TOP 10 GREATEST ENGLAND STRIKERS EVER!
THERE HAVE BEEN SOME WORLD CLASS FORWARDS FOR ENGLAND!
SillySeason look at ten of the best England strikers of all time…
10) Kevin Keegan
Kevin Keegan enjoyed his best times as a player at Liverpool between 1971 and 1977!
He scored 68 goals in 238 games and was part of the club’s ‘golden’ generation, helping the Reds lift the Premier League title three times and also coming runner-up twice in the space of six years.
9) Nat Lofthouse
Nat Lofthouse was a one club man! His 14-year long career was with Bolton Wanderers.
He played for the Lancashire side between 1946 and 1960, scoring 255 goals in 425 appearances.
The striker’s form with the England national team was quality as well, with him bagging 30 goals from 33 games.
Lofthouse is also listed as the seventh English league top scorer of all-time.
8) Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney burst onto the scene for hometown club Everton back in 2002!
He is still to this day classed as one of the world’s best forwards and is well known for his strength and aggression on the field.
The forward’s stellar displays in Euro 2004 for England earned him a move to Manchester United.
While at Old Trafford, Rooney has helped the Red Devils win five Premier League titles, one Champions League, one FA Cup, two Football League Cups, four Community Shields and one FIFA Club World Cup.
Rooney now holds to record as the all-time top scorer of the English national team with 53 goals – a remarkable effort.
7) Ian Wright
Ian Wright is one of the best English strikers Arsenal have ever had!
He played for the Gunners for seven years between 1991 and 1998, scoring a total of 128 goals.
In his time at Highbury, he assisted Arsenal to winning the Premier League and Cup Winners Cup as well as becoming the top scorer of English Division One in the 1991/92 season.
For England, the frontman scored nine times in 33 matches.
6) Jimmy Greaves
Jimmy Greaves was a legend at two London clubs – Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea!
His career spanned out to be 23-years long and he bagged 366 goals throughout his career – making a reputation to be one of England’s most prolific strikers ever in the process.
The striker also helped England win the World Cup back in 1966.
5) Michael Owen
Michael Owen impressed in the England national time at just 18 years of age!
He scored an incredible goal in the 1998 World Cup against Argentina and helped Liverpool win five titles in the 2000/01 campaign while also becoming the Premier League’s top scorer on two occasions.
Unfortunately for Owen, reoccurring injuries forced him to retire at the fairly early age of 33.
4) Geoff Hurst
Geoff Hurst – one of the most famous names in English football!
He will forever be remembered by the nation for netting a hat-trick in the 1966 World Cup final against West Germany.
Hurst’s three goals helped England become champions, an achievement that has not been matched ever since.
The forward spent a large amount of his career at West Ham United, bagging 180 goals in 411 games.
3) Bobby Charlton
Sir Bobby Charlton – could arguably be number one if he was an out and out striker!
He was a brilliant playmaker and attacking midfielder plus he knew where the net was.
Charlton used to hold the record as the all-time top scorer of the English national team with 49 goals to his name, only to be overtaken by Wayne Rooney.
The footballing icon was part of the 1966 World Cup winning England side. Also, he helped Manchester United to win three Premier League titles and a Champions Cup.
2) Alan Shearer
Alan Shearer was the best target man that has ever played for the Three Lions!
He was strong in the penalty area, could rattle a ball and was a handy set-piece taker.
Shearer never played for a ‘top European club’ but he still managed to score 260 times and became the Premier League’s top scorer of all time.
The traditional-style centre forward also went on to become three-time Premier League top scorer while playing for Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United.
1) Gary Lineker
Gary Lineker never received a single yellow or red card in his 16-year long career!
His finishing was second to none, he was quick and worked tirelessly for his team.
Lineker also spent a lot of time away from England in his career, playing three years at Spanish giants Barcelona while also having a two-year stint at Japanese side Nagoya Grampus Eight.
The clinical striker became the English League’s top scorer on three occasions with Leicester City, Everton and Tottenham Hotspur.
Top 10 greatest England strikers ever:
10) Kevin Keegan
9) Nat Lofthouse
8) Wayne Rooney
7) Ian Wright
6) Jimmy Greaves
5) Michael Owen
4) Geoff Hurst
3) Bobby Charlton
2) Alan Shearer
1) Gary Lineker
By Drew Darbyshire (@DarbySports)