15 Great Strikers Who Have Never Graced The EPL: How Would They Cope?
This is a list of 15 great strikers who have terrorized clubs all over Europe and the rest of the world. However, none of these men had ever experienced The English Premier Club. While most of them have conquered British clubs in competitions such as The Champions League or Europa League, they have not really experienced the league at its full potential.
Feel free to comment and add your own strikers who you feel would've dominated or suited the EPL- or even Strikers who you think in the future will become an EPL legend.
Batistuta (ARG)
1 of 15
Name: Gabriel Batistuta
Nationality: Argentinean
Primary club: Fiorentina
Other Clubs: Inter Milan, AS Roma
Goals/App: 366/493 (Club) 56/78 (National)
Most Suited EPL Club? Manchester United
Would Batistuta Cope in the EPL?
Batigol played most of his career in Seria A, a more defensive and laid back league when compared to the EPL. However, he did play for a weaker team in Serie A, when the league itself was the hardest in the world. In this time, he became Fiorentina’s all time leading goal scorer, scoring over 180 times for the Viola.
I think his style of play would have suited the EPL greatly, and that he mirrors the style of play that Ruud Van Nistlerooy brought to United and the league and we all know how easy it was for the Dutch Goal Scoring Machine.
Ronaldo (BRA)
2 of 15
Name: Ronaldo
Nationality: Brazilian
Primary Club: Inter Milan
Other Cubs: Real Madrid, AC Milan, Barcelona, PSV
Goals/App: 352/517 (Cub) 62/97 (National)
Most Suited EPL Club? Chelsea
After the destruction of United from Brazilian Ace Ronaldo at Old Trafford, there is no hiding that Ronaldo would have been a real force had he been a regular fixture in the Premier League.
The former Baloon d’ Or Winner and Fifa World Player of The Year is regarded by many as the greatest striker of this era. He dominated the Italian and Spanish leagues throughout his career. He has won every major trophy that was set before him and having recently retired, Ronaldo has shown the world why there will never be another one like him.
David Villa (ESP)
3 of 15
Name: David Villa
Nationality: Spanish
Primary Cub: Valencia
Other Clubs: Barcelona, Real Zaragoza
Goals/App: 255/287 (Club) 44/71 (National)
Most Suited EPL Club? Manchester United
David Villa seems content with playing the duration of his career in Spain, and many English Clubs would have been disappointed to hear that the former Valencia striker has signed a long term contract with Barcelona at the start of this years season. With targets such as Chelsea and United all looking for his signature, it is only natural that Villa be considered as one of the greatest strikers at the moment, he has already scored 15+ goals in his first season with the Catalan Giants.
Villa will probably benefit from the League as did his Spanish counterpart Torres did. I personally see him struggling with the League because of his style of play.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic (SWE)
4 of 15
Name: Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Nationality: Swedish
Primary Club: Inter Milan
Other Clubs: Barcelona, Juventus, Ajax
Goals/App: 198/421 (Club) 25/66
Most Suited EPL team? Manchester United
The Swedish Giant is arguably one of Europe’s most elite superstars in the game today. He has played for all of Italy’s Big Three clubs including Inter Milan, AC Milan and Juventus and in all clubs he has scored his fair share goals. He has also terrorised the Dutch and Spanish Leagues during his career.
I feel that Zlatan style of play resembles that of current Manchester United star Berbatov, they both have good height and good skills with the ball. If he ever decides to join the EPL I am pretty sure he will have no problem in fining the back of the net on a regular basis.
David Trezeguet (FRA)
5 of 15
Name: David Trezeguet
Nationality: French
Primary Cub: Juventus
Other Cubs: Hercules, Monaco
Goals/App: 238/488 (Club) 34/71 (National)
Most Suited EPL Team? Arsenal
If the likes of Saha, Henry, Anelka and Wiltord can find success in the EPL than there is no reason as to why Trezeguet won’t be able to follow suit.
In the French and Italian League, Trezeguet outscored and outperformed Thierry Henry on countless occasions, these performances helped Trezeguet become France’s Number one Striker.
While Trezeguet does not possess Henry’s skill or innovation, he does have the amazing ability to score goals. He is listed in Serie A’s Top 15 Goal Scorers of all time.
Francesco Totti (ITA)
6 of 15
Name: Fancesco Totti
Nationality: Italian
Primary Club: Roma
Goals/App: 251/598 (Club) 9/58 (National)
Most Suited EPL Team? Blackburn Rovers
Hakan Suker (TUR)
7 of 15
Name: Hakan Sukur
Nationality: Turkish
Primary Cub: Galatasary
Goals/App: 339/709 (Club) 51/112 (National)
Most Suited EPL Team? Aston Villa
Turkey and Galatasary Legend, Hakan Sukur was one of the most underrated football Strikers of his time. His form both for club and country was brilliant. He hold the world cup record for the fastest ever goal and took his team to the Semi Finals of the 2002 World Cup in South Korea/Japan.
Sukur would of been great in the EPL as his pace and ability to run through opponents was something that is almost considered a must on today’s strikers CV
Romario (BRA)
8 of 15
Name: Romario
Nationality: Brazilian
Primary Cub: PSV
Other Clubs: Barcelona, Valencia etc.
Goals/App: 341/483 (Club) 55/70 (National)
Most Suited EPL Team? Chelsea
Samuel Eto'o (CAM)
9 of 15
Name: Samuel Eto’o
Nationality: Cameroonian
Primary Cub: Barcelona
Other Clubs: Inter Milan, Mallorca, Real Madrid
Goals/App: 242/443 (Club) 52/101 (National)
Most Suited EPL Team? Manchester United
Having conquered Spain and Now Italy, Samuel Eto’o only has to conquer England and then he will become the first man to win a League title in each of the Power Three Clubs.
His style of play and eye for goal is similar to that of Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke during their hay day at Old Trafford; I believe that if you had Eto’o and his technique then you will have a really dominant presence up front.
Christian Vieri (ITA)
10 of 15
Name: Christian Vieri
Nationality: Italian
Primary Cub: Inter Milan
Other Club: Milan, Juventus, Fiorentina, Other
Goals/App: 236/447 (Club) 23/49 (National)
Most Suited EPL Team? Chelsea
Miroslav Klose
11 of 15
Name: Miroslav Klose
Nationality: German
Primary Club: Kaiserslautern
Goals/App: 167/416 (Club) 59/106 (National)
Most Suited EPL Team: Tottenham
Raul (SPA)
12 of 15
Name: Raul Gonzalez
Nationality: Spanish
Primary Cub: Real Madrid
Other Club: Shalke 04
Goals/App: 336/773 (Club) 44/102 (National)
Most Suited EPL Team? Liverpool
Raul is one of Spain’s and Real Madrid’s most prized assets to ever wear their colors. He captained both teams and has an impeccable goal scoring record for both outfits.
Raul is seen as a poacher- someone who benefits from the Midfield and destroys the opposition whilst in the box. I believe that his style of play would have suited the EPL during the times of Alana Shearer, Andy Cole and others as the pace of the game was perhaps more suited to his abilities. However, at his peak I don’t see the Spaniard coping with the current form of the Premier League.
Marco Van Basten (NED)
13 of 15
Name: Marco Van Basten
Nationality: Dutch
Primary Club: Milan
Other Cub: Ajax
Goals/App: 370/277 (Club) 24/58 (National)
Most Suited EPL Team? Arsenal
The Dutchman was one of the greatest strikers of his generation. His goal to appearance ratio was second to none. His form for both Milan and Ajax helped him numerous accolades including the Baloon D’or.
Like many great Dutch players who have played in the English Premier League and found success I feel that Van Basten would have been no exception. His skill, innovation as well as strikers intuition was something that would've given any league and any team a tough time.
Pauleta (POR)
14 of 15
Name: Pauleta
Nationality: Portuguese
Primary Club: Paris St. Germaine
Goals/App: 222/411 (Club) 47/88 (National)
Most Suited EPL Team? Newcastle United
Javier Saviola (ARG)
15 of 15
Name: Javier Saviola
Nationality: Argentinean
Primary Club: Barcelona
Other Clubs: Real Madrid, Benfica
Goals/App: 176/440 (Club) 11/40 (National)
Most Suited EPL Team: Liverpool
Another underrated and under used player, once the hitman of Barcelona and Real Madrid, Javier is now seen of his playing days with Portuguese giants Benfica where he has already become a cult icon.
Saviola is listed in the controversial yet significant list FIFA 100, a list where Football Legend Pele expresses his thoughts on who he believes the greatest footballers ever are.
Saviola was once a target for Liverpool FC, however Rafa decided that it would be necessary and ore appropriate to bring in former Real Madrid Goal Scoring Machine Fernando Morientes. Saviola is a mix between Luis Suarez and Tevez the fact that he is used more as bench warmer then player absolutely baffles me.
