The XI best Spanish players in Premier League history | OneFootball

Spain has produced a litany of good footballers over the years and since 1992, hundreds of them have lit up English football’s top flight.

But squeezing the best ones into an XI isn’t as easy as you might think.

Here – in a very un-Spanish 4-4-2 formation – is what we came up with …

GK – David de Gea – Manchester United

De Gea isn’t just the best Spanish goalkeeper ever to have played Premier League football, he’s also been one of the best on the planet for a number of years now, and continues to come to Manchester United’s rescue week after week.

The 27-year-old has made 245 Premier League appearances to date (keeping 95 clean sheets) and is the proud owner of a 2012/13 title winner’s medal.

RB – Míchel Salgado – Blackburn Rovers

Real Madrid and Spain legend Salgado was 34 and at the tail end of his career when he signed for Blackburn in 2009, but he still had plenty to offer and went on to make 66 Premier League appearances for the Lancashire club.

Unfortunately, his time in England came to an abrupt halt when, in 2011 he was omitted from cash-strapped Blackburn’s squad due to the fact his contract stipulated that if he played nine more games, they’d have to give him a new deal.

CB – Gerard Piqué – Manchester United

You may well have forgotten that Piqué even played in England but he did. In 2004, he moved from Barcelona’s academy to Manchester United as a 17-year-old and made his full debut for the club when he played at right back against West Ham in March 2006.

Admittedly, he’s included on this list more for what he achieved after leaving Old Trafford, but before returning to Barça in 2008, Piqué made a grand total of 12 Premier League appearances for the Red Devils and even has a 2007/08 winner’s medal.

And yes, he really did kiss the badge.

CB – César Azpilicueta – Chelsea

They say there are only two certainties in life: death and taxes. In fact, there are three certainties in life: death, taxes and Azpilicueta putting in at least a 7/10 performance every time he steps onto a football pitch.

Chelsea’s Mr Reliable moved to Stamford Bridge from Marseille in 2012 and has so far made 205 Premier League appearances for the club, helping them to two titles along the way.

LB – Asier del Horno – Chelsea

He finished his career in 2012 having won just one title but if you’re going to win only one, the Premier League isn’t a bad one to win.

MF – David Silva – Manchester City

Silva isn’t just the best player ever to have pulled on a Manchester City shirt, he’s also one of the finest footballers ever to have graced the Premier League.

El Mago moved to the Etihad Stadium from Valencia in 2010 and has since won three league titles, scored 50 Premier League goals and assisted 88 others.

But more importantly, he’s won of those players who is worth the entrance fee on his own.

MF – Cesc Fàbregas – Arsenal and Chelsea

Since bursting onto the scene as a 16-year-old at Arsenal in 2003, Fàbregas has made a whopping 344 Premier League appearances, won two league titles, scored 50 goals and laid on 113 others.

He went on to captain the Gunners before joining Barcelona in 2011. But though he may be a proud Spaniard, the midfielder has always looked more at home in English football and it was no surprise to see him return with Chelsea in 2014.

Fàbregas is out of contract at Stamford Bridge in June, but hopefully the Premier League won’t be saying adios to him any time soon.

MF – Xabi Alonso – Liverpool

One of the classiest midfielders ever to have graced these shores is this guy, who spent five years at Liverpool between 2004 and 2009.

Though he won the Champions League during his time in England, Alonso sadly never got his hands on a Premier League title, but he did make 143 appearances in the competition before leaving to join Real Madrid.

You can read more about his career here.

MF – Pedro – Chelsea

Pedro might not be the most show-stopping Spanish footballer the world has never seen, but his no-frills approach his seen him collect a staggering trophy haul both in his homeland and in England.

Since joining Chelsea in 2015, the winger has scored 23 goals in 101 games and won the 2016/17 Premier League title.

Now 31, Pedro still appears to have plenty left in the tank and has been one of a number of Blues players to show a marked improvement under Maurizio Sarri this season.

ST – Fernando Torres – Liverpool and Chelsea

Torres will perhaps sadly be mostly remembered for flopping badly after leaving Liverpool for Chelsea but at his peak, the Spaniard was one of the deadliest strikers on the planet.

After moving to Anfield from Atlético Madrid in 2007, El Niño went on to score a whopping 81 goals in 142 games for the Reds and terrorised defences up and down the country.

But he struggled with persistent injuries and the then-British record £50m Chelsea spent on him in 2011 quickly became something of an Albatross around his neck.

Unfortunately, he never looked quite the same player for the Blues and he left the club for Milan in 2015 having scored just 45 times in 172 games.

ST – Diego Costa – Chelsea

During his time in England, Costa earned a well deserved reputation for being a right pain in the backside and it’s easy to forget what a quality striker he was when he really put his mind to it.

The Brazil-born Spanish international joined Chelsea after winning the LaLiga title with Atlético Madrid in 2014 and was an instant hit as his goals helped the club to the 2014/15 Premier League title.

Title success followed again in 2016/17 but after repeatedly clashing with then-Blues boss Antonio Conte, he ended up returning to Atlético in January 2018.

His record of 58 goals in 120 Premier League appearances tells you all you need to know about his quality.

Honourable mentions for: Mikel Arteta, Iván Campo, Santi Cazorla, Javi García, Ander Herrera, Fernando Hierro, Fernando Llorente, Juan Mata, Gaizka Mendieta, Fernando Morientes, Jesús Navas and Álvaro Negredo