List of footballers with 500 or more Premier League appearances explained

Since the Premier League's formation at the start of the 1992–93 season, 13 players have accrued 500 or more appearances in the Premier League. The first player to reach the milestone was midfielder Gary Speed, in representation of Leeds United, Everton, Newcastle United and Bolton Wanderers; his 500th match was Bolton's 4–0 win over West Ham United on 9 December 2006.[1] [2] Speed held the record for most appearances until 14 February 2009, when goalkeeper David James played his 536th match, for Portsmouth against his former team Manchester City.[3] James ended with 572 appearances, a record which was broken by Ryan Giggs on 14 May 2011, having played all of his matches for Manchester United.[4] On 25 September 2017, Gareth Barry broke Giggs' record by playing his 633rd match, West Bromwich Albion's 2–0 loss at Arsenal.[5] At the time of breaking the record, Barry ranked 8th in English top division appearances since the Second World War, trailing Giggs in 6th (672 total top division appearances) and six other players.[6] [7] Barry is the youngest of the 13 players to have achieved the feat.[8]

Giggs (Manchester United), Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher (both Liverpool) are the only three players to have achieved the accolade of 500+ Premier League appearances exclusively for one club. James Milner plays for his sixth club, which is the most of anyone in the 500 Club. Emile Heskey, David James and Milner each played for five Premier League clubs on their way to 500+ Premier League games, more than anyone else who succeeded this feat. The only player from outside the United Kingdom to play 500 Premier League games is Australian goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, for Middlesbrough, Fulham, Chelsea and Leicester City.[9]

Of the still active players in the Premier League, Ashley Young is closest to joining the 500 Club. The Everton defender has 454 Premier League appearances as of 18 August 2024 (20 for Watford, 210 for Aston Villa and 192 for Manchester United). Manchester City's Kyle Walker is next with 395 matches played in the Premier League.[10]

List of players

Players are initially listed by number of appearances. If number of appearances are equal, the players are then listed chronologically by the year of first appearance. Current Premier League players and their current clubs are shown in bold.

Statistics are updated as of 17 August 2024.

Premier League players with at least 500 appearances!Rank!!Player!!!!!!!!!!!!Club(s)
1MF65319982018,,,
2MF63520022024,,,,,
3MF63219922014
4MF60919962015,,
5GK57219922010,,,,
6MF53519922007,,,
7FW51619952012,,,,
8GK51419972015,,,
9DF50819972013
10MF50519952013,
11DF50419962015,,,
MF50419982015
13DF50319922011,,,

Most appearances by club

Current Premier League clubs and players who hold the record for the club are shown in bold, defunct clubs are in italics.

[10] [11]

RankClubwidth=150Player
1Manchester United63219922014
2Liverpool50819972013
3Chelsea49219982017
4West Ham United41420052022
5Bolton Wanderers37920012011
6Aston Villa36519982009
7Everton36420092024
8Tottenham Hotspur36120122023
9Newcastle United35419972009
10Southampton34220122023
11Arsenal33319922004
12Middlesbrough33219972008
13Leeds United32519932004
14Stoke City31720082018
15Manchester City30920102020
16Leicester City30820142024
17Crystal Palace30420132024
18West Bromwich Albion26920082018
19Sheffield Wednesday26419932000
20Blackburn Rovers26120012008
21Wimbledon24419922000
22Brighton & Hove Albion24220172024
23Fulham21720082014
Burnley21720142022
25Bournemouth20920152024
26Swansea City19820112018
27Wigan Athletic19420062013
28Coventry City19119922000
29Sunderland18920112017
30Charlton Athletic18719982006
31Wolverhampton Wanderers17720182023
32Nottingham Forest17419921999
33Derby County17119962002
34Watford16520152021
35Birmingham City15020022009
36Portsmouth14420032008
37Queens Park Rangers14219921996
38Norwich City12520112016
39Ipswich Town11219921995
40Hull City10920132017
41Brentford10520212024

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Bolton 4-0 West Ham. 9 December 2006. 28 October 2015. BBC Sport.
  2. Web site: Walker . Michael . The Premier League 60: No 40, Gary Speed . 13 August 2020 . 23 May 2021 . . subscription.
  3. Web site: Fletcher . Paul . Portsmouth 2-0 Man City . BBC Sport . 14 February 2009 . 23 May 2021.
  4. News: Smith . Ben . Rejuvenated David James sets his sights on a new landmark . 16 November 2012 . 28 October 2015 . BBC Sport.
  5. News: Gareth Barry breaks Ryan Giggs' Premier League appearance record. 25 September 2017. 25 September 2017 . Sky Sports.
  6. Live MNF: Arsenal v West Brom. Monday Night Football. Sky. Sky Sports Main Event HD. 25 September 2017. 7.
  7. Includes games played in the Football League First Division between 1946 and 1992 and subsequently all games played in the Premier League.
  8. Web site: Sandford . Daniel . Premier League players with 500 appearances ranked: Where does James Milner fit in with Rio Ferdinand, Steven Gerrard and Ryan Giggs? . 10 December 2018 . 23 May 2021 . TalkSport.
  9. News: Schwarzer first overseas player to join 500 club. 22 April 2013. 28 October 2015. Premier League.
  10. Web site: Premier League player appearances . Premier League. 13 November 2023.
  11. Web site: Premier League » All-time appearances. WorldFootball.net. 17 December 2023.

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