stamford Bridge, Terry built a reputation for being one of the most commanding centre-backs.

Chelsea’s fearless leader, he often made critical interceptions, was seemingly always in the right position and could also pose a threat up forward on set pieces with a powerful header. 

Terry was a fan favourite with his strong commitment to the club, and he won five Premier League titles, five FA Cups, three League Cups, the Europa League and the famous Champions League win in 2012. 

1. Frank Lampard

Frank Lampard is the best Chelsea player of all time. The son of former Chelsea player Frank Lampard Sr, he was the ultimate professional and was an inspiring leader.

A box-to-box midfielder, Lampard earned himself the role as club captain for several seasons and he appeared for Chelsea 648 times, scoring 211 goals and providing 150 assists. 

Lampard finished as Chelsea’s highest ever goalscorer in history. He could also create opportunities, and was a master at dictating the tempo of games. One of the smartest players ever, he had superb technical ability and had a workrate that never seemed to end.

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Best Arsenal Players of All Time

Arsenal fans are among the best football fans in England, and they’ve been lucky enough throughout history to witness a brand of skilful and attacking football. Let’s take a look at the 10 best Arsenal players of all time.

10. Marc Overmars

Despite some injury setbacks and only being at the club for three years, Marc Overmars is one of the best Arsenal players of all time.

The hugely popular Dutch winger was one of the best in the world during his prime, and he made an immediate impact from the time he joined from Ajax in 1997.

Overmars used his incredible speed and was a constant threat down the flank. He had great dribbling and finishing too, scoring 25 goals and providing 14 assists in his 100 games for the club.

The Premier League and FA Cup double of 1997-98 was Overmars’ highlight during his time at Arsenal, and he left in 2000 to return to his former club Ajax after making a huge impression at the club.

9. Freddie Ljungberg 

Swedish winger Freddie Ljungberg joined Arsenal in 1998 and was extremely versatile, able to play on either wing and could even play a central attacking role.

He exploited his pace and dribbling ability to score 72 goals and 57 assists during his 325 games in all competitions for Arsenal.

One of his most impressive performances was in the 2002 FA Cup final against Chelsea, which was one of three FA Cup wins for Ljungberg.

He also played a major role in two Premier League title winning campaigns, including playing 31 games and scoring four goals in Arsenal’s “Invincibles” team of 2003-04.

8. Liam Brady

Liam Brady was one of the most technically gifted Arsenal players ever, which is saying something considering the talent that’s been on the books throughout the clubs history.

The Irishman joined the club in 1971 as a youth player. Brady then became a key player for Arsenal during the 1970s. In 307 appearances he scored 59 goals, but it was his creativity that he was renowned for.

It’s unfortunate that consistent tracking of assists weren’t recorded until the 2000s, considering the impressive passing range and exceptional vision Brady had.

In 1980, Brady would leave for Juventus, but not before helping Arsenal to win both the 1979 and 1980 FA Cups. He scored the winning goal in the 86th minute to seal a 3-2 win over Manchester United in the 1979 edition.

7. David Seaman

Star goalkeeper David Seaman is one of the greatest goalkeepers in English football history, and one of the best Arsenal players of all time.

Arriving from QPR for £1.3 million, he very much justified the price tag by winning three First Division/Premier League titles, four FA Cups, a League Cup and a European Cup Winner’s Cup.

Seaman remained an everlasting presence at the back and his consistency was instrumental to Arsenal’s success during his 13 years at the club. He had exceptional reflexes, was commanding in the box and was an extremely agile shot-stopper.

6. Robert Pires

Robert Pires was another key player from Arsenal’s “Invincibles” team of 2003-04. He made 284 appearances for Arsenal, scoring 84 goals and 53 assists.

His contribution was vital to Arsenal’s success in the early 2000s and he helped guide the team to two Premier League titles and two FA Cups.

One of the best Arsenal players of all time, Pires had excellent technique on the ball and was extremely creative, able to deliver a precision pass from almost anywhere on the pitch.

His skilful dribbling and agility allowed him to get past defenders with ease, and he consistently came up clutch by scoring goals when Arsenal needed it most.

5. Ian Wright

Ian Wright is one of Arsenal’s greatest ever strikers and he dominated throughout the 1990s. He could bang ’em in from long-range and could poach goals from short range.

His ability, speed, resilience and his energy made him a constant threat, and he was the club’s all-time leading scorer until Thierry Henry passed his goal tally in 2005.

In his seven seasons with Arsenal, Wright scored 185 goals in 288 appearances, with 128 of those goals in the Premier League. His goal scoring exploits helped the club to win the First Division title in 1991, the Premier League in 1998 and the 1993 and 1998 FA Cups.

4. Patrick Vieira 

Patrick Vieira is not only one of the best Arsenal players of all time, he’s also one of the greatest midfielders of his generation. After joining the club from AC Milan in 1996 he made 406 total appearances for the club, scoring 34 goals and 39 assists.

Viera was a complete midfielder. He anchored the middle of the pitch with a physicality and technicality that made him almost impossible to shut down.

He could win the ball, provide a pinpoint pass and make surging runs forward. His leadership traits are often underrated.

Viera was captain of the “Invincibles” team of 2003-04, and he was extremely influential in Arsenal’s dominance in the early 2000s. He earned three Premier League titles and four FA Cups during his time at the club.

3. Tony Adams

Former Arsenal captain Tony Adams is one of the best one club players of all time. He spent all of his youth career, as well as his 19-year senior career all at the club, and is considered to be one of the most dominant and commanding centre-backs in Premier League history since debuting in 1983.

Adams played a major role in Arsenal’s success in the late 1980s and early 1990s, and was a key player up until his retirement in 2002. He played 669 games for Arsenal in all competitions, and is thought to have had 255 clean sheets.

It’s worth noting though that clean sheets weren’t properly tracked until the Premier League began in 1992. Unfortunately for Adams in his post-career, he managed one of the shortest managerial stints at Portsmouth, sacked after only 106 days at the helm.

His playing career was much more successful with four First Division/Premier League titles and three FA Cups to his name.

2. Dennis Bergkamp

Dennis Bergkamp joined Arsenal from Inter Milan in 1995. He quickly established himself as a fan favourite and became one of the best forwards of his generation.

Not only is he one of Arsenal’s greatest players of all time, he’s one of the Premier League’s greatest icons.

Bergkamp had an unbelievable amount of technical ability which meant he could deliver balls like no other player has been able too.

His touch, control and vision was generational, and he was an excellent finisher who popped up to score crucial goals for Arsenal.

The Dutchman scored 120 goals in 423 appearances and he was a crucial player in the “Invincibles” team of 2003-04. In 2006, Bergkamp retired from football, but not before 11 seasons at Arsenal, three Premier League titles and four FA Cups at the club.

1. Thierry Henry

Thierry Henry is the best Arsenal player of all time. The Frenchman joined the club from Juventus in 1999 and quickly established himself as a key part of Arsenal’s attack.

Henry built himself into one of the best players in Premier League history and was a goal scoring machine with his skill, speed and finishing.

Henry surpassed Ian Wright’s goal scoring record for Arsenal in 2005, his seventh season at the club. In 2007 he left Arsenal for Barcelona, and returned in 2012 on a loan deal from Major League Soccer.

Henry made 377 total appearances for Arsenal, scoring 228 goals (175 in the Premier League), and providing 97 assists.

A key part of Arsenal’s “Invincibles” team of 2003-04, Henry won the Premier League Golden Boot award during the season scoring a phenomenal 30 goals in 37 games.

His haul at Arsenal includes two Premier League titles, two FA Cups, and he was the Golden Boot winner on four different occasions.

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