There have been many decent foreign players who have represented teams in the Premiership. French, Italian, Dutch, and Portuguese players have had a big impact, among others. The best foreign players have been world-class and great for Premier League soccer. These are some of the best foreign players to have graced English soccer during the Premier League era.
Henry was the best striker in the Premiership when he played for the Gunners. He scored a club record 288 goals during his time with Arsenal. He won a number of player awards with the club, including the Premiership Golden Boot (four times) and the PFA Player of the Year.
Overall, Henry was a key player for the Arsenal team that won the double in 2002 and then won another league title a couple of seasons later. His pace and dribbling were a priceless asset for Arsenal, as Henry skipped past defenders to score and assist goals for his club.
Schmeichel was Manchester Utd’s first-choice goalkeeper for a number of Premiership seasons. As Man Utd’s goalkeeper, he was a key player in some of Utd’s finest teams. That included their double-winning teams of the 1990s, and then the 1999 triple-winning team. With the Red Devils, he won five Premier League titles and then the Champions League. At his best, Schmeichel was considered one of the best keepers in the world, and he was UEFA goalkeeper of the year four times.
Bergkamp was a world-class forward who played for Arsenal for a decade. His form with the Gunners was particularly influential during his early seasons, when he was among the club’s top goal-scorers and helped Arsenal win the double in 1998 and 2002. During the 1998 season, Bergkamp won the PFA Players’ Player of the Year Award and scored some of the finest Premiership goals of the season. Bergkamp twice scored the BBC goals of the season in 1998 and 2002.
Overall, Bergkamp did not have the most prolific goal-scoring record for a forward, but he still scored 87 times for Arsenal in the Premier League, and he often assisted goals. He had superb technique, flair, and deadly long shots for some spectacular goals.
Ronaldo played as a winger or forward. He starred for Manchester Utd in the Premiership, and his great pace and goal-scoring form helped the club win three Premier League titles and the Champions League. He was twice Players’ Player of the Year, and also won the Premiership Golden Boot.
Eric Cantona joined Manchester Utd in 1992 and had a profound impact on English soccer. His arrival at Man Utd was the catalyst for the Red Devils’ dominance of the Premiership during the 1990s. He was a deep-lying forward blessed with creativity, vision, and an eye for goal who won countless games for Man Utd.
In 156 Premier League games, he scored 70 goals and made 56 assists. His best seasons were in 1994 and 1996, during which he inspired Man Utd to two league and FA Cup doubles and received PFA Player of the Year and FWA Footballer of the Year awards. He won four Premiership titles and a couple of FA Cups with the Red Devils. Although his kung fu moment of madness during the 1994/1995 campaign probably cost Utd the league that season, Cantona’s many moments of magic were unforgettable at Old Trafford.
These are five of the greatest foreign stars who have played in the Premiership. Henry, Schmeichel, Ronaldo, Cantona, and Bergkamp were world-class players in the Premiership and were also considerable assets to Premier League clubs in European soccer.
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