The Biggest Falls From Grace in Premier League History
As a football enthusiast, I’ve witnessed many players rise to stardom, only to experience a drastic decline in their careers. In this article, I’ll explore the top 10 biggest falls from grace in Premier League history.
10. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Former Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang joined the Gunners as one of the best strikers in the world. He took only 79 Premier League games to reach the 50-goal mark, becoming the quickest player in the club’s history to reach that tally. However, everything changed for Auba after carrying the Gunners to FA Cup success in 2020.
Aubameyang’s decline was a shock to many
9. Lee Sharpe
Lee Sharpe joined Manchester United as a teenager and was given plenty of first-team opportunities. He established himself as the club’s first-choice left-winger but would face competition from Ryan Giggs. After a few injuries and fitness issues, Sharpe found himself fighting for a place at left-back or on the right wing.
Sharpe’s career was marked by injuries and competition
8. Joe Cole
What a player Joe Cole was in his prime! He joined Chelsea from West Ham in 2003 and played under Claudio Ranieri for a season before Jose Mourinho came in and won trophy after trophy. Cole won three Premier League titles, two FA Cups, and a League Cup in his seven years at Stamford Bridge.
Cole’s Chelsea career was filled with trophies
7. Andriy Shevchenko
In his prime years, Andriy Shevchenko was one of the most lethal strikers in world football. He spent seven wonderful years with AC Milan, winning one Champions League, one Serie A title, one Italian Cup, and the Ballon d’Or in 2004! Shevchenko decided to give the Premier League a try in 2006, joining Chelsea three months before his 30th birthday.
Shevchenko’s move to Chelsea was a surprise to many
6. Dele Alli
We’ll be kind to Dele Alli, for obvious reasons. What a player he was for Tottenham, peaking as a teenager before unfortunately losing the ability to impact Premier League matches.
Alli’s decline was a shock to many
5. Fernando Torres
What a terrific player Fernando Torres was! His decline is possibly the sharpest and the biggest on this list, but he did contribute to a Chelsea Champions League win in 2012 before performing pretty well for AC Milan and Atletico Madrid, saving him from a more embarrassing placement.
Torres’ decline was a surprise to many
4. Mesut Ozil
Mesut Ozil’s downfall was clear to see after his Arsenal days, but the German’s career began to spiral out of control during his time in London.
Ozil’s decline was a shock to many
3. David Bentley
This guy was a character, but more importantly, he was an extremely talented footballer. David Bentley came through the Arsenal youth academy but enjoyed his best years with Blackburn Rovers between 2006 and 2008. Amazingly, he retired in 2013 at the age of 28 despite having a year left on his Spurs contract.
Bentley’s retirement was a surprise to many
2. Casemiro
Manchester United signed three-time La Liga and five-time Champions League-winning midfielder Casemiro from Real Madrid for £70m, handing him an initial four-year contract, which raised eyebrows due to his age. Any doubts were swiftly put to one side after a superb season, showing exactly why the Red Devils paid big money for the Brazilian.
Casemiro’s move to Manchester United was a surprise to many
1. Alexis Sanchez
While Torres and Aubameyang’s ability to bounce back has impacted their placements here, we have slightly contradicted ourselves by putting Alexis Sanchez first given he got his career back on track after leaving Manchester United. He really did go from being world-class at Arsenal to unrecognisable at United.
Sanchez’s decline was a shock to many
In conclusion, these players have experienced some of the biggest falls from grace in Premier League history. Their stories serve as a reminder that even the greatest can fall, but it’s how they respond that truly matters.
