Premier League Hall of Fame gets started inducting Shearer and Henry

To celebrate the talent and achievements of icons of the Premier League since its start in 1992, the Premier League has introduced its very own Hall of Fame. However, players must have been retired as of August 1, 2020, to be eligible for selection.

Alan Shearer, who still holds the record as the Premier League's highest scorer with 260 goals in 14 seasons, has won the Golden Boot three times and has won the league title with Blackburn under Kenny Dalglish in the 1994/95 campaign.

Shearer said: "When you look at some of the unbelievable players to have graced the Premier League - week in, week out, year in, year out - I feel very honoured to join the Hall of Fame. I have to thank all of my team-mates, as well as the managers and coaches that I've worked with.

"All I ever wanted to be was a professional footballer. It was my dream to do that, my dream to win trophies and my dream to score at St James' Park, to wear the number nine black-and-white shirt and it was fantastic. I enjoyed every minute of it."

The other Hall of Fame inductee, Thierry Henry, joined Arsenal from Juventus in 1999 and became a key member of the 'Invincibles' team which went unbeaten during the 2003/04 title-winning season.

Winning the Golden Boot four times, the Frenchman has scored a club-record 175 Premier League goals in 258 appearances for the Gunners.

Henry said: "To be inducted alongside Alan Shearer as the two first inductees into the Premier League Hall of Fame is more than special.

"When I was young, I was just trying to make sure I could get a pair of boots and now we're talking about the Hall of Fame. During my career I wanted to play hard and make sure I was fighting for the cause, because that's all the fans want to see.

"If you asked me at the start of my career about entering the Hall of Fame, I wouldn't have believed you. It's an amazing honour."

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said: "Alan Shearer and Thierry Henry are two world-class players who lit up the Premier League throughout their time in the competition. Both players were capable of scoring every kind of goal, including some of the best we have ever seen.

"Shearer's record 260 Premier League goals puts him at the top of a long list of exceptional goalscorers. The fact that record remains unchallenged today, 15 years since his retirement, goes to show what an achievement it was.

"Henry broke individual and team records during eight seasons with Arsenal when he became a footballing icon. He was a talisman in the 'Invincibles' team and his four Premier League Golden Boots during a five-year period reflect the impact he had."

Follow 

for the