John Terry and Andrew Cole were inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame on Monday, becoming the 23rd and 24th former players to be awarded the honour.
Both are five-time Premier League champions. Cole won three-in-a-row with Manchester United between 1999 and 2001 as well as in 1996 and 1997. Terry won back-to-back titles in 2005 and 2006, while he also lifted the trophy in 2010, 2015 and 2017.
– Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.)
Cole is the fourth-highest goal scorer in Premier League history with 187 goals in 414 appearances, winning the golden boot in the 1993-94 season with Newcastle.
“I’m proud of everything I’ve achieved in football, which is thanks to my family, my coaches and my team-mates, and being inducted into the Hall of Fame makes me very proud,” Cole said.
“Football is a game of ups and downs, but I enjoyed every single minute of my career. My dad wanted me to play cricket, but I said, ‘No dad, I think I’m good at football.’ Looking back at my career always fills me with great pride and puts a smile on my face.”
Chelsea’s most successful captain, Terry also holds the record for most clean sheets as a defender, while he is also the Premier League’s all-time top scoring defender with 41 goals.
“I’m very grateful to have been voted into the Premier League Hall of Fame. I’m a player that certainly gave my all whenever I stepped out on the pitch and to be recognised in this way makes me really proud.
“It’s great to have joined my former team-mates who have already been inducted, and to be inducted in the same year as Ashley Cole, who was an incredible player and a close friend.
“I was lucky to share a dressing room with so many top players. To captain a club like Chelsea and achieve what we did as a team is so special to me. The Premier League is the best league in the world, which every player hopes to play in, and I’m very proud to have won it five times.”