The ranking of the best players in the history of the English Premier League (EPL) was published by FourFourTwo, stirring discussion among fans and analysts alike.
At the very top sits Thierry Henry, the legendary striker who starred for Arsenal in London. His impact on the league is often described as transformative, blending elite goal-scoring instinct with a keen sense of timing that changed how teams approached attacking play. Closely following, Cristiano Ronaldo secures second place, a player whose enduring quality and adaptability across leagues cement his status as one of football’s most recognizable names. Completing the podium is Alan Shearer, the Newcastle United icon, whose combination of physical prowess and clinical finishing helped define an era for the club and left a lasting mark on English football.
Among the players recognized in the list, Andrei Kanchelskis also earns a place in the top 100, positioned at number 99. The former Manchester United winger had a remarkable club career spanning multiple countries and a wide line of clubs, including Everton, Fiorentina, Rangers, Manchester City, Southampton, Saturn, Krylia Sovetov, and several others. His versatility and speed on the wings made him a key figure wherever he played, and his international record includes 36 appearances for the Russian national team, contributing on a national stage as well as in club competition.
Off the pitch, Kanchelskis has held various leadership roles and continues to influence the game in administrative and coaching capacities. Recent moves include a high-profile appointment as general manager of Tobol, a club in Kazakhstan, where his experience across European and Asian football markets is viewed as an asset for strategic development. Earlier in his career, he has contributed as a coach with stints in Solaris, Jurmala, and Ufa, broadening his influence beyond playing to mentoring and team management.
Public commentary around Kanchelskis during his playing days and afterward has touched on how players from that era would fare in modern football, with some discussions suggesting the Russian national team could have progressed further in major European Championships. These reflections form part of a broader conversation about how the sport has evolved, the shifting balance between domestic leagues and European competition, and the enduring value of breadth of experience when evaluating a player’s legacy.