Premier League all time Foreign players XI
When we look back over the course of the 23 years that the Premier League has been in existence, it's noticeable just what a rich tapestry foreign players have woven into the English national game.The sheer amount of imports mean that it is almost impossible to choose an all-time XI that both receives unanimous approval, and can function as a successful team. To that end, there are likely to be some glaring omissions from this particular side, but there just isn't enough room to accommodate everyone.Jurgen Klinsmann and David Ginola are two Tottenham Hotspur players that deserve more than cursory mention but they don't feature here. Ditto Juninho of Middlesbrough. The bar has been set high...let's see if you agree with the choices –
#1 Peter Schmeichel
Was there really ever going to be anyone else in the number one jersey? Petr Cech is perhaps worthy of a shout, but in truth no one comes anywhere close to the master. Peter Schmeichel was everything that you wanted in a goalkeeper. Big, brave, committed and a huge presence both physically and in the dressing room.
Knowing that they had the big Dane behind them was surely part of the reason Manchester United’s back four functioned so well. And he certainly wasn’t afraid to berate his defenders if they weren’t up to the mark in a particular game.
Taking free kicks and penalties against him must’ve seemed like an almost impossible task. “Making yourself big” is a phrase often associated with goalkeepers, but Schmeichel already filled the goal without any further need to extend his enormous frame.
When he did so, we were witness to some of the very best saves ever seen at Premier League level. He played a total of 350 games in the Premier League, 292 for Manchester United, and 29 each for Aston Villa and Manchester City. Apart from winning 5 Premier League titles with United, he also won 3 FA Cups and 1 Champions League.