Michael Owen has named his all-time Premier League XI - and it is dominated by ex- Manchester United players.
The Red Devils have won the division a record 13 times since its introduction back in 1992 - with Manchester City second on six and Chelsea third with five triumphs. Liverpool, Leicester, Arsenal and Blackburn are the other winners of the Premier League, which got underway 30 years ago last week.
Owen is still the 10th highest scoring player in the division, having netted 150 goals in 326 matches, and he has analysed his best team from the Premier League era. In an interview with Premier League Productions, via GiveMeSport, Owen, alongside former Arsenal striker Ian Wright, deliberated his side.
Goalkeeper: Peter Schmeichel
A commanding 'keeper, Schmeichel was one of the first names on Sir Alex Ferguson's teamsheet as he helped United to all those titles in the late 1990s.
Owen on Schmeichel: "Peter Schmeichel for me. He backs it up with trophies. He was involved in the greatest team of that generation. He had presence, size, he was commanding. He drove that team forward. I think he’s a standout."
Defenders: Gary Neville, Rio Ferdinand, John Terry, Ashley Cole
There are two United stars and two Chelsea players in defence, with both teams dominant in the Premier League over the years. Neville and Ferdinand was part of that excellent United back-line alongside Nemanja Vidic and Patrice Evra, while Terry and Cole also won the Champions League together in 2012.
Owen on Neville: "Underestimated."
Owen on Ferdinand: "I think he was a total Rolls Royce."
Owen on Terry: "Great leader. Longevity."
Owen on Cole: "I don’t think there are any questions about the left back at all."
Midfielders: Steven Gerrard, Patrick Vieira, Paul Scholes
Gerrard is the only midfielder out of the three without a Premier League medal, with Vieira and Scholes both winning the league on a number of occasions each. Yaya Toure and Kevin de Bruyne were amongst those to miss out on selection into Owen's team.
Owen on Gerrard: "The first name that went in, Steven Gerrard. He went in straight away. He had absolutely everything. He’s too big, too strong, too fast, amazing in the air, amazing tackler, amazing shooter of the ball. Scored goals, assists, passing was perfection. What can’t Steven Gerrard do? Big names, you want him next to you. Honestly, just the best."
Owen on Scholes: "What a magician."
Owen added: "I was toing and froing there’s Lampard, there’s Toure, there’s Roy Keane. If De Bruyne keeps going he’s going to have to muscle in there somewhere."
Strikers: Cristiano Ronaldo, Alan Shearer, Thierry Henry
This front-three have scored more than 500 times in the Premier League. They need no introduction.
Owen on Ronaldo: "I had to get Ronaldo in. He’s one of the greatest players ever. Full stop."
Owen on Shearer: "The highest scorer in the Premier League. An absolute monster of a centre forward."
Owen on Henry : "The best player, in my opinion, that’s graced the Premier League. Thierry Henry."
Owen added: "Very, very difficult to leave out Wayne Rooney."
