Ranking the 10 best Everton players of all-time

Everton are one of the oldest clubs in England and have tasted their fair share of success since being founded way back in 1878. They won their first First Division title in the 1890-91 season and have won a total of nine titles in their history.

In domestic cups, Everton have won the FA Cup five times and have also won the League Cup twice and the FA Community Shield nine times. Over the years, the Toffees have produced some of the country’s best players, with most of their own top talents representing the club in the 1900s.

Having said that, let’s take a look at the 10 best Everton player in history.

10. Alex Young | Striker | 1960-68

Young was one of the most important and renowned strikers in Goodison Park folklore, despite not being one of the most prolific in his position. His ability to link up play and bring his teammates into the game with nifty passes made him stand out from the crowd as he was nicknamed ‘The Golden Vision’.

Young joined Everton from Heart of Midlothian for a sum of £55,000 in 1960 and played a key role in their title-winning campaign in 1962/63 as he scored 22 goals. He also won the FA Cup with the Toffees in 1966 and left the club two years after that with 87 goals in 270 appearances, becoming a part of the 10 best Everton players of all time.

9. Bob Latchford | Striker | 1974-81

On the contrary to the man before him on the list, Latchford is remembered as one of the most prolific and lethal goal-scorers during his time with Everton. He signed from Birmingham City in 1974 for a then-British record of £350,000, which he repaid instantly with 15 goals in his first 30 league appearances.

Despite being one of the most fearsome strikers of his time, Latchford did not win a single piece of silverware with the Toffees. However, he was their top scorer for all seven seasons he was at the club, cementing his spot among the 10 best Everton players of all-time.

8. Peter Reid | Midfielder | 1982-89

Reid was a boyhood Liverpool supporter but joined the blue side of the city in 1982 when he was 26 years old and played a crucial role in one of the most successful periods of the club’s history. Reid scored in the FA Cup Final in 1984 as Everton defeated Watford 2-0 to lift the cup.

The following season, Everton won the league in style as the set a record for total points, earning 90 throughout the season. They also won the European Cup Winners’ Cup and Peter Reid was named PFA Footballer of the Year in 1985. Reid also won another league title in the 1986/87 season, earning a spot among the 10 best Everton players in history.

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7. Graeme Sharp | Striker | 1980-91

Everton’s second-highest goal scorer of all-time, Graeme Sharp joined the club from Dumbarton in 1980 and was part of the team that won silverware alongside Peter Reid. Sharp amassed 160 goals in 426 games for the Toffess in his 11 years at the club, including a goal in the 1984 FA Cup final, making him one of the 10 best Everton players ever.

Sharp had an incredible 1984/85 campaign, netting 30 goals throughout the season, including a stunning hit against rivals Liverpool that won the BBC’s Goal of the Season award. Sharp eventually departed for Oldham Athletic in 1991.

6. Brian Labone | Defender | 1958-71

Labone came through the ranks at Everton’s academy and spent the entirety of his career with the club. Labone was a key member of the team that won the league title in the 1962/63 season and also became a key member of the England national team, and also one of the 10 best Everton players.

He made 534 appearances for Everton and also helped them win another league title in 1970, before hanging up his boots the following season.

5. Howard Kendall | Midfielder | 1967-74, 1981

Kendall is one of the best everton player in history and even had the Park End stand of Goodison Park named in his honour. He signed for the Toffees from Preston North End in 1967 and played a key role as the club won the title in 1970.

His first stint with Everton ended after the 1973/74 season, with Kendall returning to Goodison as player-manager for six games in 1981, before eventually taking over as permanent manager. He led the club to four trophies as manager between 1984-87, which sometimes tend to overshadow his equally impressive achievements as a player.

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4. Colin Harvey | Midfielder | 1963-74

Harvey played alongside Kendall in what was dubbed as the ‘Holy Trinity’ at the heart of Everton’s midfield. He made his senior debut for the club aged 18 in an away game against Inter Milan, having come through the youth ranks prior to that.

Harvey made a total of 383 appearances for the Goodison Park side, winning the league title in 1970. He left the club in 1974 as one of the 10 best Everton players but returned as Kendall’s assistant in the 1980s and even succeeded him as manager in 1987, but could not emulate his success.

3. Alan Ball | Midfielder | 1966-71

Ball completed the ‘Holy Trinity’ and was arguably the most-loved and influential of the trio during his time at the club. Ball was also a part of the World Cup-winning squad in 1966 and signed from Blackpool in a deal worth £110,000.

Ball was nicknamed ‘Perpetual Motion’ due to his endless stamina and desire to cover as much ground as possible. He played a key role in their 1969/70 title-winning season, scoring 12 goals in the process. He made a total of 251 appearances for the club, scoring 79 goals, and was sold to Arsenal for a then-British record of £220,000 in 1971.

2. Neville Southall | Goalkeeper | 1981-98

The only goalkeeper on the list, Southall made the most appearances for the Toffees for any player before or after him. With 751 games under his belt, Southall is regarded as the greatest goalkeeper in Everton history, and was also hailed as the best in the world during his time at the club.

He signed for the Goodison Park club as a 22-year-old in 1981 and slowly became the undisputed first-choice goalkeeper in the following two seasons. He was named FWA Footballer of the Year after the 1984/85 title-winning season and ended his career as one of the 10 best Everton players.

1. Dixie Dean | Striker | 1925-37

Known as one of the greatest strikers in English football history, Dean’s spot at the top of the 10 best Everton players list is justified. Dean also holds the record for an incredible 60-goal season in the 1927/28 season – a record that will never be broken.

Dean joined the club as an 18-year-old in 1925 and hit the ground running with his goal scoring prowess. His contributions helped the Toffees win three major honours during his tenure at the club, viz. two league titles and the FA Cup. He scored a jaw-dropping 383 goals in 433 appearances and has a commemorative bronze statue of his outside Goodison Park.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Who is Everton’s greatest ever player?

A. Dixie Dean is Everton’s greatest player, with a record 383 goals in 433 games.

Q. Who is Everton’s top goal scorer?

A. Dixie Dean leads the list with his 383 strikes.

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