Rooney crowned as Shearer and Richards split over Premier League’s greatest Englishmen

Since 1992 the Premier League has churned out homegrown heroes by the bucketload — full-blooded leaders, swaggering playmakers and ruthless finishers. Few know that landscape better than Micah Richards, a title-winner who exploded onto the scene with Manchester City, and Alan Shearer, the division’s record marksman with a monstrous 260 goals for Blackburn and Newcastle. The pair sat down with Gary Lineker to hammer out their top 10 English performers of the era — and it got tasty.

Shearer’s list: Rooney the standard-setter

Trust Shearer to take the sting out of it early: he parked himself in 10th to dodge the inevitable ribbing, then set about the rest with a cool head. Ashley Cole slotted in at nine — the finest English left-back of the Premier League years for many — followed by goal-hungry Michael Owen at eight and Harry Kane at seven. Kane looked nailed on to hunt down Shearer’s 260, but that Bavarian detour has put the chase on ice, despite his 213 Premier League goals.

John Terry was Shearer’s top defender at six, a rock and a serial winner. David Beckham came in fifth — a superstar whose Old Trafford legacy might have soared even higher had he not swapped Manchester for Madrid. Then came the eternal midfield argument: Frank Lampard at four, Steven Gerrard at three and Paul Scholes runner-up — all generational, all with different superpowers.

At number one, Shearer went for Wayne Rooney. The logic? Relentless involvement, outrageous versatility and end-product to match. Rooney could run a game from anywhere — wide, up top, even in midfield later on — and still punch out elite numbers. In Shearer’s eyes, he was the complete Premier League forward.

Richards’ rankings: Gerrard on top, Shearer second

Richards zagged where Shearer zigged. He put Kane down in 10th — fair or harsh depending on your view — arguing that the empty trophy cabinet hurts him against this company. Cole at nine and Beckham at eight mirrored parts of Shearer’s thinking, but the order told its own story: those ahead were, in Micah’s eyes, simply superior footballers.

Seven went to Terry, a nod to his ironman availability and standards deep into his career. Owen at six drew praise for that searing pace and ruthless finishing. Lampard five, Scholes four — but with a cheeky challenge tossed in: could Scholes have done for United what Gerrard did for Liverpool?

Rooney at three raised eyebrows, but Richards wanted even more from a player he felt flirted with the Messi-Ronaldo bracket at his peak. Shearer at two earned massive respect for loyalty to Newcastle and those 260 goals — a staggering haul with just the one title. And top spot? Steven Gerrard, the man who, as Richards framed it, dragged Liverpool to levels they had no right to reach at times, not least on the biggest European nights.

The verdict: Lineker breaks the deadlock

With the pundits split — Rooney for Shearer, Gerrard for Richards — Lineker had the casting vote. He sided with Rooney, tipping the balance on Premier League success and a bulging medal drawer. It’s hard to bark back at that: United’s all-time top scorer, a five-time league champion, and a force of nature across a decade and a half.

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So who’s really No 1?

Look, there’s no wrong answer among Rooney, Gerrard, Scholes and Lampard — they defined an era. Cole and Terry were the gold standard at the back, Owen burned bright, and Kane’s story isn’t finished yet. But if you want the complete Premier League package — teenage prodigy, title-winner, talisman, leader — Rooney just edges it. On balance, Lineker’s call feels right… until the next pint-fuelled argument kicks off.