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Football fans just love hat-trick heroes. It gives them a name to chant aloud and at least 3 reasons to be mightily happy. There are some players, though, some of the most famous ones even, who have scored plenty of goals in the English Premier League but have never managed that magical hat-trick. Here are the top 5 in descending order:
#5 Niall Quinn (Arsenal, Manchester City and Sunderland) – 59 goals
The towering Republic of Ireland international, who played for Arsenal, City and Sunderland, managed 59 Premier League goals throughout his career. At 6’4” tall, Quinn was a striker who was used to challenge for the forward balls and hold up the play.
#4 David Beckham (Manchester United) – 60 goals
David Beckham with one his trademark free-kicks
England and Manchester United’s one-time poster boy and the darling of the media, David Beckham comes into this list at No.4. Beckham has gone on to become a brand by himself since his early footballing days, but it all started with him having some exceptional ability to put crosses into the box with pinpoint accuracy. He also had a knack of venturing into the box and scoring the odd key goal. However, he could never muster a hat-trick in the league.
#3 Craig Bellamy (Coventry City, Newcastle United, Blackburn Rovers, Liverpool, West Ham United, Manchester City) – 77 goals
Craig Bellamy is back in the Premier League with Cardiff City, his 7th different club
The pacy and at times volatile Welsh forward has played for so many clubs, that it’s tough recalling a memory of the striker in a particular club’s shirt. His spells at Newcastle, Blackburn and City are the most notable ones, during which he scored some memorable goals, including that famous double in a 5-4 win against Manchester United at Old Trafford. Somehow though, that hat-trick always proved elusive.
#2 Kevin Davies (Southampton, Blackburn Rovers, Bolton Wanderers) – 83 goals
Kevin Davies of Bolton Wanderers
The barrel-chested Kevin Davies really came into his own at Bolton, where he thrived under ‘Big’ Sam Allardyce’s route one football philosophy. Davies played at the head of a Bolton attack that was big on physicality.
Davies is considered to be amongst the most physical players to have played in the Premier League and he does hold the distinction of having committed the most number of fouls by any player.
#1 Ryan Giggs (Manchester United) – 107 goals
Ryan Giggs in training at Osaka during Manchester United’s 2013-14 pre-season tour
Giggs epitomizes the Premier League more than any other player, and is viewed as the best player of the Premier League era for his sheer quality and longevity. He is the only player to have scored in every single season of the Premier League. Yet, the list of Premier League hat-trick heroes is one place where this legend’s name will not feature, as he is yet to bag one.
Of the five, the two Welshmen, Giggs and Bellamy still have a chance to set it right. Giggs will have few opportunities though, primarily being backup in the United squad. Bellamy with Cardiff is best poised to set it right, as the Welsh side get ready for their first ever season in England’s top flight.
