5 of the most loyal Premier League names
Nostalgia has been the theme of this summer of 2017, with some of the Premier League’s veterans bowing out to make way for new players. Manly tears have been shed in the past few months as fans bid farewell to club stalwarts of the likes of John Terry, Wayne Rooney, Pablo Zabaleta, and most recently Lucas Leiva.
But then there’s the other side of the coin, where this transfer window has seen a certain few simply turn their backs and 'Walker' out of their clubs. The virtue of loyalty overshadowed by the riches of the middle east. The promise of glory elsewhere seeming a more appealing prospect than climbing the ladder with your own.
So here’s saluting the select few who have withstood the test of time. Their commitment has remained unwavering, be it in the club’s lows or prime.
#5 Julian Speroni
No current player in the Premier League has spent more time at his club than the Crystal Palace stopper. The man has played under 10 managers in his time at the club and is set to meet an 11th gaffer in Frank de Boer at the start of the next campaign.
To put things into further perspective, the Argentinian was in goal when Didier Drogba scored his first of 164 goals for Chelsea.
Since signing for the Eagles back in 2004, Speroni has faced quite a bit of hardship. Palace have since been relegated, stripped off of 10 points in 2010 when they were placed under administration and then survived by the skin of their teeth. But then on, things have looked north for Speroni and co.
They returned to the top tier after 8 years in 2013 and have maintained their Premier League status since. In this time, the veteran stopper has made more appearances than any other keeper in Palace’s history. He’s been named the club’s player of the season for a record four times and if that doesn’t cut it, there’s a bar named in his honour at Selhurst Park. Cheers, good sir!