Loyalty. It's a thing of the past and hit the spot a few weeks back when mentioning that players transfer for money, profile or success. It's a combination of either, or all those things.
On that note let's take a look at the best single 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, as he played 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 basically 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.
...stay tuned. I'll be back tomorrow with the final four greatest one club players in Premier League history.
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Wolfgang Sport started in 2017 as a way to connect my passion for American and British sports. Today it's evolved into a blockchain sports blog pushing the boundaries into the crypto world and embracing Web3 technologies.