The Premier League is the top League in England and if not the best League in Europe, it is amongst the best. And for the past years, the Premier League have welcomed great players who succeeded in lifting the Trophy but others did not make it in winning even a single Premier League title.
Any player competing in the English top division wants nothing more than the chance to win the Premier League championship, but it's not easy to achieve.
The pool of champions is dominated by a small number of clubs due to Manchester United's early dominance of the league, followed by Arsenal's and Chelsea's patchy success and Manchester City's current winning streak.
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Best players never to win a Premier League title
Gerrard and Kane are two of the names on a list of star players without a Premier League title (despite the potential of Kane changing that) but the list of non-winners includes some serious talent from previous years.
Great Players Never to Win the Premier League
he English Premier League has witnessed exceptional talent over the years, but not every great player has been able to secure the elusive league title. Here's an article on some of the best players who never won the English Premier League:
1. Steven Gerrard — Liverpool
Gerrard tops the list as part of a bittersweet 'win' for the former Liverpool and England captain.
His all-action performances inspired Liverpool to perform at a higher level than they had for almost two decades, with his performance in the 2005 Champions League final ranking among the best in the competition's history. However, his Reds career will always be marked by this remarkable asterisk.
He is 11th all-time in the Premier League with 504 appearances for a single club, but there will always be a discussion about how he compares to players like Roy Keane, Patrick Vieira, Paul Scholes, and Frank Lampard because of one glaring trophy exception.
2. Harry Kane — Tottenham
After his "sliding doors" transfer to Manchester City in 2021, Kane's best chance to win the Premier League championship seemed to vanish.
Pep Guardiola decided to shift his attention to a 2022 drive for Erling Haaland despite City's intense efforts to sign Kane and Spurs' steadfast resistance.
He presently trails Alan Shearer by 213 goals to 260 in the Premier League, therefore a transfer away from that league would likely end his chances of breaking Shearer's record.
3. Gareth Bale — Tottenham
Bale followed the Tottenham to Real Madrid path of Modric in 2013, joining as part of a world record transfer, following his incredible rise at Tottenham.
Despite criticism over his early career at Spurs, Harry Redknapp's move to switch him into an attacking role transformed the Welshman's career, as he developed into a bullet train winger.
Gareth Bale, the Welsh winger, had a remarkable career in the Premier League with Tottenham Hotspur. His pace, skill, and goalscoring ability dazzled fans before his move to Real Madrid. Despite individual accolades and success in other competitions, Bale was unable to win the Premier League during his time in England.
4. Gianfranco Zola — Chelsea
The legendary Chelsea player Zola is regarded as one of the best players in the Premier League, with the mesmerizing Italian creating many memorable moments.
Zola lit up Stamford Bridge with style and skill when playing for Gianluca Vialli and Ruud Gullit's dynamic Chelsea teams in the late 1990s and early 2000s, despite his small stature.
As the Roman Abramovich era began in 2003, fellow countryman Claudio Ranieri tried to persuade Zola to stay, but he was adamant about joining Cagliari.
5. Luis Suarez — Liverpool
Luis Suarez accomplished a lot during his three and a half years as a Liverpool player after storming into Anfield in January 2011, but winning the Premier League wasn't one of them.
With 31 goals in 33 league games, he proved beyond any reasonable doubt that he was one of the top players in the world at the time, and Barcelona paid Liverpool £75 million to get him. His goals helped Liverpool come within striking distance of championship success in the 2013–14 campaign.
The Premier League is undeniably less entertaining without the Uruguayan, who continues to be a contentious and divisive figure.
6. Xabi Alonso — Liverpool
Rafael Benitez immediately intended to give his team a Spanish flair when he arrived at Liverpool in 2004. He accomplished this by acquiring Xabi Alonso.
The graceful midfielder, who scored against AC Milan in the Champions League final in Istanbul, was a vital member of Benitez's team that miraculously finished second in 2008/09. He also assisted the Reds in that season.
He left Anfield, though, without a league champions' medal, something he later acquired at Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, like so many other players over the past 25 years.
7. Robbie Fowler — Liverpool, Leeds United, Manchester City, Blackburn Rovers
Similar to Torres' experience in English football, Fowler's Premier League career saw a memorable period while playing for Liverpool in red, followed by forgettable stints away from Merseyside.
His goal-scoring prowess continues to be associated with Liverpool, and his 163 Premier League goals rank him ninth all-time, ahead of Torres, Michael Owen, and Mo Salah.
Only Owen, with 46 goals, outperformed Fowler's astounding 93 goals in his first four seasons, which included 35 goals while still a youngster.
8. Pepe Reina--- Liverpool
When Pepe Reina left Villarreal to join Liverpool in the summer of 2005, the Reds had just won the European Championship, but the Spain international was unable to lead the Reds to a league championship during his stay at Anfield.
He did assist the Reds win the FA and League Cups and get to another Champions League final, and because of his performances for the Reds, many people have argued that he was at times the best goalkeeper in the Premier League.
When it comes to goalkeepers who have never won the competition, he is unquestionably in the forefront and center of the discussions.
9. Fernando Torres — Liverpool, Chelsea
In the Premier League, Torres experienced two extreme contrasts: at Liverpool, he was a ruthless goal scorer, and at Chelsea, he was a shell of his former self.
Upon his transfer from Atletico Madrid, the Spanish international caused a commotion by scoring 24 Premier League goals in his first season at Anfield in 2007–2008.
Before making a contentious switch to Chelsea in 2010, Liverpool fans embraced their new No. 9, who linked up with Gerrard to renew their rivalry with United.
Even though Torres eventually contributed to the Blues' 2012 Champions League victory, the move to Stamford Bridge was to be one of the most catastrophic drops in Premier League history. Torres lost confidence over night in a Space Jam-style loss of powers.
10. David Ginola — Newcastle, Tottenham, Aston Villa, Everton
Ginola's wing wizardry and relaxed style marked him out as a star player for Newcastle in the late 1990's as the Frenchman wowed St. James' Park with his ability to tie opponents in knots and maintain devastatingly perfect hair.
His 1997 move to Tottenham saw him continue to terrorise defences, but an EFL Cup was all he had to show for a superb stint in the capital, as United continued to dominate.
Arguably his greatest accolade came in 1999, as he became the first Premier League player to win the FWA Footballer of the Year and the PFA Player of the Year awards, ahead of United's entire treble winning squad.
11. Sami Hyypia
Sami Hyypia, a central defender from Finland, cost merely £2.6 million to join Liverpool from Willem II in the summer of 1999. Liverpool supporters weren't expecting much, but they ended up with one of the best defenders in their lengthy history.
For ten years, Hyypia was an integral part of Liverpool's success at home and abroad. However, he was unable to win the Premier League, like so many other great players at Anfield.
It wasn't a bad haul, though—two FA Cups, two League Cups, the UEFA Cup, and the Champions League.
12. Robbie Keane
With 126 Premier League goals, Robbie Keane is the 13th-highest goalscorer in the history of the Premier league. The Republic of Ireland international also holds the record for goals scored in his nation and is ranked 10th all-time by Tottenham.
Although he was a member of the Liverpool team that finished second in the league in the 2008–09 season, English football saw the best of him at White Hart Lane, where he also won his lone trophy in the country—the 2008 League Cup.
He is about to reconcile with his former Liverpool teammate Gerrard because he is currently playing for LA Galaxy.
13. Les Ferdinand
With 149 goals, Les Ferdinand ranks sixth all-time in Premier League scoring, yet his career never included any major championships.
The strong center-forward scored five goals for England, as well as Premier League goals for Queens Park Rangers, Newcastle, Tottenham, West Ham United, Leicester City, and Bolton Wanderers, but he never came close to achieving success until he played for Kevin Keegan's electrifying Newcastle teams in the middle of the 1990s.
At a team where he is regarded as an icon, Ferdinand, who is currently the director of football at QPR, may come in handy.
14. Marcel Desailly
Winning the World Cup with France was a pretty good backdrop to sealing his move to the Premier League in the summer of 1998, and when he arrived at Chelsea, Marcel Desailly didn't disappoint.
A leader in central defence, Desailly won two Serie A titles with AC Milan prior to his move to Stamford Bridge, but the only major trophy he won in England was the FA Cup in 2000.
15. Jamie Carragher
It was Jamie Carragher's responsibility to maintain order at the back.
He frequently accomplished that as well, and he played a significant role in his team's 2005 Champions League victory as well as its other major victories, with the exception of the Premier League.
But like Gerrard, he will always regret having that gap on his resume because it will always be there. There are, however, few finer instances of a player who dedicated his career to just one club, made the most of it, and became an idol to his fans, than Carragher.
Final Thoughts On Best Players That Never Won a Premier League Title
These players left an indelible mark on the Premier League with their skill, talent, and memorable performances. Although they were unable to claim the league title, their contributions to English football will always be recognized and cherished.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was the most successful English football club?
The most successful English football team is actually Liverpool.
Who is the most successful English club last 20 years?
19 years. 21 trophies. Every major trophy won. From winning consecutive league titles between 2004-2006 to lifting the UCL title twice, the Blues have stamped their authority on world football.
Who is the best player not to win the Premier League?
There are several amazing players that were not able to claim the Premier League title during their stay in the tournament. These players include Luis Suarez, Mat le Tissier, Stevne Gerrard and many others.
Who has never won a Premier League title?
In total, seven clubs have won the Premier League title: Manchester United, Chelsea, Manchester City, Arsenal, Blackburn Rovers, Leicester City and Liverpool. Among the traditional 'Big Six', only Tottenham have failed to win a single league title during the Premier League era.