Ranking the best Premier League referees of all time

Football referees have one of the hardest jobs in sports, making split-second decisions in front of tens of thousands of fans who will bay for their blood if it goes against their team. Some referees are able to rise above the pressure and consistently earn the respect of players and fans alike.

With the ever-changing landscape of football officiating, the job of the referee is only getting harder. VAR and social media have put every decision they make under the microscope, which is why many refs on this list pre-date the VAR era. Let's take a look at the best to ever referee in the Premier League.

Former referee Howard Webb refereed in the Premier League between 2003 and 2014, earning high praise for his authoritative and respected approach to refereeing in the Premier League. He took charge of 296 games in the league.

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His high standard of officiating in the Premier League helped him become the first referee in history to officiate the Champions League and World Cup finals in the same year (2010). His exploits as a referee earned him the technical director job at the Professional Game Match Officials Board (PGMOB).

Mark Clattenburg had a lasting impact on English football. He was known for his calm but firm demeanor. He refereed in the league for 13 years, taking charge of 296 games. He has earned celebrity status away from the pitch, becoming a referee on the Gladiators TV show in the UK.

Clattenburg refereed the Champions League and Euro 2016 final, rising to prominence for making tough decisions. He won the Best Referee of the Year award in 2016.

Mike Dean possessed a character like no other, creating some of the funniest and most iconic moments in Premier League history. Despite his outlandish style of officiating, Dean is the longest-serving Premier League referee, having served for 22 years.

The unique referee's personality caught shade for wanting to be the center of attention. The Premier League website reports he dished out 113 red cards in 561 games. Since retiring in 2022, he has worked in VAR and is a regular pundit on Sky Sports.

Anthony Taylor is still officiating in the Premier League, having started in 2010. He has earned a reputation for being a hard-nosed official who has earned the respect of players and managers throughout his 14 years in the league.

According to GiveMeSport, Taylor worked as a prison officer, which has done wonders for his referring career. UEFA trusts Taylor to referee the biggest games, including the Nations League and Europa League finals. He was the official who dealt with Christian Eriksen's cardiac arrest at the Euros in 2021.

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Michael Oliver was 25 when he refereed his first Premier League game, showcasing his rapid ascent through the ranks as a young adult. The youngest Premier League referee started in 2010 and continues at the top of the sport today.

Oliver has been praised for his consistency and for sticking to his guns when making big decisions, even when players and fans are voicing abuse towards him. His stern character makes him one of the most trusted officials in the league, and he earned high-profile finals in the UEFA Super Cup and FA Cup.

In his 18-year referee career between 2005 and 2023, Andre Marriner was not shy of the spotlight. The former referee has been heavily abused for some of his decisions, including when he sent Kieran Gibbs off for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's handball on the line.

Marriner refereed 30 games in the Premier League and was appointed as a FIFA referee from 2009 until 2017. He has officiated a Europe League, FA Cup, and League Cup final.

Graham Poll was a referee when the Premier League was founded in 1993 and continued to officiate until his retirement in 2007. His intimidating presence helped him control games and earn the respect of his peers.

Poll was the only English official named at the 2006 World Cup. He took charge of the 2000 FA Cup final and the 2005 UEFA Cup final. He refereed 330 league games.

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