Ranking the Premier League's Most Iconic Captains

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Ranking the Premier League's Most Iconic Captains
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Since 1993, there have been just seven different teams that have won the Premier League trophy. During this time, we have seen some great players and some of the most famous and ferocious captains.

But who are the best captains the Premier League has seen? The guys who did the best job of leading their teams? 

We look at the most successful Premier League captains of all time.

Who Are the Most Successful Premier League Captains?

Bryan Robson (2)

 

Bryan Robson was the captain of Manchester United during the early days of the Premier League and captained the club to its first two Premier League title triumphs. 

Even with those two championships won, Robson only played 29 times in those two seasons and scored just two goals. Nevertheless, his leadership skills were crucial in getting United to the top of English soccer once again.

Robson played 465 games for United, scored 100 goals, and will always be regarded as one of the best players in team history.

Patrick Vieira (2)

 

As one of the best midfielders in Premier League history, Patrick Vieira was in the Arsenal team for all three of its Premier League title victories and captained it during the 2001-02 and 2003-04 triumphs.

In the 2003-04 season, Arsenal became the only team in Premier League history to go an entire season without losing a game.

Gary Neville (2)

 

Although Gary Neville made 400 appearances for Manchester United and spent his entire career there, he only served as the captain for five years after taking it from Roy Keane when Keane left the club in 2005.

The legendary right-back won two league titles as the captain of United by guiding it to victories in the 2006-07 and 2008-09 seasons. Like Robson, Neville didn't play as much during his time as captain in the Premier League. He played in 60 of the 190 games in his final five seasons.

Vincent Kompany (4)

 

As arguably the best Manchester City player of all time, Vincent Kompany in 2011-12 guided City to its first-ever Premier League title in dramatic fashion. 

The Belgian would go on to lead the Citizens to three more Premier League titles, with his final one coming in the incredible 2018-19 campaign that saw City overturn a seven-point deficit on Liverpool in the final few weeks of the season which included his magical winning goal against Leicester City that moved it to the top of the table.

Kompany also captained City to the Premier League title in 2017-18, where it captured a record-breaking 100 points.

Roy Keane (4)

 

In the eyes of many, Roy Keane is the greatest Premier League captain of all time.

The former United star won seven Premier League titles at United, four of which he was the captain. Keane also captained United to its famous treble win by capturing the FA Cup, Premier League and Champions League all in one year.

Noted for his hardened and brash demeanor, there are not many better leaders ever witnessed across sport and most players who played with Keane have credited him as the best captain of all time. 

John Terry (5)

 

Although Keane is widely regarded as the best ever to wear the armband in the Premier League, it is Chelsea legend John Terry who sealed the most titles with five.

The Chelsea legend played out 19 seasons at Chelsea and took up the captain's role in 2003 after briefly wearing the armband in the absence of Marcel Desailly. 

Terry was 23 at the time and would go on to lead the Blues to league title triumphs in the 2004-05, 2005-06, 2009-10, 2014-15 and 2016-17 seasons. Terry also led Chelsea to three FA Cup-winning campaigns and was the captain during Chelsea's first Champions League trophy win in 2011-12.

As arguably the best defender in English soccer history, the former England captain is the most successful Premier League captain of all time.

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Grant McQuillan

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