Not all foreign players adapt to English football immediately. For some, it takes years. For others, it takes months. For Alexis Sanchez, it has taken no time at all.
The Arsenal forward's two goals against Hull City was another reminder that Sanchez has been outstanding for the club since joining for £35million in July from Barcelona.
Yet where does Sanchez's debut season rank among the best ever? Scroll down to find out as SportsNetwork News compare Sanchez to Premier League greats from Thierry Henry to Jurgen Klinsmann.
Robin van Persie
Feyenoord to Arsenal, 2004 (£2.75m)
Arsene Wenger knows a deal when he sees one. The manager bought Van Persie for just £2.75m – a little more than half the asking price.
Yet the striker struggled to escape the bench in his debut season, and was sent off for the first time in February against Southampton.
That red card saw Wenger criticise his purchase in the post-match press conference, slamming the soon-to-be Holland international for his lunge.
Not a debut season to remember for Van Persie with just five goals and zero assists in 26 games.
Premier League debut season rating: 5.5/10
Dennis Bergkamp
Inter Milan to Arsenal, 1995 (£7.5m)
Bergkamp's Premier League introduction came against Middlesbrough, but he struggled to adapt to the English game initially, failing to score in Arsenal's opening six matches.
He was ridiculed by the press, and eventually ended on 11 goals in 33 appearances. His final goal was crucial, however, scoring the winner against Bolton on the final day of the season to help Arsenal secure fifth and a place in the UEFA Cup. Without those points, they would have missed out.
Premier League debut season rating: 6/10
Luis Suarez
Ajax to Liverpool, 2011 (£22.8m)
Liverpool signed Suarez for £22.8m the same day they got Andy Carroll for £35m in January.
The Uruguay international made his debut against Stoke City, coming on as a substitute and scoring in front of the Kop.
Despite only being there for half a season, Suarez helped Liverpool jump from 12th - when he arrived - to sixth. His four goals in 13 appearances were a taster of more to come. Good start.
Premier League debut season rating: 6.5/10
Cristiano Ronaldo
Sporting Lisbon to Manchester United, 2003 (£12.24m)
Ronaldo became the club's first-ever Portuguese player in 2003, and was handed the iconic No 7 shirt by Sir Alex Ferguson.
His debut came as a substitute against Bolton in a 4-0 win, but he couldn't score before the turn of the year.
He ended the season with four goals and as many assists in 29 appearances in the Premier League, but showed glimpses of what he could become once taught by Sir Alex.
Premier League debut season rating: 7/10
Thierry Henry
Juventus to Arsenal, 1999 (£11m)
Henry was unsettled in Italy, and joined Arsenal as a replacement for Nicolas Anelka in 1999, reuniting him with Arsene Wenger.
Critics and supporters doubted he would ever adapt to the English game after failing to score in his opening eight games. How wrong they were.
After making 31 appearances in the Premier League in his first season, he scored 17 goals. Arsenal finished second behind Manchester United.
Premier League debut season rating: 7/10
Gianfranco Zola
Parma to Chelsea, 1996 (£4.5m)
Described by Sir Alex as a 'clever little so-and-so' after scoring past Peter Schmeichel, Zola became a key player for Ruud Gullit's Chelsea after signing in November 1996.
He was voted FWA Player of the Year – the only player to ever win it without playing a full season in the English league. He also became the first Chelsea player to claim the prize.
He scored eight goals and made nine assists in just 23 appearances, and Chelsea finished sixth.
Premier League debut season rating: 7.5/10
Didier Drogba
Marseille to Chelsea, 2004 (£24m)
Drogba joined from Marseille, scoring in his third game for the club against Crystal Palace.
He was sidelined for two months after pulling a stomach muscle against Liverpool, but came back to help Chelsea win the title.
He scored 10 goals and made five assists in 26 appearances, and is now a club legend, having secured his fourth title with Chelsea recently at the age of 37.
Premier League debut season rating: 8/10
Jurgen Klinsmann
Monaco to Tottenham Hotspur, 1994 (£2m)
A surprising signing, who did not receive a warm welcome from fans and media due to his participation in the 1990 West Germany team that knocked England out of the World Cup.
He had a reputation as a diver. Then, on his debut against Sheffield Wednesday, he scored a header and dived to the ground in celebration.
Welcome to England, Jurgen.
He went on to win the 1995 Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year, and 150,000 of his shirts were sold that season. He ended with 20 goals from 41 appearances in the Premier League.
Premier League debut season rating: 8/10
Ruud van Nistelrooy
PSV Eindhoven to Manchester United, 2001 (£18.5m)
The striker had scored 62 goals in 67 games for PSV Eindhoven in Holland, and his £19m switch to Manchester United was a club record.
His Premier League debut was against Fulham, scoring twice in a 3-2 win at Old Trafford.
Van Nistelrooy ended the season with 23 goals and four assists in 32 appearances, breaking the record he shared with Mark Stein, Alan Shearer and Thierry Henry by scoring in eight consecutive games. He was named PFA Players' Player of the Year, and stayed at Old Trafford until 2006.
Premier League debut season rating: 8.5/10
Fernando Torres
Atletico Madrid to Liverpool, 2007 (£20.2m)
Torres's first goal in the Premier League arrived at Anfield in August, scoring in a 1-1 draw with Chelsea. He became the first player since Robbie Fowler in 1996 to score 20 in a season.
Torres made the six-man shortlist for PFA Players' Player of the Year, which was eventually won by Ronaldo. He was also nominated for PFA Young Player of the Year, won by Cesc Fabregas, and named in the PFA Team of the Year.
Torres broke the record for a foreign goalscorer in a debut season in England, previously held by Van Nistelrooy's 23 in 2001. He ended joint-second for the Premier League's Golden Boot.
Premier League debut season rating: 9/10
KEY PREMIER LEAGUE STATS
Appearances: 33 (2542 minutes)
Goals: 24
Assists: 4
Liverpool finished fourth
Sergio Aguero
Atletico Madrid to Manchester City, 2011 (£38m)
Aguero scored twice and assisted once on his debut in the Premier League after coming on as a substitute against Swansea City.
Some suggested it was the greatest introduction by a player to ever join the top tier in England.
Yet there is no doubt which of his 23 goals in 34 appearances was the most important.
Manchester City needed to beat Queens Park Rangers on the final day of the season to be crowned champions for the first time in 44 years. Aguero scored the winner in the 95th minute, meaning their rivals Manchester United finished second, and the title was theirs. Beat that.
Premier League debut season rating: 9.5/10
No comments:
Post a Comment