Everton have had a plethora of talented left-footed players over the years.
Romelu Lukaku instantly springs to mind as he established himself as one of the most lethal finishers in the Premier League during his four years at Everton.
Duncan Ferguson is another notable example, as he is second to Lukaku in the club’s Premier League top scorers chart.
Jarrad Branthwaite is a current first-teamer with a good left foot, but Rickie Lambert reckons one of their former defenders had the best he’s ever seen.
Everton defender Leighton Baines.
Photo by Visionhaus
Speaking to That’s Football, former Liverpool striker Rickie Lambert was asked to build his perfect footballer using former teammates.
For the right foot, he picked Steven Gerrard, pace Daniel Sturridge, skills Philippe Coutinho, free-kicks Wayne Rooney, footballing IQ Adam Lallana, and he went for Leighton Baines for the left foot.
Lambert played with Baines on the international stage with England and was clearly in awe of his technique.
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Roberto Martinez once said Leighton Baines was ‘one of the best’ in Europe
Speaking back in 2014, former Everton manager Roberto Martinez came out and admitted that Baines is one of the very best full-backs in Europe.
“As a left-back I have always said he is one of the best in European football,” Martinez said.
“When the season gets tighter and the margins are smaller because players are getting physically tired, I think he has that extra margin because he is such a strong player.
“He has had a little interruption but I think Leighton can have a phenomenal end to the campaign.”
Baines retired in 2020 after making a whopping 420 appearances for the Toffees, scoring 39 goals and assisting 64.