Shearer & Henry First Inductees To Premier League Hall of Fame

Alan Shearer, the Premier League’s record goal scorer and four-time Premier League Golden Boot winner Thierry Henry become the first inductees of the Premier League Hall of Fame.

The Hall of Fame recognises and celebrates the exceptional skill and talent of individuals who have graced the Premier League since its inception in 1992.

Shearer has been inducted as the League’s record goal scorer, having netted 260 goals across 14 Premier League seasons. The striker was the first player to reach a century of Premier League goals, scoring 112 times in just 138 matches for Blackburn Rovers, as well as winning the Premier League title with them in the 1994/95 season. 

Following a world-record transfer to hometown club Newcastle United in 1996, Shearer scored 148 goals in 303 Premier League matches across a 10-season spell for the Magpies. He is a three-time Golden Boot winner and remains the only player to have reached 100 Premier League goals for two different clubs. 

Speaking of his induction into the Premier League Hall of Fame, Shearer said: “When you look at some of the unbelievable players to have graced the Premier League – week in, week out, year in, year out – I feel very honoured to join the Hall of Fame. I have to thank all of my team-mates, as well as the managers and coaches that I’ve worked with.

“All I ever wanted to be was a professional footballer. It was my dream to do that, my dream to win trophies and my dream to score at St James’ Park, to wear the number nine black-and-white shirt and it was fantastic. I enjoyed every minute of it.”

Henry won the Premier League’s Golden Boot award a record four times and scored a club record 175 Premier League goals in 258 appearances for Arsenal. He netted more than 20 Premier League goals in five consecutive seasons between 2001 and 2006. 

Following his move to Arsenal in 1999, Henry won the Premier League title twice and was a key member of the ‘Invincibles’ team which went unbeaten during the 2003/04 title-winning season. Along with his scoring prowess, Henry contributed 74 assists during eight Premier League seasons, including a joint-record 20 in 2002/03.

Henry, said: “To be inducted alongside Alan Shearer as the two first inductees into the Premier League Hall of Fame is more than special.

“When I was young, I was just trying to make sure I could get a pair of boots and now we’re talking about the Hall of Fame. During my career I wanted to play hard and make sure I was fighting for the cause, because that’s all the fans want to see. If you asked me at the start of my career about entering the Hall of Fame, I wouldn’t have believed you. It’s an amazing honour.”

Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters, said: “Alan Shearer and Thierry Henry are two world-class players who lit up the Premier League throughout their time in the competition. Both players were capable of scoring every kind of goal, including some of the best we have ever seen. 

“Shearer’s record 260 Premier League goals puts him at the top of a long list of exceptional goal scorers. The fact that record remains unchallenged today, 15 years since his retirement, goes to show what an achievement it was.

“Henry broke individual and team records during eight seasons with Arsenal when he became a footballing icon. He was a talisman in the ‘Invincibles’ team and his four Premier League Golden Boots during a five-year period reflect the impact he had.”

For more information, follow @premierleague and use #PLHallOfFame on social media. 

Image: Premier League/Alex Wallace