Feature

Who is the Premier League's best ever Italian player?

1 May 2020
Best Italian player lead

Di Canio? Zola? Ravanelli? Choose your favourite to feature in the competition

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Some exceptionally gifted players have come from overseas to light up the Premier League, and we are celebrating the talent that has arrived from some selected nations.

Italy

Known for their style and class, the four-time FIFA World Cup winners have been well-represented in England's top flight, and we want to know who you think has been the best Italian in the competition.

Since the start of the 1992/93 season, 76 have played in the Premier League, with Andrea Silenzi being the first when he lined up for Nottingham Forest in August 1995.

Gianfranco Zola's brilliance for Chelsea made him a Premier League icon as he scored 59 goals and provided 42 assists for the club.

He teamed up with his countrymen Roberto Di Matteo and Gianluca Vialli, who both went on to manage the Blues to domestic and European success. 

Only Paolo Di Canio has beaten Zola's figures among Italians, netting 66 times and setting up a further 49 goals with Sheffield WednesdayWest Ham United and latterly Charlton Athletic.

Leading PL numbers for Italian players
Appearances Goals Assists
Gianfranco Zola 229 Paolo Di Canio 66 Paolo Di Canio  49
Paolo Di Canio  190 Gianfranco Zola 59 Gianfranco Zola  42
Benito Carbone  177 Benito Carbone 35 Benito Carbone  35
Carlo Cudicini  161 Fabrizio Ravanelli 25 Roberto Di Matteo  13
Alessandro Pistone  149 Graziano Pelle 23 Gianluca Vialli  11

Fabrizio Ravanelli made an immediate impression in his sole campaign with Middlesbrough in 1996/97, netting an opening-weekend hat-trick against Liverpool and hitting 16 goals in total, matching Di Canio's best season hauls.

Meanwhile, Benito Carbone played for five different clubs in the Premier League and is particularly fondly remembered for his time with Sheffield Wednesday.

You can watch a video of great Italian goals above, and have a look at some eye-catching numbers in the table, before voting on who you think is the Premier League's best ever player from Italy.

Also in this series

See: Vote for the best player from select nations

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