Gareth Barry holds the Premier League report for essentially the most appearances with 653 video games performed, however which gamers comply with him within the high 20 rankings?
Gamers With the Most Premier League Appearances
- Gareth Barry – 653
- James Milner – 635
- Ryan Giggs – 632
- Frank Lampard – 609
- David James – 572
- Gary Pace – 535
- Emile Heskey – 516
- Mark Schwarzer – 514
- Jamie Carragher – 508
- Phil Neville – 505
- Rio Ferdinand – 504
- Steven Gerrard – 504
- Sol Campbell – 503
- Paul Scholes – 499
- Jermain Defoe – 496
- John Terry – 492
- Wayne Rooney – 491
- Michael Carrick – 481
- Sylvain Distin – 469
- Peter Crouch – 468
Gareth Barry
653 Premier League Appearances
When Gareth Barry got here on as a Forty ninth-minute substitute for Aston Villa on 2 Might 1998 in opposition to Sheffield Wednesday, little did we all know that over 20 years later he would nonetheless be plying his commerce as an expert footballer. Granted, the ultimate two years of his profession had been performed within the second tier, however by then Barry had already set the mark for many Premier League appearances at 653.
Barry’s Premier League debut could have come even earlier as he’d been named on the bench practically a month prior in opposition to West Ham United however didn’t come on. The truth is, a Barry substitute look was a uncommon prevalence. He made 618 begins throughout his Premier League profession, sufficient for a wholesome 94.6% begin charge. Unsurprisingly, Barry holds the report for essentially the most minutes performed by a Premier League participant (54,439).
Regardless of taking part in for the likes of Aston Villa, Manchester Metropolis, Everton and West Brom over the course of his Premier League profession, Barry isn’t within the high 10 for video games gained. He does high the charts on the subject of video games drawn (193) and video games drawn nil-nil (64), nonetheless, and he’s suffered the second-most defeat (198) behind a participant who we’ll come to later on this checklist.
A strong and reliable midfielder, who made 53 appearances for England, Barry christened his 600th look within the Premier League with a strike for Everton in opposition to Arsenal – the 52nd league aim of his profession. One closing aim would comply with in opposition to Manchester United, the facet he misplaced extra to (24 instances) than another throughout his Premier League profession earlier than an damage derailed his 2017-18 season, ending in West Brom’s relegation to the Championship.
James Milner
635 Premier League Appearances
James Milner is the one energetic participant to rank within the high 20 for many Premier League appearances. A former teammate of Frank Lampard’s at Man Metropolis, Milner overtook his previous colleague in April 2023 with an 11-minute cameo in Liverpool’s 0-0 draw in opposition to Chelsea.
He then leapfrogged Ryan Giggs into outright second place when he began for Brighton in opposition to Wolves in January 2024.
In the event you consider a few of the iconic Premier League moments since November 2002, there’s a very good probability Milner has been part of them. He was a part of the Leeds United workforce that suffered a 5-0 defeat by the hands of Arsenal to start out the downward spiral that noticed them relegated from the highest flight. And after spells with Newcastle United and Aston Villa, he was a part of the Manchester Metropolis facet that gained the title in dramatic “AGUERROoOoOoOoO!!!” vogue earlier than winding up as a part of Jürgen Klopp’s revolution at Anfield.
Uniquely, Milner has been substituted on essentially the most instances in Premier League historical past (204), forward of the likes of Peter Crouch and Shane Lengthy (each 158), Jermaine Defoe (149) and Shola Ameobi (142). As you might need anticipated, the 24 situations of Milner approaching from the bench within the 2022-23 season was essentially the most of his profession as age started to restrict his involvement just a little extra. Nonetheless, he confirmed sufficient to earn a free switch to Brighton for the 2023-24 marketing campaign, that means Milner’s quest to interrupt Barry’s all-time appearances report continues to be alive.
Together with his look on the opening day of the 2024-25 marketing campaign versus Everton, Milner overtook Giggs’ report (22 seasons) by taking part in a sport in 23 completely different Premier League seasons.
Ryan Giggs
632 Premier League Appearances
Ryan Giggs made his league bow for Manchester United the season earlier than the Premier League’s inaugural marketing campaign, so it’s no shock the winger ranks extremely on the subject of general appearances within the historical past of the competitors. It’s even much less stunning that Giggs has extra assists (162) than anybody else, some 50 away from his nearest rival, Kevin De Bruyne.
Regardless of scoring 109 targets throughout his Premier League profession, Giggs by no means netted a hat-trick in his 632 appearances although he did handle 11 braces. He solely wanted 5 appearances to internet his first aim within the competitors however failed to seek out the again of the online in his final 20 within the Premier League.
Having gained 13 Premier League titles with Manchester United throughout his profession, Giggs has comfortably gained extra video games than another participant in Premier League historical past (407), and if you have a look at that within the context of United’s victories complete (726 – right as of July 2023) within the competitors, it means the Welshman performed in 56% of their triumphs.
Of the gamers on this article, it’s Giggs who has been subbed off essentially the most (134), with Theo Walcott (168), Aaron Lennon (141) and David Silva (137) the one ones to have seen their quantity raised extra typically. It means Giggs solely ranks fourth on the subject of minutes performed (46,437).
Frank Lampard
609 Premier League Appearances
Frank Lampard got here closest to matching Giggs’ report for essentially the most wins within the Premier League (349), the primary of which approaching his debut on 31 January 1996 as he made an Eightieth-minute substitute look in opposition to Coventry Metropolis for West Ham.
A damaged leg within the 1996-97 season delayed his breakthrough, however he returned in emphatic vogue the next marketing campaign, scoring on the opening day of the season barely a minute after approaching in its place in opposition to Barnsley. It could be the primary of 177 targets Lampard scored within the Premier League for West Ham United, Chelsea and Manchester Metropolis, together with one in his closing look in opposition to Southampton on the final day of 2014-15. A strike earlier within the season in opposition to former membership Chelsea additionally produced probably the best ‘muted’ aim celebration in Premier League historical past.
David James
572 Premier League Appearances
Being the highest-ranked goalkeeper on this checklist may go some strategy to decreasing the frustration of not being the keeper with essentially the most clear sheets in Premier League historical past; solely Petr Cech (202) is forward of David James (169).
James’ first Premier League look, his debut for Liverpool, got here on the opening weekend of the inaugural season following his switch from Watford, beginning in opposition to Nottingham Forest within the first ever Tremendous Sunday match proven on Sky Sports activities. Sadly, this additionally makes him the primary goalkeeper to concede a aim in a stay televised Premier League match, with Teddy Sheringham placing the one aim of the sport previous him. This was the primary of 665 targets he would concede within the Premier League for the Reds, Aston Villa, West Ham United, Manchester Metropolis and Portsmouth which can be a report for the competitors.
For some time, James held the report for essentially the most appearances within the Premier League earlier than being overtaken by the 4 gamers above. He additionally achieved the bizarre feat of showing within the competitors as each a goalkeeper and an outfield participant, having been thrown up entrance by Stuart Pearce as Manchester Metropolis chased down potential European qualification on the ultimate day of the 2004-05 season. They fell quick following a 1-1 draw with Middlesbrough with James unable to make an influence, although he did concede two fouls in a Premier League sport for the one time in his profession.
Gary Pace
535 Premier League Appearances
James beat the report beforehand held by the late Gary Pace, for whom targets had been lots throughout his profession however they in all probability got here no sweeter than on 20 November 1996. A boyhood Everton fan, his dream of taking part in for the membership was realised when he moved to Goodison Park at the beginning of that season, earlier than scoring the equaliser within the Merseyside derby in entrance of the Kop. The one hat-trick of his Premier League profession additionally got here whereas sporting his beloved blue in a 7-1 mauling of Southampton.
However to speak about targets misses a lot of what makes Pace a participant nonetheless remembered fondly by many followers and former teammates from Leeds United, Everton, Newcastle United and Bolton Wanderers. A life gone far too quickly following his loss of life on the age of 42.
Emile Heskey
516 Premier League Appearances
The primary out-and-out ahead on the checklist, Emile Heskey is likely to be seventh on the subject of variety of appearances within the Premier League however his haul of 110 is ‘solely’ ok for twenty sixth on the checklist of all-time goalscorers.
However the place the previous Leicester Metropolis, Liverpool, Birmingham Metropolis, Wigan Athletic and Aston Villa star proved his price was by being one of the unselfish gamers on the sector. Making decoy runs, holding up the ball for others and offering a fair proportion of assists (53) ensured he gained a spot within the hearts of followers and teammates alike.
None extra so than Michael Owen, who noticed his golden years – culminating within the 2001 Ballon d’Or – closely supported by his Liverpool (and England) teammate Heskey, with the pair scoring 30 Premier League targets between them through the 2000-2001 season, in addition to combining as a part of England’s well-known 5-1 overcome Germany when, sure, even Heskey scored.
Mark Schwarzer
514 Premier League Appearances
Keep in mind how we talked about earlier on this article that one participant within the Premier League had misplaced extra video games than Gareth Barry? Nicely, step proper up Mark Schwarzer – it’s time in your second to shine. The Australian is the one participant, to date, within the historical past of the Premier League to have racked up 200 defeats. With 145 attracts to his identify as nicely (54 of which had been 0-0), it means Schwarzer left a Premier League stadium with out profitable 67.1% of the time.
All bar 10 of his appearances got here for Middlesbrough and Fulham as he turned the primary – and to date, solely – non-British participant to make over 500 appearances within the Premier League. He was a part of two title-winning squads in back-to-back seasons (Chelsea and Leicester Metropolis), however he didn’t play sufficient video games to qualify routinely for a medal.
Jamie Carragher
508 Premier League Appearances
Liverpool’s all-time main look maker within the Premier League, Jamie Carragher made his debut for the membership when Roy Evans was in cost at Anfield, earlier than being a part of their success below Gerard Houllier and Rafa Benítez. Though the Premier League title eluded him, Carragher’s mantlepiece is loaded with a UEFA Champions League winner’s medal, in addition to three FA Cup triumphs.
Famously, Carragher solely scored three EPL targets for Liverpool throughout his profession however did handle to show the ball into the again of his personal internet on seven events – joint second-most within the competitors’s historical past. You possibly can learn extra about Carragher’s own-goal exploits right here, in addition to discovering out who the general report holder is (a clue: he performed 431 instances within the Premier League).
Phil Neville
505 Premier League Appearances
In a sport of Prime Trumps between the Neville brothers, this is able to be one part the place Phil comfortably comes out on high having made 105 extra appearances within the Premier League than Gary Neville. He additionally has the benefit on the subject of targets (Phil’s 9 to Gary’s 5, what a strategy to make a dwelling), though assists do fall in Gary’s favour (35 to 25), in addition to Premier League winner’s medals (eight to 6).
Phil’s switch to Everton forward of the 2005-06 season led to many highlights, with the brothers refusing to interact with one another within the tunnel when each captaining their sides within the 4-4 draw at Previous Trafford in 2012 that proved pivotal within the deciding the title-race.
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