Two iconic former players have been inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame. Gary Neville won eight Premier League titles as part of Sir Alex Ferguson’s reign of terror at Manchester United – only his teammates Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs have lifted the trophy more times.
And Eden Hazard, the Chelsea icon, has been recognised for his part in a pair of Premier League triumphs for the Blues. The Belgian was also selected in the Premier League Team of the Season on four separate occasions.
They are, surprisingly, the only two inductees in the Class of ’25. Any player that had retired as of January 1, 2025, was eligible for nomination. As many as eight players were inducted in 2021 and 2022, with three apiece in 2023 and 2024. The inclusion of Neville and Hazard brings the tally of players in the Hall of Fame to 24.
The Class of 2025
The Class of ‘25, Eden Hazard and Gary Neville. ✨ pic.twitter.com/Z9w7yz4CPP
— Premier League (@premierleague) October 30, 2025
One Premier League writer described Neville as the ‘greatest right back’ in Premier League history. And while that’s a statement that’s open to debate, his success at Old Trafford isn’t. Neville owns the fifth-best clean sheet record in EPL history even now, while ranking inside the top-ten in the competition for assists provided by a defender.
A one-club man, the now Sky Sports pundit was a trusted lieutenant of Sir Alex Ferguson, who was not known for accepting anything other than the best – Neville made 400 Premier League appearances for Manchester United, all told.
On the decision to induct Neville into the Hall of Fame, Ferguson commented: “I am delighted for Gary; it’s a well-earned recognition of a fine career at the highest level.” As for Hazard, his status as a brilliant – albeit mercurial – attacking talent has earned him Hall of Fame status. The Belgian offered up 139 goal involvements in 245 appearances for Chelsea, helping them to two titles and a host of other silverware – alongside his own personal accolades, which included PFA Player of the Year and Premier League Playmaker of the Season honours.
Hazard didn’t always come up with the goods – his frustrating inconsistency somehow adding to his allure, but notable former Chelsea colleagues have spoken in the most glowing terms about the former forward. John Terry made the bold claim that Hazard is Chelsea’s ‘greatest ever player’, while Jose Mourinho also described him as ‘one of the most amazing players that I have ever worked with.’
The Class of 2021
The Premier League’s Hall of Fame wasn’t inaugurated until 2021. Only players that have made 250 or more EPL appearances are eligible, with exceptions made for those that have won the Golden Boot or Golden Glove, scored 100 goals or kept 100 clean sheets, have won the Premier League three times, been named in a Team of the Decade or voted Player of the Season.
The big cheeses wanted to get the Hall of Fame up and running with a bang in 2021, so they inducted eight players to get the ball rolling. That initial Class of ’21 included a handful of goal machines – Alan Shearer, who remains the Premier League’s all time top goalscorer to this day, was joined by Thierry Henry, Eric Cantona and Dennis Bergkamp.
Three of the finest midfielders ever to set foot on the pitch in a Premier League game were also honoured. Frank Lampard is a three-time EPL champion that bagged an extraordinary 177 goals from midfield, while Steven Gerrard was the focal point of Liverpool’s starting eleven for more than a decade… and rightly considered one of the best in the business.
And the fire, energy, leadership and no lack of skill in Roy Keane saw the feisty Irishman recognised. The final player recognised in the Class of ’21 was David Beckham, who despite attracting a reputation as something of a wally also happened to be one of the most technically gifted footballers ever to lace up his boots on British soil.
Class of 2022
Following the octet of 2021 another eight former stars earned their stripes in the Hall of Fame in 2022. This time, some defence-orientated players got a look in. Peter Schmeichel would be many pundits’ idea of the best goalkeeper in Premier League history, aiding Manchester United to five EPL titles with his Herculean performances between the sticks. And Vincent Kompany, so often a colossus in defence as Manchester City asserted themselves as English football’s premier force, also got the nod as a four-time Premier League champion.
The magnificent Paul Scholes and the combative Patrick Vieira, so often midfield foes in the red-hot rivalry between Manchester United and Arsenal in and around the dawn of the new millennium, were inducted in 2022. And there was still space for another handful of prolific goalscorers: Wayne Rooney, Didier Drogba, Sergio Aguero and Ian Wright.
Class of 2023
The Class of ’23 was staffed exclusively by defensive players. Tony Adams, the supreme ball-playing defender in an age before centre backs were judged on their technical ability, had previously been selected in the Premier League’s 20-Year Anniversary team. Petr Cech, meanwhile, is a four-time Premier League champion who to this day has still kept more clean sheets than any other EPL goalkeeper.
And Rio Ferdinand was the technically sound and physically dominating centre back that made more than 500 Premier League appearances for West Ham, Leeds United, Manchester United and QPR – he’s still one of only 13 members of the EPL’s 500 Club.
Class of 2024
Three more Premier League icons were inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2024. Two of them were Chelsea teammates: Ashley Cole and John Terry combined to bring plenty of success to Stamford Bridge, including a Premier League title win in 2009/10.
Separately, Cole won two Premier League titles with Arsenal and Terry hoisted the famous trophy four more times with Chelsea. Rounding out the trio was Andy Cole, who notched 187 Premier League goals – he ranks fifth in the all-time standings to this day – and won five EPL championships with Manchester United.
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