Top 10 foreign imports to grace the PL – Chelsea, Arsenal & Man Utd stars take your bow!

Football FanCast columnist Lewis Doe compiles a top 10 of the best foreign imports to grace the Premier
League.

1 - Gianfranco Zola: A tiny little magician, Zola never looked out of
place against even the biggest and toughest opponents. Without doubt one of the
most skilful players to have graced a football pitch in England, had the ability
to bring anyone into a game and had every attribute possible. Played at the
highest-level well into his 30s and was a corner stone of Chelsea progression
in the pre-Abramovich years.

2 - Eric Cantona: A Manchester United great whose name is still sung
around Old Trafford, especially at Christmas time. Known as ‘The King' Cantona
had the ability to come up with beautiful goals at times in massive games when
it mattered. He will always be remembered for the sublime chip he scored
against a helpless Sunderland team.

3 – Peter Schmeichel: Simply the
best goalkeeper the Premier League has ever seen and arguably one of the best
ever. Reliable, dominant, intimidating, Schmeichel was the man who organised
the Manchester United defence of the 90s. His ability to curb and control his
passion and frustration while pulling off key saves (FA Cup Semi-Final penalty
save against Arsenal) sets him aside from everyone else.

4 – Thierry Henry: Arsene
Wenger's best buy in his time as Arsenal manager. Henry simply propelled the
Arsenal challenge to Manchester United in the early years of the 21^st
century. Often described as the quickest ever player, Henry could rip the heart
out of a defence and change a game in a second. His ability to create and
finish goals made him briefly the best striker in the world.

5 – Dennis Bergkamp: Straight out
of the school of no nonsense Bergkamp was also a marker of Arsenal's success in
the early 2000s. His charisma and manner reminded many of Cantona as he
continued to score beautiful goals into the latter stages of his career. His
arrival to North London was questioned but the talented Dutchman proved to
everyone why he will always be seen as one of the best.

6 – David Ginola: The most exciting
player to have put on a Tottenham shirt since the Premier League began. Ginola
had the ability to win a game by himself and when he was at the peak of his
form not a single player get near him, his FA Cup goal against Barnsley will
continue to appear on lists of the greatest goals ever scored. It is hard to
find another example with the dribbling and passing ability of the great
Frenchman.

7 – Paolo Di Canio: Still rated
as one of the best strikers to have ever walked out onto the turf of Upton Park.
Di Canio was well touted for his fiery temperament, which often got him into
trouble, but when he played well, my God was he good. Remembered for scoring a
volley from an impossible angle and pushing over a ref, Di Canio deserves a
spot in the top 10 because he is unique and will never be replaced.

8 – Ruud van Nistelrooy: A true
goal scorer in every sense of the term. If the ball needed a vital touch to be
put home then Van Nistelrooy would be there. Will always be ranked as one of
Manchester United's greatest ever foreigners as well as one of the highest
Premier League scorers of all time. Van Nistelrooy knew exactly where to be and
when and without question made sure United secured a lot more points than they
otherwise would have done.

9 – Juninho: Juninho gave a very
average team in Middlesbrough a glimmer of undoubted brilliance. He set the
example of everything football is about in England, pace, skill and precision.
Similar to Zola, Juninho played consistently well for a long time and had 3 spells
at Boro. Often won games from out of nowhere and it's impossible to value the
little Brazilian.

10
- Jaap Stam: Defined everything a defender should be about and presented a
very intimidating image, which got into the minds of many attacking opponents.
A corner stone of Manchester United's 1999 Champions League win over Bayern
Munich and still rated by United fans as one of their best ever, many still
bitter at the way he exited Old Trafford.

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