Thierry #1, no debate here
https://theathletic.com/news/alan-shearer-thierry-henry-premier-league-hall-of-fame/L2glJeHe3aPM
Alan Shearer and Thierry Henry have become the first players to be inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame.
The Hall of Fame is a new award which recognises the achievements of exceptional professionals who have featured in the league since its inception in 1992.
The Premier League views it as the highest individual honour a player can receive.
Why has Shearer been selected?
Shearer is still the Premier League's highest ever scorer with a record 260 goals in 441 appearances across 14 seasons.
In the 1994-1995 season, he won his first title with Blackburn Rovers under Kenny Dalglish and during his 10-year spell at Newcastle he netted 148 times in the top flight from 1996 to 2006.
No other player has recorded 100 Premier League goals for two different clubs.
The former England international is also a three-time Golden Boot winner.
What did Henry achieve in the Premier League?
Henry moved to Arsenal from Juventus in 1999 and was instrumental in the ‘Invincibles' team who were undefeated in their 2003-04 title-winning campaign.
He still holds the record for the number of Golden Boot awards with four to his name and scored a club-record 175 Premier League goals in 258 appearances for Arsenal.
Between 2001 and 2006 he scored more than 20 Premier League goals in five consecutive seasons.
What did Shearer say?
Shearer said: “When you look at some of the unbelievable players to have graced the Premier League - week in, week out, year in, year out - I feel very honoured to join the Hall of Fame. I have to thank all of my team-mates, as well as the managers and coaches that I've worked with.
“All I ever wanted to be was a professional footballer. It was my dream to do that, my dream to win trophies and my dream to score at St James' Park, to wear the number nine black-and-white shirt and it was fantastic. I enjoyed every minute of it.”
What about Henry?
Henry said: “To be inducted alongside Alan Shearer as the two first inductees into the Premier League Hall of Fame is more than special.
“When I was young, I was just trying to make sure I could get a pair of boots and now we're talking about the Hall of Fame. During my career I wanted to play hard and make sure I was fighting for the cause, because that's all the fans want to see.
“If you asked me at the start of my career about entering the Hall of Fame, I wouldn't have believed you. It's an amazing honour.”
Will anyone else be inducted?
Yes, an additional shortlist of nominees will be announced on Sky Sports' television programme at 6pm BST.
Fans will then be invited to vote and help choose six other former players to join the Hall of Fame.
Who can enter the Hall of Fame?
Players must have been retired as of 1 August 2020 to be eligible for this year's selection and only their Premier League career is taken into consideration.
Each inductee will receive a personalised medallion, engraved with the year of their induction.
Is there anything else I need to know?
Yes, The Athletic's writers voted Shearer and Henry as the top two players for The Premier League 60, a list designed to reflect and honour the greatest players to have graced and illuminated the English top flight in the modern era.
https://theathletic.com/news/alan-shearer-thierry-henry-premier-league-hall-of-fame/L2glJeHe3aPM
Alan Shearer and Thierry Henry have become the first players to be inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame.
The Hall of Fame is a new award which recognises the achievements of exceptional professionals who have featured in the league since its inception in 1992.
The Premier League views it as the highest individual honour a player can receive.
Why has Shearer been selected?
Shearer is still the Premier League's highest ever scorer with a record 260 goals in 441 appearances across 14 seasons.
In the 1994-1995 season, he won his first title with Blackburn Rovers under Kenny Dalglish and during his 10-year spell at Newcastle he netted 148 times in the top flight from 1996 to 2006.
No other player has recorded 100 Premier League goals for two different clubs.
The former England international is also a three-time Golden Boot winner.
What did Henry achieve in the Premier League?
Henry moved to Arsenal from Juventus in 1999 and was instrumental in the ‘Invincibles' team who were undefeated in their 2003-04 title-winning campaign.
He still holds the record for the number of Golden Boot awards with four to his name and scored a club-record 175 Premier League goals in 258 appearances for Arsenal.
Between 2001 and 2006 he scored more than 20 Premier League goals in five consecutive seasons.
What did Shearer say?
Shearer said: “When you look at some of the unbelievable players to have graced the Premier League - week in, week out, year in, year out - I feel very honoured to join the Hall of Fame. I have to thank all of my team-mates, as well as the managers and coaches that I've worked with.
“All I ever wanted to be was a professional footballer. It was my dream to do that, my dream to win trophies and my dream to score at St James' Park, to wear the number nine black-and-white shirt and it was fantastic. I enjoyed every minute of it.”
What about Henry?
Henry said: “To be inducted alongside Alan Shearer as the two first inductees into the Premier League Hall of Fame is more than special.
“When I was young, I was just trying to make sure I could get a pair of boots and now we're talking about the Hall of Fame. During my career I wanted to play hard and make sure I was fighting for the cause, because that's all the fans want to see.
“If you asked me at the start of my career about entering the Hall of Fame, I wouldn't have believed you. It's an amazing honour.”
Will anyone else be inducted?
Yes, an additional shortlist of nominees will be announced on Sky Sports' television programme at 6pm BST.
Fans will then be invited to vote and help choose six other former players to join the Hall of Fame.
Who can enter the Hall of Fame?
Players must have been retired as of 1 August 2020 to be eligible for this year's selection and only their Premier League career is taken into consideration.
Each inductee will receive a personalised medallion, engraved with the year of their induction.
Is there anything else I need to know?
Yes, The Athletic's writers voted Shearer and Henry as the top two players for The Premier League 60, a list designed to reflect and honour the greatest players to have graced and illuminated the English top flight in the modern era.
