Which players have scored the greatest overhead kicks in Premier League history?

Having the audacity to try one is the first step. If it goes well? It looks spectacular. If it goes wrong? It often makes the player look very silly.

Alejandro Garnacho’s spectacular overhead kick against Everton in the 2023/24 Premier League season has sparked the obvious question of “who really has scored the greatest overhead kick in Premier League history?”

This argument can never be truly answered for certain, but here are Planet Sport’s best in Premier League era.

 

Stan Collymore – Bradford City vs Leeds United – October 29, 2000

A goal that will live long in the memory of both Collymore himself and the Bantams’ supporters.

Scoring a spectacular overhead kick is one thing but to do it against the arch rivals of the club you play for is another.

The 2000/01 season was a miserable one for City with it ending in relegation as they finished bottom. But they will always have this overhead kick to remember even if the game ended up finishing in a 1-1 draw at Valley Parade thanks to Mark Viduka’s late equaliser for Leeds.

What makes Collymore’s overhead kick goal even more impressive is that he pulled it off under a year before he retired from football altogether.

He only made seven league appearances in his short spell playing for Bradford and scored two goals with one being this beauty.

 

 

Eidur Gudjohnsen – Chelsea vs Leeds United – January 28, 2003

The Icelandic striker was occasionally capable of the spectacular and this overhead kick proves just that.

Gudjohnsen netted 78 goals in 263 appearances in his six seasons for the West London Blues and this might have been his best.

The goal also came in an entertaining game as Claudio Ranieri’s side ended up 3-2 winners in a five-goal thriller.

 

Rory Delap – Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur – March 27, 2004

This has to be right up there as the most underrated overhead kick in the Premier League era.

It turns out that Delap actually had more to his game than just long throws and this phenomenal overhead kick for the Saints at home to Spurs proves that.

The utility player was never known for his goalscoring with only 35 in 587 appearances throughout his career but this is one he will never forget.

This amazing goal, set up by defender Claus Lundekvam, also turned out to be the only one of a tight game, earning the hosts a 1-0 triumph over the North London outfit.

 

 

Gary Cahill – Aston Villa vs Birmingham City – April 16, 2006

The centre-back may be known more for his time at Bolton Wanderers and Chelsea but this spectacular overhead kick against the club’s biggest rivals goal will almost certainly give him a special place in Villa fans’ hearts.

It can be argued that this is a more of a bicycle kick but we will class it as an overhead kick and also, it gives us a reason to talk about this incredible goal.

This goal was Villa’s second in a 3-1 win in the derby at Villa Park and to make things even better for Villa, the Blues eventually went on to get relegated.

 

Peter Crouch – Liverpool vs Bolton Wanderers – January 1, 2007

His spectacular volley for Stoke City against Manchester City five years later may be more remembered but this was another fantastic goal scored by the English forward during his two-decade playing career.

Crouch bagged 42 goals in 134 appearances for the Rafael Benitez’s Reds with this one being right up there with his very best.

The goal came on New Year’s Day as Liverpool swept aside Bolton Wanderers with a 3-0 victory to begin 2007 on a high. 
The former England forward scored another spectacular overhead kick in the Champions League against Galatasaray in the very same season.

 

Diomansy Kamara – Fulham vs Tottenham Hotspur – September 1, 2007

Another overhead kick that should be talked about more. What a fantastic goal this was by the French-born forward.

Kamara spent four seasons at Craven Cottage and only managed to find the back of the net 18 times in 68 appearances and surely this was his best.

Also, not only was it a stunning goal, but it was a 90th-minute equaliser in a thrilling 3-3 draw in West London.

 

Dean Ashton Manchester United vs West Ham United – May 3, 2008

Oh, what could have been for Dean Ashton.

The man who was forced to retire in his mid-20s due to injury and what a shame that is because he had bags of talent and even earned himself an England cap in his short career.

This stunning overhead kick against a very good Man United team who were about to win a double of the Premier League and Champions League showed what he was capable of.

The goal is not talked about enough and that might be because it came in a 4-1 loss for the Hammers and two of their former players scored in Carlos Tevez and Michael Carrick but still, what a goal! 

Dimitar Berbatov – Manchester United vs Liverpool – September 19, 2010

What a fantastic goal this was. If you ever had the honour of watching the Bulgarian play, you will know that he was a footballer who had frightening technical ability and WOW, he showed that here.

The 2010/11 Premier League campaign was the one which saw Berbatov score his most ever in one season while playing in England (20) and this also made sure that he won the Premier League golden boot.

Also, scoring a hat-trick against United’s arch rivals Liverpool in a 3-2 win at Old Trafford would have made his already remarkable season even better.

This overhead kick goal was the second of Berbatov’s three on the afternoon.

 

 

Wayne Rooney – Manchester United vs Manchester City – February 12, 2011

Well, this overhead kick goal making an appearance is not a surprise, is it?

In many people’s opinion, this is the greatest goal in the history of the Premier League and while that can be argued, it is easy to see why many believe it to be so. Although many believe it came off his shin.

Not only is the goal itself out of this world, but it also gets extra points because it turned out to be the winning goal in a Manchester derby.

With the game tied at 1-1, Nani received the ball on the right wing and crossed it into the penalty area before Rooney produces an absolutely unbelievable overhead kick which flies past a despairing Joe Hart who did not even move.

Not only did this goal earn Sir Alex Ferguson’s side the win on the afternoon but they also eventually went on to win their 19th English top-flight title. 

Christian Benteke - Manchester United vs Liverpool – September 12, 2015

A stunning overhead kick that deserves to be talked about a lot more than it is.

Yes, it came in a Liverpool defeat at Old Trafford and in the latter stages of Brendan Rodgers’ reign in charge but that should not make people forget the quality of this goal.

The big Belgian forward only spent one season at Anfield where he bagged nine league goals in 29 appearances and this one was most certainly the best of the lot.

 

Andy Carroll – West Ham United vs Crystal Palace – January 17, 2017

Carroll was not necessarily known for his technical ability but the technique, power, and accuracy on this overhead kick was beyond incredible.

The goal also came in a good result for the Hammers as Slaven Bilic’s men ran out 3-0 winners against Sam Allardyce’s Crystal Palace in a London derby.

This game also featured three Michail Antonio assists with the one for Carroll’s goal coming with a cross from the left-hand side on his weaker left foot with the centre-forward doing the rest in a magnificent way.

 

 

Emre Can – Watford vs Liverpool – May 1, 2017

The German did not score many during his time playing in England but this sublime overhead kick is one that he will remember for the rest of his career and even his life.

This goal was not only fantastic but it was also very important as it came in a narrow 1-0 victory for Jurgen Klopp’s side away at Watford and results like this one meant they eventually went on to secure a top four finish.

 

Sebastian Haller – West Ham United vs Crystal Palace – December 16, 2020

This goal may have happened during the Covid-19 pandemic but this overhead kick still deserves to be remembered as it was a magnificent one from Haller.

This was the second overhead kick that the Eagles have been on the receiving end of at the London Stadium but this time, the game ended in a 1-1 draw.

The striker had a rather forgettable spell in East London only scoring 14 times in 54 appearances but this surely his best goal for the club.

 

Alejandro Garnacho – Everton vs Manchester United – November 26, 2023

This is comfortably the most recent overhead kick of the lot and what a magnificent one it was from the 19-year-old Argentinian.

With an effort like this one, it is hard to believe that this actually ended Garnacho’s 13-game goal drought in the Premier League.

But is it the best of our Premier League collection?