In Everton’s long and proud history, there has been no shortage of great players who have left an indelible mark on the hearts of fans. From the stars with excellent scoring ability, to the brave defenders, each player has contributed to the successes and legends of the club. This ranking of “everton best players” is not simply based on the number of goals or titles, but also on the influence, dedication and love that these players have for Everton, contributing to building a priceless legacy for the team. Join Bestsoccertips.com to learn about the best players of everton through the article below!
Top 10 Everton best players of all time
Everton, one of the most storied clubs in the Premier League, has produced countless outstanding talents. We will take a look at the 10 best Everton players of all time, who have contributed to writing the glorious history of The Toffees.
Top 10: Alex Young
Alex Young, one of the greatest players in Everton’s history, was known for his graceful playing style and innate talent. Although he may not have been the club’s best central forward, Young embodied the “School of Science” philosophy of Everton football. This Scottish player forged a special connection with the fans due to his captivating play and creativity in every touch. He quickly won the hearts of the Toffees, earning the affectionate nickname “The Golden Vision.”
Signing with Everton in 1960 from Hearts for a then-record fee of £55,000, Alex Young was instrumental in the club’s success. Particularly notable was his 22 goals during the 1962/63 season, which helped Everton secure their first league title since World War II. Additionally, he played a pivotal role in Everton’s FA Cup victory in 1966. With a total of 87 goals from 270 appearances during his eight years at the club, Young solidified his legacy in the hearts of Everton fans.
Top 9: Bob Latchford
While Alex Young was famous for his graceful playing style and influence on the club’s philosophy, Bob Latchford became an icon of Everton for his consistent and efficient goal-scoring abilities during a challenging period. Signed from Birmingham City in 1974 for a then-record British transfer fee of £350,000, Latchford immediately proved himself as a “goal-scoring machine,” netting 15 goals from 30 appearances in his first season at Goodison Park. His arrival brought a breath of fresh air to the team during a difficult time for Everton.
Latchford was not only the club’s top scorer for seven seasons but also the only player on this list to win the league’s “Top Scorer” title in the 1977/78 season with an impressive 30 goals. Although he did not win major trophies with the Toffees, Latchford remains an important goal-scoring figure for the club. He also scored in the 1977 League Cup final, although Everton lost to Aston Villa in a heart-breaking match. Nevertheless, his effectiveness in front of goal has been remembered and highly regarded by Everton fans.
Top 8: Peter Reid
Peter Reid, a lifelong Liverpool supporter, shocked many when he joined Everton in 1982 at the age of 26. After a slow start at Goodison Park, Reid quickly proved his worth and became one of Everton’s most crucial players during their golden years. Not only was he an outstanding midfield organizer, but he was also a player who always fought for the club’s colors. One of his most memorable moments came in the 1984 FA Cup final when Everton defeated Watford 2-0 to win their first FA Cup title in 14 years.
The 1984/85 season marked the peak of Reid’s career, as Everton not only won the league title with a record 90 points but also the European Cup Winners’ Cup. This achievement cemented the club as the strongest in England at the time. With relentless effort and a powerful playing style, Reid was named PFA Player of the Year. After seven years at Everton, he won another league title in 1987 before moving to QPR in 1989. Despite leaving the club, Reid’s legacy at Everton will always be cherished by the loyal Goodison Park fans.
Top 7: Graeme Sharp
Graeme Sharp is one of Everton’s greatest goal-scorers, ranking second on the club’s all-time list with 160 goals from 426 appearances during his 11 years at Goodison Park. Signed from Dumbarton in 1980 as a young talent, Sharp quickly established himself as an exceptional striker and played a key role in Everton’s success, especially in the mid-1980s when he, along with teammates like Peter Reid, won several titles.
One of Sharp’s most memorable moments came in the 1984 FA Cup final, when he scored the winning goal in Everton’s 2-0 victory over Watford to secure the club’s first FA Cup title in 14 years. In the 1984/85 season, he scored 30 goals, including a stunning long-range shot against Liverpool in the Merseyside Derby, earning him BBC’s Goal of the Season and helping Everton win at Anfield for the first time in 14 years. After leaving Everton in 1991 for Oldham Athletic, Sharp maintained a strong connection with the club, returning as an ambassador and briefly serving on the Everton Board of Directors. His legacy at Everton is remembered not only for his goals but also for his dedication and love for the club.
Top 6: Brian Labone
Brian Labone is one of Everton’s greatest legends, with a career spanning 13 years at Goodison Park. Making his debut for the club in 1958, Labone became an icon of loyalty and commitment. With excellent defensive abilities, he was one of the stars of the 1962/63 league-winning team, a title that Everton had waited 24 years to secure. Manager Harry Catterick nicknamed him “The Last Corinthian,” in tribute to his refined, professional, and always fair play, resembling the famous amateur team Corinthians.
Throughout his career at Everton, Labone made 534 appearances, a remarkable figure that demonstrated his durability and dedication to the club. Although he had planned to retire in 1969, he was persuaded to delay his retirement by two more seasons, helping Everton win another league title in 1970. He also represented England 26 times and participated in the 1970 World Cup, epitomizing one of England’s finest football generations. Labone retired in 1971, but his legacy at Everton and in English football endures, remembered fondly by fans through generations.
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Top 5: Howard Kendall
Howard Kendall is one of Everton’s greatest legends, leaving a lasting mark not only as a player but also as a manager. Signed from Preston North End in 1967, Kendall quickly became an integral part of Everton’s lineup. The talented midfielder played a key role in the club’s 1970 league championship, one of the proudest moments in the club’s history. After seven years at the club, Kendall left in 1974, but his story with Everton was far from over.
Kendall returned to Everton in 1981, not only as a manager but also played six more matches in a brief period. However, it was his managerial career that truly elevated his legacy. From 1984 to 1987, he guided Everton to four major titles, including the 1985 league title and the 1985 European Cup Winners’ Cup, turning the club into a dominant force in England and Europe. These successes as a manager overshadowed his playing career, but Kendall remains a vital part of the legendary “Holy Trinity” midfield trio, alongside Alan Ball and Colin Harvey, who made Everton famous in the 1960s and 1970s. The Park End stand at Goodison Park is named in his honor, a fitting tribute to his unforgettable contributions to the club.
Top 4: Colin Harvey
Colin Harvey is one of the greatest players in Everton’s history and an essential member of the legendary “Holy Trinity” midfield trio alongside Alan Ball and Howard Kendall. A product of Everton’s youth academy, Harvey made an impressive first-team debut at just 18 years old in an away game against Inter Milan in the European Cup (now the Champions League), marking the beginning of his rise. Shortly after, he became a key player for the club, contributing to Everton’s 3-2 victory over Sheffield Wednesday in the 1966 FA Cup final, securing the club’s first FA Cup win in over 40 years.
Harvey spent 11 years at Goodison Park, making 383 appearances, and was one of the pillars of the club during its golden period, which included winning the 1970 league title. After leaving the club in 1974, Harvey returned in the 1980s as an assistant manager under Howard Kendall. Along with Kendall, Harvey played a crucial role in Everton’s successes during the 1980s. After Kendall’s departure, Harvey took over as manager in 1987 but was unable to replicate the same success, and he resigned in 1990. However, he was later reappointed as assistant manager when Kendall returned to the club. While Harvey did not achieve the same level of success as his former mentor, his contributions to the club, both as a player and coach, remain highly appreciated by the Toffees.
Top 3: Alan Ball
Alan Ball, the final member of the legendary “Holy Trinity” midfield trio at Everton, was one of the club’s most beloved players, particularly during the late 1960s. After winning the World Cup with England at the age of 21, Ball was signed from Blackpool for a then-record transfer fee of £110,000, a deal that made waves at the time. His arrival brought a fresh wave of excitement to Everton, and he quickly became a star on the Merseyside pitch.
Known as “Perpetual Motion” due to his tireless running, Ball was a phenomenal midfielder and played a central role in Everton’s 1969/70 league title win, contributing 12 goals that season. In total, Ball made 251 appearances for Everton and scored 79 goals, becoming an integral part of the club’s golden years. However, in 1971, manager Harry Catterick controversially sold Ball to Arsenal for a record £220,000, a decision that was not well-received by Everton fans. Despite this, Ball’s legacy at Everton is still cherished, and he is remembered as an essential figure in the club’s illustrious history.
Top 2: Neville Southall
Neville Southall is one of the greatest legends in Everton’s history and holds the record for the most appearances in the club’s history, with 751 matches, an achievement that no one has come close to surpassing. Southall’s career did not begin smoothly, as he played for lower-league clubs in Wales and the North West of England before joining Everton in 1981 at the age of 22. However, after a humble start, Southall quickly established himself as Everton’s undisputed number one goalkeeper in 1983, beginning a reign that lasted for 14 years.
Neville Southall – Legendary Everton goalkeeper with 751 matches and 5 major titles
Throughout his career at Goodison Park, Southall proved himself to be one of the world’s finest goalkeepers. He was not only a cornerstone of the team but also a symbol of stability and excellence in goal. The 1984/85 season marked the pinnacle of Southall’s career, as he was named FWA Footballer of the Year, becoming the last goalkeeper to win this prestigious award as of 2024. Southall’s contributions helped Everton win the league title and other major honors, making him one of the club’s greatest players. With five major trophies to his name, Southall is the most decorated player in the club’s history, and his name will forever be etched in the hearts of Everton fans.
Top 1: Dixie Dean
Dixie Dean is widely regarded as one of the greatest goal-scorers in English football history, and his 60 league goals during the 1927/28 season is a record that is unlikely to ever be broken. Known as “Dixie,” William Ralph Dean joined his boyhood club, Everton, at just 18 years old, and immediately became a prolific goal-scorer for the Blues. He overcame a horrific motorcycle accident in 1926 to continue leading Everton’s attack for all 12 years of his career at the club.
Dean scored an astonishing 383 goals in 433 appearances, making him the second-highest goal-scorer in the history of English football, although he boasted the best goals-per-game ratio. His goals helped Everton win three major titles during his time at the club, including two league championships and one FA Cup, and a bronze statue of him now stands outside Goodison Park as a tribute to his legendary status.
To Wrap It Up
The players in this list of the top 10 Everton best players are all those who have made Everton’s history, with their talent, effort and love for the club. They are not only stars on the pitch, but also symbols of fighting spirit and resilience, always looking to the future with hope and loyalty. The legacy they leave behind will forever be a source of inspiration for future generations of players and fans, and their names will always be honored in the hearts of Evertonians.
