England had been blessed with a gifted group of gamers within the early 2000s – even when that was probably not mirrored within the Three Lions’ leads to main tournaments.
The so-called Golden Era didn’t make it past the quarter-finals on the 2002 and 2006 World Cups, nor at Euro 2004.
However regardless of disappointment at worldwide stage, a lot of these gamers made vital contributions to the success of their golf equipment in that period.
Right here, a have a look at the most effective English footballers from the primary decade of the 2000s…
32. Trevor Sinclair
Trevor Sinclair gained 12 caps for England between 2001 and 2003, with a 3rd of these appearances coming on the 2002 World Cup.
The previous West Ham, Manchester Metropolis and Queens Park Rangers winger revamped 600 appearances in his skilled profession, with the final one coming as a late substitute in Cardiff Metropolis’s FA Cup closing defeat to Portsmouth in Could 2008.
31. Jermaine Jenas
Jermaine Jenas was named PFA Younger Participant of the Yr for 2002/03 and the midfielder made his debut for England below Sven-Goran Eriksson in 2003.
The perfect options, enjoyable and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox each week.
After making greater than 150 appearances for Newcastle, Jenas moved to Tottenham in 2005 and performed over 200 occasions for Spurs, successful the League Cup in 2008. He picked up 21 caps for England between 2003 and 2009.
30. Paul Robinson
England’s first-choice goalkeeper for a interval within the mid-2000s, Paul Robinson gained 41 caps for the Three Lions between 2003 and 2007.
Robinson impressed at Leeds United after which for Tottenham, however his kind ultimately dipped and he misplaced his place with England and was offered by Spurs to Blackburn Rovers in the summertime of 2008.
29. Kieron Dyer
Kieron Dyer made his England debut in 1999 and went on to make 33 appearances for the Three Lions over the following eight years.
The previous Ipswich City and Newcastle United winger was restricted by accidents later on this profession, however nonetheless performed 250 video games for the Magpies. He was named within the PFA Premier League workforce of the season for 2002/03.
28. Scott Parker
An England worldwide between 2003 and 2013, Scott Parker was in all probability unlucky to win simply 18 caps for the Three Lions.
The previous Charlton, Newcastle, West Ham, Fulham and Tottenham midfielder was commonly neglected for main tournaments, however did function for England at Euro 2012.
27. Phil Neville
Phil Neville gained three of his six Premier League titles at Manchester United within the early 2000s, in addition to an FA Cup, earlier than signing for Everton in 2005.
The defender went on to captain the Toffees and stayed for eight seasons at Goodison Park. He was capped 59 occasions by England, with over half of these coming between 2000 and 2007.
26. Shaun Wright-Phillips
Son of former Arsenal and England striker Ian Wright, Shaun Wright-Phillips performed for Manchester Metropolis, Chelsea, Metropolis once more after which Queen Park Rangers earlier than seeing out his profession in the USA.
A Premier League and FA Cup winner with Chelsea, the winger performed 36 occasions for England and scored six targets. He was a part of the Three Lions’ squad on the 2010 World Cup.
25. Wayne Bridge
Though not at all times first alternative at Chelsea, Wayne Bridge revamped 140 appearances for the Blues and helped the west London membership win a number of trophies throughout his time at Stamford Bridge.
Bridge had beforehand spent 5 seasons with Southampton and went on to hitch Manchester Metropolis in 2008. The left-back gained 36 caps for England between 2002 and 2009.
24. Aaron Lennon
Aaron Lennon made his debut as a 16-year-old at Leeds United and went on to signal for Tottenham a few years later.
The speedy winger went on to make over 350 appearances for Spurs and featured in two World Cups for England, successful 21 caps for the Three Lions in complete. His closing cap got here in February 2013, on the age of simply 25, in a profession which didn’t fairly dwell as much as its monumental early potential. On his day, although, he was unplayable.
23. Theo Walcott
Surprisingly known as up for the 2006 World Cup as a 17-year-old by Sven-Goran Eriksson, Theo Walcott didn’t function within the match however went on to play 47 occasions for the Three Lions and scored eight targets.
Walcott had signed for Arsenal in January of that yr, however remained at Southampton till the summer time. He grew to become a fan favorite with the Gunners, staying for over a decade, scoring greater than 100 targets and successful two FA Cups below Arsene Wenger.
22. Gareth Barry
Gareth Barry gained 53 caps for England between 2000 and 2012 and the previous Aston Villa and Manchester Metropolis midfielder revamped 800 appearances in an extended profession spanning greater than twenty years.
A former Brighton & Hove Albion trainee earlier than becoming a member of Villa, Barry gained a Premier League title and an FA Cup at Manchester Metropolis and scored England’s 2,000th purpose in a pleasant in opposition to Sweden in 2011.
21. Jermain Defoe
The most effective finishers of his era, Jermain Defoe was not often first alternative for England, however at all times appeared to carry out effectively when known as upon.
The previous Tottenham, West Ham, Rangers and Sunderland striker scored 20 targets in 57 appearances for the Three Lions general, with most of these coming between 2003 and 2010.
20. David James
David James made his England debut in 1997 however did not play once more for the Three Lions till 2000, occurring to win 53 caps in complete till his closing look in 2010.
James began for England at Euro 2004 and likewise featured on the 2010 World Cup. He helped Portsmouth win the FA Cup in 2008 and was within the workforce which misplaced 1-0 to Chelsea within the closing two years later.
19. Ledley King
Ledley King performed simply 21 occasions for England between 2002 and 2010, however the former Tottenham captain was restricted by power knee issues for a lot of his profession.
King would typically miss coaching in the course of the week in an effort to give attention to video games, commonly delivering spectacular performances. The most effective centre-backs of his era, he was pressured to retire in 2012 on the age of simply 31 after years of harm issues.
18. Jamie Carragher
Jamie Carragher spent his whole profession at Liverpool, making over 700 appearances for the Reds between 1997 and 2013.
A central defender who may additionally play as a full-back, Carragher helped Liverpool to 2 FA Cups, two League Cups, a UEFA Cup and a Champions League crown within the early 2000s. Though typically back-up at worldwide stage in a particular era of English defenders, he gained 38 caps for England between 1999 and 2010.
17. Emile Heskey
Emile Heskey performed 62 occasions for England between 1999 and 2010, scoring seven targets.
The previous Leicester Metropolis striker netted within the Three Lions’ well-known 5-1 win away to Germany in 2001 and was on track in opposition to Denmark on the 2002 World Cup. He additionally helped Liverpool win a treble of cups in 2001, earlier than occurring to play for Birmingham Metropolis, Wigan Athletic and Aston Villa later within the decade.
16. Peter Crouch
Peter Crouch performed for England for simply 5 years, however the former Tottenham, Liverpool, Portsmouth, Southampton and Stoke Metropolis striker scored at a powerful price for the Three Lions.
Crouch hit 22 targets in 42 appearances for England however was not picked past 2010, regardless of netting eight in his final 12 video games. The striker’s sole trophy was an FA Cup at Liverpool. He additionally completed as a Champions League runner-up with the Reds in 2007.
15. Owen Hargreaves
Born In Canada to a Welsh mom and an English father, Owen Hargreaves moved to Germany as an adolescent and loved large success with Bayern Munich within the early 2000s, successful 4 Bundesliga titles and a Champions League crown with the Bavarian giants.
The midfielder went on to win 42 caps for England and was the Three Lions’ Participant of the Yr in 2006. He gained a Premier League title and one other Champions League crown after shifting to Manchester United in 2007, however was severely restricted by accidents later in his profession and made solely a handful of appearances after the 2007/08 season.
14. Joe Cole
One in every of a number of illustrious graduates from West Ham’s youth academy, Joe Cole left the Hammers to signal for Chelsea in 2003 and have become a key performer for membership and nation.
The attacking midfielder gained 56 caps for the Three Lions between 2001 and 2010 and scored 10 targets, together with a surprising strike in opposition to Sweden on the 2006 World Cup. With Chelsea, he gained three Premier League titles, two FA Cups and a League Cup, narrowly lacking out on a Champions League winners’ medal because the Blues misplaced on penalties to Manchester United within the closing in 2008.
13. Alan Shearer
Alan Shearer made his final look for England in 2000, however the striker continued to bang within the targets at Newcastle United and went on to turn out to be the Premier League’s all-time high scorer.
Shearer scored 260 in complete within the competitors, ultimately retiring on the finish of the 2005/06 season. One in every of England’s best-ever centre-forwards, he hit 30 in his 63 video games for the Three Lions, retiring from worldwide soccer to give attention to his membership profession.
12. Michael Carrick
Underrated by many and underused by England, Michael Carrick gained simply 34 caps for the Three Lions between 2001 and 2014. There ought to have been many extra.
The midfielder was definitely appreciated at Manchester United, the place he revamped 450 appearances and featured in 5 Premier League-winning campaigns, a Champions League triumph and lots of extra successes in over a decade at Previous Trafford.
11. Sol Campbell
Sol Campbell infuriated Tottenham followers by leaving for the membership’s fierce rivals Arsenal on a free switch in 2001, however the transfer throughout north London proved to be an enormous success for the England defender.
Campbell went on to win two Premier League titles and two FA Cups with the Gunners and was a part of the Invincibles facet in 2003/04. The centre-back additionally scored in Arsenal’s Champions League closing loss to Barcelona in 2006 and gained 73 caps for England between 1996 and 2007.
10. Gary Neville
Gary Neville spent his whole profession at Manchester United and made 602 appearances for the Pink Devils between 1993 and 2011.
One in every of England’s greatest-ever right-backs, Neville helped United to 5 Premier League titles within the 2000s and gained over half of his 85 England caps in that decade.
9. Ashley Cole
Ashley Cole gained over 100 caps for England between 2001 and 2014 and is without doubt one of the greatest-ever English full-backs.
The left-sided defender helped Arsenal to 2 Premier League titles and three FA Cups within the early 2000s, however angered Gunners followers with the character of his transfer to Chelsea in 2006. Cole went on to turn out to be a key participant at Chelsea and spent eight seasons at Stamford Bridge, successful one other Premier League crown in 2009/2010 and later the Champions League.
8. Paul Scholes
Paul Scholes retired from England responsibility in 2004 however remained a key participant for Manchester United all through the last decade.
The midfielder gained 66 caps in complete for the Three Lions and it may have been many extra. As an alternative, he most popular to give attention to membership soccer and helped United win six Premier League titles within the 2000s, plus the Champions League in 2008 amid an array of silverware below Sir Alex Ferguson. He ultimately retired in 2013 after greater than 700 appearances for the Pink Devils.
7. John Terry
An inspirational chief and captain at Chelsea, John Terry performed a key half within the Blues’ success and revamped 700 appearances for the west London membership.
Identified for his tenacious tackling and aerial means, Terry gained an array of silverware with the Blues and likewise grew to become an essential participant for his nation, successful 78 England caps between 2003 and 2012.
6. Rio Ferdinand
Rio Ferdinand grew to become the world’s most-expensive defender when he moved from Leeds United to Manchester United in 2001 and the centre-back went on to win all of it at Previous Trafford.
Ferdinand spent 12 years at United, successful a number of Premier League titles and a Champions League crown in 2008. A superb passer and spectacular reader of the sport, Ferdinand was bodily sturdy and likewise fast. He gained 81 caps for England between 1997 and 2011.
5. Michael Owen
Michael Owen scored 40 targets in 89 appearances for England between 1998 and 2008 and gained the Ballon d’Or in 2001 after serving to Liverpool to a cup treble.
Owen later spent a season at Actual Madrid and went on to play for Newcastle and Manchester United, however accidents took their toll and his later profession didn’t dwell as much as its early promise. Nonetheless an excellent participant for membership and nation, although, and one in all England’s best-ever strikers.
4. David Beckham
David Beckham was England’s star participant within the early 2000s and his free-kick in opposition to Greece in October 2001 sealed the Three Lions’ place on the 2002 World Cup in extremis at Previous Trafford.
Beckham continued to impress at Manchester United, however was surprisingly deemed surplus to necessities by Sir Alex Ferguson in 2003 and offered to Actual Madrid. The midfielder was by no means fairly the identical after that, however remained a key participant for his nation as captain and gained the final of his 115 caps in 2009. He moved to LA Galaxy in 2007 after 4 years in Madrid.
3. Steven Gerrard
Steven Gerrard made his England debut in 2000 and went on to win over 100 caps for the Three Lions in a 14-year worldwide profession.
England managers in that point by no means fairly appeared to get the most effective out of Gerrard and Lampard collectively, however the Liverpool midfielder nonetheless produced some particular performances for his nation. Though he by no means gained a Premier League title with the Reds, his position within the membership’s Champions League closing win in opposition to AC Milan from 3-0 down in Istanbul was immense and his last-minute leveller in opposition to West Ham within the FA Cup closing a yr later en path to the title was one other memorable second.
2. Frank Lampard
Frank Lampard signed for Chelsea in 2001 and the previous West Ham midfielder went on to turn out to be one of many Blues’ best-ever gamers – and likewise the membership’s all-time high scorer.
A 3-time Premier League winner with Chelsea within the 2000s, Lampard performed for England between 1999 and 2014, successful over 100 caps for the Three Lions in that point and netting 29 targets.
1. Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney burst onto the scene in 2003 at Everton and was quickly picked by England, turning into the Three Lions’ youngest goalscorer in a recreation in opposition to Macedonia in September that yr.
Massively spectacular earlier than harm at Euro 2004, Rooney moved to Manchester United that summer time and gained an array of silverware at Previous Trafford. He later got here the Pink Devils’ all-time high scorer and England’s too, earlier than he was overtaken by Harry Kane in 2023.