Our ultimate Premier League ‘Barclaysmen’ XI

Social media has been abuzz with reminiscing about unsung heroes who played in the Barclays Premier League between 2002 and 2016. Here is our prime Barclays 11! All stats are from the Premier League website.

Jussi Jaaskelainen was a cult hero in the Barclays Premier League. He was ever-present in a prime Bolton Wanderers team from 1997 until 2012, from wearing tracksuit bottoms in goal to helping Bolton save themselves from relegation to qualifying for Europe. He was the ultimate GK.

A poor man's Gary Neville? Former Everton full-back Tony Hibbert is the perfect Barclays right-back. A no-nonce defender who concentrated on defending first before breaking forward is something overlooked today. Hibbert made 265 Premier League appearances, scored zero goals, and had a 79% tackling success rate. Perfect.

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Richard Dunne optimized Barclays football, shocking on the ball but defended as his life depended on it. The former Manchester City and QPR man was hard as nails and an owl goal machine. He is the only player with double-figure own goals (10) and has the most red cards (8).

Younes Kaboul had a long-storied career in the Premier League, playing under Harry Redknapp at Portsmouth and Tottenham, reaching the heights of Champions League football with the latter. The Frenchman also played a pivotal role in keeping Sunderland and Watford in the league.

With the sideburns, a wicked left foot, and a prime 'Barclaysman,' Leighton Baines was elite for Everton in the Premier League. Baines was a dead-ball specialist with a highlight reel of some of the best goals in the Premier League.

French winger Charles N'Zogbia spent a decade in the Premier League, playing for Newcastle United, Wigan, and Aston Villa. With his tricky feet, he became a cult hero in the league, scoring spectacular goals and forming a duo with striker Hugo Rodallega that the street won't forget.

Former Stoke City midfielder Rory Delap was prime Barclays. His javelin-like throw-ins struck fear into the opposition teams' eyes and even resulted in some goalkeepers kicking the ball for a corner rather than a throw. Delap wasn't the best with his feet, but he would grab you a few assists and chances with his throw.

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Harry Redknapp signed Niko Kranjcar at Portsmouth in 2006, Tottenham in 2009, and four years later at QPR. That relationship alone is enough to make him a Barclaysman. He was a wizard with the ball and could finish from anywhere. With the current tactical approach, he is a player going extinct.

Morten Gamst Pederson made 260 Premier League appearances for Blackburn and was a proper old-fashioned winger. Pederson had a wand of a left foot and could pick a player out with a perfect cross. He scored outrageous goals from volleys, free kicks, and goals from range. A true icon of Barclays.

Yakubu, otherwise known as 'The Yak,' was an elite goalscorer in the Premier League. He scored goals for Middlesbrough, Blackburn, Portsmouth, and Everton. He scored 28 goals in two seasons for Pompey, 25 in 82 for Everton, and 17 in one season for Blackburn. Yakubu scored 95 in 252 matches, a nearly identical record to Didier Drogba.

Former Swansea striker Michu wasn't in the Premier League for long, but his one season during the 2012-13 campaign was unforgettable. He scored 18 Premier League goals, won the League Cup, and scored twice against Manchester United and Arsenal. His celebration is part of football culture forever.

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