Top 10 English Premier League Players

Football Agents: Top 10 English Premier League Players

2005 – 2015 English Premier League Players

Football agents sports article: from the author and freelance sports journalist Kevin Walters:

Looking at the Premier League players of today, and then rolling back the years to 2005, who do you think are the 10 most consistent English players that performed in 2005 and are still performing today?

Here are my top 10 :

1. Frank Lampard – although he is used mainly as a substitute this season at Manchester City, Lampard has shown real consistency and class over the last 10 years. Prior to this season, there is only one season in the last 10 years when he made less than 40 appearances for his club (that was 2010-11 when he played 32 games). He has also represented England every year in the last 10 years. During that period Frank has won everything there is to win at club level – UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, Premier League, FA Cup & League Cup. An all-time Chelsea hero and one of the best goal scoring midfielders this country has ever seen!
2. Wayne Rooney – playing a new role for Manchester United his season, Rooney has continued to exceed expectations every year since 2005. Like Lampard, Rooney has played less than 40 games in only one season during the last 10 years (he played 37 games in 2012-13). And, like Frank Lampard, internationally Wayne has played for England every year in the last 10 years. Additionally, during that period, he has scored for his country in every one of those years. The only major club honour to elude Wayne Rooney during the last 10 years is the FA Cup – maybe this is the year for him to put that right! Rooney is currently captain of his club and country.
3. Steven Gerrard – a one club man, Gerrard will leave his beloved Liverpool in the summer to join LA Galaxy. A true captain, Gerrard will go down as one of the best Liverpool players of all-time. He is a true leader, with skill in abundance. There are not many players who can boast winners’ medals in the last 10 years in the following completions: UEFA Super Cup, UEFA Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup. Additionally, during the last 10 years Gerrard has won numerous individual awards including; UEFA footballer of the year, Sports Writers player of the year, PFA player of the year and England player of the year (twice). Since 2005, he has played for England every year except 2011, a fine achievement by a unique footballer.
4. John Terry – another one club man who has captained both club and country. Like Frank Lampard, during the last 10 years John Terry was a major part of the Chelsea machine that won everything at club level – UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, Premier League, FA Cup & League Cup. He continues to perform at the highest level, and he is currently having one of his best seasons ever. Internationally, he hasn’t played for England since 2012, but on current form there is no-one in England better in his position.
5. Rio Ferdinand – the last 10 years has seen Rio play consistently well for Manchester United and England (although his last international appearance was 2011), and more recently a move to QPR was deemed to be his final year as a player. A classy, ‘continental’ style defender, Rio was considered by many to be the best English central defender of all time. He has a full trophy cabinet to prove he performed at the highest level over a long period.
6. Michael Carrick – possibly the most underrated English midfield player in the last 10 years. Carrick has been a major part of the Manchester United team which has won the Premier League 5 times in the last 8 years. Add to that a Champions League winner’s medal and a League Cup winner’s medal, and you can see just how successful Michael Carrick has been. He has represented England at under-18, under-21, B and senior levels.
7. Joe Cole - a schoolboy star who received national media attention from a young age, he once scored seven of the eight goals the England youth team scored against Spain. A product of the West Ham United youth system, Joe Cole has played consistently at the highest level. He has represented Chelsea, Liverpool, West Ham and Aston Villa in the Premier League during the last 10 years. An England international, Cole has won all the domestic trophies – Premier League, FA Cup & League Cup.
8. Stewart Downing – a product of the famous Middlesbrough Academy. A skilful, tricky winger, Downing has played for Middlesbrough, Aston Villa, Liverpool and West Ham during the last 10 years. During that time he has won 35 England caps. Like John Terry, Stewart Downing is currently having one of his best seasons ever, and that is possibly due to the role he now plays at West Ham.
9. Peter Crouch – a Premier League veteran, Crouch has played for Southampton, Liverpool, Portsmouth, Spurs and Stoke City during the last 10 years. In that time he has represented England 42 times, scoring 22 goals. However, apart from an FA Cup win in 2006, the trophy cabinet is empty!
10. Aaron Lennon – after 10 years at Tottenham Hotspur, Lennon joined Everton on loan in January 2015. With 21 England caps during the last 10 years, he has played at the top level, albeit with limited success. His only trophy during the period is a League Cup winner’s medal in 2008. However, he is still performing at the highest level and therefore, in my opinion, deserves to be in the top 10.

A sports article for football agents by Kevin Walters (Durham)

All opinions and any factual content are the sole responsibility of the sports writer.