The Premier League was 26 years old and has been the home of some of great players. 437,541 AFers have voted for their greatest Premier League XI of all time, here are the results:
GK:
Edwin Van Der Sar (Fulham, Man United)
Former Man United goalkeeper Van Der Sar got 30.3% of votes. Peter Schmeichel came to second with 24.3% of votes.
Defenders
Ashley Cole (Arsenal, Chelsea)
John Terry (Chelsea, Aston Villa)
Rio Ferdinand (West Ham, Leeds United, Man United, QPR)
Gary Neville (Man United)
Most of AFers selected John Terry as the defender. A strong, tenacious, commanding and physical defender, Terry excels in the air and is known for his aggressive tackling, positioning, leadership and his ability to read the game, he was named UEFA Club Defender of the Year 3 times.
Rio Ferdinand clinched 16.2 percent of the vote.
Ashley Cole, who was described by Cristiano Ronaldo as his toughest opponent, got 14.0% of votes.
Gary Neville racked up 400 appearances and an amazing eight Premier League trophies. 10.1% of AFers picked him.
Nemanja Vidic, Patrice Evra got 10.0% and 8.8% of votes respectively.
Midfielders
Frank Lampard (West Ham, Chelsea, Man City)
Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)
David Beckham (Man United)
Steven Gerrard and David Beckham both got 19.8% of votes, shared first place. For longevity of excellence, and for displaying it across all attacking and defensive duties, Gerrard stands alone!
David Beckham, who predominately dominated the league in the 90's and early 00's, start in midfield as well.
Frank Lampard is one of seven players, and the only midfielder, to have scored 150 or more goals in the Premier League, that’s why 16.4% of AFers voted him.
Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes ranked 4th, 5th, with 9.6% and 9.3% of votes respectively.
Forwards
Thierry Henry (Arsenal)
Didier Drogba (Chelsea)
Cristiano Ronaldo (Man United)
Cristiano Ronaldo scored 84 times in 196 Premier League games and won the title three times. Very quick, very strong and supremely skillful, Ronaldo can play on either flank or anywhere along the forward line. The majority of 22.0% of votes have him on the right of midfield.
In 258 Premier League appearances over two spells (1999-2007 and on loan in 2011-12) Thierry Henry scored 175 goals and won the title twice. It was this that convinced 15.7% of you to vote for his inclusion.
Didier Drogba has scored more goals than any other foreign player in EPL and is currently the club's fourth highest goal scorer of all time. He got 11.1% of votes.
Alan Shearer, the Premier League's record goalscorer, got 7.3% of votes, coming to 4th.
Do you agree?
LMSEN
223
OK... I have some disagreements with this line up.... 1. Those who voted van der ser over Peter schmeicel are blind or what....peter schmeicel is arguably the greatest gk in the history of football.....van der ser is good but hardly comes closer to Peter's legacy and goalkeeping abilities 2. Do you guys really rate Beckham over Ryan Giggs....I mean Lampard and Gerard is true but seriously the great Ryan Giggs out of the premiar league greatest side... nowadays kid will vote Beckham only for his looks and charms but tell me was he a player of the level of Steven Gerrard or Ryan Giggs.. 3. last but not the least....Alan sherar....come on guys don't be so ignorant...he is the greatest scorer of all time of the toughest league in the world...without him in this list the line up is incomplete share your thoughts
Macekopuz
100
What about Alan Sherear, Eric Cantona, Paul Gascoigne and Nemanja Vidic?
prakashcr7
88
This is my Premier league all time XI.
Kuodlpt
59
all well deserved...
BarcelonaManCityFC
57
This squad is really just fantastic, the attack is phenomenal with Ronaldo, Henry, Drogba (maybe Shearer instead of him) The midfield is probably the best I’ve ever seen: LAMPARD, GERRARD, BECKHAM. That midfield can win UEFA Champions League about a gazillion times. The defence is amazing as well with John Terry, Ashley Cole, Ferdinand and Neville. But I was hoping that Schmeichel would have won but Van Der Sat is good too.
hamilseif97
49
am not agree with that choice some players dederves to be there but they didnot mentioned ... Henry for Wayne rooney(Rooney) has scored 252 goals in EPL and he is all time top scorer at man united..breaking Sir Bobby charlton goal record for sure he deserves to be in starting eleven. Drogba for Alan shearer(Shearer)his is a top scorer of all time EPL 300 + goals ..How you didnot mentioned him in starting eleven ir has surprised me at top scorer didnt make the squad ...for sure he deserves too as Wayne rooney. Another player is David Beckham for Roy Keane (Keane) doesnot scored many goals during his era because of his position and duty given by Sir Alex ferguson...but he was a fantastic midfielder he was a fighter he was hungry to win everyone know that for me he deserves too to be there.
wiybdlnor
38
I'm a Manu fan 100% but this team is crop,, first Peter over Vandersar, secondly in midfield either Keane Viera or Makalele need a spot, Highs over Beckham, third Rooney, Shearer and Henry, Drogba would be next, if u said Spain all time 11 now Ronaldo comes in. why everything u ppl like put Ronaldo into, I can't see Ronaldo on this list..