Premier League's 10 Biggest Personalities

The Premier League is filled with an abundance of characters.

Some of them we've come to love and learned to laugh at; others simply find ways to make us shake our heads in utter disbelief or bemusement.

Who are the biggest characters to watch for this year in the Premier League?

Read on to find out.

Ian Holloway, Crystal Palace

Starting off with a big one here: Crystal Palace manager Ian Holloway.

Already suspended by the FA this year following comments he made after his side's loss to Tottenham Hotspur, Holloway has never been one to stray far from the headlines. In fact, his managerial career so far certainly hasn't been short of eye-catching comments.

The Daily Mail compiled some of the top 20 so far, and, while that list is by no means exhaustive, it certainly gives some insight into the mind of Holloway.

He's outspoken and isn't afraid to say the wrong thing if it means he's going to get his point across. Fans right around the league—Palace fans or not—will no doubt appreciate his bluntness throughout the year, with the headline-writers certainly not short of work this season either.

David Luiz, Chelsea

Chelsea's David Luiz is a man of many skills. Stalwart at the back, dead-eye from 30 yards out and owner of one of the greatest senses of humor around.

The Sideshow Bob look-a-like is certainly one of the league's funny guys and is quickly achieving cult-like status among the Chelsea fans in West London.

Maybe it was his drunken attempt at an interview after Chelsea won the 2012 Champions League; maybe it was his wonderful ability to make fun of himself, Fernando Torres and Frank Lampard in an interview. Maybe it was his decision to have a drive around the club's training facility—literally.

There's just something that you've got to like about Luiz.

Santi Cazorla, Arsenal

Arsenal's mini magician Santi Cazorla is another player quickly earning "character" status in the Premier League, and like Luiz, he's just another one you have to love.

Fleet-footed, Cazorla is rarely seen without a smile on the field.

And who could forget the magical moment when the 5'5" playmaker managed to score a headed goal last season? Few could help giving a slight chuckle.

Cazorla is one of the more lovable Gunners.

Luis Suarez, Liverpool

Changing pace a little bit here as we start to get into some of the more controversial characters in the Premier League. Liverpool's Luis Suarez is certainly one of these, with the polarizing striker able to endear himself to Merseyside fans at the same time as other fans around the league despising him.

Chelsea fans aren't too wild on him after the Branislav Ivanovic biting incident; Manchester United fans neither after the racial abuse of Patrice Evra as well.

Chile fans despise him for punching a defender; Ghana the same for his deliberate handball and then celebration after their penalty-shootout defeat.

Everton fans simply don't like him because he plays for Liverpool.

Yet for all the frustration that Suarez causes for himself (and for his club), Reds fans still continue to support the enigmatic striker. On his day, he's capable of being a dynamic forward that few defenses in the league can handle and is potentially one of the best strikers in world football.

But it's all the other things that make him a character—like them or not.

Adel Taarabt, Fulham

Speaking of volatile players—Adel Taarabt, ladies and gentleman.

On loan this season at Fulham, Taarabt will no doubt relish being back in the Premier League. He's a dynamic and creative forward who loves to shoot at the first sight of goal and is capable of single-handedly bringing a team back from a probable defeat.

He's also capable of a moment of madness or two.

Queens Park Rangers fans will remember when Taarabt left a game, ironically against Fulham, while it was still going after being substituted. He caught the bus home before the final whistle.

Jose Mourinho, Chelsea

There can be absolutely no doubting Jose Mourinho as one of the greatest characters in the Premier League and indeed that of world football as a whole.

Courtesy of his lovely expressions, idiosyncrasies and memorable quotes, Mourinho is seemingly loved (or at least laughed at) by all. Maybe not so much Arsene Wenger given that the pair have had their fair share of run-ins, but most people still get some humor out of the Special One's antics.

If not, we'll leave it to other people to find fun in the Special One.

Rio Ferdinand, Manchester United

Manchester United veteran Rio Ferdinand might not seem like one of the most outgoing players in the Premier League. And while he's not in the same way that someone like Suarez or Taarabt is, the Englishman is still very much an outspoken player and a leader.

One thing with Ferdinand: He's never going to be quiet about something.

To United fans, this has become an endearing quality. To non-United fans, not so much. Ferdinand has had no problems riling the likes of John Terry and Suarez when needed and is more than happy to get his name in the headlines for the wrong reasons if he feels he needs to make a point.

Ferdinand is certainly a polarizing character.

Joe Kinnear, Newcastle United

Recently appointed Newcastle United director of football Joe Kinnear is an amusing man. Amusing for the rest of us—not so much for Magpies fans, it seems.

Here's a snapshot of some of Joe's finest moments since joining the Toon, as provided by Bleacher Report's Charles Lawley (with help from The Guardian).

"

I'm probably the only football manager to be a director of football. I don't know any other ex-managers who have.

"

There have been loads.

"

I've won every award there is in football as a player.

"

He hasn't.

"

I've never been sacked in my life.

"

He has.

"

I had over 400 games for Tottenham Hotspur.

"

He hadn't. He had 258.

"

[I have] been Manager of the Year three times.

"

He hasn't. He's been Manager of the Year once.

"

I thought I'd done an excellent job there [during his spell as Newcastle Untied manager] and no way would we have gone down.

"

With their win-per-games ratio, they would have gone down.

"

I bought Dean Holdsworth for 50 grand.

"

£650,000.

"

I sold Robbie Earle for x, y, z.

"

Robbie Earle—whom he didn't buy—left Wimbledon after Kinnear did.

"

I sold Marcus Gayle, Leonhardsen, Micky Harford, John Hartson, Hans Segers, most of them were free transfers.

"

Segers might have been a free transfer. The others were not.

"

I brought Krul to the club and I think he's a terrific goalkeeper.

"

Krul was at Newcastle United three years before Kinnear was.

"

Derek Llambezee was the director of football.

"

Derek Llambias was the managing director.

"

Ben Afri.

"

Ben Arfa.

"

Yohan Kebab.

"

Yohan Cabaye.

"

Galteirez

"

Gutierrez.

"

Shola Amamobi.

"

Shola Ameobi.

"

Shola Amamobi is getting better and better, he's a young kid.

"

He's 31.

"

I'm lending my experience as a manager for all those years—10 years at Wimbledon, two years at Nottingham Forest, two years winning promotion at Luton and, of course, almost two years at Newcastle.

"

He spent seven years at Wimbledon, less than a year at Forest and five months at Newcastle. He did spend two years at Luton Town and won promotion.

But only after getting them relegated.

Peter Crouch, Stoke City

Peter Crouch is an ageless wonder of the Premier League.

Resembling more a malnourished volleyballer than a football star, Crouch has continued to defy the odds when it comes to football. One glance at him would lead most people to think that he doesn't possess any real skill or goal-scoring threat—declaring him too uncoordinated to do that.

And yet time after time, Crouch has continued to beat expectations.

Scorer of brilliant goals and owner of some freakish athleticism, Crouch has become one of the Premier League good guys and a great player in his own right.

One of the quiet and unassuming characters in the Premier League.

But a great guy nonetheless. Plus he has a robot dance.

Paolo Di Canio, Sunderland

However, there can be no man better suited to close this list than Sunderland manager Paolo Di Canio, who simply embodies the term of being an EPL "character".

Di Canio was a walking headline in his playing days, and that hasn't changed since he took over at the Stadium of the Light. From his incredibly blunt press conferences to his extraordinarily passionate goal celebrations, the 45-year-old always seems to end up being the focus.

He's already directed his anger towards his players at Sunderland once this season for a hapless performance, and, if the Black Cats continue to play like they have, they could well be set for another spray or two before the season's end.

Got to love Paolo.

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