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The Premier League has announced that they are launching a Premier League Hall of Fame to “recognise and celebrate the exceptional skill and talent of players who have graced the competition since its inception in 1992”, according to an official press release put out by the league.
The launch of the Hall of Fame is going to take place on March 19, 2020 where 2 Premier League legends will be inducted into the Hall of Fame. While many speculated who these first two inductees would be, the Premier League confirmed that managers will not be considered for the Hall of Fame.
The current requirements only take into consideration a player’s playing career, so there is a chance that some of your favorite managers could be inducted, but the only accolades that will be celebrated will have to do with their playing career.
In order to be inducted the player must additionally be retired (So no Aguero), and only their Premier League career will be considered (Ronaldo probably won’t make it).
Additionally, it appears as if this hall of fame will only be for players who have played in “The Premier League”, meaning that legends who played in top flight football before it was called the Premier League in 1992 won’t be inducted.
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All of this could change as the Hall of Fame grows and gains relevancy. It is incredibly unique for a Hall of Fame to only honor players, and I expect that to change. Additionally, the young age of the Premier League could see them looking to add either managers, broadcasters, or players from other eras.
Another thing that makes this Hall of Fame different from other Halls of Fame is that the Premier League Hall of Fame will incorporate a fan vote. Fan votes typically don’t work for meaningless things like All-Star Games and irrelevant awards, so I am shocked that a fan vote will be used for something as serious as a Hall of Fame. Other Halls of Fame usually have a selection committee made up of former coaches, players, journalists, and other experts on the league to ensure the proper people are considered for the Hall of Fame. By leaving it up to a Fan Vote, you are asking for unnecessary snubs.
All in all, this is a good idea by the Premier League, and the concept will only improve as time goes on. It will be a wonderful day when Alan Shearer gets inducted, and I would be shocked if he is not one of the first 2 inductees., He of course is the greatest striker in Premier League history, and has been a wonderful ambassador for the game while being retired. Nobody deserves to be in it more than him in my opinion, and there is nothing anyone could say that would change my mind.
Do you think any other Newcastle players will be inducted? If so, let us know in the comments section!