Our Premier League Welsh XI features stars from Leeds United, Everton, Tottenham, Newcastle United, Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool and more.
Ryan Giggs and Gareth Bale playing for Wales
As Welshmen and women celebrate Saint David’s Day, HITC Sport has taken a look at some of the finest Welshmen to have graced the Premier League over the years. Wales has produced some truly wonderful footballers, notably the likes of John Charles and Ivor Allchurch, but those two sadly miss out having pre-dated the Premier League era.
One man who naturally does qualify is Ryan Giggs. The Manchester United legend is the most decorated British footballer of all-time, having won 35 trophies in 24 years at Old Trafford. View the rest of our XI below and let us know what you think…
In goal is Everton legend Neville Southall. Many of Southall’s best years came prior to the Premier League’s introduction, but the two-time FA Cup winner still played more than 200 Premier League games, meaning he is well worth his place in this XI.
Rather than a back four, we’ve opted for a back three, due to the greater strength of the team in midfield and up front. Current Wales boss Chris Coleman starts at the back, having made just over a century of Premier League appearances for Crystal Palace and Blackburn Rovers.
Alongside him are former Swansea and current Everton star Ashley Williams, and ex-West Ham, Fulham and Sunderland defender Andy Melville. The duo have made more than 300 Premier League appearances between them and won more than 130 caps for their country.
Formerly of Swansea, now of Everton, Ashley Williams is a rock at the back
Moving into midfield and the obvious strength of this team is on either flank. Ryan Giggs retired from international football just a year after Gareth Bale received his first call-up to the national team, meaning Welsh football fans were largely robbed of seeing the duo in action together for any substantial amount of time.
Read: Wales 2022 World Cup starting XI according to FM17
Both were/are world class players, although very different individually. Giggs is remarkable for his longevity. He transformed himself as his career progressed, from ripping full-backs apart through his pace, skill and dribbling abilities to picking them apart later in his career using his vision and understanding of the game from a more central role.
Bale, meanwhile, started his career as a left-back with some somewhat questionable defensive abilities. A Champions League away game at Inter Milan with Tottenham Hotspur signalled the start of something special for the winger, who ran Maicon ragged and never looked back. He quickly became one of the outstanding Premier League players before a world record move from Spurs to Real Madrid.
Former Tottenham Hotspur winger Gareth Bale
A number of players have missed out in central midfield, such as David Phillips, Robbie Savage and arguably even Andy King, who has of course now got a Premier League winners medal. We’ve opted for a combination of Aaron Ramsey and Gary Speed though.
Ramsey is a player who has flattered to deceive at times, and injuries haven’t helped his development. He showed in 2013-14 when he scored 16 goals in all competitions that he has the capability to be a top class midfield player, and what an asset he would be to Arsenal if he could rediscover that form. Ramsey has made 199 Premier League appearances to date.
A Premier League legend, upon his retirement, Gary Speed held the record for the most Premier League appearances, until being overtaken by David James. Speed made a total of 535 Premier League appearances for Leeds United, Everton, Newcastle United and Bolton Wanderers. He is Wales most capped outfield player.
Former Leeds, Everton, Newcastle and Bolton man Gary Speed
It’s three up top, but picking the three wasn’t easy. The likes of Dean Saunders and Ian Rush had to be left out for our ultimate picks Craig Bellamy, Mark Hughes and John Hartson. Hartson has the most impressive Premier League goal scoring record of the lot, having bagged 55 goals in 154 Premier League games for Arsenal, West Ham, Wimbledon and Coventry.
Read: Xavi? Giggs? No, here’s Europe’s most decorated player of all-time
Bellamy is a must in this XI. The tenacious forward, who was also capable of playing wide left, is the only player to have scored for seven different Premier League teams. Those teams are; Coventry, Newcastle, Blackburn, Liverpool, West Ham, Manchester City and Cardiff. In total, Bellamy scored 81 goals in 294 Premier League games.
Mark Hughes’ most prolific years came prior to the Premier League’s introduction, but he still managed to bag 64 goals in 297 Premier League games, despite often playing in a slightly deeper role towards the end of his career. Hughes is best known for his time at Manchester United, but the Welshman also played for Chelsea, Southampton, Everton and Blackburn.
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