Crystal Palace, a club with a rich history and glorious moments, has produced many outstanding talents throughout its development journey. From outstanding attacking stars to defensive legends, these players have not only left their mark with talent but also left a profound impact on the club. Determining the list of the top 9 Crystal Palace best players is not an easy task, but the names honored all deserve to be remembered as legends, contributing to the illustrious history of the team. Let’s find out with Bestsoccertips through the article below!
Top 9 Crystal Palace best players
Below is a list of the top 10 Crystal Palace best players, who not only left a strong mark on the field but also contributed to building the strong brand of this club over time.
Top 9: Andy Johnson
Andy Johnson is one of the greatest players in Crystal Palace’s history. He joined the club from Birmingham City in 2002 and immediately proved his worth with 11 goals in the First Division, including a hat-trick against Brighton & Hove Albion. In the following season, he helped the team secure promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs and won the club’s Player of the Year award.
In the Premier League, Johnson continued to impress with 36 goals in two seasons, notably scoring 21 goals in the 2004/05 season, which helped Crystal Palace maintain their top-flight status. Although he left the club in 2006 to join Everton, Andy Johnson remains a legend at Crystal Palace, leaving a lasting impact during the early 2000s.
Top 8: Julian Speroni
Julian Speroni is one of Crystal Palace’s legendary goalkeepers, with a long-standing presence and significant impact in both the Championship and the First Division. He joined Palace in the summer of 2004, when the club was in a tough period after relegation back to the Championship. However, Speroni proved his stability and class over the years, playing a key role in the team’s development. He won the club’s Player of the Year award three years in a row (2007/08, 2008/09, and 2009/10), demonstrating his consistent excellence.
Speroni was also an essential figure in Palace’s first Premier League campaign in eight years during the 2013/14 season. Under Tony Pulis, Speroni maintained his form and was named Player of the Year once again, as Palace finished in a respectable 11th place. After 15 years at the club, Speroni left in 2019, having made 405 appearances and kept 112 clean sheets, becoming a true club legend.
Top 7: Mark Bright
Mark Bright was one of the standout forwards in Crystal Palace’s history, joining the club in November 1986 and immediately becoming a key part of the team’s attacking setup. Under manager Steve Coppell, Bright formed a dynamic partnership with Ian Wright. The 1987/88 season saw Bright score 24 goals, although Palace missed out on the Second Division play-offs. However, the following season saw the team return to the top flight after winning the play-off final against Blackburn Rovers, marking a significant milestone in the club’s history.
In his first season in the top division, Bright continued to impress, scoring 12 goals in 36 appearances, including a double at Old Trafford to help Palace defeat Manchester United 2-1. Coppell’s side finished the season safely away from relegation, allowing them to focus on the FA Cup, where they reached the final for the first time in history. Bright scored a memorable goal in Palace’s 4-3 victory over Liverpool in the semi-finals, although they ultimately lost to Manchester United in the final. Nonetheless, Bright won his first trophy with Palace the following season, when the team triumphed in the Full Members’ Cup. After 6 years with the club, Bright left Selhurst Park in 1992, having scored 113 goals in 286 appearances, leaving a lasting legacy.
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Top 6: Vince Hilaire
Vince Hilaire is one of the most important players in Crystal Palace’s history, leaving a significant mark during the 1970s and 1980s. He made his debut for the club at just 17 years old, quickly becoming a vital part of the team as Palace played in the Third Division. After helping the club gain promotion in 1977 and 1979, Hilaire played a key role in Palace’s progress, becoming one of the standout players in the “1980s Team” of the Eagles. Known for his exceptional skill and finesse on the wing, Hilaire was beloved by fans and won the club’s Player of the Year award in 1979 and 1980.
During his 6 years at Selhurst Park, Hilaire made 293 appearances for Palace, and he’s especially remembered for his memorable assist to Ian Walsh in the 1979 match against Burnley, which helped the team gain promotion to the First Division. This remains one of the club’s iconic moments. In 1984, Hilaire left Palace to join Luton Town, but his legacy at Selhurst Park is still cherished by fans. His role in helping Palace rise from the Third Division to the top tier in just three years was crucial and remains an essential part of the club’s development.
Top 5: Attilio Lombardo
Attilio Lombardo is one of Crystal Palace’s special players, despite his relatively short time at the club, the impact he left was profound. He joined Palace in the 1997/98 Premier League season and quickly became one of the team’s key players, scoring 5 goals in 24 appearances, even though the club could not avoid relegation. His professionalism and talent were evident in every match, and in March 1998, Lombardo was even appointed as interim manager after Steve Coppell moved to a Director of Football role.
Despite having played in the Champions League final and potentially having the opportunity to join a bigger club while Palace were playing in the Second Division, Lombardo decided to stay and continue his contributions. However, due to financial issues at the club, he left in January 1999, joining Lazio. Although he only played 49 games for Palace, Lombardo made a lasting impact and was honored by the fans when he was named to the Centenary XI in 2005, a fitting recognition for his contributions at Selhurst Park.
Top 4: Jim Cannon
Jim Cannon, nicknamed “Mr Crystal Palace,” is one of the greatest legends in the club’s history. The Scottish centre-back joined Palace in 1970 and remained with the club for 18 years, until 1988. During his long career at Selhurst Park, Cannon made over 600 appearances, becoming the player with the most appearances in the club’s history with 660 games.
Cannon made his debut for the club on March 31, 1973, in a match against Chelsea, and scored in the 2-0 win. For the next 15 years, he was a mainstay in Palace’s defense, playing a key role in the team’s two promotions from the Third Division to the top tier in the late 1970s. With his consistent dedication and solid defensive skills, Jim Cannon became a symbol of Crystal Palace, beloved by fans and forever remembered in club history.
Top 3: Ian Wright
Ian Wright is one of the biggest legends of Crystal Palace, joining the club in 1985 from the semi-professional Greenwich Borough. Despite starting his professional career relatively late, Wright quickly showcased his exceptional talent. In 277 appearances for Palace, he scored 117 goals, ranking third in the club’s all-time top scorers list, just behind Edwin Smith and Peter Simpson. His attacking partnership with Mark Bright was key to Palace’s promotion to the top flight in the 1988/89 season, with Wright scoring 33 goals across all competitions.
The 1990/91 season was one of the most memorable of Wright’s career at Palace, as he played a major role in winning the Full Members Cup, particularly scoring twice in the final against Everton at Wembley. However, in September 1991, after a successful spell at Selhurst Park, Wright was signed by Arsenal, ending his 6-year association with Palace. Nonetheless, Ian Wright will forever remain an integral part of the club’s history, with his invaluable contributions during the early years of his career.
Top 2: Wilfried Zaha
Wilfried Zaha is a modern legend of Crystal Palace, leaving an indelible mark over more than a decade with the club. He made his first-team debut in March 2010, but it wasn’t until the 2010/11 season that Zaha became a regular starter. The 2011/12 season marked his breakout campaign, scoring 9 goals and providing 7 assists across all competitions, quickly establishing himself as one of the brightest young talents in English football.
Zaha’s brilliance did not go unnoticed by top clubs, and in January 2013, he joined Manchester United. However, his time at Old Trafford was unsuccessful, and he was loaned back to Palace for the remainder of the 2012/13 season, playing a key role in the club’s promotion to the Premier League. He then returned to Palace on loan in 2013 and 2014 before signing permanently in 2015.
From 2015 to 2023, Zaha became one of the Premier League’s top wingers, being the standout star for Palace and helping the club maintain its top-flight status through many tough seasons. With 458 appearances, 90 goals, and 52 assists, Zaha had an outstanding career at Selhurst Park, and despite leaving in 2023, he remains a club legend.
Top 1: Geoff Thomas
Geoff Thomas is the legendary captain of Crystal Palace during the club’s most successful period. In the 1989/90 season, he led the team to the FA Cup final and ensured their top-flight survival. As a versatile midfielder, Thomas played both defensively and offensively, scoring 4 goals. He was a key player for Palace and was beloved by fans for his tireless dedication.
The following season, Thomas won the club’s Player of the Year award as Palace finished third and won the Full Members Cup. After leaving the club in 1993 to join Wolves, Thomas made 249 appearances for Palace, scored 35 goals, and earned an England cap. After retiring, he battled leukemia but fought bravely and raised thousands of dollars for charity. In June 2021, he was awarded an MBE for his contributions beyond football.
In Summary
The top 10 Crystal Palace best players are not only people with outstanding talent but also symbols of perseverance, dedication and love for the club. Each of them has left their own mark, from important goals to spectacular saves, contributing to building the image and identity of the team. No matter how much time passes, these players will always be an indispensable part of the legendary stories of Crystal Palace.
