Every Premier League team’s past and present cult heroes
Posted By joeerazer
September 11, 2024
1:19 am
Usually, the September international break makes folk lose their minds.
Alas, this year has been a different story. Where there is usually division and vitriol, there has been a united front in tribute to the ‘Barclaysmen’ of yesteryear.
We’ve had our own go at compiling a list of the great Barclaysmen of years gone by and those still in our presence today.
‘More than a bank’ / SOPA Images/GettyImages
Before we begin though, some of you who are not terminally online will be wondering this question.
‘Barclaysman’ derives from the Premier League’s last sponsor, Barclays bank. It is an era defined by long-range bangers, Nike T90s, baggy shirts and grainy 480-pixel videos. It has been popularised recently by the Cultras Football Podcast.
To be a Barclaysman, you need to have a very specific skillset, an iconic feature (whether that be a moment of brilliance or a standout physical characteristic) and an adoration from the masses who probably don’t watch them every week. You also need a wicked compilation with indie music soundtracking it.
Being a Barclaysman does not equate to being an amazing footballer – there’s a compilation doing the rounds of Nani, which is ridiculous because he was an insanely talented player who had the titles to back that up.
For the purpose of this list, we are also selecting Barclaysmen who are associated to that specific club. For example, Adama Traore is a Barclaysman in the truest sense of the term, just not for Fulham.
The snood, the SNOOD / IAN KINGTON/GettyImages
Prime Barclaysman: Marouane Chamakh Alexa, play: Midnight City by M83 Current Barclaysman: Riccardo Calafiori Reason for nomination: Very handsome, very powerful aura, very easy to make a compilation without showing his football ability
From one Colombian striker to another / Stu Forster/GettyImages
Prime Barclaysman: Juan Pablo Angel Alexa, play: Golden Touch by Razorlight Current Barclaysman: Jhon Duran Reason for nomination: Madman bagsman who did the West Ham ‘Irons’ sign on livestream
Fraser was, briefly, the best player in the world / Charlie Crowhurst/GettyImages
Prime Barclaysman: Ryan Fraser Alexa, play: It’s Not Living (If It’s Not With You) by The 1975 Current Barclaysman: Philip Billing Reason for nomination: Massive midfielder who’s like a baby Marouane Fellaini
Best buds / Bryn Lennon/GettyImages
Prime Barclaysman: Bryan Mbeumo Alexa, play: Favourite by Fontaines DC Current Barclaysman: Yoane Wissa Reason for nomination: Present-day Mbeumo has outgrown his Barclaysman status
Transferring the Barclaysmanship over / Steve Bardens/GettyImages
Prime Barclaysman: Pascal Gross Alexa, play: Lost In Yesterday by Tame Impala Current Barclaysman: Danny Welbeck Reason for nomination: Still comes up with an incredible goal or goes on a fine run of form every now and then
Chelsea’s adidas/Samsung combo was undefeated / Phil Cole/GettyImages
Prime Barclaysman: Solomon Kalou Alexa, play: Precious Time by The Maccabees Current Barclaysman: Nicolas Jackson Reason for nomination: (*after missing a sitter but still scoring a hat-trick*) ‘What is he like, that Nicolas Jackson?’
Johnson loved a goal / Paul Gilham/GettyImages
Prime Barclaysman: Andy Johnson Alexa, play: Graffiti by Maximo Park Current Barclaysman: Jean-Philippe Mateta Reason for nomination: Insane purple patch, class chant, shirt tucked in
Prime Barclaysman: Steven Pienaar Alexa, play: Well, listen to the video Current Barclaysman: Dominic Calvert-Lewin Reason for nomination: Dwight McNeil has too many shades of Burnley about him
Boa Morte’s credentials were strengthened by a return to Fulham as an assistant coach / Gareth Copley/GettyImages
Prime Barclaysman: Luis Boa Morte Alexa, play: Taper Jean Girl by Kings of Leon Current Barclaysman: Tom Cairney Reason for nomination: The others on our shortlist have associations with Wolves
Ah, a Barclaycardsman / Mark Thompson/GettyImages
Prime Barclaysman: Marcus Bent Alexa, play: Hate To Save I Told You So by The Hives Current Barclaysman: Sammie Szmodics Reason for nomination: Could score 15 goals this season, could score two, who knows
Basically the fifth member of Kasabian / Craig Prentis/GettyImages
Prime Barclaysman: Muzzy Izzet Alexa, play: Fell In Love With A Girl by The White Stripes Current Barclaysman: Ricardo Pereira Reason for nomination: Jamie Vardy is a Barclays legend, not a Barclaysman
Skrtel was voluntarily bald, which counts towards his Barclaysman legacy / Michael Regan/GettyImages
Prime Barclaysman: Martin Skrtel Alexa, play: Freaking Out The Neighbourhood by Mac DeMarco Current Barclaysman: Darwin Nunez Reason for nomination: This is Darwizzy we’re talking about here
Jesus’ lookalike / Stu Forster/GettyImages
Prime Barclaysman: Georgios Samaras Alexa, play: Same Jeans by The View Current Barclaysman: Jeremy Doku Reason for nomination: Most Man City players are simply too good, but Doku treads the line between wonderfully impressive and fantastically frustrating
‘Great turn by MACHEDA!’ / ANDREW YATES/GettyImages
Prime Barclaysman: Federico Macheda Alexa, play: Zero by Yeah Yeah Yeahs Current Barclaysman: Jonny Evans Reason for nomination: Well, he was on the pitch when Macheda scored that goal for starters
Robert actually scored Santi Munez’s famous free-kick from Goal! / Alex Livesey/GettyImages
Prime Barclaysman: Laurent Robert Alexa, play: Time For Heroes by The Libertines Current Barclaysman: Miguel Almiron Reason for nomination: His 2022/23 season remains an unexplained mystery
Van Hooijdonk predates ‘Barclays’ but Forest were in the lower divisions when that was a thing / Ross Kinnaird/GettyImages
Prime Barclaysman: Pierre van Hooijdonk Alexa, play: Stay Young by Oasis Current Barclaysman: Chris Wood Reason for nomination: New Zealand’s finest export just won’t stop scoring
Long’s pace terrorised big teams / Matthew Ashton/GettyImages
Prime Barclaysman: Shane Long Alexa, play: Crazy World by Aslan Current Barclaysman: Ben Brereton Diaz Reason for nomination: The heritage that has followed his career and the impending nonsense on the horizon at St Mary’s
Super Pav only knew how to hit a ball as hard as he could, no finesse / Clive Rose/GettyImages
Prime Barclaysman: Roman Pavlyuchenko Alexa, play: Sticks ‘n’ Stones by Jamie T Current Barclaysman: Richarlison Reason for nomination: The pickings were fairly slim but Richarlison, despite his Everton blood, ticks enough boxes as a Spurs player too
The Alan Pardew era was fantastic / Clive Mason/GettyImages
Prime Barclaysman: Marlon Harewood Alexa, play: Living For The Weekend by Hard-Fi Current Barclaysman: Michail Antonio Reason for nomination: At this rate West Ham will be playing him into his fifties
Once one of the strongest players on FIFA / ADRIAN DENNIS/GettyImages
Prime Barclaysman: George Elokobi Alexa, play: The Bay by Metronomy Current Barclaysman: Matt Doherty Reason for nomination: FPL legend
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