The EPL 100 Club

By: Rob | November 2nd, 2008

Congratulations to Frank Lampard and Emile Heskey who both yesterday joined the exclusive club of players who have scored 100 goals since the Old Division One Because the Premier League. Now before you start, I know there is a level of meaninglessness to a stat like that – yes players got 100 goals before 1992, but it does seem like a good oppurtunity to look back on the players who have got 100 in that time period – when the EPL has grown into one of, if not thee, biggest league on Earth.

And take nothing away from Lampard or Heskey either, who have only played in the EPL format. Particuarly Lampard, it is mighty impressive to get 100 league goals from midfield – he’s the only player on the list who has never been deployed as a striker. And no, before you start they weren’t all penalties and deflections.

Full list of players in the club after the jump

Alan Shearer (Blackburn Rovers, Newcastle United) 261 – Former England Captain Alan Shearer still sits top of the pile with his incredible 261 goals. If you add in his years at Southampton when it was still Div 1, Shearer would have a grand total of 283 goals.

Andrew Cole (Newcastle United, Manchester United, Blackburn Rovers, Fulham, Manchester City, Portsmouth, Sunderland) 187 – The Artist formally known as Andy Cole still holds the joint record for goals in one season – 34 – with Alan Shearer. His early years were his best, a goalscoring machine at Newcastle and a treble-winner with Man United.

Thierry Henry (Arsenal) 174 – The top scoring forign player since the EPL’s formation, Henry might not be having a good time in Catalonia, but its easy to see why he was considered the best player in the world at one point during his stay in London. Va Va Voom indeed.

Robbie Fowler (Liverpool, Leeds, Manchester City) 161 – Pretty much all his goals came for Liverpool, referred to as ‘God’ during his time on Merseyside, Fowler was an absolutely incredible talent. Since his falling out with Houllier, and his subsequent leaving of various clubs, he’s not managed more than 20 goals for any one club. Still not scored for Blackburn, which is why they aren’t listed above.

Les Ferdinand (Q.P.R, Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United, Leicester City, Bolton) 150 – Playing right up to the end of his carrer, Ferdinand just kept scoring no matter what his age. Like Cole, was best in his early days, particuarly at Newcastle where he was considered the replacement to Andy Cole. When he left QPR they went down, and still haven’t come back up.

Teddy Sherringham (Notts Forrest, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United, Portsmouth, West Ham) 150 – The striking thing about Sherringham’s inclusion – another player who played all through his 30s – is that he had a tonne of Division One goals as well. But he peaked late in his carrer, and as well as forming a deadly partnership with Shearer for England, Teddy scored and created a great many goals for Spurs and Man United.

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (Leeds United, Chelsea, Middlesborough) 128 – One of those players that just seemed to fit in England. Hasselbaink was first part of the last great Leeds side, before departing for Spain, and coming back to be part of Chelsea’s pre-Roman revolution where they turned from mid-table club to decent, cup winning side.

Michael Owen (Liverpool, Newcastle United) 127 – It was assumed when Owen was young – breaking into the Liverpool team as a teenager and the England team soonafter – he’d break all records, Shearer’s EPL record, Bobby Charlton’s England record, Shilton’s caps record – none of it has come to frutation, despite his talent due to injuries and a spell in Spain with Real Madrid.

Dwight Yorke (Aston Villa, Manchester United, Blackburn Rovers, Birmingham City, Sunderland) 123 – Yorke was the Ronaldinho of his generation – in that he smiled alot. The striker made a big impact at Villa, and joined United to form a lethal partnership with Andy/rew Cole which has been unsuccesfully recreated at Blackburn and Sunderland.

Ian Wright (Arsenal, West Ham) 113 – Like a few others, Wright already had a load of goals for Palace and Arsenal before the transformation to the Premier League, but still his was very prolific at Arsenal, even if he didn’t enjoy the sucess elsewhere. Was all time record Arsenal goalscorer till Henry showed up.

Dion Dublin (Manchester United, Coventry, Aston Villa) 111 – Signed for United just as it was becoming the Prem, but only scored 2 goals due a broken leg. Scored some memorable goals for Villa and Coventry back when they were in the top flight, including this very memorable moment.

Ryan Giggs (Manchester United) 101 – Plyed his trade mostly on the left wing, Giggsy’s had a most impressive carrer. Occasionally deployed as a striker, the most decorated british player in club football history has always looked at his best running at people full throttle.

Matthew Le Tissier (Southampton) 100 – Exactly 100 goals for Le Tiss, who was one of the most talented players of his generation. No-one could figure out if he was playing in midfield or up front, but when he did things like this, frankly you didn’t care. Unless you were Glenn Hoddle of course.

Robbie Keane (Coventry City, Leeds, Tottenham) 100 – Liverpool will be on that list of course, as soon as he scores a Prem goal for them. He started young, still a teenager when he was sold to Coventry from Wolves, so its no surprise to see he’s reached his 100.

Frank Lampard (West Ham United, Chelsea) – 100 – The only out and out midfielder on the list, Lampard has been the centre point of the Chelsea revolution, joining just before Red Roman’s Rubles, and giving various managers no reason to drop him, even though they could buy whoever they like. Currently in the form of his life, again.

Emile Heskey (Leicester, Liverpool, Birmingham, Wigan) 100 – His up and down carrer has seen him play both the hero and the villian at various times, but Heskey has now joined the elusive 100 club. His importance to Wigan cannot be understated – they looked like they’d get relegated while he was injured last season.

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