Counting down the Premier League's best ever players by shirt number (30-21): Gerrard, Zola...

Cameron Loftus
8 September 2021

Steven Gerrard, Gianfranco Zola, David Silva

In the second of our four-part countdown ranking top-flight players according to their shirt numbers, we feature not one but two Liverpool legends and four former Blues.

Continuing our countdown of the best Premier League players to wear each shirt number.

This time it's 30 through to 21, or David Luiz to David Silva if you prefer, taking in a couple of England captains along the way.

30 - David Luiz

Charismatic defender David Luiz arrived in the Premier League in 2011 when he joined Chelsea. He left for Paris three years later but returned in 2016 before moving to fellow London club Arsenal in 2019.

He boasts an impressive CV, as well as impressive hair, having won the FA Cup three times, the Premier League and the Champions League while in England.

Luiz is remembered for his trademark knuckleball free-kick and aggressive defensive style alongside his cool and calm attitude while in possession.

The Brazilian racked up 213 Premier League appearances in nine years and got his name on the scoresheet on 18 occasions.

29 - Robert Huth

Huth initially made a name for himself at Chelsea in the mid 2000s.

The German centre-back, known for his commanding presence and powerful heading ability, then took in spells at Middlesbrough and Stoke City before joining Leicester City.

He lifted three Premier League titles and was an integral part of the Leicester defence, alongside Wes Morgan, during their odds-defying 2015/16 title-winning season.

After clocking up 322 Premier League appearances in a career spent entirely in the English top flight, Huth retired in 2019.

28 - Steven Gerrard

The Liverpool-born midfielder broke into his boyhood club's team during the 1998/99 season, while wearing this number.

In his first two seasons, Gerrard made 41 Premier League appearances and from there his career took off, becoming one of the best players that the league has seen.

Gerrard embodied the Liverpool way and he was made captain at just 23, emphasising his leadership and ability.

A player who could do everything, Gerrard is best remembered for his stunning long-range goals and incredible technique.

The current Rangers manager showed his longevity at the highest level, featuring in 17 consecutive campaigns for Liverpool.

Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta deserves an honourable mention having held the number since his arrival at Stamford Bridge.

27 - Robbie Fowler

The left-footed attacker scored goals for fun and is one of the league's all-time top scorers.

He featured for Liverpool, Leeds, Manchester City and very briefly for Blackburn Rovers in the Premier League.

His most successful spells were without doubt in the earlier part of his career with Liverpool and Leeds and it's where the majority of his 162 Premier League goals came.

In his first three seasons at Anfield he scored an astonishing 98 goals, leading to Reds fans referring to the Liverpudlian as 'God'.

He held the record for the fastest ever hat-trick in the Premier League until 2015 when it was surpassed by Sadio Mane.

He also won the PFA Young Player of the Year award in two consecutive seasons, a feat only matched by Dele Alli, Wayne Rooney and Ryan Giggs.

26 - John Terry

Legendary Chelsea centre-back John Terry wore the No. 26 for his whole career at club level. Part of Chelsea's backline for almost two decades, he was also capped 78 times for England.

He accumulated 713 appearances for the Blues and won 17 major trophies while at Stamford Bridge, etching his name into the history of the Premier League.

The defender took no prisoners but mastered the art of timing tackles, rarely letting players pass. With the ball, he was composed and able to pass accurately with both his feet.

Liverpool's flying full-back Andy Robertson is his closest challenger among current wearers of the No. 26 shirt.

25 - Gianfranco Zola

The Italian magician takes the number 25 in this countdown thanks to a memorable five-and-a-half year stay at Chelsea.

Zola tore defences apart with his nimble, quick feet, deadly passing and eye for goal.

He scored over 50 league goals and contributed a further 13 assists, winning six trophies for the Chelsea club.

He was voted as the best player to ever play for the Blues in early 2003.

Former Chelsea manager Claudio Ranieri said of the small Italian: "Gianfranco tries everything because he is a wizard and the wizard must try."

Fernandinho pushes Zola close given the impact he has had since arriving at Manchester City from Shakhtar Donetsk in 2013. He became the club's captain in 2020 and has been a part of four Premier League title victories for Man City.

24 - Gareth Barry

If there's one player who deserves to be in this countdown above all others, it is this man. Although he only made two appearances for Aston Villa while wearing No. 24, he would go on to make an unmatched 653 Premier League appearances - a record to this day.

He racked up a total of 54,435 minutes on the pitch in the Premier League, an equivalent of over 900 hours! His top-flight career saw him star for the Villains, Manchester City, Everton and West Brom.

Barry had a wand of a left foot and was predominantly a defensive midfielder and would deservedly go on to pick up both FA Cup and Premier League winners' medals.

23 - Sol Campbell

A controversial character, Sol Campbell is one of only a few players brave enough to swap one side of north London for the other.

After coming through the ranks at Spurs, he moved to Arsenal in 2001 where he enjoyed his most success as a player.

He was part of the Invincibles team in 2003/04, forming a formidable partnership with Kolo Toure at the heart of the Gunners' defence. It resulted in him being named in the PFA Team of the Year for the third successive season.

As well as two Premier League winners medals, Campbell also captained Portsmouth to their FA Cup final win over Cardiff City in 2008.

22 - Jussi Jaaskelainen

The first goalkeeper to make the list, the Finn was with Bolton Wanderers for 13 years, playing 436 matches for the club.

He also featured for West Ham in the top flight and kept an impressive 139 clean sheets for the two teams.

Jaaskelainen holds the record for being the longest serving foreign player in the Premier League.

His son, Will, is looking to follow in his father's footsteps and currently plays for Crewe Alexandra in League One.

Other notable mentions for No. 22 go to former Arsenal and Manchester City defender Gael Clichy, ex-Chelsea forward Eidur Gudjohnsen and former Manchester United and Newcastle United midfielder Nicky Butt.

21 - David Silva

The silky Spaniard comfortably takes the 21 shirt after donning it for a decade in a dominant Man City team.

He came to the Premier League in 2010, signing for the Citizens for around £25million, a fee that would prove an absolute bargain.

Known for his incredible dribbling and exquisite passing, Silva quickly adapted to the demands of the Premier League, going on to write himself into Man City's history books.

Four Premier League wins, two FA Cups, five League Cups and three Community Shields added to two European Championships and a World Cup for his country.

The Spainard went on to make 309 league appearances for City, scoring 60 goals and providing 107 assists.

His legendary status was assured when a statue was unveiled by the club in August 2021 alongside likenesses of Sergio Aguero and Vincent Kompany.