Cristiano Ronaldo and the Top 10 Foreign Players in EPL History

Since it’s re-branding in 1992, the Barclays English Premier League has grown to become arguably the world’s most renowned professional domestic soccer competition.

Part of that growing process has been the multitude of foreign imports exhibiting their talents year after year on the world’s biggest stage.

While historically, Spain’s La Liga and Italy’s Serie A have seen many more world greats, England boasts an impressive line-up of foreign-born stars that have set the Premier League alight. 

Today, we look back on the careers of 10 such greats to have graced stadia across the UK. Honors, appearances, circumstance and overall impact were taken into consideration.

Players are considered foreign if they hold a nationality outside of the United Kingdom and are not eligible to play for any of England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.

Players that are still competing in the EPL were not taken into consideration. 

Honorable Mentions

Di Canio

Ginola

Klinsmann

Makalele

Desailly

Petit

Stam

Van Nistelrooy

Xabi Alonso

Solksjaer 

10. Sami Hyypia

Honors:

FA-Cup: (Two)

UCL: (One)

Signed by a Liverpool in 1999 for only £2.5m, Sami Hyypia was a rock at the back for the Anfield faithful.

Almost immediately becoming a regular starter and vice captain, Hyypia went on to win a club treble of sorts in his second season with the reds, winning the Carling Cup, FA Cup and UEFA Cup.

In 2005, Hyypia partnered Jamie Carragher at the back for Liverpool’s famous miraculous Champions League final victory over Milan in Istanbul.

Hyypia went on to make over 460 appearances, scoring 35 goals and lifting 10 trophies for the Reds.

9. Edwin Van Der Sar

Honors:

EPL: (Four)

UCL: (One)

After the departure of Peter Schmeichel, United struggled for years to find a viable replacement.

After stints with Mark Bosnich, Massimo Taibi, Fabien Barthez, Tim Howard and Roy Carrol, Sir Alex signed up 34-year-old Edwin Van der Sar from Fulham.

The Dutch keeper went on to win four league titles and appear in two Champions League finals with United, winning one of them.

Highly regarded as one of the best goalkeepers of all time, Van der Sar saved United time and time again with his 6'5" frame, making him a dominant presence in the box for the reds. 

In total, Van der Sar had over 400 appearances for Manchester United and Fulham combined, winning four EPL titles and a Champions League.

8. Gianfranco Zola

Honors:

FA-Cup: (2)

Voted Chelsea’s greatest ever player, Zola’s time in London will come as fond memories for the Blues.

Signed for £4.5m, the Italian’s many runs, spectacular goals and love for the game captivated supporters throughout the league.

He led Chelsea to two FA-Cup titles and their first ever run in the champion’s league, making it to the quarterfinals but eventually losing out to Barcelona in a game that saw Zola convert a swirling free kick.

In total, Zola scored 80 goals in 312 appearances for Londoners. 

7. Patrick Vieira

Honors:

EPL:(Three)

FA-Cup: (Five)

It is said that Arsene Wenger requested the purchase of Patrick Vieira from Milan before he took on the job at Arsenal.

Vieira took to Premier League with ease, staking his claim as a hard hitting towering enforcer in the midfield, and in his first full season, he led Arsenal to a domestic double.

Vieira’s nine-year period with the club saw him tally over 400 appearances with Arsenal, winning three EPL titles, four FA-Cups, a Champions League final appearance and an astonishing “invincible” unbeaten run.

6. Dennis Bergkamp

Honors:

EPL:(Three)

FA-Cup: (Four)

Few will deny the genius that was Dennis Bergkamp. From his replay worthy finishing ability to his ever so cool touch on the ball, Bergkamp was a true master of the game.

Signed in 1995 from Inter, Bergkamp would conquer England in style.

A year later, when Arsene Wenger took the helm in 1996, he described the presence of Bergkamp as “a blessing, a gift when I arrived”.

A blessing he truly was for the Gunners, as Bergkamp went on to win three EPL titles and four FA cups, notching 120 goals in 423 appearances during his illustrious 11-year Arsenal career. 

5. Roy Keane

Honors:

EPL:(Seven)

FA-Cup: (Four)

UCL: (One)

While his career had as many talking points on the field as it did off, few would argue with Roy Keane’s legendary status in Manchester and England altogether.

In his over 12 years at the club, Keane anchored the midfield, leading Manchester United to numerous trophies.

Never shy to speak up, Roy Keane epitomized what a captain should be for the United faithful and remains an icon at Old Trafford.

Keano won a whopping seven EPL titles, Four FA cups and the Champions League as part of the famous treble winning side in 1999.

When his time at Old Trafford came to a close, Keane finished his United career with 480 appearances, with Alex Ferguson describing him as “the best midfield player in the world of his generation.”

4. Eric Cantona

Honors:

EPL: (Four)

FA-Cup: (Two)

King Eric, as he was dubbed by the United faithful, was seen as the missing equation to the championship winning formula for Sir Alex.

In his first season, the first EPL season in 1992, Cantona scored nine goals to help United win the crown.

In his total five seasons as a red, Manchester United won four Premier league titles, with Cantona as top scorer in two.

He also claimed two FA cup titles during his time in Manchester (enjoying two double winning seasons).

All in all, Eric Cantona notched 185 appearances for United, scoring a total of 82 goals. 

3. Cristiano Ronaldo

Honors:

EPL:(Three)

FA-Cup: (One)

UCL: (One)

Ronaldo arrived at Old Trafford as a skinny teenager and was soon deemed a “one trick pony” by the press for his love of the step over.

Few remember that he didn’t score over 10 goals in a single season until his third year with United.

Ronaldo needed time to adapt to the English game as well as allow his body to develop and cope with the physicality of playing week in and week out. 

However, in his last three seasons as a United player, Ronaldo scored over 90 goals and went on to win the FIFA World Player of the Year and Ballon Dor awards, making him the first Premier League player to claim the honor since George Best in 1968.

During his time in Manchester, Ronaldo won almost every individual and team honor possible, and his 118 goals in 292 appearances will keep him in the record books for generations to come.  

2. Peter Schmeichel

Honors:

EPL:(Five) 

FA-Cup: (Three) 

UCL: (One)

The best goalkeeper of his era, Peter Schmeichel was the stuff of legends during his nine years with Manchester United.

He may be the best bargain purchase of all time, as he signed for United in1991 from Brondy for only £500,000. 

Upon his arrival, Schmeichel went 367 minutes without conceding a goal and had 24 clean sheets in his first season.

The Danish stopper tallied almost 400 appearances for the Red Devils, winning an impressive five league titles, three FA Cups and a Champions League trophy.

For many, Schmeichel remains the best goalkeeper of all time. 

1. Thierry Henry

Honors:

EPL: (Two)

FA-Cup: (Three)

Pace, vision, leadership and devastating finishing from anywhere on the pitch are all characteristics that don’t even begin to fully describe the gifts that Thierry Henry possessed.

Often leading the charts in both scoring and assists, Henry was just as much goal creator as he was scorer for Arsenal.

He holds the record as the highest scoring foreign player in the history of the Premier League with 226 goals, leaving fans with a plethora of spectacular finishes— His famous twisting flick strike against United is internationally renown.

Throughout his eight years with the Gunners, Henry did pretty much everything.He was captain, goal scorer, penalty taker, dead ball specialist, assist maker and leader.

Henry’s peak form combined with the talented squad assembled by Wenger led Arsenal to achieve “invincible” status, as they went 49 Premier games unbeaten, including the entirety of the 2003-04 campaign, with Henry scoring 39 goals in all competitions and winning the European Golden boot.

It''s a shame that Henry never claimed the World Player of the Year award, as he was widely regarded as the best player on the planet during his prime. 

Those of us who were lucky enough to have watched him play each week should feel fortunate, as talent like is stuff of legends.