10 Most Decorated English Players in Football History [Ranked]

In brief
Football players that are at the peak of their game and often contribute to winning teams win awards.
All 10 of the most accomplished English football players in history served as captains and were essential members of their teams.
With perseverance and commitment to the game, even underappreciated athletes like Michael Carrick may achieve great success.
Football is one of the most competitive sports in the world, and athletes are constantly evaluated on their ability to win medals or trophies. Some tournaments are frequently criticised as “real” silverware because of the sheer volume of competitions. Consider the Community Shield in England, which is a highly regarded match between the league winners and the FA Cup winners yet is frequently derided by fans.

Becoming a decorated football player involves a certain amount of chance. In order to dominate games and win the championship, players must be a part of a winning squad and partner up with some of the finest in the industry. World-class players can’t make it to the top if your club isn’t on par with others. Although Harry Kane’s time at Tottenham elevated him to the status of one of the world’s top strikers, his reputation is called into question when you consider that he didn’t take home any awards.

Having said that, class is permanent, and you must be the best to win prizes. Football players who aren’t exceptionally skilled or among the best in their positions don’t win more than fifteen trophies in their career. We examined the top ten English football players in history here at GIVEMESPORT.

Ten Nicky Butts and eighteen awards

Old Trafford was formerly home to the greatest team in the world, even if Manchester United recently went out of business. One of the main contributors to their heyday was none other than Nicky Butt, who dedicated himself to doing the “dirty work” for his teammates that was frequently overlooked.

Butt’s greatest accomplishment during his playing career was the 1999 treble, which saw him win the FA Cup, the Premier League, and the Champions League all in one season. Butt played the entire 90 minutes in the Champions League final because Roy Keane was suspended, and he helped the Red Devils defeat Bayern Munich in the closing seconds.

9. Terry McDermott
18 awards

The core of Liverpool’s heyday in the late 1970s was Terry McDermott. During the reigns of Bob Paisley and Bill Shankley, the box-to-box midfielder played alongside some of Liverpool’s finest players. McDermott had a knack for long-range shots that mostly resulted in his wheeling away in celebration after hitting the back of the net.

He helped spark the Reds’ 3-1 victory by scoring the first goal in the 1977 European Cup final against Borussia Monchengladbach. His position in the centre of the park solidified his last name into Anfield’s lengthy and legendary mythology, and it was the team’s first European Cup victory.

Eight Ray Kennedy and eighteen awards

Ray Kennedy’s ability to score goals was evident at two of the top clubs in England. He thrived at both Arsenal and Liverpool and adored wearing the red uniform. One of the best center-forwards in the world was brought to Highbury, and at the age of 19, Kennedy scored the game-winning goal in a North London Derby to help the Gunners win the league.

Bob Paisley chose to use him on the left side of the pitch as a playmaker and former bagsman during his tenure on the red half of Merseyside, which allowed him to develop into one of the best players in the world. The Liverpool manager’s move turned out to be brilliant, as Kennedy played a deeper role and helped with both goals and assists.

Seven Michael Carrick and eighteen trophies

To discover how underappreciated Michael Carrick was as a football player, you would only need to have a discreet conversation with Sir Alex Ferguson. During his time at Manchester United, the midfielder’s efforts were mostly overlooked due to the presence of players like Wayne Rooney, Paul Scholes, and Cristiano Ronaldo.

🔴 @ManUtd's midfield general 💪@carras16 made the move to Old Trafford #OnThisDay in 2006 – and plenty of silverware followed 🏆 pic.twitter.com/RCW165i3Qf

— Premier League (@premierleague) July 31, 2021

Having joined from Tottenham in 2006, he became ‘Mr. Reliable’ and won five Premier League titles at Old Trafford. In addition to his domestic achievements, Carrick participated in the 2008 Champions League final versus Chelsea, a Premier League rival, for the whole 120 minutes. Carrick’s football career did not finish with retirement; he is currently managing Middlesborough, a Championship team, in an attempt to transition his successful playing career into the dugout.

Six David Beckham and nineteen trophies

It should come as no surprise that David Beckham, who played for Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Paris Saint-Germain, was the face of English football for a large portion of his career. Any football player would have struggled under the intense limelight from an early age, but Beckham’s perseverance and diligence made him one of the most accomplished Englishmen of all time.

He was always going to leave with a full trophy cabinet because he was a part of both Madrid’s Galacticos and the heyday at Old Trafford. Beckham, who was renowned for his amazing crossing ability and fast feet, rose to prominence as a midfield player wherever he played. Now that he owns the MLS team Inter Miami, he wants to increase his trophy collection as a businessman instead of a player.

5 Gary Neville 20 awards

After retiring in 2011, Gary Neville has remained active in the football world through his punditry job. Supporters have differing ideas about his presenting skills, but who better than a 20-trophy icon to advise you on how to play the game? Neville won more than one prize every season during his remarkable 19 years at Manchester United.

As pundits, Roy Keane, Jamie Carragher, and Gabriel Agbonlahor all appear irate.
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Since he played for so long—beginning with artists like Steve Bruce and concluding with Nemanja Vidic—it’s difficult to assign his playing career to a certain period. In addition to leading the Red Devils to two Champions League trophies, Neville won an incredible eight Premier League championships. After Roy Keane left, his longevity gave him the captain’s armband, and he pretended to be a powerful figurehead in the Old Trafford locker room.

Four Ray Clemence 21 awards

Even though a goalie plays the position with the most responsibility, their skill is typically overlooked in football. Ray Clemence, who played goal for both Liverpool and Tottenham, is regarded as one of England’s greatest goalkeepers. He won a good deal of cutlery while he was in north London, which surprised me.

In the early 1980s, after winning three European Cups and five league titles with the Reds, Clemence looked for a change of pace. At Tottenham, he teamed up with Steve Perryman, Osvaldo Ardiles, and Glenn Hoddle in an attempt to apply his knowledge to the White Hart Lane net. At the age of 35, Clemence showed his undeniable talent in the 1984 UEFA Cup Final, saving two penalties in the shootout to give Tottenham European victory.

3 Phil Thompson, 22 awards

When discussing the best English defenders of all time, Phil Thompson isn’t discussed enough. In football, winning 22 trophies is a great accomplishment; only two other players have more trophies in their collection. In the 1970s and the first part of the 1980s, Thompson played a crucial role in Liverpool’s defensive. His size shaped him into a tall centre-back with exceptional aerial skills and a strong sense of leadership.

As the core of the Reds defence, he formed especially solid alliances with Alan Hansen and Emlyn Hughes, leading them to three European Cups and seven league titles. Thompson, a native of Merseyside and considered one of the greatest defenders in Liveprool history, was given the captain’s armband following Hughes’ departure in 1979, making him the first young man from the area to win the continental title as captain.

23 awards and two Phil Neal

Several trophies marked the end of the legendary careers of the Liverpool players of the 1970s. For the most successful of these people, staying at Anfield proved to work because it begs the question, “Why leave when you are winning a piece of cutlery every season?” Another player who excelled while wearing Liverpool red was Phil Neal, who made an impression at full-back.

Despite being a member of the defensive line, he was frequently trusted from the penalty spot and finished his career with a respectable 28 penalties. The term ‘unsung hero’ aptly characterises Neal’s impact on football, and he even has some special honours.

One Paul Scholes, twenty-five trophies

The number of trophies each of them has would be enough to end the common Scholes-Lampard-Gerrard argument. Paul Scholes, the most decorated English footballer of all time, hardly had a season without having to plop some sort of steelwork in his trophy case.

However, Scholes’s case was much aided by playing for an outstanding Manchester United team, which was mostly due to the skill of Wayne Rooney, Roy Keane, and Ryan Giggs. Nonetheless, Scholes was the best in his position in world football, according to numerous game legends.

A personalised picture of Paul Scholes, Andrea Pirlo, and Xavi Hernandez that was connected to ranking the top 11 passers in football history
If a player with more than 400 career assists tops the list, there is no place for David Beckham, Ronaldinho, or Cristiano Ronaldo.

13.
Scholes possessed many of the most sought-after skills in the game, including the ability to control play and make late runs into the box. One of the best midfielders in football history, Xavi of Barcelona, says he thinks Scholes was a greater player than himself and regards the Manchester United veteran in high regard. He stated:

Scholes, Paul! An example. He is, in my opinion, the best centre midfield player I have watched in the previous 15 to 20 years. He is amazing.

The Top 10 Most Honoured English Football Players in History

Ordering

The player

The quantity of awards

One

Scholes, Paul

Neal, Phil

Phil Thompson

Clemence Ray

Neville, Gary

Beckham, David