In Focus: Everton's Premier League legends from Ferguson to Baines

Sean Wilson
LiveScore
One-club man Leon Osman featured in 14 Premier League seasons for Everton
One-club man Leon Osman featured in 14 Premier League seasons for Everton

Everton remain one of just six ever-present Premier League clubs — and Goodison Park has been graced by plenty of top players in the last three decades.

Supporters on Merseyside have witnessed David Moyes' top four-clinching team in 2004-05 and Roberto Martinez's swashbuckling side of 2013-14, who earned a club-record 72 points.

But which Toffees talents have shone most brightly over that time?

LiveScore takes a look at the greatest players to don an Everton shirt in the Premier League era.

Tim Howard

Where better to start than with Everton's top Premier League appearance-maker?

Tim Howard initially joined the Toffees on loan from Manchester United in 2006 but his move was swiftly made permanent the following summer.

The American goalkeeper remained on Merseyside until 2016, racking up 354 league appearances — including 210 consecutively — before returning to his homeland.

He even managed to get on the scoresheet for the club — becoming just the fourth Premier League goalkeeper to do so when he found the net against Bolton in 2011-12.

Leon Osman

Sitting just two games behind Howard on Everton's all-time Premier League appearances list is Leon Osman.

The midfielder joined the Toffees' academy as a child and stayed at Goodison Park for his entire career — only leaving temporarily for loan spells at Carlisle and Derby.

Aside from Howard, Osman is the only other player to make over 350 league appearances for the club in the last 30 years.

Speaking in 2016, then-manager Martinez praised the long-serving club legend.

He said: "You don't get many footballers like Leon.

"You don't get so many players celebrating testimonials in the modern game.

"And then you look at the way he is enjoying his football, the way he is efficient and effective in games.

"I think that is him, if you want to have a snapshot of what he brings in a game.

"He has great composure, arrives into the box and shows real style and quality to score."

Duncan Ferguson

Physical frontman Duncan Ferguson is Everton's most iconic Premier League era striker
Physical frontman Duncan Ferguson is Everton's most iconic Premier League era striker

While Duncan Ferguson's impressive haul of 239 Premier League outings for Everton does not come close to either Howard or Osman's tallies, it is the centre forward's record in front of goal that makes him a Toffees icon.

The 6ft 4in striker hit 60 league strikes for the Merseysiders in his two spells at the club from 1994-1998 and 2000-2006 — only Romelu Lukaku (68) has managed more for Everton.

Ferguson — the highest-scoring Scot in Premier League history — is equally famous for his aggressive style of play as for his exploits in the penalty area, being shown a joint-record eight red cards in the competition.

Tim Cahill

Just one strike behind Ferguson on Everton's Premier League goalscoring charts is Tim Cahill.

The Australian midfielder, who spent eight years on Merseyside between 2004 and 2012, was famously imperious in the air — scoring 22 of his 56 Premier League goals with his head.

With his leap and trademark boxing celebration at the corner flag, Cahill certainly left his mark at Goodison Park.

Goalscoring midfielder Tim Cahill was a key figure during David Moyes' time as Everton boss
Goalscoring midfielder Tim Cahill was a key figure during David Moyes' time as Everton boss

Leighton Baines

Deservedly rounding off our list is Everton's legendary left-back Leighton Baines.

The set-piece specialist racked up 53 Premier League assists for the Toffees, which is more than any other player and 13 clear of his nearest challenger Mikel Arteta.

In fact, the full-back holds the league's record for assists as a defender, making him a significant figure in recent top-flight history — as well as a star in the blue half of Liverpool.

Tags

Premier LeagueEverton