Premier League Hall Of Fame Welcomes Andy Cole And John Terry

Andy Cole and John Terry have been inducted into the Premier League’s Hall of Fame, joining Ashley Cole who was also voted in earlier this year.

The Hall of Fame honours those players and managers that have made huge contributions to the historic success of the top-flight, with 22 figures already inducted prior to Monday.

The pair of five-time Premier League winners have been honoured after being voted in by fans worldwide through an online public ballot from a shortlist of 15 ex-players and the Premier League Awards Panel.

Both Cole and Terry enjoyed storied careers in the Premier League, with the former representing seven different teams, while the defensive icon spent his entire 19-year top-flight stint at Chelsea.

Cole holds a number of records that remain to this day – as well as a few that were shattered by the all-conquering Erling Haaland.

No player has ever had a hand in more goals in one season (48 goals and assists in 1993-94), while only the Norwegian force of nature has more goals in their debut season than Cole’s 34, and has managed to reach 50 goals in fewer than the United legend’s 65 games.

As the league’s fourth-highest ever goal scorer, Cole was a natural finisher and predator inside the box; he was the first player to score five in a single match, and one of only three to have two or more hat-tricks at two clubs.

‘I’m proud of everything I’ve achieved in football, which is thanks to my family, my coaches and my team-mates, and being inducted into the Hall of Fame makes me very proud,’ he said on receiving the honour.

‘Football is a game of ups and downs, but I enjoyed every single minute of my career. My dad wanted me to play cricket, but I said, “No dad, I think I’m good at football.” Looking back at my career always fills me with great pride and puts a smile on my face.

‘The reason you play football and compete at the highest level is to win major honours. It was so, so special for me to win so many trophies and five Premier Leagues. To get my first one was crazy and after that I just wanted to win more.’

Of those five consecutive titles, three came in the period 1998-99-2000-01, with the English striker of course an unforgettable part of United’s Treble-winners in 1999.

He is joined by Terry, Chelsea’s most successful ever captain and a former skipper for England.

Only Tony Adams (118) has a better minutes-to-goals-conceded record than Terry’s 111, the centre back the only player to feature in every single one of the Blues’ title-winning seasons.

The iconic No 26 is also the record-holder for most defensive clean sheets in the league at 214, and is the division’s top scoring defender with 41 to his name. 

‘I’m very grateful to have been voted into the Premier League Hall of Fame,’ he admitted. ‘I’m a player that certainly gave my all whenever I stepped out on the pitch and to be recognised in this way makes me really proud.

‘It’s great to have joined my former team-mates who have already been inducted, and to be inducted in the same year as Ashley Cole, who was an incredible player and a close friend.

‘I was lucky to share a dressing room with so many top players. To captain a club like Chelsea and achieve what we did as a team is so special to me. The Premier League is the best league in the world, which every player hopes to play in, and I’m very proud to have won it five times.’

Both new inductees will join former Arsenal and Chelsea star Cole in a celebratory event in London on Tuesday evening to commemorate their achievement.

All inductees receive a medallion engraved with their name and the year of their induction, along with a £10,000 donation made by the Premier League to a charity of their choice.

A place in the Hall of Fame is the highest individual honour awarded by the Premier League for those who have retired from the top flight.

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters added: ‘Andrew Cole and John Terry are both worthy additions to the Premier League Hall of Fame thanks to the contributions they made to their respective teams and their achievements in the game.

‘Cole’s goalscoring exploits and all-round play place him among the greatest strikers we have seen. After making his mark in the competition with Newcastle United, he became an integral part of the Manchester United team that dominated the early years of the Premier League.

‘Terry’s defensive acumen and leadership qualities were essential in transforming Chelsea into a Premier League force. He led by example over a long period of time and played a key role in all five of their title successes.

‘Congratulations to both players, and to Ashley Cole, who has already been inducted into the Hall of Fame this year.’

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