Top Five Playmakers Of The Premier League Era
After going through the best left-wingers in Premier League history last week, we now make our way to the top five playmakers of the past three decades.
A playmaker does not necessarily have to be a number 10 or even an attacking midfielder. They are players who produce assists on a regular basis and create chances for their teammates.
There are a number of notable absentees from this list, including Luka Modric, while David Silva has also been left out as he was also named as one of our best central midfielders.
Press the next page as we go through our five best playmakers of the Premier League era.
5) Gianfranco Zola
The Italian was a magician on the ball, and playing as a second striker he managed to produce some sublime moments to score and create goals in equal measure.
Zola spent six years in England and he changed perceptions for how a forward could play the game in this country, with his diminutive stature and close ball control setting a precedent for players to come like Lionel Messi.
4) Kevin De Bruyne
The Belgian already deserves a place on this list simply because of the sheer volume of assists he has accumulated in the Premier League during his five years with Manchester City.
De Bruyne has an incredible 63 in 148 league appearances, and he could well surpass the all-time record of 162, held by Ryan Giggs, before the end of his time in England.
3) Wayne Rooney
Many would probably prefer the Manchester United star to be selected on the striker list but while he did bag 208 league goals during his time in the top flight, it would be hard to argue he was simply a goal poacher.
The former England international was a lot more than that, and his 103 assists in 491 games, places him third on the all-time list. Rooney was a playmaker and a goalscorer in equal measure.
2) Cesc Fabregas
One of the best passers of a ball the Premier League has ever seen, the Spaniard was the creative spark for Arsenal for many years before he departed to Barcelona.
Once he returned with Chelsea, Fabregas had managed to improve further still, finishing with a remarkable 111 assists in 350 Premier League appearances; the most prolific creator of goals in terms of the number of games he played.
1) Dennis Bergkamp
The Dutch legend, much like Rooney and Zola, could be described as a striker, but he was also an all-round playmaker for Arsenal during the most successful period of Arsene Wenger’s time in charge.
Bergkamp created and scored some incredible goals as the Gunners secured three league titles, playing a fantastic brand of football.
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