Every footballer knows how important it is to get off to a good start at a new club. Putting in a good performance in your first game can go a long way when it comes to earning the manager’s preference or the fans’ respect.
Most people will agree that the Premier League is amongst the most difficult leagues to adapt to and it is difficult to bring your A game in your first match. Less than a week ago, we saw Gabriel Jesus make his Premier League debut against Tottenham; and that match showed just how unforgiving the PL can be. While he had an amazing debut, it doesn’t come close to some of the debuts we have seen in the past.
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Today, we look through what we feel have been the top ten debuts in the Premier League. (Note: Players who have played for multiple clubs will be judged individually for each debut).
#10 Pedro
One of the more recent debutants on this list, Pedro signed for defending champions Chelsea on the 20th of August 2015, making his debut just three days later in an away game against West Bromwich Albion.
He opened the scoring in what turned out to be one of few wins for Chelsea that season. Not much later, Pedro assisted Diego Costa for the second goal. The Spaniard picked up the Man of the Match award for his performance, as the Blues went on to win the game 3-2.
While a large part of the season was rather dismal for both, Pedro and his new club, he has been an integral part of Conte’s Chelsea this time around, which looks set to win the 2016/17 crown.
#9 Jurgen Klinsmann
In July of 1994, Monaco announced the somewhat surprising transfer of Jurgen Klinsmann to London-based club, Tottenham Hotspur. When the German first arrived in England, he was heavily booed, given his reputation as a diver. Further, he was part of the West Germany squad that knocked England out of the 1990 Euros.
He played his first league match against Sheffield Wednesday and what a memorable moment that turned out to be. Klinsmann assisted Teddy Sheringham and Nick Barnby, before finding the back of the net himself in the 82nd minute. Spurs went on to win the game 4-3, with Klinsmann having turned his critics into fans. The icing on the cake was his celebration, the iconic self-deprecating dive.
#8 Ruud van Nistelrooy
The first of two Red Devils to feature on this list, Ruud van Nistelrooy is among the all-time greats. Nistelrooy was initially expected to move to England in the summer of 2000, but due to a knee injury, the transfer was postponed for a year, and he joined the Old Trafford club in 2001 for a (then) record fee of £19 million.
He instantly justified the high transfer fee by scoring a brace in his first league game against Fulham. At half-time, the scores were level at 1-1, when Fulham stole the lead, causing the Dutchman to step up his game.
Less than five minutes later, he had scored twice, and Manchester United were in the lead. His two goals were crucial for his team’s victory, and that makes the debut even more special.
#7 Christhian Stuani
While Stuani had already spent a whole season with Middlesbrough, his Premier League debut came only after the club won promotion; in a match against Sunderland in 2016.
Both sides seemed equally matched, but good play from Alvaro Negredo allowed Stuani to pick up not one, but two goals. It was quite a memorable debut for the 29 year-old, who also bagged the Man of the Match award.
#6 Gary O’Neil
Unlike most others on the list, Gary O’Neil isn’t exactly well known in the football community. He was a central midfielder, who occasionally played on the right wing as well. While he predominantly played for second and third division clubs, he had a run in the top flight with Portsmouth way back in 2003.
He was recalled from his loan at Walsall due to Portsmouth’s injury crisis and started in the first game after his return. Pompey won 6-1 against Leeds United, with O’Neil bagging two goals on his debut. It was a debut to remember, but sadly, he has faded away since. O’Neil currently plays for Bristol City.
#5 Mario Stanic
Stanic has had quite a few debuts across multiple leagues, but his most memorable one was probably his Premier League debut for Chelsea. Playing as a midfielder, Stanic scored twice as the Blues went on to win 4-2 against West Ham United.
His second goal was a stunning volley from 35 yards out, and was nominated for goal of the season. The reason that Stanic’s debut ranks only 5th is because his performance, while eye-catching, wasn’t crucial to his team’s success in that game.
#4 Marcus Rashford
Everyone knew Rashford would be on this list. He had the dream start to his Manchester United career when he replaced Anthony Martial (following an injury in warm-up) in the Europa League game against Midtjylland, scoring a brace in a 5-1 win.
He had to wait three more days to make his Premier League debut, starting against Arsenal at the ‘Theatre of Dreams’. Rashford single-handedly won the match for his team, scoring two of United’s three goals, and assisting the third. He is the only English player to score a brace on his PL and European debuts.
#3 Simon Mignolet
Believe it or not, Simon Mignolet actually had the best Premier League debut of any goalkeeper; and is one of the few men to have saved a penalty in their first game for a club.
While he had played in the EPL with Sunderland before, Mignolet signed for Liverpool in June 2013. He made his debut for the Reds against Stoke City, and saved an 89th-minute penalty (and the follow-up shot) to earn a clean sheet, as Liverpool went on to win 1-0.
#2 Sergio Aguero
This is a debut that the Citizens won’t ever forget. Aguero, who had just signed from Atletico Madrid, was asked to start from the bench by manager Roberto Mancini. He made his Premier League debut on the 15th of August, coming on as a sub in the 59th minute against Swansea.
In the 30 minutes that Aguero spent on the pitch, he scored two goals and assisted one, instantly becoming a fan favourite. His debut is widely regarded as one of the best debuts of all time, and is only slightly edged out by the debut of an Italian more than 20 years ago.
#1 Fabrizio Ravenelli
The only man to score a hat-trick on his Premier League debut, Fabrizio Ravenelli joined Middlesbrough in the summer of 1996, signing from Italian giants Juventus. Ravenelli immediately had an impact on the PL, announcing himself to English football fans by scoring all three goals in a nail-biting draw against Liverpool.
While Ravenelli hasn’t had the best of careers, he has been there whenever the club has needed him. His three goals single-handedly stole a point for Boro, hence, he tops this list.
Those were the top 10 performances by debutants in the Premier League. Do you think we missed your favourite debut? Let us know in the comments section below.
