- The England national team has had some great players in the 2000s.
- Many have made their name and become famous at club level.
- Counting down the 10 best footballers of that era.
In the early 2000s, England was home to some of the most talented players in the world. Some of whom were club icons who won countless trophies. Today, we take a look at 10 of the best English players of that era.
10. Gary Neville
Gary Neville spent his entire career at Manchester United. Making 602 appearances for the Red Devils between 1993 and 2011, and is widely regarded as one of the greatest English right-backs of all time. The former player led United to five Premier League titles and won 85 England caps.
9. Ashley Cole
Cole won over 100 caps for England between 2001 and 2014 and is one of the greatest left-backs to have ever played, helping Arsenal win two Premier League titles and three FA Cups in the early 2000s. However, Cole
left the Gunners unhappy with his move to Chelsea in 2006 and became a key player for the Blues, spending eight seasons at Stamford Bridge, winning the ufabet https://ufabet999.app Premier League title in 2009/10 and the UEFA Champions League the following year.
8. Paul Scholes
The former midfielder won 66 England caps and could have won many more, but Scholes chose to focus on club football and helped United win six Premier League titles in the 2000s and the 2008 UEFA Champions League before retiring in 2013 having played more than 700 times for the Red Devils.
7. John Terry
Terry was a hugely influential leader and captain of Chelsea and played a key role in the Blues’ success, making over 700 appearances for the west London club. The hard-working defender also won 78 caps for England between 2003 and 2012.
6. Rio Ferdinand
Ferdinand became the world’s most expensive defender when he moved from Leeds United to Manchester United in 2001, winning everything at Old Trafford. Throughout his 12 years with the Red Devils, he was a consistent performer, winning 81 caps for England between 1997 and 2011.
5. Michael Owen
‘Baby Goal’ scored 40 goals in 89 appearances for England between 1998 and 2008 and won the Ballon d’Or in 2001 after helping Liverpool to a domestic treble. Owen then spent a year at Real Madrid before returning to Newcastle and Manchester United and retiring at Stoke City.
4. David Beckham
Beckham was England’s star player of the early 2000s and his free-kick against Greece in October 2001 helped England to the 2002 World Cup finals. He also won 115 caps for the Blues, while
at club level the former right winger impressed at Manchester United before being sold to Madrid in 2003 and moving to LA Galaxy, AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain, finally in 2013.
3. Steven Gerrard
Gerrard made his England debut in 2000 and went on to make over 100 appearances for his country during a 14-year international career, but he is best remembered for his ‘Stevie G’s’ miracle in Istanbul when Liverpool beat AC Milan on penalties to win the 2005 FA Cup.
2. Frank Lampard
Lampard signed for Chelsea in 2001 and the former West Ham midfielder went on to become one of the Blues’ best players and the club’s all-time top goalscorer, winning three Premier League titles in the 2000s. He also played over 100 times for England between 1999 and 2014, scoring 29 goals.
1. Wayne Rooney
Rooney made his debut for Everton in 2003 and was soon called up to England, becoming the Three Lions’ youngest ever scorer against Macedonia in September that year. The former striker moved to Manchester United to enjoy success in 2004 and has gone on to become the Red Devils’ all-time top scorer.