The Premier League’s Hall of Fame welcomed John Terry and Andrew Cole into its ranks, as announced by the English top flight on Monday.
Chosen from a pool of 15 former players, Andrew Cole and John Terry earned their places in the Premier League’s Hall of Fame through a combination of fan votes worldwide and those of the Premier League awards panel.
They join Ashley Cole, who was also honored with the league’s highest accolade this year, becoming the 23rd and 24th inductees overall.
Andrew Cole. Ashley Cole. John Terry.
The #PLHallOfFame‘s newest members. pic.twitter.com/XQRyPPvBDQ
— Premier League (@premierleague) April 22, 2024
These three esteemed former England players will be formally acknowledged at an event in London on Tuesday.
Cole, renowned as the fourth-highest goalscorer in Premier League history, amassed 187 goals in 414 appearances and secured five titles with Manchester United. The 52-year-old enjoyed stints with various other clubs, including Newcastle, where he claimed the Golden Boot in his debut Premier League season.
“My dad wanted me to play cricket, but I said, ‘No dad, I think I’m good at football’,” said Cole.
“Looking back at my career always fills me with great pride and puts a smile on my face.”
Terry, 43, is the most successful Chelsea captain in the club’s history, leading the team to five Premier League titles.
He boasts the record for the most Premier League clean sheets among defenders, tallying 214, and holds the title of the league’s highest-scoring defender of all time, having netted 41 goals in 492 top-flight appearances.
“I was lucky to share a dressing room with so many top players,” he said. “To captain a club like Chelsea and achieve what we did as a team is so special to me.”
Richard Masters, the chief executive of the Premier League, described Cole and Terry as “worthy additions” to the Hall of Fame.
Masters praised Cole as “one of the greatest strikers we have seen,” while acknowledging Terry’s instrumental role in elevating Chelsea into a dominant force in the Premier League.
Launched in 2021, the Hall of Fame’s inaugural inductees included David Beckham, Eric Cantona, Thierry Henry, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, and Alan Shearer.
Chelsea captain and legend. 👑
John Terry has been inducted into the @PremierLeague‘s Hall of Fame! 💙🙌
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) April 22, 2024