An Arsenal great, an Argentinian stopper, two solid captains and a serial goalscorer. Here is our list of the five best Crystal Palace players in club history.

Last Updated: 15/06/23 at 11:58

As possibly the oldest professional football club in the world, Crystal Palace have had a number of top players don the Eagle crest.

While they may not be one of the most successful English teams in history, they have still had a number of players that have helped them experience some level of success in different periods.

Here are the five best Crystal Palace players the club has ever had.

Jim Cannon

1973 - 1988┃Games: 660┃Goals: 30

Starting with Mr Crystal Palace, Jim Cannon holds the record for most appearances for the club with 660.

The centre-back played the majority of his career with Palace, having been brought to the club as an apprentice by then manager Bert Head and seen as a promising young Scottish talent.

He commanded the middle of the defence but was also able to play on the left side or in midfield. He captained the club for 10 years from 1978 to 1988, when he left the club to join Croydon FC.

Ian Wright

1985 - 1991┃Games: 277┃Goals: 117

Before moving to Arsenal and becoming a certified Gunners and England legend, Ian Wright got his start in professional football with Crystal Palace.

Moving to the club at the age of 21, he established himself as a fine and capable scorer. With Mark Bright alongside him in his second season, he scored 24 goals in the Second Division to help the team earn promotion through the playoffs back to the First Division.

In the 1990/91 season, he got his first senior England team call-up, reached a hundred goals for Palace, and helped the team to their highest-ever finish in the top flight with third place.

In 2005, Wright was voted by the fans as the club's Player of the Century.

Geoff Thomas

1987 - 1993┃Games: 249┃Goals: 35

Geoff Thomas captained Palace through their most successful period in club history, including the third-place finish in the First Division.

A solid midfielder who commanded the centre of the pitch, Thomas played 249 games for the club, pitching in with 35 goals in that time.

Palace must have known they were in for something good with him as he won the club's Player of the Year award in his rookie season, which played a vital part in their promotion back to the top flight.

Andy Johnson

2002 - 2006┃Games: 161┃Goals: 85

Andy Johnson scored goals for fun in his four years with Palace, netting 85 times in 161 games, which is just over a goal every other game.

His free-flowing scoring with the Eagles was somewhat extraordinary. At every other club he played for before and after (notably Everton and Fulham), he was never able to reach the same heights.

His goals were crucial in earning the club's promotion back to the top flight in the 2003/04 season. The next season, he was beaten by just four goals to the golden boot by Premier League and Arsenal legend, Thierry Henry.

Julian Speroni

2004 - 2019┃Games: 405┃Clean Sheets: 112

We end off with a goalkeeper, and arguably the best the club has ever had. Julian Speroni was an Argentinian keeper who was brought from Dundee to Palace in 2004.

Once he moved to Palace, he found his forever home, as he saw out the rest of his career with the club, retiring in 2019 after 405 games played.

That number marks the most for a keeper at the club and fourth on the all-time list. He also holds the record for most clean sheets with 112.

Speroni won the club's Player of the Season award an incredible four times, which is a massive feat for a goalkeeper to accomplish.

Palace honoured the club legend by naming one of their restaurants within their home ground, Selhurst Park, after the keeper. The Speroni’s Restaurant is available for fans who want to indulge in a fine meal and drinks before the game with one of Palace’s luxury hospitality packages.

Speaking of hospitality packages, Crystal Palace offers fantastic service and benefits with each one of the club's premium packages.

Selhurst Park is known for its electric atmosphere, but it is unrightfully less recognised for its incredible hospitality facilities and packages. The packages will also be getting bigger and better when their Selhurst Park redevelopment happens.

Explore available packages and book Crystal Palace hospitality for the 23/24 season now.

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