Former Arsenal, Chelsea and England star Ashley Cole is the latest player to be included in the Premier League’s Hall of Fame.
The former Chelsea and Arsenal left back is the first inclusion of 2024, as the Premier League continues to highlight the most celebrated players and managers in its history.
The best left-back in Premier League history, Cole won three titles across two sides of London including being part of Arsenal’s ‘Invincibles’ in 2003-04.
20 players and two managers – Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger – have been inducted into the PL Hall of Fame.
Here are the illustrious names that have been voted in so far:
Steven Gerrard
Frank Lampard
Dennis Bergkamp
David Beckham
Roy Keane
Eric Cantona
Thierry Henry
Alan Shearer
Sergio Aguero
Vincent Kompany
Didier Drogba
Paul Scholes
Peter Schmiechel
Ian Wright
Wayne Rooney
Patrick Vieira
Tony Adams
Petr Cech
Rio Ferdinand
Arsene Wenger
Sir Alex Ferguson
Ashley Cole
The Premier League have drawn up a shortlist of 15 nominees, two of whom will join Cole as 2024’s inductees. The public are included in the voting process, which also involves a Premier League awards panel and current Hall of Fame members. Fans can vote at www.premierleague.com/halloffame and via the Premier League app. The 2024 online vote will be open until 12:00 BST on Monday 8 April, with the chosen inductees unveiled on Monday 22 April.
So from the list of nominees, who could follow Ashley Cole? Here are some of the stand-out names:
Nemanja Vidic
Rio Ferdinand’s partner at Manchester United, the Serbian centre-back was a rock. He helped United win five league titles in eight years at Old Trafford. Vidic made 211 Premier League appearances, scoring 15 goals from centre-half.
David Silva
A magician on the ball, David Silva was one of the most naturally gifted players the Premier League has ever seen. Silva helped Manchester City to four Premier League titles during his decade at City. In 309 Premier League appearances, Silva scored 60 goals, and set up 106 goals.
Cesc Fabregas
Coming through the ranks at Arsenal, the Spaniard became captain at 21 and a driving force for the team. Following a spell in Barcelona, he returned to London with Chelsea and helped them win the league in 2015. In the Premier League, he made 350 appearances, scored 50 goals and delivered 111 assists, only bettered by Ryan Giggs [162].
Edwin Van der Sar
Edwin Van der Sar is one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League era. The Dutch keeper played 313 times for Fulham and Manchester United, keeping 132 clean sheets. At United he established a record 14 consecutive league games without conceding a goal as they won the title in 2009.
Yaya Toure
Yaya Toure was a towering figure in the Premier League, making 230 appearances, and winning three Premier League titles with Manchester City. Toure scored 62 goals, with 20 of them coming in 2013/14, only the second midfielder to reach that tally in one season. He helped kickstart City’s latest era of success.
Andrew Cole
Andrew Cole scored goals for seven clubs across 414 Premier League appearances, winning five Premier League titles with Manchester United. Of his 187 goals, he scored 34 in one season for Newcastle, still the record number of goals in a season in the competition.
Eden Hazard
Eden Hazard won two Premier League titles with Chelsea before moving to Real Madrid, and was voted Footballer of the Year in 2015. Hazard played 285 league games for Chelsea and scored 85 goals, assisting 54 times.
The other nominees are: Sol Campbell, Michael Carrick, Jermain Defoe, Les Ferdinand, Robbie Fowler, Gary Neville, Michael Owen and John Terry.
