30. Mohamed Diame
In 2024, Mo Diame is best remembered for perhaps the most bizarre goal of all time for Newcastle away at Brighton during the Magpies’ Championship-winning season. A wayward shot from a teammate was heading wide before ricocheting off Diame’s heel and spinning into the far corner. It is a genuinely unique goal, almost impossible to repeat.
But years before, Diame was tearing around Premier League midfields for Hull, West Ham and most memorably Wigan. Somehow skilful and clumsy at the same time, not quick but rarely beaten to a loose ball, Diame was something of an enigma right through his career - and we loved him for it.
29. Obafemi Martins
You know a striker is slightly bonkers when they approach a penalty kick not knowing which foot to use.
But that was exactly what Obafemi Martins at Newcastle did: one of only two players in Premier League history to score penalties with both feet (the slightly less mad figure of Bobby Zamora is the other). Martins’ memorable screamer away at Tottenham and his somersaulting celebrations during three otherwise dreary seasons for the Magpies ensure he won’t be forgotten.
28. Shaun Wright-Phillips
27. Jussi Jaaskelainen
You’d be hard pressed to find a more ‘Barclays’ career than Jussi Jaaskelainen. Bolton, West Ham and Wigan made up the Fins’ professional spell in England, with his best form coming for Sam Allardyce’s Wanderers.
Jussi was everything a cult hero goalkeeper should be – equally capable of a blinding save or a match-losing moment of madness, and you never knew which was next. His greatest moment? Saving two penalties in three minutes during a 1-0 win at Blackburn to send Bolton third (yes, third) in the table behind Manchester United and Chelsea.
26. Nwankwo Kanu
As the chant goes, ‘King Kanu Kanu, he's older than me and you, his real age is 62, King Kanu Kanu.’
Tall but not reliant on heading ability, Kanu played with a graceful first touch and quick feet to deceive defenders. He'd a hell of a life at Arsenal alongside Henry and Bergkamp, before he was reincarnated as a midtable superstar. He had an origin story at Ajax, a stint at Inter Milan – but ticked all the boxes a Barclaysman must.
The Nigerian was signed by Harry Redknapp, for a start – always a strong sign – who claimed Kanu was deep into his 40s when he wafted the carrot of a Pompey contract in front of his nose. An FA Cup final winner for 'Arry and a miss of the season from two yards out for West Brom merely added to his legend: as recently as 2016, he was scoring hat-tricks in an Arsenal legend fixture against Milan. A true Barclaysman never loses it.
25. Steven Pienaar
Ask average football fans for the greatest left-side combination in Premier League history and you’ll often get, Dennis Irwin and Ryan Giggs, or Ashley Cole and Robert Pires as a predictable response. But for those who really know the game, Steven Pienaar’s partnership with Leighton Baines was a thing of beauty.
Pienaar could really play, combining mazy dribbles with intelligent passing and quickly becoming a fans favourite at Goodison Park. The South Africa international was Everton’s player of the season for 2009/10 despite missing 11 games with injury. Not the biggest or the quickest, Pienaar relied on nothing but pure footballing ability; they don’t make them like Steven anymore.
24. Kevin Davies
Back in 2010, Kevin Davies received his first England cap at the age of 33. Realistically he was never going to be part of the Three Lions’ future. Instead his appearance should be seen as more of a tribute to a mid-2000s Premier League great.
A decade at Bolton saw Davies become a key part of Sam Allardyce’s direct approach, with the striker frequently finishing the season with the highest number of fouls in the league. Capable of bashing about any defender that dared cross his path, Davies ended his top flight career with 88 goals (impressive) and 99 yellow cards (even more impressive). Fittingly, that only England appearance saw Davies booked during a 20-minute cameo from the bench.
23. Lomana LuaLua
As a striker with a record of 24 Premier League goals across seven years, younger readers may wonder what all the fuss is about with Lomana Tresor LuaLua. But the Congolese striker was about so much more than just goals (which, really, is lucky for him).
His gymnastic balance and agility combined with decent pace made him a thrilling watch. He’d even throw in somersault celebrations for good measure. Two memories stand out above all others: firstly, scoring against Newcastle whilst playing for them – firing home in the last minute while on-loan at Portsmouth and celebrating with his trademark somersaults.
Secondly, injuring himself a few years later after scoring for Portsmouth, due to an awkward landing following the acrobatic celebration. Football heritage.
22. Shaka Hislop
Former NASA intern Shaka Hislop originally wanted to play as a striker, only to be thrown into goal during a youth team game back home in Trinidad as he was the tallest player on the team.
‘Shak’ went on to be one of the most recognisable Premier League stoppers in the nineties and noughties. A huge presence between the sticks at 6ft 6, Hislop had memorable spells at Newcastle, West Ham and Portsmouth. Were it not for two stunning goals (one in the final seconds) from the Liverpool number eight, the 2006 FA Cup final would have in fact been known as the ‘Hislop final’ rather than the ‘Gerrard final.’
21. Bafetimbi Gomis
Often players who have built up a reputation amongst fans via how good they are on Football Manager, fail to live up to it in real life. See Mark Kerr, Freddy Adu and others.
Bafetimbi Gomis was different. When he finally arrived in the Premier League from Lyon, signing for Swansea in 2014, he showed what all the fuss was about. A mobile target man who could bully defenders at will, with the iconic ‘black panther’ goal celebration in his pocket, Gomis was loved beyond Swansea.
