Tony Adams, Petr Cech and Rio Ferdinand have been inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame.
The likes of Alan Shearer, Thierry Henry, Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard have all been previously inducted since it was unveiled in 2021.
Earlier this year, legendary managers Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger were announced as this year’s first inductees, with the latest trio topping a 15-man shortlist consisting of the competition's best players to join them in the elite group.
What is the Premier League Hall of Fame?
The Premier League Hall of Fame is a collection of the competition's greatest-ever players. Nominees are selected by the Premier League and members of the Premier League Awards Panel based on their contribution and record of success since the league's inception in 1992.
How did the vote work?
This year’s inductees were decided by the general public, with fans able to vote for who they would like to see become Hall of Famers.
Voting commenced on Monday 10th April, with the three players joining Ferguson and Wenger as part of 2023’s intake.
Who is already in the Premier League Hall of Fame?
Since inducting its first members in 2021, there are now 21 former players and managers in the Premier League Hall of Fame.
2021's inductees were: Alan Shearer, Thierry Henry, Eric Cantona, Roy Keane, David Beckham, Dennis Bergkamp, Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard.
2022's inductees were: Patrick Vieira, Wayne Rooney, Ian Wright, Peter Schmeichel, Paul Scholes, Didier Drogba, Vincent Kompany and Sergio Aguero.
This year saw Ferguson and Wenger become the first managers to enter the Hall of Fame, with Arsenal skipper Adams, Chelsea legend Cech and Man United's defensive stalwart Ferdinand winning a recent public vote.
Who has been inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame? Tony Adams
Former Arsenal captain Adams – a two-time winner of the Premier League (alongside the Gunners’ Division One success in 1989) – has his place in the competition’s folklore assured. His spectacular finish against Everton in 1998 – 25 years to the day of his induction – put the icing on the cake as Arsenal stormed to their first top-flight title of the Premier League era.
A stalwart of the Gunners’ backline in a spell spanning three decades, Adams’ haul of 255 appearances since the league’s inception in 1992 makes him one of English football’s most decorated players.
The one-club man joins former teammates Henry, Vieira, Wright and Bergkamp in the Hall of Fame.
Petr Cech
Shot-stopper Cech joined Chelsea in the summer of 2004 from Rennes as one of the first signings under Jose Mourinho at Stamford Bridge.
Part of the record-breaking backline that conceded just 15 goals in an incredible debut season – sealing Chelsea’s first league title for 50 years in the process – it was perhaps inevitable he would go on to become a Premier League great.
Indeed, after over a decade in west London, where he earned four top-flight crowns, he further enhanced his status as a true great of the game when he broke the Premier League’s all-time clean sheets record, surpassing David James with his 170th shutout while playing for Arsenal in December 2015.
Ending on a grand total of 202 – 33 more than James’ tally – there is little doubt Cech is more than worthy of a place amongst the league’s elite.
Rio Ferdinand
Ferdinand’s £30m move from Leeds to Manchester United in 2002 saw his Premier League career truly take off. The ex-West Ham defender won six titles at Old Trafford, including in his debut season.
His partnership with teammate – and fellow Hall of Fame nominee – Nemanja Vidic has been labelled as one of the greatest in the division’s history, with the Red Devils’ record run of three consecutive titles a clear reason why.
He ended his career back in London at QPR, where he was unable to save them from relegation, though he did make his 500th appearance during his spell at Loftus Road.
As part of the latest inductees, he becomes the seventh United player in the Hall of Fame, alongside his former boss, Sir Alex Ferguson.
Who were the other Premier League Hall of Fame nominees in 2023? Sol Campbell
Campbell sent shockwaves through north London in the summer of 2001 when he made the controversial switch from Tottenham Hotspur to Arsenal – but it was in the red part of the capital where he enjoyed the bulk of his success.
Winning two Premier League titles and FA Cups within his first three seasons at Highbury, the Gunners ‘Invincible’ was a mainstay in their historic 2003/04 campaign under Wenger with 35 appearances while powering Arsenal to an unprecedented triumph.
A spell with Portsmouth followed before a brief return to Arsenal in 2010 and a short stint at Newcastle United, where he surpassed 500 appearances in the top flight.
Michael Carrick
Starting out at West Ham United, midfielder Carrick took his career to new heights after moving to Spurs and earning himself a switch to Manchester United, where he won no fewer than five Premier League titles.
Being part of a star-studded United side may have left his contributions to go under the radar, but with the likes of ex-teammate Scholes already part of the Hall of Fame, perhaps it is time the current Middlesbrough boss got the recognition his stellar career deserves.