Throughout the years, the Premier League has been bestowed with some of the most spellbinding artifices of shooting the ball on goal. We call it the free kick.
The free kick takers had their own style and ruse, distinguishing them from all the other nine or 10 players on the team.
Not everybody could master taking free kicks, and if you watch some of the wondrous goals scored by the players, you will realize the sweetness and thrill of the shot.
The names of David Beckham, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Les Ferdinand, Alan Shearer, Hasselbank, etc. have always been synonymous with free kicks, and among these favorites I have mentioned above I will put the former England captain at the top of the pile.
1. David Beckham
Arguably the best free kick taker in the history of English football, Beckham’s majestic curls into the top and bottom corner of the nets have been the eye candy of many football fans.
The former Manchester United and Real Madrid winger had this classic apt for bending the ball in compliance with the aerodynamics, which the goalie could only admire after he would concede the goal. Not only his precision, but also the posture with which he goes over the dead balls, are truly fabulous.
He has managed around 70 to 80 goals solely from his free kicks.
As for his very best, it’s hard to single out one, but if you consider the timing and urgence of goal then certainly his last gasp equalizer against Greece in the WC’02 qualifiers beats the rest.
2. Thierry Henry
A surprise pick, but you have to give him a bow when you see his ball wrying around the corner of the air and sliding past the keeper into the net. He also liked to bend the ball like Beckham at times, but not as immaculate as Beck’s were.
It was really amazing to see his short run up and then watch him smash the ball hard, which coupled with the bend deceived the keeper to go past him.
3. Les Ferdinand
Highly controversial choice again from the reader’s perspective, but one thing I appreciated about this former Newcastle ace was the power of the shot.
He would hit the ball with all his body strength and it simply rocketed to the back of the net, dumbfounding the keeper. Though free kicks could not bring him many goals, he will be remembered for his short run up and lashing the ball through the wall into the net.
4. Frank Lampard
I am tempted to put Gianfranco Zola’s name here, but what’s so beguiling about this Englishman’s free kick is that you can hardly stop it even it’s right in front of you!
Confused?
He had his own style of hitting the ball hard, but made it dip so that in some cases it would fall right in front of the goalie and bounce over him to cross the goal line. On several occasions, he loved to drill the ball home as swiftly as he could with a sharp small bend and a deflection or two from the wall.
5. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink
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