Arsenal legend, Thierry Henry and Blackburn Rovers legend, Alan Shearer, are the first retired footballers to be inducted into the Premier League hall of fame.
The two retired players are among some of the most respected former Premier League stars due to the personal and club records they set before they left the league.
Premier League Hall of Fame: Alan Shearer
Alan Shearer played all his football career in the Premier League from 1988 to 2006. He started his Premier League career with Southampton before he joined Blackburn Rovers and then ended up at Newcastle United where he spent the most years of his football career.
Though he spent four years at Blackburn, he landed his first and only Premier League title with the club where he scored over 112 goals in 138 appearances. He became a legend at Newcastle United after spending 10 years at the club and scored about 148 goals in 303 appearances.
The 50-year-old English striker scored a total of 260 goals in 441 appearances across 14 seasons to retire as the Premier League all-time highest goalscorer. He also won the league’s golden boot awards twice. To date, no player has been able to score as much as he has done.
After he was inducted into the Premier League hall of fame during the weekend, Alan Shearer said it has always been his dream to play football which he did fantastically.
“When you look at some of the unbelievable players to have graced the Premier League – week in, week out, year in, year out – I feel very honored to join the Hall of Fame. I have to thank all of my teammates, as well as the managers and coaches that I’ve worked with”, he said.
“All I ever wanted to be was a professional footballer. It was my dream to do that, my dream to win trophies, and my dream to score at St James’ Park, to wear the number nine black-and-white shirt and it was fantastic. I enjoyed every minute of it.”
Premier League Hall of Fame: Thierry Henry
On the other hand, Thierry Henry is one of the invincibles of the 2003-2004 season that won the Premier League title for Arsenal without a single defeat. He helped the club to win two Premier League titles, two FA Cup, and two FA Community Shield before he left the club for FC Barcelona in 2007.
Henry won the Premier League golden boot award a record four times and scored 175 Premier League goals in 258 games to remain Arsenal’s all-time highest goalscorer.
After he was inducted into the Premier League hall of fame, the 43-year-old French football icon described the induction as more than special.
He said: “To be inducted alongside Alan Shearer as the two first inductees into the Premier League Hall of Fame is more than special.
“When I was young, I was just trying to make sure I could get a pair of boots and now we’re talking about the Hall of Fame. During my career, I wanted to play hard and make sure I was fighting for the cause because that’s all the fans want to see.
“If you asked me at the start of my career about entering the Hall of Fame, I wouldn’t have believed you. It’s an amazing honor.”
The Premier League hall fame which started this year recognizes retired players who were outstanding when they were playing in the league. Before a player could be considered for the honor, such a player must have played in a Premier League club and must have retired about a season before the next edition of the award.
