A composite image showing examples of 'streets will never forget' footballers
Premier League football is ultra-stat-heavy, which has only strengthened the nostalgia around the mavericks of a bygone era.
Forget modern jargon like overloads, inverted full-backs or xG, and instead roll out the red carpet for the ballers that ‘The Streets Won’t Forget’.
Premier League Streets Won't Forget players18
The definition of a Streets Won't Forget player are those who were pure entertainment - they don't have cabinets full of trophies and maybe had two-three seasons of magic but their flair was unmatched, especially when humiliating defenders
Not to be confused with cult heroes, club legends or underappreciated players; this list is for the flair stars.
The showstoppers capable of lightning-in-a-bottle moments who inspired the football romantics, but for a myriad of different reasons, are better remembered by their highlight reel than anything else.
The bigger the club, the less likely the player is to fall into the ‘Streets Won’t Forget’ category, but talkSPORT.com has attempted to find at least one such baller for every currentPremier League team...
Andrey Arshavin - Arsenal
'I had some other games that were much better', the man himself has stated - and yet I guarantee you know what game he's talking about.
Arshavin looked prime to emerge as a superstar after joining Arsenal from Zenit six months on from his breakout showing at Euro 2008.
He never truly reached his potential in north London, ultimately scoring 31 goals and registering 45 assists in 144 appearances.
However, Arshavin sprinkled in moments of genius throughout his four years at the Gunners - the Champions League winner against Barcelona at the Emirates in 2011, and of course, hefamously scored four goals in a 4-4 draw against Liverpool.
Andrey Arshavin celebrates fourth goal against Liverpool at Anfield18
Arshavin provided some moments of pure genius
John Carew - Aston Villa
Martin O'Neill previously joked on talkSPORT four years ago that big John Carew, 'who was usually making his way up from some London nightclub', had to be reminded who Aston Villa were playing.
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But often it didn't matter - as the 6ft 5in attacker still managed to score 48 goals for the club following his arrival in January 2007.
Named as Gabby Agbonlahor's best strike partner, Carew has even starred in big-budget films alongside Angelina Jolie since retiring.
It's not just Hollywood royalty he's comfortable mixing with - the Norwegian was also spotted sitting alongside Prince William at Wembley during Villa's play-off final win over Derby in 2019.
Sergi Canos - Brentford
It couldn't be anyone else but the man who marked the Bees' return to the top flight after 74-years with their first Premier League goal.
18 months after the 29-year-old's strike flew past Bernd Leno, Canos had left for Olympiacos and is now back playing in his homeland.
But it wasn't just that goal against Arsenal; he is 'as synonymous with Brentford’s rise as any player in the last decade' - a quote from the club's director of football, Phil Giles, upon his 2023 exit.
From joining as a teenager from Liverpool, scoring EFL goal of the season contenders and then his Premier League heroics, Canos has already been acknowledged as someone the streets won't forget.
“The other day I was in Sainsbury’s and someone came up to me with his two kids,” Canos told told The Athletic in 2023. “He was just so happy to see me, more than the kids!
“He told me, ‘Thanks for lifting this place’. It’s not only the club, it’s the community we are growing and that made me so happy that someone on the streets recognised and told me this.”
Arnaut Danjuma - Bournemouth
The six-cap Netherlands international never managed to replicate his form on the south coast at either Tottenham or Everton.
In fact, Danjuma also endured a slow start to life at the Cherries, failing to register a single goal involvement across six Premier League starts as the club were relegated in 2020.
However, he shone for Bournemouth in the 2020-21 campaign as their joint top goalscorer with 15 goals to earn their Player of the Year award en route to Jonathan Woodgate's side reaching the play-off semi-finals.
Danjuma then went from the Championship to the Champions League within a few months as he joined Villarreal in a £21.3m deal.
Arnaut Danjuma of AFC Bournemouth celebrates after scoring their sides first goal during the Sky Bet Championship Play-off Semi Final 2nd Leg match between Brentford and AFC Bournemouth at Brentford Community Stadium on May 22, 2021 in Brentford18
Danjuma came within a whisker of firing Bournemouth to promotion at the first time of asking
Alireza Jahanbakhsh - Brighton
The 33-year-old would have hoped for more than a 'Streets Won't Forget' tag after becoming the Seagulls' record signing in 2018.
The winger arrived from Dutch club AZ Alkmaar off the back of playing in all three of Iran's games at that summer's World Cup.
He then went on a barren 18-month goalscoring drought, which saw him break down in tears when he finally netted in December 2019.
Just three days later, Jahanbakhsh earned Brighton their first-ever league point against Chelsea with a never-to-be-forgotten overhead kick equaliser in a 1-1 draw on New Year's Day.
Jahanbakhsh netted a stunning equaliser for the Seagulls against Chelsea18
Jahanbakhsh netted a stunning equaliser for the Seagulls against Chelsea
Salomon Kalou - Chelsea
The Blues splashed £349m on 11 signings this summer while a staggering 39 players left - 17 of whom were sold, the rest loaned.
The remarkable churn of transfers means there is a whole host of stars that the streets around Stamford Bridge will indeed forget.
And yet amid all the icons of the Roman Abramovich era, Chelsea's 'that's why we love Salomon Kalou' song has stood the test of time.
The Ivorian, who became the first player ever to reach double-digit goals in a single season across England, France and Germany's top-flight divisions, won both the Champions League and Premier League during his six years in west London.
Kalou helped Chelsea win their first ever Champions League title with one of the most iconic haircuts in the competition's history18
Kalou helped Chelsea win their first-ever Champions League title with one of the most iconic haircuts in the competition's history
Yannick Bolasie - Crystal Palace
Wilfried Zaha famously objected to fans calling him a 'streets will never forget baller' so talkSPORT hopes his former teammate won't mind.
Everton fans never quite saw the best of Bolasie after his £25m move in 2016, but he remains an iconic figure in Palace folklore.
In fact, the Eagles had to wait nine years for one of their own to score a Premier League hat-trick following the winger's treble against Sunderland until Jean-Philippe Mateta's heroics in a 5-0 win over Aston Villa in 2024.
At his peak, Bolasie wowed fans with his jaw-dropping flicks and tricks - the highlight of which includes his own beautiful ‘Bolasie flick.’
Yannick Bolasie of Crystal Palace celebrates as he score their first goal during The Emirates FA Cup semi final match between Watford and Crystal Palace at Wembley18
Bolasie scored Palace's first in their FA Cup semi-final win over Watford
Mustapha Hadji - Coventry City
There is a temptation to partner the 54-year-old with his Moroccan teammate Youssef Chippo as part of one combined entry.
The pair both have cult-hero status among the Sky Blues faithful, but Hadji falls more into the category of the ‘Streets Won’t Forget’.
His soaring volley against Norway at the 1998 World Cup played its part in him being named African Footballer of the Year that year.
Hadji broke Coventry's club record when he signed for around £4m a year later, and etched himself in the hearts of fans with his goal in the historic 3-2 Boxing Day win over Arsenal at Highfield Road in 1999.
Youssef Chippo of Coventry City and Mustapha Hadji of Coventry City in action during the FA Cup 4th Round match between Coventry City and Burnley18
Chippo and Hadji's time at Coventry sparked a brief trend for Sky Blues fans to wear fezzes to games to honour their heroes
Manuel Fernandes - Everton
Ainsley Maitland-Niles' late equaliser on his Toffees debut brought to mind another hero's thunderbolt against Manchester United.
Fernandes played for 10 different clubs in his journeyman career, with his time at Everton spanning just 24 appearances across two spells.
And yet he's still so fondly remembered for that thunderbolt strike against Man United and the dancing feet that bamboozled Arsenal.
Referred to as 'the one that got away', Fernandes never completed a permanent transfer to Everton after either of his two loan spells.
Manuel Fernandes of Everton battles with Cesc Fabregas and Abou Diaby of Arsenal during the Barclays Premiership18
Everton tried to snap up Fernandes in the summer of 2007, and he was even at the club's pre-season camp but ended up joining Valencia
Steed Malbranque - Fulham
STEEEEEEEEED! The 46-year-old was as synonymous with Fulham's early Premier League years as their revolving door of shirt sponsors.
Regardless of whether he wore Betfair, Pizza Hut, Dabs.com or Pipex, Malbranque was a constant beacon of flair during his near 200 appearances for the Cottagers.
A man so good he was even dubbed a 'really, really good player - fantastic' by then-Prime Minister Tony Blair in 2005!
Malbranque later enjoyed spells at both Tottenham and Sunderland, but never quite recaptured the type of form that has consolidated him as one of Fulham’s all-time Premier League top scorers.
Fulham's Steed Malbranque (R) gestures to the fans after he scored the opening goal from the penalty spot against Charlton during the Premiership football match at Loftus Road18
Fulham's Steed Malbranque (R) gestures to the fans after he scored the opening goal from the penalty spot against Charlton during the Premiership football match at Loftus Road
Geovanni - Hull City
The Brazilian reemerged as a force to be reckoned with during the 'Barclaysmen' trend that exploded on social media several years ago.
Geovanni had already had spells at Barcelona and Man City when he arrived at Hull for the Tigers' first season in the top flight in 2008.
He took just twenty-two minutes into his debut to make history by scoring the club's first-ever goal in English football's premier division.
His sheer individual brilliance saw him stun both Arsenal and Tottenham - his strike against the former being crowned the 'goal of a lifetime' by then-Gunners boss Arsene Wenger.
Geovanni finished as Hull's top scorer with eight Premier League strikes to ensure their survival, but failed to reproduce the same magic in his second season as the Tigers were relegated in 2010.
"Just speaking about the club makes me emotional," he said in a 2023 interview with The Athletic. "It was a dream for me. Those may have been the best days of my life as a footballer."
Deiberson Giovanni of Hull City is greeted by away fans after he is sent off18
Geovanni made 65 appearances for Hull City between 2008 and 2010
Giovani dos Santos - Ipswich Town
Ledley King told talkSPORT that the Mexican reminded him of a young Ronaldinho when he was coming through the Spurs ranks.
But the closest Dos Santos came to living up to his ‘next Lionel Messi’ tag while in England was during his impressive loan at Ipswich.
The former Barcelona youth talent arrived at Portman Road at the end of the 2008/09 season, and he marked his home debut by scoring the equaliser against Burnley.
Dos Santos scored four times and registered one assist in eight Ipswich outings and was branded as the club’s best-ever loanee.
Giovani Dos Santos (R) of Ipswich celebrates his goal during the Coca-Cola Championship match between Ipswich Town and Burnley at Portman Road18
Giovani Dos Santos (R) scored in a 2-1 win over Coventry in what was Roy Keane's first home match in charge
Tony Yeboah - Leeds United
The first African to win the Premier League Player of the Month award, in March 1995, is still a hugely popular figure at Elland Road.
Despite being at Leeds for only two-and-a-half seasons, the Ghanaian striker scored 32 goals in just 66 appearances.
Among those strikes were some of the Premier League's best, with his volleys against Liverpool and Wimbledon still regularly replayed.
Yeboah dominated Goal of the Month competitions and became Leeds United's first non-Brit to win their Player of the Year in 1996.
Xherdan Shaqiri - Liverpool
The Switzerland hero was left off a list of the Reds' 100 Greatest this summer, which included Divock Origi at 55, and Luis Garcia in 98th.
But the streets - who have never forgotten Shaqiri's international contributions - shouldn't be discounting his time at Anfield either.
The 34-year-old scored eight goals in 63 games for Liverpool - but six of which came during his first season on Merseyside.
He scored twice in a 3-1 home win over Man United at Anfield that proved to be Jose Mourinho's final match in charge, netted in a 5-2 rout of Everton and, most famously, assisted Georginio Wijnaldum's second in the 4-0 comeback against Barcelona.
Divock Origi of Liverpool (27) celebrates as he scores his team's fourth goal with Xherdan Shaqiri and team mates during the UEFA Champions League Semi Final second leg match between Liverpool and Barcelona at Anfield on May 07, 2019 in Liverpool, England18
Divock Origi of Liverpool (27) celebrates as he scores his team's fourth goal with Xherdan Shaqiri and team mates during the UEFA Champions League Semi Final second leg match between Liverpool and Barcelona at Anfield on May 07, 2019 in Liverpool, England
Elano - Manchester City
The Brazilian served as the poster boy under Thaksin Shinawatra’s brief ownership in 2007 before Sheikh Mansour took the reins.
His flair, skills on the ball and shooting ability from long-range put him in stark contrast to the likes of Joey Barton in the City midfield.
He recorded nine goal contributions in his first 10 league games - the highlight of which was his brilliant free-kick against Newcastle.
Elano, who earned 50 caps for Brazil, ended the campaign as leading scorer, but his influence quickly waned as more superstars continued to arrive at the Etihad, and he was sold after his second season.
Stephen Ireland of Manchester City celebrates scoring his first goal and City's fifth with team mates Elano and Jo during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester City and Hull City18
Elano arrived as one of the first signings of the Sven-Goran Eriksson reign
Javier Hernandez - Manchester United
'Chicharito', meaning 'Little Pea', arrived at Old Trafford in 2010 as the world's most expensive Mexican from hometown club Guadalajara.
Stiff competition from the likes of Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck, Dimitar Berbatov and Robin van Persie during his time at the club meant Hernandez forged a reputation as a super-sub.
Despite that tag, he still scored 59 goals across 157 appearances over the next five years and won two Premier League titles.
His 14 Premier League goals off the bench during his half-a-decade at Man United were more than any other player over the same period.
Javier Hernandez with Premier League trophy18
Javier Hernández's 19 Premier League goals off the bench are the third most in history
Hatem Ben Arfa - Newcastle
Could it be anyone else? Between Yohan Cabaye, Laurent Robert, Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse, the Magpies have a list all on their own.
However, Ben Arfa, along with recently retired Adel Taarabt at Queen's Park Rangers, is almost the quintessential 'Streets Won't Forget' star by this point.
A broken leg curtailed his debut season, but the Frenchman lit up the 2011/12 season - with that goal against Bolton in 2012 still one of the Premier League's greatest ever solo efforts.
Eden Hazard listed him as one of the greatest dribblers he has seen, while ex-Toon boss Alan Pardew told talkSPORT that Ben Arfa had 'unbelievable talent', although injuries impacted his tenure at St James' Park, and he was released in 2015.
Hatem Ben Arfa of Newcastle celebrates scoring to make it 1-0 during the Barclays Premier League match between Newcastle United and Bolton Wanderers at the Sports Direct Arena on April 9, 201218
Ben Arfa is arguably one of the Premier League's most gifted players ever
Bryan Roy - Nottingham Forest
The winger spent three years at Forest, between 1994 and 1997, and made 85 appearances after his arrival from Italian side Foggia.
The 32-cap Netherlands international cost a club-record £2.9m following the club's return to the top-flight.
Roy flourished in his maiden campaign at Forest in a new central role alongside Stan Collymore, with the pair contributing 35 goals to help the newly-promoted side to a 3rd-place Premier League finish.
He was then quite able to replicate that magic after his strike partner joined Liverpool in 1995, and he ultimately left for Hertha Berlin.
Stan Collymore of Nottingham Forest and Bryan Roy of Nottingham Forest celebrate during the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest and Southampton18
Roy and Collymore formed one of the most lethal strike partnerships in Premier League history
Sebastian Larsson - Sunderland
Sweden's current assistant coach has got to be considered one of the Black Cats' greatest ever free signings after arriving in June 2011.
He marked his debut with a scissor kick against Liverpool at Anfield, with his second Sunderland goal the first of many free-kicks he bagged on Wearside.
His set-piece delivery was such that ex-Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger labelled his former player 'maybe the best in the league as a free-kick-taker' when Larsson scored from another such dead-ball against the Gunners that October.
In 2014, the now-41-year-old netted the winner against Man United to earn Sunderland their first win at Old Trafford since 1968 and stave off relegation for two more seasons before he was released following their 20th-place finish in the 2016/17 campaign.
Sebastian Larsson of Sunderland scores their first goal from a free kick during the Barclays Premier League match between Arsenal and Sunderland at the Emirates Stadium18
Larsson sits joint fourth for most free-kick goals in Premier League history
Niko Kranjcar - Tottenham
Admittedly, the former Croatia international could have filled this spot at three different clubs and no surprise that they all came under Harry Redknapp.
Kranjcar helped Portsmouth win the FA Cup and was an important part of the QPR team that claimed Championship promotion in 2014.
Yet he was also a key factor in Spurs qualifying for the Champions League for the first time in their history in 2010, with six goals and five assists in 28 Premier League appearances.
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Tottenham Hotspurs' Niko Kranjcar (R) gestures toward teammate Jermain Defoe (C) at the end of the Premiership match against Wigan Athletic at White Hart Lane in London on November 22, 2009. Tottenham Hotspur won the game 9-118
Tottenham Hotspurs' Niko Kranjcar (R) gestures toward teammate Jermain Defoe (C) at the end of the Premiership match against Wigan Athletic at White Hart Lane in London on November 22, 2009. Tottenham Hotspur won the game 9-1
Those strikes included the final goal in the record 9-1 win over Wigan, and the winner away at Stoke to give Tottenham the edge in fourth.
Competition for places following the arrivals of Sandro and Rafael Van Der Vaart meant Kranjcar never enjoyed a season like his first at the club, and he left for Dynamo Kyiv in 2012.
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