Premier League
Premier League’s Most Memorable Mavericks: 40 Legends the Streets Remember
40 Premier League mavericks whose flair, magic, and moments the streets won’t forget.
In the Premier League, moments of team triumph are cherished, yet it’s often the dazzling individuality that captures lasting attention. This compilation honors 40 players whose flair and memorable moments have etched them indelibly in fans’ minds — the real ‘streets won’t forget’ figures.
Beginning with Rory Delap, whose extraordinary long throw-ins became cult phenomena, we move through a diverse gallery of talent. Eidur Gudjohnsen dazzled with stints at Bolton, Chelsea, Tottenham, and Stoke, crafting the ‘Fire and Ice’ partnership with Hasselbaink at Chelsea. Alvaro Negredo’s one-season wonder at Manchester City netted 23 goals and earned ‘beast’ acclaim.
Juninho’s 1995 arrival at Middlesbrough instantly secured his legendary status. Young striker Federico Macheda’s stoppage-time winner for Manchester United in 2008 was a career highlight. Kasami’s spectacular volley for Fulham in 2013 remains one of the Premier League’s finest strikes. Meanwhile, Nani’s skill and celebrations often challenged the norms, cementing his cult credentials.
The late Papa Bouba Diop’s formidable long-range shooting made him a hero at Fulham and Portsmouth. Bafetimbi Gomis’ lion-style goal celebration and Maynor Figueroa’s thunderous goal from his own half for Wigan are etched in folklore. Kevin-Prince Boateng’s 2009–10 Portsmouth season, despite the club’s struggles, displayed his flair and clutch penalty skills.
Manolo Gabbiadini’s goal-scoring at Southampton in big matches, and Elano’s free-kicks for Manchester City, each contributed lasting memories. John Carew was a consistent scorer at Aston Villa in the late 2000s, while Amr Zaki’s brief but explosive Wigan spell sparked comparisons to Alan Shearer.
Graziano Pelle combined power and flair at Southampton before departing for China. Youri Djorkaeff added flair at Bolton in a rare flourish under Sam Allardyce. Sebastian Larsson’s mastery of free-kicks and Allan Saint-Maximin’s electrifying dribbles at Newcastle further define this list.
Mark Viduka’s goal glut at Leeds, Hugo Rodallega’s spectacular strikes for Wigan, and the dynamic Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse partnership at Newcastle are key highlights. Jay-Jay Okocha’s ability to confound defenders at Bolton and Michu’s stunning 2012–13 Swansea season earned them cult status.
Morten Gamst Pedersen’s trademark dead-ball prowess, Dmitri Payet’s skill at West Ham, and Hatem Ben Arfa’s breathtaking solo goal for Newcastle all enthralled fans. Yossi Benayoun’s crucial Liverpool performances, Wilfried Bony’s Swansea goal-scoring, and Mladen Kranjcar’s versatile impact for Portsmouth follow in their footsteps.
Andrey Arshavin’s flashes of brilliance for Arsenal, Yannick Bolasie’s trickery at Crystal Palace, and the unforgettable volleys of Tony Yeboah for Leeds embody the spirit of unforgettable flair. Yakubu’s relentless scoring and cheeky style made him a fan favourite, while Mousa Dembele’s silky dribbling at Tottenham mesmerized audiences.
The striking duo of Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse replaced Andy Carroll with style at Newcastle. Jay-Jay Okocha’s magic and Michu’s remarkable buzz around Swansea mark this list with unique brilliance. Collectively, these players represent the Premier League’s vibrant history of unforgettable individual talent and moments that continue to inspire.
Manchester City
Manchester City Marks End of an Era with Sporting Director Transition
Manchester City confirms Txiki Begiristain’s departure as Hugo Viana takes over sporting director role.
Manchester City have confirmed the departure of Txiki Begiristain, their long-serving sporting director, signaling a new era for the club. Over 13 years, Begiristain played a pivotal role in securing seven Premier League titles, two FA Cups, and the Champions League, contributing to 21 major trophies in total. His tenure included the recruitment of Pep Guardiola and iconic players such as Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, and İlkay Gündoğan. The club recognizes him as one of football’s ‘greatest directors of football.’ His exit was announced in October 2024 alongside the introduction of Hugo Viana as his successor.
Viana, a former Newcastle United midfielder, began working with Begiristain in April and now assumes full responsibility as the new season starts. Together, they facilitated six new signings across June and July with expenditures exceeding £150 million. The final arrival was goalkeeper James Trafford for £27 million. Whether this marks the end of transfer activity remains to be seen ahead of the September 1 deadline.
At 42, Viana is regarded as one of Europe’s most promising football executives. Having spent seven years as Sporting CP’s sporting director, the club where he started his professional career, he played an instrumental role in recruitment and management, including bringing in Ruben Amorim in 2020. Viana contributed to Sporting’s first Primeira Liga title since 2001–02 and helped guide the club to consecutive championships in 2023–24 and 2024–25.
Liverpool
Liverpool Navigates Major Transfers: Slot on Díaz’s Departure and Isak Pursuit
Slot praises Liverpool’s sale of Luis Díaz as strategic amid pursuit of Alexander Isak and squad plans.
Liverpool’s summer transfer activities have been marked by significant business, with manager Arne Slot describing the sale of Luis Díaz to Bayern Munich as a strategic move. Díaz, a crucial figure in Liverpool’s recent Premier League title success, joined Bayern for £65.5 million ($86.7 million), helping to balance the club’s expenditures amid ongoing recruitment efforts.
Slot acknowledged the bittersweet nature of losing a key player: “Luis is a player we won the league with and there’s a reason we won it with him because he’s a very good player. It’s always disappointing to see someone like that leave, to a certain extent.”
Despite the departure, Slot emphasized that the sale aligns with Liverpool’s broader financial strategy. “We’ve sold him for a lot of money and, as you probably know even better than I do, this football club brings in unbelievable signings over the years, but part of the strategy is also that once in a while we have to sell someone. I think we did great business by bringing in Lucho for a number of years and then selling him for a very good profit.”
Looking ahead, Liverpool could still make a high-profile signing by pursuing Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak, which would see their spending surpass £400 million ($529.2 million). However, Slot hinted that the club’s options for wingers are currently sufficient, despite Federico Chiesa’s expected departure. “At this moment in time, we still have Cody Gakpo, Rio [Ngumoha] is showing very good signs, and I think Florian Wirtz can play from the left side as well. There are enough options for me to choose from,” he stated.
Liverpool remain active in the transfer market, balancing reinvestment with strategic sales, as they aim to maintain their competitive edge this season.
Chelsea
Nicolas Jackson Addresses Chelsea Role Amid Transfer Speculation
Nicolas Jackson stays focused at Chelsea amid summer transfer links and new striker arrivals.
Chelsea’s Senegalese striker Nicolas Jackson remains composed despite summer transfer rumours linking him to Manchester United following the arrivals of Liam Delap and João Pedro. Since his 2023 move from Villarreal, Jackson has faced challenges, netting 13 goals across all competitions last season.
Jackson responded to questions about competition for places, stating, “Competition? I have no competition. We’re all here to help the club. Everyone has their role to play. I’m on a mission. It’s up to the coach to make his choices. I focus solely on my work.”
He emphasized his commitment to Chelsea, adding, “I’m a Chelsea player. The future belongs to God. If there are any changes, you’ll know. For now, I’m focused on my preparation.”
With João Pedro impressing early in his Chelsea tenure, he is expected to start the Premier League season ahead of Jackson. Chelsea’s squad depth means the club could let Jackson move on if an appropriate offer emerges, especially with prospect Marc Guiu likely to go on loan to Sunderland.
Jackson has scored double digits in the Premier League across his two seasons at Stamford Bridge but Chelsea require a more prolific forward to bolster their Champions League ambitions and challenge top rivals such as Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester City.
