All-Time Premier League › Best 1990s XI

Best 1990s Premier League XI

The greatest starting XI of the 1990s, chosen from every club of the era by iKnoBall's era-adjusted engine — and the record they'd run over a full 38-game season.

353projected season
avg overall 95
96
GK
Peter Schmeichel
Goalkeeper · 1990s
94
DEF
Tony Adams
Defender · 1990s
93
DEF
Paul McGrath
Defender · 1990s
92
DEF
Sol Campbell
Defender · 1990s
91
DEF
Gary Pallister
Defender · 1990s
97
MID
Dennis Bergkamp
Midfielder · 1990s
97
MID
Roy Keane
Midfielder · 1990s
96
MID
Ryan Giggs
Midfielder · 1990s
98
FWD
Alan Shearer
Forward · 1990s
97
FWD
Eric Cantona
Forward · 1990s
93
FWD
Ian Wright
Forward · 1990s

Why This Is the Era's Best XI

Peter Schmeichel headlines the 1990s at a 96 overall. The engine assembles a complete XI — goalkeeper, back four, midfield, and a front line — from across the era's clubs, then plays out all 38 matches. Their 353 projection captures an era-defining core, measured on the same era-adjusted scale as every other decade so the comparison is fair.

Full 1990s Player Rankings

PlayerPositionEraOVR
Peter SchmeichelGoalkeeper1990s96
Tony AdamsDefender1990s94
Paul McGrathDefender1990s93
Sol CampbellDefender1990s92
Gary PallisterDefender1990s91
Dennis BergkampMidfielder1990s97
Roy KeaneMidfielder1990s97
Ryan GiggsMidfielder1990s96
Alan ShearerForward1990s98
Eric CantonaForward1990s97
Ian WrightForward1990s93
Paul ScholesMidfielder1990s95
David SeamanGoalkeeper1990s94
David BeckhamMidfielder1990s94
Gianfranco ZolaForward1990s93
Robbie FowlerForward1990s93
Andy ColeForward1990s92
Patrick VieiraMidfielder1990s91
Steve McManamanMidfielder1990s91
John BarnesMidfielder1990s91
Denis IrwinDefender1990s91
David GinolaMidfielder1990s91
Les FerdinandForward1990s91
Stuart PearceDefender1990s91
Teddy SheringhamForward1990s91
Emmanuel PetitMidfielder1990s91
Andy TownsendMidfielder1990s91
David PlattMidfielder1990s91
Michael OwenForward1990s91
Nicolas AnelkaForward1990s90

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Frequently Asked

What is the best 1990s Premier League XI of all time?

iKnoBall's era-adjusted engine picks Peter Schmeichel (GK, 1990s), Tony Adams (DEF, 1990s), Paul McGrath (DEF, 1990s), Sol Campbell (DEF, 1990s), Gary Pallister (DEF, 1990s), Dennis Bergkamp (MID, 1990s), Roy Keane (MID, 1990s), Ryan Giggs (MID, 1990s), Alan Shearer (FWD, 1990s), Eric Cantona (FWD, 1990s), Ian Wright (FWD, 1990s) as the greatest 1990s XI, projecting them to a 35–3 season.

How strong was the 1990s in English football?

The top 1990s XI projects at 35–3 with an average starter rating of 95. Ratings are era-adjusted so a dominant 1990s season is measured on the same scale as any other era.

Who was the best player of the 1990s?

On iKnoBall's scale the top-rated 1990s player is Peter Schmeichel at a 96 overall. See the full 1990s rankings above.

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Ratings are era-adjusted and computed by iKnoBall's simulation engine. Records are model projections for entertainment, not predictions. Player names belong to their respective owners; iKnoBall is an independent fan-made game.