Picking an all-time Premier League XI is hard enough. But picking just five players?
Now we're talking.
With more than three decades of Premier League history to choose from, you could make a case for hundreds of players to warrant a place in an all-time team. But we wanted to do it with the view of creating a team of players from Premier League history who definitely deserve to be on a coin.
... as well as mopping up every other all-time Premier League team that could be built, obviously. We had our say over on our YouTube Channel. We've placed the video below.
You probably know by now, but to cover the rules, quickly...
You need a goalkeeper. A defender. A couple of players who can do a bit of everything. And someone who can put the ball in the net.
We think we've nailed it here. And yes, there were a few arguments along the way.
Our All-Time Premier League 5-a-Side Team
So, who made the cut?
GK: Petr Cech
Between the sticks, there was a pretty straightforward choice for us.
Petr Cech arrived at Chelsea in 2004 and immediately made his mark, keeping an astonishing 24 clean sheets in his debut Premier League season, which is still the record for the most in one season.
Cech went on to keep 202 clean sheets in 443 Premier League appearances, more than any other goalkeeper in the competition's history. He also won four Premier League titles with Chelsea and three Golden Gloves during his time at Stamford Bridge.
Cech gets the gloves. And we won't be taking any feedback at this time.
DEF: Vincent Kompany
At the back, we wanted someone who could defend, lead and (when necessary) produce something spectacular - we're thinking either a top bins missile, a big moment header or a swashbuckling run through the midfield.
Enter big Vinny.
Kompany arrived at Manchester City in 2008 as a fresh-faced 22-year-old and left with a statue outside the Etihad Stadium.
He lifted the Premier League Trophy four times and was named the competition's Player of the Season in 2011/12, when City won their first title. He also scored some seriously important goals along the way, including that famous long-range drive against Leicester City in 2019.
For an all-time five-a-side team, you want a defender who can actually defend. But also one who isn't afraid to take the game by the scruff of the neck. Kompany certainly fits the bill.
MID: Claude Makelele
Now, Claude Makelele might not have the same goal-scoring numbers as some of the other names on this list, but that's exactly why he makes the team.
Makelele's influence on the Premier League went far beyond his statistics. His ability to sit in front of the defence, win the ball and keep things ticking over was so effective that we all started calling that position the "Makelele role."
He was a key part of Chelsea's dominant mid-2000s side and won two Premier League titles during his time at Stamford Bridge.
In a five-a-side team, losing the ball can leave you exposed. But Claude's here, helping Kompany at the back, breaking up play and spraying balls.
MID: Steven Gerrard
We've got the defensive element covered. Now we need some attacking umph! And who could be better than Stevie G?!
If you're building an all-time Premier League five and want a midfielder capable of doing almost everything, it's difficult to look past the former Liverpool captain.
Gerrard made over 500 Premier League appearances for Liverpool, scoring 120 goals and providing 92 assists. But the numbers only tell part of the story.
Gerrard could tackle, pass, carry the ball, score from distance, create chances. And, perhaps most importantly for a five-a-side team, he could take responsibility when things got difficult.
Simply impossible to overlook him!
FW: Harry Kane
Who else??
When you're picking one Premier League forward for a five-a-side team, Kane's combination of finishing, movement, speed, strength and ability to bring other players into the game makes him a pretty clear choice.
Kane scored 213 Premier League goals for Tottenham, the most any player has scored for a single club in the competition. He also registered 46 assists in his 320 Premier League appearances and won the Golden Boot three times.
Kane was more than a fox-in-the-box striker, during his time in the Prem, he developed into a forward who could drop deeper, pick passes and create opportunities for teammates. Making him particularly well suited to the tight spaces of five-a-side.
Give him a chance, he'll probably take it.
And the Manager? Pep Guardiola.
Five players aren't going to organise themselves. So we needed a manager. Our choice was Pep Guardiola.
There's a reason why we released the 10 Years with Pep Limited Commemorative Coin.
After arriving at Manchester City in 2016, Guardiola went on to win six Premier League titles, including four consecutive titles between 2020/21 and 2023/24. His first title-winning City side also set records for points, wins and goals scored. Two moments that are celebrated in our 10 Years With Pep Collection.
But the reason we'd want Pep in charge isn't simply the trophy cabinet. It's the football.
Guardiola's influence on how Premier League teams approach possession, pressing, build-up play and positional football has been enormous. Other clubs in the league highlighted his impact on tactics by recruiting ball-playing goalkeepers and a "false nine".
And if you're handing him a team containing Cech, Kompany, Makelele, Gerrard and Kane?
We're pretty interested to see what he does with it.
The Final Five
So, after all the debating, this is what we came up with:
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| GK | Petr Cech |
| DEF | Vincent Kompany |
| MID | Claude Makelele |
| MID | Steven Gerrard |
| FW | Harry Kane |
| Manager | Pep Guardiola |
Honourary Mentions
Is it the definitive all-time Premier League 5-a-side team?
Absolutely not. And that's the point.
There are way too many great players to choose from. Thierry Henry? Joe Hart? Shearer? Rooney? Vieira? Lampard? De Bruyne? Cristiano Ronaldo? Salah? Cantona?
You could build an entirely different team from those names and still have an argument for every single selection.
Think You Can Build a Better Five?
Our team is picked. Now we want to know who'd make yours.
If you could choose any five players from Premier League history, who would you put on the pitch?
And, perhaps more importantly, who would you put in charge?
Let us know in the comments on our video and tell us which of our selections you'd replace.
Just remember: we're allowed to disagree. That's the whole point of the debate.
