30 years of the Premier League: A best XI
Which players would make your all-time Premier League XI?
Since the Premier League kicked off in August 1992, players from all around the world have come to grace the English top flight.
Here, the PA news agency picks out a team from the past 30 years which, at its prime, might well have given current champions Manchester City a run for their money.
Petr Cech (Goalkeeper)
Premier League appearances: 443, Premier League titles: Four
The Czech goalkeeper enjoyed a hugely successful spell with Chelsea from 2004 to 2015, winning the Premier League title four times, as well as four FA Cups, three League Cups and the 2011-12 Champions League then the 2012-13 Europa League.
Cech, who left to join Arsenal, where he also lifted the FA Cup again, holds the record for overall Premier League clean sheets at 202.
Ashley Cole (Left-back)
Appearances: 385; Titles: Three
After a successful Arsenal spell, Cole moved to Stamford Bridge following a protracted transfer saga in 2006 and secured a Premier League title, four FA Cups, the League Cup and the Champions League as well as the Europa League.
John Terry (Centre-back)
Appearances: 492; Titles: Five
Terry, 41, also lifted the FA Cup five times, the League Cup on three occasions as well enjoying both Champions League and Europa League success.
Vincent Kompany (Centre-back)
Appearances: 265; Titles: Four
Kompany was City’s captain at the heart of the defence, helping secure a first championship title since 1968 and he also lifted the Premier League trophy on four occasions.
After 265 Premier League appearances, Kompany left City at the end of the 2018-19 campaign, which saw Pep Guardiola’s side win the domestic Treble.
Gary Neville (Right-back)
Appearances: 400; Titles: Eight
The England right-back made 602 appearances between 1991 and 2011, also winning the League Cup twice and three FA Cups.
Kevin De Bruyne (Midfield)
Appearances: 211; Titles: Four
Belgium international De Bruyne, 31, is the only current Premier League player to make our all-time XI.
De Bruyne, who had a spell at Chelsea earlier in his career, has delivered consistent high-quality performances for City, which have helped secure him four Premier League winners’ medals.
Roy Keane (Midfield)
Appearances: 366; Titles: Seven
Keane was later club captain and collected seven Premier League titles, the Champions League and four FA Cup wins.
Patrick Vieira (Midfield)
Appearances: 307; Titles: Three
Frenchman Vieira became the midfield enforcer of Arsene Wenger’s side alongside fellow World Cup winner Emmanuel Petit.
Vieira drove the side through the Invincibles season in 2003-04 and scored the winning spot-kick in the 2005 FA Cup final penalty shoot-out against United. He left for Juventus and also played at Inter Milan, later joining Manchester City for a short spell.
Wayne Rooney (Forward)
Appearances: 491; Goals: 208; Titles: Five
Having scored 253 goals for United, breaking Sir Bobby Charlton’s record, Rooney moved back to Everton in the summer of 2017.
Alan Shearer (Forward)
Appearances: 441; Goals: 260; Titles: One
Shearer is clear at the top of the all-time Premier League scoring charts with 260 goals, but won his only title with Blackburn.
The England striker joined hometown club Newcastle in 1996 for a then-world record £15m fee and was the Golden Boot winner in three consecutive seasons. Having broken Jackie Milburn’s 49-year-old record of 200 Newcastle goals, Shearer retired in 2006.
Thierry Henry (Forward)
Appearances: 258; Goals: 175; Titles: Two
Henry left for Barcelona in 2007, going on to win the Champions League. He had a brief return to Arsenal on loan during 2012, when Henry took his overall record club tally to 228 goals.
