The Premier League has given us unforgettable goal-scoring heroes, but not every striker’s journey ends in glory. For every electrifying finish, there’s a striker who couldn’t live up to the hype, whose time in England was defined by missed chances and goal droughts.
These are the players who, despite hefty fees or great expectations, left fans frustrated and coaches scratching their heads. Let’s take a look at seven strikers whose time in the Premier League never quite lived up to the hype.
The 7 Worst Premier League Strikers of All-Time
Not every striker lives up to the hype. Some came with high expectations and left us shaking our heads, wondering how they managed to miss the easiest chances.
7. Andriy Voronin – Liverpool's Costly Gamble
2007-2010, Liverpool
When Liverpool snapped up Andriy Voronin on a free transfer in 2007, fans were quietly hopeful. After all, he’d been scoring goals in Germany with Borussia Mönchengladbach, and free transfers often come with hidden gems, right? Wrong.
Voronin’s time at Liverpool was nothing short of forgettable. He could barely make an impact in a team stacked with talent, and the few [5] goals he scored were lost in a sea of missed opportunities. His awkward style didn’t seem to mesh with Liverpool’s attacking play, and by the end of his stint, he was far more famous for his weird ability to blend into the background than for his contributions on the pitch.
6. Jozy Altidore – The Great American Hope
2009-2010, Hull City; 2013-2015, Sunderland
Jozy Altidore’s Premier League career is the epitome of high hopes and painful reality. His 2009 move to Hull City promised much, especially after scoring regularly for the U.S. national team. But something just didn’t click. A season later, Altidore was back in England with Sunderland, and the dream of him becoming a star in the Premier League began to look increasingly unlikely.
Altidore was a physical presence, but his touch and composure were woefully lacking. He spent 47 games at Sunderland without scoring a single league goal. Fans who had cheered him on the international stage were left pondering over his inability to find the net in the English top flight.
5. Roberto Soldado – Spurs' €30 Million Mistake
2013-2015, Tottenham Hotspur
Roberto Soldado’s signing at Tottenham felt like a big moment in 2013. A proven goal-scorer in Spain, the Spanish international was meant to lead the line for Spurs after the departure of Gareth Bale. What fans didn’t expect was a striker who couldn’t hit a barn door with a banjo.
In 16 Premier League starts, he scored just six goals. More alarmingly, he had a penchant for missing sitters, making him a constant target for fans’ frustrations. This was a cruel reminder that some players just don’t thrive under the bright lights.
4. Mido – More Flash Than Substance
2005-2010, Tottenham Hotspur, Middlesbrough, Wigan, West Ham
Mido was never shy when it came to speaking his mind. Unfortunately, his performances on the pitch didn’t match his bravado.
The Egyptian forward was a man of immense size and strength, but he lacked the consistency and discipline to make a real impact. At one point, he was hailed as one of the most promising forwards in the league, but his Premier League career quickly descended into mediocrity.
Despite occasional flashes of brilliance—such as scoring in the North London Derby—Mido’s career was marred by ill-discipline, poor fitness, and a lack of real hunger. His brief stints at Tottenham, Middlesbrough, and later Wigan and West Ham were best remembered for his lack of goals and his fiery attitude that often overshadowed any talent he had.
3. Afonso Alves – The Dutch League Sensation Who Couldn't Deliver
2008-2009, Middlesbrough
When Middlesbrough broke their transfer record to bring in Afonso Alves from Heerenveen for £12.5 million, the expectations were sky-high. The Brazilian had netted 34 goals in 31 appearances for Heerenveen in the Eredivisie, a league known for its attacking football. Surely, he’d be the missing piece for Boro’s attack, right?
Well, it didn’t quite work out. Alves managed a paltry 6 goals in 21 Premier League appearances—hardly the return Boro fans had hoped for. The striker never seemed to adapt to the physicality of the Premier League, and his lack of goals played a key role in the club’s eventual relegation in 2009. A classic case of a player dominating a weaker league but struggling in England’s top division.
2. Yaya Sanogo – Arsenal’s Forgotten Hope
2013-2017, Arsenal
Arsène Wenger was known for his faith in young talent, but even he couldn’t have predicted just how much of a flop Yaya Sanogo would turn out to be. Brought in on a free transfer from French side Auxerre, Sanogo had potential. After all, he had shown promise in the youth leagues and had a decent physical profile. But once he hit the Premier League, it all fell apart.
His only “claim to fame” is that he went through 21 Premier League matches without scoring a single goal. The striker’s clumsiness in front of goal became a running joke among Arsenal fans, with many wondering if he could even find the target if it was painted on a wall. He was loaned out several times, but never seemed to find his rhythm, ultimately fading from memory.
1. Radamel Falcao – The Shadow of a Once-Great Striker
2014-2015, Manchester United; 2015-2016, Chelsea
Once regarded as one of the most lethal strikers in Europe, Radamel Falcao had an unfortunate stint in the Premier League that left everyone questioning what went wrong.
Falcao arrived at Manchester United on loan in 2014, with fans hoping he could recapture his lethal form.
Instead, the Colombian struggled to make an impact, scoring just four goals in 29 appearances. His second Premier League spell with Chelsea was equally underwhelming, with just one goal in ten matches.
A once-feared predator in front of goal had become a shadow of himself, and injuries were blamed for his sudden decline. But it’s impossible to ignore the fact that he was utterly unrecognisable from his days at Atlético Madrid, and the Premier League simply didn’t suit him.
コメント