The English Premier League is home to some of the best soccer talents in the world. Many of the game’s greatest players have graced the pitches of England’s top flight, and many of them have played in midfield. In this blog post, we’ll be taking a look at some of the best midfielders the Premier League has ever seen.
16. James Milner
James Milner is one of the most versatile players in English Premier League history. At 16 years and 356 days, he became the youngest goalscorer in the Premier League era, breaking Wayne Rooney’s short-lived record. He also won the PFA Young Player of the Year Award, after which Manchester City signed him. There, he won 2 PL titles.
He later joined Liverpool, where he’s added a third league title. Overall, he has made 566 PL appearances, scored 55 goals, and provided 85 assists. With Milner still going strong with the club, he is definitely going to add numbers to his already impressive profile.
15. Ngolo Kante
Ngolo Kante is one of the most impressive players in Premier League history. He is the only player to have won two consecutive Premier League titles with two different teams – first with Leicester City and then with Chelsea. Kante is an incredible defensive midfielder and continues to dominate the Premier League. His World Cup win only confirms his status as one of the greatest players in the world. Since Kante married his new wife, he has been an even better player!
14. Michael Essien
Michael Essien was an important part of Chelsea’s early Premier League successes. He was a versatile player who could do many things on the pitch, making him a valuable asset to the team. He scored some great goals and was known for his hard work and determination. Essien won two Premier League titles during his time at Chelsea.
13. Kevin De Bruyne
Kevin De Bruyne is one of the most talented players in the Premier League. He has won 3 Premier League titles, and he is known for his amazing assists. He is a midfielder who can play in many different positions, but he is best known for his passing ability. He can find his teammates with the most amazing deliveries into the box, which makes him a huge threat to opposing teams. De Bruyne is a player who is always improving and will continue to be one of the best playmakers in the world.
12. Michael Carrick
Michael Carrick was always the underrated deep-lying midfielder. He rarely got the credit he deserved for his skill set, which was subtler, less match-winning, and more match-defining. However, his achievements with United were remarkable, as he won 5 PL titles. He also played 481 matches with Man United, West Ham, and Tottenham. Carrick was truly an unsung hero of his time.
11. Claude Makélélé
Claude Makélélé was one of the key men in Chelsea’s 2004/05 title-winning side, which conceded only 15 goals throughout the Premier League campaign – a record low in the English top-flight. He was a deep-lying playmaker in disguise as a central attacking ball-winning midfielder.
Makelele was so good they named a role after him as he made the defensive midfield position his own at Chelsea. The Makélélé role is used to describe a midfielder who is willing to sit in front of the back four, rarely progressing beyond his fellow midfielders and, generally, sacrificing a shot at personal glory for the good of the team.
10. Yaya Toure
Yaya Toure was a one-man wrecking ball in the Manchester City midfield. Blessed with an unbelievably diverse skillset, the Ivorian could take control of a game on his own and be virtually unstoppable on his day. His physique and amazing skills put him ahead of most midfielders of his time, and his dominating presence in the midfield allowed him to cover for the backline while also providing a dangerous outlet going forward. Touré might have been signed as a holding midfielder, but he developed into one of the Premier League’s most versatile and complete midfielders. He was technically an engine room – strong and reliable in the center of the pitch but also capable of producing moments of magic that left opponents in his wake.
9. Frank Lampard – Chelsea
Like Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard is also a Premier League 100 club member. Lampard spent 13 seasons with Chelsea, racking up over 200 goals for the Blues. He is Chelsea’s all-time leading goalscorer and the club’s all-time leader in assists. A prolific scorer from midfield, Lampard was named the Chelsea Player of the Year three times. He helped Chelsea win the Premier League title in 2010 and the Champions League with the Blues in 2012.
8. David Silva – Manchester City
David Silva has been a key player for Manchester City since joining the club in 2010. The Spanish midfielder has won four Premier League titles with City and was named the PFA Players’ Player of the Year in 2011-12. Silva is known for his dribbling ability and his lethal passing range, and he has scored some memorable goals for Manchester City over the years.
7. Patrick Vieira – Arsenal/Manchester City
Patrick Vieira is one of the most successful players in Premier League history. He spent nine seasons with Arsenal, winning three Premier League titles and four FA Cups. He then moved to Manchester City, where he won two more Premier League titles and one
8. Roy Keane
Roy Keane was one of the most successful captains in the Premier League era. He won all that there was to be won with Manchester United, yet it was at Nottingham Forest where he took in the workmanship and art of football. The legendary Irishman is perceived as a traditional holding midfield player and didn’t attack often.
He was unparalleled in his prime in several aspects, most notably those of aggression on the pitch and winning the ball back. Keane could carry the ball higher up the pitch, break opposition attacks, and cover every blade of grass on the field. In short, he was an enigma in his own right.
7. Cesc Fabregas
The Spaniard played for both Arsenal and Chelsea, but perhaps his most successful period was in the blue half of London. He will be remembered as one of the best playmakers of the Premier League era. He took the Premier League by storm at quite a young age and never looked back.
He left Arsenal for Barcelona and later returned to the Premier League with Chelsea, where he won his first Premier League title in his first season back. Fabregas was a metronome like no other, and his ability to control the tempo of the game transformed that Chelsea side. He broke opposition lines for fun every week.
6. Patrick Vieira
Patrick Vieira was an incredible midfielder who was a key part of Arsenal’s “Invincibles” team that won the Premier League unbeaten. He was a master of the midfield, combining strength, athleticism, and intelligence to control the game. Vieira was more than just a defensive midfielder – he could surge forward into the box and score crucial goals. He was also an excellent captain and led Arsenal to three Premier League titles. He is considered one of the Premier League’s greatest players.
5. David Silva
David Silva is a legend at Manchester City. He’s won four Premier League titles and is a huge contributor to the team. Silva is known for his amazing dribbling skills and ability to play in tight spaces. He’s also a great passer, which makes him a huge asset on the pitch. Silva is loved by Manchester City fans and has a statue in his honor outside the stadium.
4. Ryan Giggs
Giggs is a Manchester United legend with 13 Premier League titles and 632 appearances. He’s been a part of the team since 1992 and has 162 assists to his name – more than any other player in the Premier League.
He’s been a key part of every successful Manchester United side under Sir Alex Ferguson and is widely considered one of his generation’s greatest players. Despite being in his forties, he’s still going strong and shows no signs of slowing down any time soon.
Giggs is a true Premier League great, and few players can match his achievements in the competition. He’s a true legend of the game and will go down as one of the all-time greats.
3. Steven Gerrard
Steven Gerrard is one of the most decorated midfielders in English soccer history. He spent his entire career with Liverpool, amassing over 700 appearances for the club. Gerrard was a versatile midfielder who could play both centrally and out wide. He was an excellent passer of the ball and was known for his ferocious long-range shooting. Gerrard won numerous individual awards during his career, including the PFA Player of the Year award in 2006. He also helped Liverpool win the Champions League in 2005, famously scoring a last-minute goal against AC Milan in the final.
2. Frank Lampard
Like Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard spent his entire Premier League career with one club, Chelsea. He is Chelsea’s all-time leading goalscorer, having scored 211 goals for the club. Lampard was a box-to-box midfielder who was known for his tireless work ethic and goalscoring ability. He won three Premier League titles with Chelsea and the Champions League in 2012. Lampard was also named Chelsea’s Player of the Year on three occasions.
1. Paul Scholes
Paul Scholes is widely regarded as one of the best midfielders of his generation. He spent his entire career with Manchester United, making 718 appearances for the club. Scholes was a gifted playmaker who was known for his pinpoint passing accuracy. He retired from soccer in 2013 but came out of retirement briefly in 2012 to help Manchester United win their 20th league title. Scholes won 11 Premier League titles during his time at Manchester United and two Champions League titles.
Conclusion
The Premier League has been home to some of the greatest midfielders to ever play the game. Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, and Paul Scholes are just a few of the many outstanding midfielders who have graced England’s top flight-over the years. All three players were exceptional talents who hugely impacted their respective clubs’ successes. If you’re a fan of any of these clubs, then you’ll no doubt have fond memories of watching these players ply their trade on the pitch. Thank you for reading!
![The Best 7 Formations for 9v9 Soccer! [Best Handbook]](https://stmichaelssoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/best-9v9-soccer-formations-150x150.jpg)