What is the Premier League Hall of Fame?
By Sean Walsh
Since its breakaway from the Football League in 1992, the Premier League has become one of the world's most iconic sporting institutions.
England's top flight has regularly been seen as the biggest (if not best) domestic football competition in Europe ever since. It eventually became so massive that it didn't even need a title sponsor anymore (thank you to Carling, Barclaycard and Barclays for your contributions to history).
In keeping with that global fame, the Premier League announced the creation of a Hall of Fame back in 2020. Here's everything you need to know about it.
What is the Premier League Hall of Fame?
The Premier League Hall of Fame is an online honour roll for players who have "an exceptional record of on-pitch success and have shown significant contribution" to the competition.
At this time, there are no plans to make the Premier League Hall of Fame a physical entity like the English Football Hall of Fame at the National Football Museum. However, inductees do receive a special medallion acknowledging their place in it.
Who's in the Premier League Hall of Fame?
As of 2022, 16 players have been inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame.
Class of 2021
- Alan Shearer
- Thierry Henry
- Eric Cantona
- Roy Keane
- Frank Lampard
- Dennis Bergkamp
- Steven Gerrard
- David Beckham
Class of 2022
- Wayne Rooney
- Patrick Vieira
- Sergio Aguero
- Didier Drogba
- Vincent Kompany
- Peter Schmeichel
- Paul Scholes
- Ian Wright
What's the criteria to get into the Premier League Hall of Fame?
In order to qualify for a place on the Premier League Hall of Fame shortlist, players must have met at least one of the following criteria:
- Played at least 250 games in the Premier League
- Played in at least 200 Premier League games for one club
- Been selected to any of the Team of the Decade or 20-Year Anniversary teams
- Won a Premier League Golden Boot or Golden Glove
- Been voted as Premier League Player of the Season
- Won three Premier League titles
- Scored at least 100 Premier League goals (outfielders)
- Recorded at least 100 Premier League clean sheets (goalkeepers)
Players need to have retired to be nominated and only their performances in the Premier League are considered.
How do you get inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame?
The Premier League decide on two certain inductees every year (Alan Shearer and Thierry Henry in 2021, Wayne Rooney and Patrick Vieira in 2022).
They then release another list of players for a panel to vote on, while the public can also make their selections on the Premier League's website and social channels.