Canadians in the English Premier League
With the Canadian national team making great progress towards Qatar 2022, soccer in North America is shining its spotlight at a different angle and although the potential class of ’22 are taking all the praise that comes their way, they must also say thanks to their football forefathers. In this article, we are taking a look at some of the Canadian players who have graced Premier League pitches over the last 30 years.
Because for those who have played in either a generation or decade before, it is fair to say that they set the path for the current generation to tread, and that path was partly cultivated by making a name in the English Premier League.
Which gives us the perfect opportunity to say thanks to those who walked before the current Canadian crop and look at the men who have previously represented the country in England’s top flight.
SCOTT ARFIELD
Although Scott Arfield is now plying his trade outside the Premier League, the current Glasgow Rangers midfielder first came to prominence in England with Burnley and after spending five seasons with the Turf Moor outfit, his time with the club would end in 2018.
During that time, Arfield would be a part of Burnley’s Premier League squad in both the 2014/15 season and two campaigns across 2016 and 2018. While during that time, the midfielder would be on hand to score five goals for the club.
Although his greatest season for the Clarets was the one in which they won promotion back to the Premier League during the 2015/16 season, as the now 33-year-old scored eight times as an ever present in Burnley’s league winning season.
With Arfield being known as having an engine in midfield, it was no surprise that an eventual bigger move would come around and it is one that saw him move to Ibrox at the end of his last contract with Burnley. A move that was richly deserved.
CRAIG FORREST
From midfield to between the sticks now, as we focus on the second entry in our list and one that sees Craig Forrest get a rightful mention for his time in the Premier League. A time that started before the competition was even created.
With the Premier League first being born in 1992, Forrest would link up with now League One outfit Ipswich in 1984 and would eventually stay at Portman Road for 13 years – making 263 league appearances in the process.
Not only that but the safe pair of hands would also make a short-term loan switch to Chelsea and in doing so would make three appearances in a team that also consisted of star talent such as Ruud Gullit and Gianluca Vialli.
That was not his only stop in London though and although a permanent move to Chelsea never materialised, an eventual switch to West Ham would and during his time at Upton Park, he would play for the Hammers on 30 separate occasions.
JUNIOR HOILETT
After starting his career in Canadian junior soccer, Junior Hoilett was then signed by Blackburn Rovers in 2007 and before the forward was thrust into the Premier League spotlight, a detour via the second tier of German football took place.
A detour that came courtesy of loan moves to both SC Paderborn and FC St. Pauli and once the 2009/10 season had come around, Hoilett would finally make his Premier League bow with the Ewood Park outfit.
Although his time with Rovers was slow to get off the ground – his first season with the club saw 22 league appearances and no goals, things did begin to pick up and in the next two seasons, as the forward bagged 12 goals for the club.
While after an impressive showing during the 2011/12 campaign, he would soon be placed on the radar of other English clubs and after Blackburn’s relegation that same season, a move to Queens Park Rangers would allow him to stay in the top division.
TOMASZ RADZINSKI
Perhaps the best-known Canadian player before Alphonso Davies stole the mantle, Tomasz Radzinski was undoubtedly a fearsome hitman across not only the Premier League but Europe as well and after making a switch from Belgian outfit Anderlecht, he would arrive in England in 2001.
An arrival that saw the forward call Goodison Park home and with Radzinski now plying his trade for Everton, he wasted no time in showing both his new employers and the rest of the division what he was all about.
Although his scoring record was far better in Belgium, the now 48-year-old still knew where the opposition’s goal was and with 25 Premier League goals to his name on Merseyside, he would eventually attract the interest of Fulham.
With a switch to Craven Cottage made in 2004, the Polish-born forward would eventually make 103 appearances for the West London outfit while scoring 11 league goals in the process. With his time at the club ending in 2007, stints in both Greece and Belgium would be the twilight of his career.
PAUL STALTERI
Admittedly Paul Stalteri was not the best full-back to ever play for Tottenham, but he will at least go down in Spurs folklore and that is courtesy of scoring an injury time winner at Upton Park, as West Ham fell to a 4-3 home defeat in 2007.
After joining from Bundesliga outfit Werder Bremen, Stalteri would be installed on the right side of a defensive four as Tottenham looked to earn fourth place during the 2005/06 season – something that they were denied on the final day
With that failure to get the better of rivals Arsenal, Tottenham then opted for Pascal Chimbonda instead and with Stalteri no longer first choice at the club, his minutes in the white of North London would be diminished.
However, the defender will always be a name who is fondly remembered within N17 and with his late goal breaking West Ham hearts in a frenetic clash, Paul Stalteri will always be welcomed back to the club by supporters.
CANADIAN PREMIER LEAGUE PLAYERS: HONOURABLE MENTIONS
Of course, it would not be an article on Canadian players in the Premier League without mentions to Simeon Jackson, David Edgar, and Frank Yallop. To this trailblazing trio, we salute you just as much as the names above.
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