Loyalty is almost impossible to find in the money driven world of football. One club players are few and far between, but when clubs find them, they’re treated like royalty. Let’s take a look at the 10 greatest one club players in Premier League history. And for the record, Steven Gerrard doesn’t count as he played a couple seasons with the LA Galaxy in the MLS. Matt Le Tissier is also an honourable mention only after playing for two seasons at non-league Eastleigh.
9. Gary Kelly (Leeds United)
Irish right back Gary Kelly made over 500 appearances for Leeds and played over 50 times for the Republic of Ireland. Kelly came off the bench twice in Leeds’ 1991-92 title winning season but didn’t qualify for a title winner’s medal. He was however a key part of the team that made the 2000/01 Champions League semi-finals. In 325 Premier League games Kelly would keep an impressive 103 clean sheets across his 16-seasons at Leeds as a one club man.
8. Leon Osman (Everton)
Osman spent 16-years at his boyhood club Everton, still registered with the club during short loan spells at Carlisle United and Derby County. Four years after signing a professional contract with the club he would cement himself as the creative force in midfield. Osman was handy in front of goal too, with 44 goals in 352 Premier League appearances. Osman became captain of Everton in 2009 and earned two caps for the England national team in games against San Marino and Montenegro.
7. Ledley King (Tottenham)
Ledley King held the record of fastest ever Premier League goal for 18-years. The fast and strong central defender never won a trophy in his 13 seasons at Tottenham but the ball- playing defender was a fan favourite and considered one of the best defenders in the league. King represented England 21 times but his career was interrupted due to chronic knee injuries, which also limited his training schedule and led to his early retirement at 31 years of age.
6. Mark Noble (West Ham)
Apart from a couple loan spells at Hull City and Ipswich Town in 2006, Mark Noble has played in the most Premier League games by a West Ham player in history with over 400 appearances since he debuted in 2004.
Noble is known affectionately as Mr West Ham thanks to his one club status and life long connection to the club, growing up a West Ham fan along with his father. Noble is West Ham royalty, so revered by his community, that he was granted freedom of the Borough of Newham for his services to the area.
5. Gary Neville (Man United)
Gary Neville won it all in his 19 years with Man United including eight Premier League titles, three FA Cups and two Champions Leagues. Neville is one of the greatest right backs in Premier League history, playing 400 games, and forming a formidable partnership on the right hand side of the pitch with David Beckham for both United and England. Neville was a key part of the United’s Ferguson-era and also served as club captain for five years.
4. Ryan Giggs (Man United)
Ryan Giggs was initially a part of the Manchester City School of Excellence before Ferguson turned up at his house with a scout, offering him a youth contract before his first professional deal in 1990. He’d end up playing an incredible 672 games of top flight football and 963 in total for United across 24 years.
Naturally a winger, Giggs was so versatile he could play anywhere in attack and toward the latter end of his career, as a central or defensive midfielder and even as a fullback. Giggs is one of the most decorated players of all-time, winning the Premier League thirteen times, the Champions League twice, four FA Cups and three League Cups.
3. Jamie Carragher (Liverpool)
Jamie Carragher may have been overshadowed by Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard during his career, but Carragher can at least lay claim to being a true one club player. A traditional prototypical central defender, he was vice-captain of Liverpool for ten years and is the second longest serving player for the club.
Carragher played 508 Premier League games for Liverpool, and 737 in all competitions. He won the FA Cup, League Cup, a UEFA Cup, Champions League and UEFA Super Cup, with only the Premier League title alluding him. Carragher is considered a Liverpool legend and was awarded the Freedom of the Borough of Sefton in 2008.
2. Tony Adams (Arsenal)
‘Mr Arsenal’ is considered one of the greatest ever players for Arsenal. A true one club legend, Tony Adams spent three years of his youth career and 19 years of his senior career at Arsenal in a career spanning from 1983 to 2002. Adams was such an influence that he was given the Arsenal captaincy at the age of 21, a title he’d hold for 14 years until retiring.
Adams won four league titles and three FA Cups with Arsenal, no doubt thanks to his strength, aerial ability and his perfectly timed tackles. He’s also the only player in English football history to captain a title winning team in three different decades. Even more phenomenal is the fact he was able to do it all while battling with alcoholism.
1. Paul Scholes (Man United)
Considered one of the greatest Premier League midfielders of all-time and a Man United legend, Paul Scholes is the definition of a one club legend. Born in Greater Manchester, Scholes began training with United as a 14 year old and would finish with 499 Premier League appearances, playing in over 700 total games and scoring more than 150 goals.
Scholes signed his first professional contract in 1993 and would retire in 2011. He continued training with the United reserve team into retirement and had even approached the club about coming out of retirement, or playing for a new team if he couldn’t.
Fortunately, United had a midfield injury crisis and he’d return midway through the season, Scholes retaining his status as a one club player. A goal in a 4-0 win against Wigan Athletic meant he had achieved a record of scoring in 19 consecutive Premier League seasons.
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