The decade between 2001 and 2010 saw the rise of the Premier League as the world’s leading league competition. It was from this moment that English football once again attracted the big stars and began to dominate European football, straining its teams in several editions in the final of the European Cup. This is possibly the best XI of players of that time.
The Dutch goalkeeper came to English football as a veteran after failing to win at Juventus. His first assignment was Fulham, where he spent four seasons, but where he gained recognition was at Old Trafford.
Trained at West Ham, in 2000 he signed for Leeds in a record transfer for a defender at the time. Only a year and a half later, in the summer of 2002, United broke the bank and signed him. It was at the Manchester club where he finished establishing himself as one of the best center-backs in the world.
After 10 years at Tottenham, the central defender signed for Arsenal for free in the summer of 2002, unleashing the fury of the White Hart Lane fans. In Highbury, where he spent 4 years, he was part of ‘The Invincibles’ who won the Premier on 04/03.
Terry was Mourinho’s extension on the grass. Together with Lampard, he was the natural leader of the best Chelsea in history. Almost all his life linked to the whole blue, was key in the titles obtained in the club since 2005.
At the time, Vieira was possibly the best midfielder in the world. He was one of the main cogs in Wenger’s Arsenal while he was on the team. He left for Juventus in 2005 and his place was filled by Fabregas, who also deserves his inclusion.
The soul of Liverpool in this decade. He won everything except the Premier League. He was close a couple of times, but it couldn’t be. It became a Bronze Ball in 2005, the year in which it won the Champions League.
If Terry was the extension of Mourinho, Lampard was the brain of that almost invincible team that dominated England for two years. He won the Premier League 3 times and became a Silver Ball in 2005.
Cristiano was the star of the competition from 2007 to 2009, the year in which he was traded. This time he won the Premier League three times, a European Cup, his first Ballon d’Or and his first Golden Boot.
A true legend of the competition that did not stop performing despite the years completed. In this decade, in addition to the 2008 Champions League, he won the Premier League five times. Another legend worth mentioning is Paul Scholes.
If the former was the best player since 2007, Henry was possibly the best until that year – the same year in which he left for Barça -. I won the Premier League twice and, although it was never the Ballon d’Or, it was close. He was also the top scorer in the competition 4 times.
For collective successes and individual performance, we have chosen Drogba, but he could well have appointed great forwards like Rooney, Fernando Torres or Ruud Van Nistelrooy.
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