Few players are better placed to weigh in on Premier League greatness than Roy Keane and Ian Wright.
Keane captained Manchester United during one of the most dominant periods in English football history. The Irishman won seven Premier League titles, four FA Cups and the Champions League in 1999, establishing himself as the most successful captain in Premier League history when it comes to trophies. Keane was known as much for his leadership as his relentless standards on the pitch.
Meanwhile, Wright built a legacy as one of Arsenal’s greatest ever goalscorers. Wright scored 113 goals in the Premier League, winning the 1997/98 league title, two FA Cups and the European Cup Winners’ Cup, and held Arsenal’s all-time scoring record before it was eventually broken by Thierry Henry. His instinctive finishing and personality made him one of the most iconic and treasured forwards of the Premier League era, with a well-earned 15th on GiveMeSport’s list of the top 25 strikers in Premier League History.
So, when the pair were asked on The Overlap to name the best striker in Premier League history, their answers didn’t disappoint, particularly given how differently they approached the question.
Keane and Wright Name the Premier League's Best Ever Striker
IAN WRIGHT
The Premier League era has seen some truly elite forwards in years gone by, each bringing their own style and dominance. It’s exactly this variety of greatness that makes the debate so difficult to settle, even for those who lived it.
Keane was the first to be put on the spot, and rather than rushing in, he carefully considered several names. Shearer, Kane and Henry all got a mention as he worked through the contenders, each representing a different type of elite striker. However, Keane ultimately leaned towards a player he knows better than most.
“For all his goals at United, I’d have to go with Wayne,” he said, backing his former teammate once he reasoned with himself about whether Rooney could be considered a striker or not.
If Keane’s answer was measured, Wright’s was immediate. The former Arsenal striker didn’t hesitate when asked the same question, quickly naming Alan Shearer as his pick.
“Alan Shearer,” Wright said, before giving the camera a wave and walking out of view, bringing a light-hearted end to the exchange.
It’s not difficult to see why Wright landed on Shearer so quickly. Having played in the same era, Wright would have seen first-hand the consistency and dominance that defined Shearer’s game. Few strikers were as reliable in front of goal, and even fewer could match his longevity at the very top level.
There’s also a simple argument that’s hard to ignore. Shearer remains the Premier League’s all-time leading goalscorer, and for many, that alone is enough to settle the debate. If a striker’s primary job is to put the ball in the net, then no one in the competition’s history has done it better.
Moments like this are exactly why conversations around Premier League greatness continue to rage on. Whether it is Rooney’s all-round brilliance, Shearer’s unmatched numbers or Henry’s artistry, every argument carries weight depending on what you value most in a striker. In this case, even two legends of the game couldn’t agree, but neither of them are wrong.