The worst footballers ever to be crowned Premier League champions

Lucky to be there

For many, there is no greater achievement in English football than lifting the Premier League trophy, yet over the years, there have been plenty of players on the periphery of winning squads who were probably just happy to be there.

Undeserving

This list highlights 20 individuals whose Premier League triumphs came despite minimal on-field contribution, raising eyebrows even years later.

19. Federico Chiesa

One of the latest players to add his name to the list of Premier League winners, Chiesa's contribution has been almost non-existent. Despite arriving with a big reputation as a Euro 2020 winner with Italy, the winger, who joined Liverpool from Juventus in the summer of 2024, will only just qualify for a medal after appearing for a matter of minutes this campaign. Arne Slot clearly just doesn't fancy him...

18. Gökhan Inler

A marquee signing for Leicester’s miracle 2015–16 season, Inler was expected to bring calm and experience to midfield. Instead, he barely played and was quickly phased out by N’Golo Kanté and Danny Drinkwater. The Swiss captain had an otherwise respectable international career, but his Premier League stint was a footnote.

17. Mark Bosnich

Bosnich did win the Premier League with Manchester United in 1999–2000 but played a very limited role. Once considered a top keeper at Aston Villa, fitness issues and off-the-field problems undermined his United spell. He was later released, and his career fizzled out. A winner on paper, but not in performance.

16. David May

A cult hero at Manchester United mostly for celebrating wildly in the 1999 treble parade, May's on-pitch contributions were minimal. He made just a single Premier League appearance that season and was nowhere near the first team. Although he had a nine-year stint at the club, he’s remembered more for being present than performing. A classic case of being in the right place at the right time.

15. Sergio Gómez

Signed as a young utility player for Manchester City, Gómez won the back-to-back titles in 2022–23 and 2023–24 despite barely featuring. Originally a Barcelona academy product, he mostly featured in cup games or dead rubbers before sealing a return to Spain with Real Sociedad.

14. Mateja Kezman

Signed by Chelsea in 2004 with a prolific scoring record from the Eredivisie, Kezman arrived with high expectations. However, he managed just four league goals in his sole Premier League season (per Transfermarkt) and was quickly offloaded, having won the title while barely contributing. His career never recovered its early momentum.

13. Luke Chadwick

A product of Manchester United’s youth system, Chadwick (right) earned a medal in the 2000–01 season. While he had decent technical ability, he was never close to becoming a regular starter. He later forged a solid career in the lower leagues, but didn’t belong at a title-winning side. His Premier League impact was brief and peripheral.

12. Alexey Smertin

Smertin featured occasionally for Chelsea during the 2004–05 title-winning season, but failed to establish himself at a club bursting with big-money talent. Despite international experience with Russia, the midfielder was often loaned out or used as squad depth. His time in England was underwhelming.

10. Pascal Cygan

Cygan was part of Arsenal's famous 'Invincibles' squad in 2003–04 but made only a limited number of appearances. Known for his awkward style and clumsy defending, he was never convincing as a top-level defender, despite the club’s success. Still, after leaving Highbury, he managed to carve out a commendable career during a spell at Villarreal.

9. Costel Pantilimon

The towering Romanian keeper was part of Manchester City’s 2013–14 title-winning squad, serving primarily as backup to Joe Hart. Known more for his height than his shot-stopping, Pantilimon later drifted between mid-table and Championship sides, eventually finding his true level.

8. Oleh Luzhny

Luzhny was a depth option for Arsenal during their 2001–02 double win, playing the occasional game at right-back, albeit always behind Lauren in the pecking order. While he captained Ukraine at international level, his Premier League career was forgettable and his impact on the team’s success was negligible. He did, nonetheless, spend four seasons at Highbury.

7. Eliaquim Mangala

Signed by Manchester City for over £40 million ($67m/€50m), according to Manchester Evening News, Mangala was one of the most disappointing signings in Premier League history. His performances were riddled with errors and poor positioning, and, despite winning the league in 2017–18, he was quickly deemed surplus to requirements.

6. Alexander Büttner

Büttner scored on his Manchester United debut in 2012, but that was as good as it got. He was part of the 2012–13 title-winning squad under Sir Alex Ferguson, but made just five league appearances (per Transfermarkt). Defensively suspect and positionally erratic, he never looked Premier League-ready. He faded from top-level football almost immediately after leaving Old Trafford.

5. Jack Rodwell

Once tipped to be the future of England’s midfield, Rodwell won the Premier League with Manchester City in 2013–14, having left boyhood club Everton in acrimonious circumstances. However, his City spell was disastrous. Marred by injuries, poor performances and lack of confidence, he later became a symbol of mismanagement and wasted potential at Sunderland. He's a sad case of a promising player who faded fast.

4. Jeremie Aliadiere

Aliadiere spent years at Arsenal, hailed as a top prospect, but never broke through. He was part of the 2001–02 title squad but made no meaningful impact. Despite multiple chances, injuries and inconsistency derailed his progress. His Premier League career was a long wait for something that never arrived.

3. Darren Ferguson

Darren Ferguson won the Premier League with Manchester United in the inaugural 1992–93 season, but few would say he earned it. As the son of Sir Alex, his inclusion in the squad always raised eyebrows. He made only a handful of appearances and was far from the level of his teammates. An example of footballing nepotism!

Nepotism

Ferguson left United shortly after winning the title and spent the rest of his playing career in the lower leagues. While he later became a decent Football League manager, his presence in United’s early title success is baffling. A classic case of nepotism.

2. Igors Stepanovs

Stepanovs was part of Arsenal’s 2001–02 title-winning squad, but fans remember him more for his disasters than his triumphs. Signed as emergency cover for the injured Tony Adams, his most infamous outing came in a 6–1 thrashing by Manchester United, where he was ruthlessly exposed.

Out of his depth

Arsenal quickly realised their mistake: Stepanovs made a total of 31 appearances across three seasons (per Transfermarkt) and was quietly moved on. His later career took him to Belgium, Switzerland and back to Latvia — far from Europe’s elite stage. That he has a Premier League medal remains a head-scratcher.

Troublemaker

As reported by the Guardian, Wallwork’s career was marred by several controversies. In 1999, while on loan at Royal Antwerp, he received a lifetime ban from the Belgian FA for assaulting a referee — a ban later reduced. Then, in 2006, he was stabbed multiple times in a Manchester nightclub before, in 2011, he was jailed for 15 months for handling stolen car parts. Ten years later, he received an 18-month suspended sentence for an assault in a pub. Few Premier League winners have experienced such a dramatic fall from grace.