Top 10 Premier League Heroes of All Time

 

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The Premier League is now 21 years old and, over that time, has been host to some of the most iconic names in European football.

There are some players—a very elite bunch—who are able to capture the imagination like no other. They are supremely talented, but they are also able to write their names into the fabric of the clubs they serve.
Not many players are ever able to achieve such a status, but every year or two a new hero emerges. Without further ado, let's take a look at the top 10 Premier League heroes of all time.

10. Juninho Paulista (Middlesbrough)
Over three spells at the Riverside Stadium, Brazilian playmaker Juninho left an indelible mark on the North-East club with his skill and enthusiasm.

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Perhaps the first Brazilian player to really shine in England, the São Paulo-born attacking midfielder formed a real connection with the people of the North-East. Upon the club's relegation in 1997, his tears were an iconic image of the season.
So deep was his affection for his new home that Juninho would return twice, once on loan, following the club's return to the top flight. In over 100 Premier League games, Juninho scored 27 goals in the red shirt of 'Boro, earning the nickname "The Little Fella."

9. Gianfranco Zola (Chelsea)
During a seven-year spell at Stamford Bridge, Italian forward Gianfranco Zola helped the West London club to three domestic cups and a UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in a period of relative success for the Blues.
Zola scored 80 goals in over 300 appearances in England and, in 2003, was voted as Chelsea's best player ever by the team's supporters.
Despite having left Chelsea 10 years ago, no other player has since been given the Italian's No. 25 shirt by the club. A backheel FA Cup goal against Norwich remains one of the most replayed strikes of recent times.

8. Matt Le Tissier (Southampton)
It is a testament to Matt Le Tissier's ability that he makes this list despite playing for what is one of the Premier League's least fashionable sides.
Le Tissier, though, was exceptional in the early to mid-1990s, scoring 25 league goals for the Saints in 1993-94 before earning a place in the Team of the Year the following campaign.
That the attacking midfielder only ever earned eight caps for his country is a travesty, but he is well regarded within the football community. Among those he inspired was a young Spanish footballer—Xavi Hernandez (The Sun).

7. Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)

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Had he helped his beloved Liverpool to a Premier League title, he would almost certainly be a lot higher on this list. Despite that glaring omission to his CV, though, Gerrard has had a fantastic career at Anfield—including a club win at the 2005 Champions League.
Gerrard has been the driving force at the heart of the Liverpool midfield for nearly 15 years and, while his playing style has altered over that time, his importance to the team has been constant.
A local boy come good, Gerrard is idolised by the Liverpool crowd both for his ability and desire. Given his longevity and popularity, he is undoubtedly one of the biggest heroes of the Premier League.

6. Patrick Vieira (Arsenal)
Powerful midfielder Patrick Vieira was one of the first signings of the Arsene Wenger reign at Highbury and, almost certainly, the most significant.
His combination of intelligence, elegance and power at the base of the Arsenal midfield was a major factor in the club's rise to the top of the Premier League in the years following his arrival. Three league titles and four FA Cup wins later, he was a club legend.
Vieira and Wenger helped change English football for good. While not popular with supporters of rival sides, he was the undoubted symbol of Arsenal football. Since his 2005 departure, his impact from midfield has not been replaced.

5. Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
Is Cristiano Ronaldo the best player ever to have played in the Premier League? Arguably. His prime years may not have come in his time at Old Trafford, but it was in his time at the club that he captured the 2008 Ballon d'Or.

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The forward's final three campaigns in England were outstanding, and his goals were a major reason behind the club's successive Champions League finals, earning a victory in 2008.
The levels of technical ability the Portuguese forward possessed are not often seen. That, combined with his results on the pitch, made him a massive success with the club's supporters. Even now, there are campaigns among fans to see him return to Old Trafford.

4. Dennis Bergkamp (Arsenal)
A remarkably gifted forward, Dennis Bergkamp may not have had the explosive impact of many players on this list, but he lit up the Premier League with his wonderful technical abilities.
Signed from Internazionale in 1995, the Netherlands international would spend the next 11 years in North London and, in the process, score 120 goals in 423 games for the club.
A glittering return of three league titles and four FA Cups sealed Bergkamp's place in the Arsenal history books, but his impact was more than just numbers and trophies.
The Dutch star was the link man in Arsenal's star-studded attack of the early 2000s and, with his moments of brilliance, secured his place in the hearts of the club's supporters.

3. Alan Shearer (Newcastle United)
It may have been in his time at Blackburn Rovers that Alan Shearer was able to win the Premier League, but it was at St. James's Park with Newcastle that he really took on hero status.
The North-East club parted with a British record £15 million to secure the signing of local boy Shearer in 1996. In the following 10 years, he repaid every penny by scoring over 100 Premier League goals.
A combative forward who was a brilliant goalscorer with both his feet and head, Shearer was adored by his home crowd in Newcastle. He was also popular with his peers, who twice voted him Premier League Players' Player of the Year.

2. Thierry Henry (Arsenal)
For a five year period between 2001 and 2006, Thierry Henry was the undisputed best player in the Premier League and, perhaps, the best in the world for some of that time.

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His smooth public image, arrogant goal celebrations and on-pitch brilliance made him an iconic figure for the Premier League as a whole—and even more so for Arsenal Football Club.
A brief return to North London as a loanee in 2012 has only served to reinforce his status as an idol at the club—capped with a goal against Leeds United in the FA Cup. Once more, Henry was never properly replaced when sold.

1. Eric Cantona (Manchester United)
The most influential foreign player in the development of English football? Almost certainly.
Cantona's arrival at Manchester United in November 1992 changed the course of the inaugural Premier League season, helping the club to their first success in 26 years. In just four more years in Manchester, he would win a further three league crowns.
The Frenchman was without doubt the most iconic figure of the early Premier League years, with his arrogant demeanour a demonstration of his technical superiority over his rivals.
In the process of helping his side to two sets of back-to-back league titles, Cantona provided the Premier League with some of its most memorable (and infamous) moments. To this day, 16 years after his departure, his name can still be heard ringing round Old Trafford on a regular basis.

Ashes: Steely Australia seize control of final test

Australia chiselled out four key England wickets to take control of the fifth and final Ashes test on an absorbing third day at the Oval on Friday.

The hosts, replying to Australia's 492 for nine declared, lost Alastair Cook for 25, Joe Root (68), Jonathan Trott (40) and Kevin Pietersen (50) on the way to 247 for four.

Although rain is forecast for Saturday, Australia are in a strong position to claim a consolation victory and English hopes of winning a home Ashes series 4-0 for the first time look to be over.

Scorecard

Ian Bell was unbeaten on 29 and Chris Woakes on 15 at the close with England still trailing the touring side by 245 runs and needing another 46 to avoid the follow-on.

Cook and Root, resuming on 32 for no wicket, batted cautiously through the first hour under clear blue skies against tidy but largely unthreatening fast bowling.

Root produced two neat wristy flicks to the mid-wicket boundary and Cook drove Ryan Harris square for four but runs were generally hard to come by.

The pair had taken their opening partnership to 68, England's best of the series, when Cook nibbled at a wide ball from Harris just after the drinks break and wicketkeeper Brad Haddin took a diving catch.

The England captain swished his bat in frustration as his disappointing series continued and his dismissal sent Root into his shell.

The 22-year-old failed to score a run off 19 balls in a row but he pulled Peter Siddle for a single just before lunch to reach his half-century, made from 145 deliveries and including eight fours.

It was a welcome return to form for Root, who has struggled with the bat since making 180 in the second test at Lord's, and England took lunch on 97 for one.

SIMPLE CATCH

Root hit two fours in James Faulkner's first over of the day but with a century firmly in his sights he swept at a full-length ball from off-spinner Nathan Lyon and top-edged a simple catch to Shane Watson at short fine-leg.

Pietersen got off the mark by driving Mitchell Starc for four through mid-off but the normally dynamic right-hander also struggled to find his touch.

Trott's first boundary came off the 78th delivery he faced and Pietersen's frustration was evident when, on 11, he attempted a suicidal quick single and was well short of safety when David Warner's throw narrowly missed the stumps.

Lyon, bowling round the wicket to imaginative field settings, extracted some turn which troubled both batsmen but they picked off easy singles to keep the scoreboard ticking over.

Australia took the second new ball just before tea and Starc trapped Trott lbw with his first delivery, the batsman failing to get the decision overturned on review.

Pietersen and Bell continued to play risk-free cricket in murky conditions and the former flicked Faulkner to the fine-leg boundary for his fourth four to reach his fifty.

But he fell with the total on 217, tempted by a wide full-length delivery from Starc and edging a straightforward catch to Watson at first slip.

Woakes drove his first ball in test cricket sweetly through the covers for four and he looked assured at the crease on his debut.

Bell continued the sublime form which has brought him three centuries in the series, unleashing a couple of trademark drives through the covers in fading light before shutting up shop again in the closing overs of the day.

 

IPL 2013: Mumbai Indians vs Kings XI Punjab - Preview

Mumbai: Buoyant after a morale-lifting win over hotshots Royal Challengers Bangalore, Mumbai Indians will start favourites against Kings XI Punjab in their Indian Premier League clash at the Wankhede Stadium here on Monday.

Mumbai outclassed RCB by 58 runs last night to score their second straight win after two successive losses and got their campaign back on track ahead of their ninth game.

With 10 points in their kitty at the halfway stage, Mumbai are fourth following their third consecutive victory at home, which they have turned into an impregnable fortress.

They will remain in that position going into the contest against the struggling KXIP irrespective of Sunday’s two games elsewhere.

For the second straight game on Saturday, captain Ricky Ponting dropped himself from the playing XI of Mumbai and stand-in skipper Rohit Sharma led his team to a second win.

Sharma had guided it past defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders in the previous away game.


Things seem to be falling into place for MI once the out-of-form Ponting has taken the decision to sit out and allowed talented West Indian all-rounder Dwayne Smith to take his place in the team as well as at the top of the batting order.

Smith has scored two fifties in the four games he has played so far and also delivered with the ball by taking two wickets in Saturday`s comprehensive win over RCB that avenged their first-leg defeat in Bangalore in style.

The batting has a settled look now and delivered big time in the three home games by rattling up huge scores of 209 for 5 against the Delhi Daredevils, 194 for 7 on Saturday and 183 for 3 against Pune Warriors.

After surprisingly not giving a game to Dhawal Kulkarni, their home product who had a very good season during Mumbai`s 40th title triumph in the Ranji Trophy, MI included him in the eleven yesterday and he contributed with a three-wicket burst.

With Smith and Harbhajan Singh, who delivered the knockout blow by sending back danger man Chris Gayle, also coming to the party, MI did not even need to use the left-arm slow skills of Pragyan Ojha on Saturday.

The bowling attack, in which Lasith Malinga and Mitchell Johnson also pose a danger to the opposition, appears well-rounded and would present a big challenge to Punjab on the bouncy track that is the hallmark of this venue.

On the other hand, Kings XI are coming into the game after being outsmarted by holders KKR at the Eden Gardens. A victory over MI, unlikely though it seems, would increase their points tally to 10.

The visitors have an under-performing retired Australian great at the helm like MI, but unlike Ponting have not yet taken the big decision to leave out Adam Gilchrist.

The wicket-keeper batsman is yet to provide the flying start which he was known for in his heydays and a tally of 94 runs in eight games has hurt his side`s chances.

The inclusion of Mandeep Singh, who has the ability to clear the ropes with nonchalance and has scored 219 runs in eight matches, as Gilchrist`s partner has certainly given a better look to the batting.

With another experienced Aussie campaigner, David Hussey (165 runs in 8 matches), too not among the runs, the batting has struggled.

They have struggled in five games outside their home venue of Mohali in putting up scores over 150 and even at home, they have been shot out for 138 by Chennai Super Kings.

The batting line-up needs to put up a far better display against the likes of Malinga, Johnson and Harbhajan to match MI`s batting might.

The visitors bowling attack too looks a bit weak, especially in the spin department, barring the experienced Piyush Chawla who has taken only three wickets after figuring in eight games.

Praveen Kumar (nine wickets) and Azhar Mahmood (11 wickets from 7) have been the main wicket-takers with their ability to move the ball in the air, and they would relish bowling in seaming conditions at the Wankhede.

Nadal marches into Barcelona Open final

Rafael Nadal is still to miss out on a final in 2013 after he continued his long winning run at the Barcelona Open.

The 11-time major winner cast aside fifth seed Milos Raonic 6-4 6-0 to ensure he has now reached the final in all the tournaments he has played in this year.
That run has come despite a knee injury that ruled him out of the second half of last season, as well as this year's Grand Slam-opener in Australia.
The 26-year-old appears fit and ready to defend his crown at Roland Garros next month, however, as he notched up a 38th consecutive win on the clay in the Catalan capital.
Nadal was beaten by Novak Djokovic in Monte Carlo last week, to end his long winning run on the Cote d'Azur, but will be expected to triumph on Sunday when he meets compatriot Nicolas Almagro.
After rain again delayed the start of play, this time by four hours, Almagro cruised past Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-2 6-1 in just 51 minutes.
Like Nadal, the fourth seed has not lost a set this week as he prepares to play in his 20th ATP Tour final - all of which have come on clay.
Nadal took a little longer to see off Raonic, but after a tight opening set the seven-time champion broke the Canadian three times to 'bagel' the young pretender.

Sinjin Smith Best Beach Volleyball Tip on Passing

Sinjin Smith is one of the greatest volleyball players to ever play the game. He has won more beach volleyball tournaments (139 AVP and FIVB wins) during his beach volleyball carrer than any other player besides Karch Kiraly. In addition to his beach volleyball success Sinjin won two NCAA Championships and was named MVP his senior year. Sinjin is also in the Volleyball Hall of Fame!

Sinjin Smith and Randy Stocklos

In this video Sinjin shares important tips for having success in beach volleyball verses indoor volleyball.

Pass the ball in front of you in beach volleyball

Perhaps the most important difference in beach volleyball verses indoor volleyball is the location of the pass. In indoor volleyball you want to always pass to a specific area on the court, known indoor as area 2 / 3. The zone between area two and area three. Beach is different in that you want to pass the ball in front of you close to the net! Why?

• It is easier to approach a ball when the pass is in front of you.
• It is easier for the setter to set an ideal set when you lead them and pass the ball in front of you.
• In beach volleyball the best set to hit is an up and down set and when you pass the ball in front of you it is easiest to do this.
• Approaching on a ball that is in front of you and set up and down gives you the most choices of shots.
• Approaching on a ball that is in front of you and set up and down gives you the best and longest look at how the defense is set up.

In concluding, always try and pass the ball forward and in front of your hitting approach. Also make sure you check out all of Sinjin’s 10 Free Videos Sponsored by Honu Volleyball Sandals. Honu is the only sandal mad for volleyball players that supports volleyball players. See why they are the most comfortable sandal on the market and the choice sandal of athletes like Phil Dalhausser and Sinjin Smith.
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Honu Volleyball Sandals, Sinjin Smith and Volleyball1on1 Partnership

Andor Gyulai and Sinjin Smith

We are excited to add a new partnership with Honu Volleyball Sandals and Sinjin Smith this month. Our goal with the partnership as always is to add value for our clients and on this we delivered!
“We are excited to partner with Honu Volleyball Sandals! Honu “PRO VB Volleyball Flip Flops” represents the premier Volleyball Sandal on the market. The quality and research that went into making these sandals added with the passion and mission of Team Honu makes it a perfect fit for our brand and more importantly our clients! We feel the PRO VB is the best volleyball sandal on the market and we are excited to be teaming up with Team Honu!” – Andor Gyulai – Volleyball1on1.com Owner
Basically we filmed 10 free instructional beach volleyball drills and videos with Sinjin Smith sponsored by Honu Volleyball Sandals. These videos are absolutely free for all our visitors to volleyball1on1. On top of this all new Gold Volleyball1on1 Members receive a Free Pair Of Honu Volleyball Sandals!
The 10 Videos are as follows and one new video will be released each week:
Video 1 – The Most Important Tip for Having Success in Beach Volleyball Verses Indoor Volleyball (4/12/13)
Video 2 – Sinjin Smith Shares Tips for Beach Volleyball Setting (4/12/13)
Video 3 -  Spiking and the Approach in Beach Volleyball (4/19/13)
Video 4 – Blocking and Blocking Strategy, Coming (4/26/13)
Video 5 -  Beach Volleyball Defense, Coming (5/3/13)
Video 6 – Reading the Game for Beach Volleyball, Coming (5/10/13)
Video 7 – Serving in Beach Volleyball, Coming  (5/17/13)
Video 8 – What to Do in Beach Volleyball If Things are not Going Well, Coming (5/24/13)
Video 9 – Being a Good Volleyball Partner, Coming (5/31/13)
Video 10 – Sinjin’s Smith Best Advice on How to Become a Great Beach Volleyball Player, Coming (6/7/13)
Sinjin Smith is best known for winning 139 titles on the beach. Second to only Karch Kiraly. Additionally Sinjin is a 2 Time NCAA Champion, NCAA MVP, Olympian, World Champion, and King of the Beach. He is in the Volleyball Hall of Fame, UCLA Hall of Fame and Catholic Youth Organization Hall of Fame.
Honu Volleyball Sandals is the only Volleyball Sandal / Volleyball Flip Flop made exclusively for volleyball. Honu is dedicated to “Growing the Game” of volleyball and this can be seen in the dedicated sponsorship of volleyball athletes and volleyball events!
Volleyball1on1 is the #1 instructional volleyball website in the world for instructional volleyball videos, drills and practice plans.

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