Top 10 most memorable Premier League moments ever revealed from Eric Cantona’s kung fu kick to Leicester title win
THE PREMIER LEAGUE has had some incredibly memorable moments since its inception in 1992.
The competition replaced the old First Division and was made up of the teams that competed in it.
England’s top flight has grown immensely since the 90s and is now one of the highest-rated in the world.
The Premier League has featured some of the best players and teams of the last 30 years in world football, earning it a reputation like no other across Europe.
Manchester United are still the most successful club in the new era with an astounding 13 titles won.
While there has also been some brilliant teams assembled in more recent years such as the Manchester City side that earned 100 points in the 2017/18 season.
Arsenal‘s “Invincibles” that won the title unbeaten in 2003/04 remain one of a kind in Prem history.
Here are the top 10 moments since the Premier League began…
10. Liverpool 4 Newcastle 3 in April 1996
Liverpool and Newcastle are among the most passionately supported clubs in the country, and when they came to head in 1996 the game didn’t disappoint.
Both sides had lost their previous matches and trailed Manchester United in a three-way race for the Premier League title.
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With both keen to close the gap on the Red Devils, victory could be vital.
The match itself was filled with drama as both sides gave it their all to stay withing touching distance of Sir Alex Ferguson‘s United.
Liverpool took the lead just two minutes in as Robbie Fowler netted the opener.
The Magpies then hit back as Les Ferdinand and David Ginola put them ahead before half-time.
Fowler scored an equaliser in the 55th minute before Faustino Asprilla restored the visitor’s lead.
The Reds were then cheered on by the Anfield crowd as Stan Collymore netted a brace to win the match.
9. Jose Mourinho’s introduction
Jose Mourinho arrived on English shores for the first time back in 2004, when he was made Chelsea manager after his success at Porto.
The Portuguese manager did not disappoint as in his first press conference, he insisted that he was “not arrogant” but referred to himself as “The Special One”.
The nickname has stuck by Mourinho as he has gone on to win three Premier League titles across two spells at the Blues.
8. Hansen’s “can’t win with kids” comment
Alan Hansen built his reputation as a brilliant defender at Liverpool and helped the team win eight First Division titles and three European Cups.
He retired in 1991 and pursued a career in the media, leading to an iconic moment in 1995.
After Manchester United were beaten by Aston Villa on the opening day of the season, Hansen claimed that the club cannot “win anything with kids”.
The comment came as the Red Devils let Paul Ince, Mark Hughes and Andrei Kanchelskis leave and introduced youngsters in their place.
Those youngsters included Nicky Butt, Gary Neville, Paul Scholes and David Beckham – better known as “The Class of 92”.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s side went on to win the league that season and dominate football for many years to come – Oh how wrong you were Alan.
7. Aguerooooooooooo!!!
The seventh most memorable moment in the league’s history came from Sergio Aguero.
The striker scored Manchester City’s title-winning goal against QPR back in 2012.
The Argentine’s strike came at 93.20 and gave Roberto Mancini‘s side a 3-2 victory over the London-based side.
The win meant Sir Alex Ferguson and his Manchester United players were left heartbroken in Sunderland after their victory was put in vein.
The goal has always been remembered for Martin Tyler’s iconic commentary as he screamed: “Aguerooooooooo” as the striker scored.
That day marked City’s first ever Premier League title, staring a period of domination that has seen them win another SEVEN titles since that day.
6. Steven Gerrard’s slip
Liverpool have only won one Premier League title in their history but could have had two if not for a fateful slip.
The Reds were the favourites to lift the title under Brendan Rodgers in 2014 as they sat a comfortable five points ahead of rivals Man City with three games to go.
A home win against Chelsea would have put the title in their grasp, but with the game at 0-0, disaster struck.
Steven Gerrard, captain and leader, slipped on the ball, which allowed Demba Ba to race through and score.
The game ended in a 2-0 defeat, and Liverpool’s following collapse at Crystal Palace saw the title won by City.
5. Wayne Rooney’s overhead kick
The Manchester derby has always been one of the most exciting fixtures in the Premier League.
It has thrown up some incredible moments, such as City’s 6-1 win at Old Trafford.
However, one goal stands above all others in the fixture and it came from the legend that is Wayne Rooney.
In 2011, the derby was underway and looked set for a 1-1 draw after goals from Nani and David Silva cancelled each other out.
That was until Rooney pulled off an amazing overhead kick in the 78th minute to win the match.
The goal has often been proclaimed as the best in the history of the Premier League.
4. Kevin Keegan’s ‘love it’ rant
Club managers have been a key part of creating Premier League folklore.
One boss, Kevin Keegan, stands out for his incredible rant during the 1995/96 title race.
Newcastle were going head-to-head with the Red Devils, and Keegan’s side faced Leeds, who had three games to go.
The Magpies won 1-0 and the manager had an outburst after the game as he reacted to Ferguson’s doubts over the club’s title credentials.
He ranted: “I’ll tell you, you can tell him [Ferguson] now if you’re watching it, we’re still fighting for this title, and he’s got to go to Middlesbrough and get something, and… and… I’ll tell you, honestly, I will love it if we beat them, love it!”
However, it was not the dream end for Keegan as Newcastle drew their next two games against Nottingham Forest and Tottenham.
Man United beat Middlesborough and won the title.
3. Foxes do the impossible
For most of its history, the Premier League has often been dominated by the biggest clubs.
However, in the 2015/16 season, one side seemed to do what many thought was impossible.
Leicester City scrapped to Premier League survival the season before, and Nigel Pearson was controversially replaced by Claudio Ranieri.
The Italian, along with summer signings N’Golo Kante, Robert Huth and Shinji Okazaki improved the team that already included Jamie Vardy and Riyad Marhez.
The East Midlands side then managed to defy the odds and win the whole division despite many backing them for relegation at the start of the season.
Leicester’s achievement was incredibly improbable as they had been given odds of 5000-1 to win the Prem at the start of the campaign.
2. Beckham’s halfway line screamer
David Beckham is known for many things. From his free-kick against Greece in and England shirt to his superstar status off the pitch.
But when it comes to the Premier League, his greatest moment will always be considered as his stunning goal against Wimbledon.
Just 21 years old at the time, a fresh-faced Beckham etched his name into the brains of football fans up and down the country.
United were leading Wimbledon 2-0 when Beckham spotted that opposition keeper Neil Sullivan was off his line.
The midfielder let fly from the halfway line, clearing Sullivan and seeing his long-range effort hit the back of the net.
Some players have scored similar efforts in the years since, but Beckham will forever be the benchmark for which halfway line goals are measured.
1. Cantona’s Kung Fu kick
If this was a list of the Premier League’s most iconic characters Eric Cantona would be at the top, so it’s no surprise that his most famous moment tops the list of the league’s most memorable moments too.
During a game against Crystal Palace in 1995, Cantona was berated by a fan in the stands – sparking a reaction from the Frenchman.
Cantona didn’t take kindly to the choice words and leapt into the crowd feet first to kick the fan directly in the chest.
Naturally, Cantona was shown red for his unbelievable outburst.
But his punishment didn’t stop there, Cantona was banned from football for NINE MONTHS and fined £20,000.
While the courts handed him a two-week prison sentence, which was later reduced to 120 hours of community service after an appeal.
Top 10 most memorable Premier League moments
Here is the full list of the ten most memorable moments in the history of the Prem..
10. Liverpool 4, Newcastle 3 in April 1996
9. Mourinho – ‘I think I am the special one’ – his introduction to the Premier League
8. Alan Hansen’s ‘You can’t win anything with kids’ line in 1995
7. Aguerooo – Man City’s title winning goal against QPR in 2012
6. Steven Gerrard’s fateful slip in the Chelsea match in April 2014
5. Wayne Rooney’s bicycle kick against Man City in 2011
4. Kevin Keegan’s ‘I’d love it’ moment when Newcastle and Man Utd were battling for the Premier League title in 1995/96
3. Leicester City winning the Premier League in 2015/16
2. David Beckham’s goal from the halfway line against Wimbledon on the opening day of the 1995/96 season
1. Eric Cantona’s Kung Fu kick against a Crystal Palace fan in 1995