Happy 48th birthday, Andy Cole:
???? 641 games
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⚽️ 288 goals
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???? 1 UEFA Champions LeagueAn absolute all-time great. pic.twitter.com/nyRPulKXIw
— Squawka (@Squawka) October 15, 2019
Serving up unmissable sporting entertainment, the Premier League is widely regarded as the best domestic football competition around. For many passionate supporters of the beautiful game, it’s strikers that make the sport so special. After all, these goal machines tend to be responsible for match-winning moments, and fans of England’s top-flight have witnessed plenty from some special scorers over the years.
Jamie Vardy and others are still doing it
While many iconic goal-getters are from previous eras, there are some respected forward players still plying their trade in the best league around today. One of them is Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy, who reminded us all of his goalscoring abilities against Tottenham recently. Likewise, there’s a reason why Manchester City are priced at 11/8 in terms of Premier League title odds, with their Norwegian beast being more than capable of beating his 27 goals from last season.
In terms of Premier League top scorer odds this season, it’s hard to look past City’s main scorer of goals once again, although the likes of Mohamed Salah and Ollie Watkins are more than capable of beating him to the prize. These players clearly took inspiration from some of the Premier League’s greatest ever finishers who came before them, with teams like Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester United turning to reliable frontmen on numerous occasions.
Andy Cole has 187 goals to his name
We could easily focus on Sergio Aguero or Thierry Henry here, but Andy Cole is a former Premier League striker who tends to go under the radar a bit. Turning out for the likes of Newcastle, Manchester United, Manchester City, Blackburn, and Fulham, Cole was deadly in front of goal, scoring an impressive 187 goals during his time in the game. Cole’s goals helped him lift five Premier League titles, while he also managed to win the Golden Boot award in 1993/94 thanks to his impressive tally of 34 goals.
Robbie Fowler was a master finisher
Despite not being the most consummate professional the game has ever seen, there is no denying just how naturally talented Robbie Fowler was. The Liverpool legend scored 163 goals for the English behemoth, making him the eighth-highest goalscorer in the history of the Premier League. Older members of the Liverpool faithful will certainly remember the former A-League coach well, although he also made an impact at other clubs, such as Leeds United and Manchester City.
Wayne Rooney scored a remarkable 208 goals
“The biggest English talent I’ve seen since being here… by far,” Arsène Wenger said afterwards. “He has everything that you dream to have.”
19 years ago, Wayne Rooney scored his first Premier League goal and made sure nobody would ever forget his name.pic.twitter.com/rGXVrSUWtV
— MUNDIAL (@MundialMag) October 19, 2021
One of the most naturally gifted players England has ever produced, Wayne Rooney’s all-round ability was amazing. The current boss of Plymouth Argyle netted 208 goals in 491 appearances, while he also won the Golden Boot in 2011/12 and 2009/10 while playing for Manchester United. A Premier League title winner on five occasions, Wayne Rooney is a legend.
Jermain Defoe loved scoring goals
While the aforementioned Wayne Rooney had far more to his game than just finding the back of the net, Jermain Defoe specialised in scoring winning goals. The Tottenham icon has 162 Premier League strikes to his name, making him ninth on the all-time scorers list. Calm and composed when needed, Defoe was a manager’s dream given his passion for finishing.
