Premier League's All Time English XI

With Wayne Rooney calling time on his England career, the last of England's 'Golden Generation' bowed out. Widely considered as England's best chance at winning a World Cup in the Premier League era, they were a mix of technique and brawn as they reached the quarterfinals of the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

With foreign players setting increasingly higher standards, the number of English players in Premier League starting XIs has dwindled. Let's take a look at the best team comprising England's best players of the Premier League era.

We'll be going with a 4-1-2-1-2 formation. This team consists of players who played a minimum of 5 seasons in the Premier League, so players such as Bryan Robson and Paul Gascoigne have not been considered.

Notable mentions include Nigel Martyn (Leeds United), Joe Hart (Manchester City), Sol Campbell (Tottenham Hotspur/Arsenal), Ledley King (Tottenham Hotspur), Robbie Fowler and Michael Owen (Liverpool), and David Beckham (Manchester United).

Goalkeeper - David Seaman (Arsenal)

To members of this generation he is remembered for horribly misjudging that Ronaldinho freekick, but keeping that aside, David Seaman was more than a last bastion of defence, and played a major role in leading a largely unheralded Arsenal side under new manager Arsene Wenger to the top of English football, after Bruce Rioch's ill fated spell at Highbury.

He was part of the England squad for an unparalleled 15 consecutive years, from 1988 to 2003, playing in 2 World Cups, and helping England reach the semi-finals of Euro 96, where he was as goalkeeper in UEFA's team of the tournament.

Almost all his major honours came with Arsene Wenger as manager. He won 2 League titles, 4 FA Cups, 1 League Cup and was part of the Premier League's Domestic Team of the Decade in 2002.

Club appearances : 731, England caps: 75

Defenders

RB: Gary Neville (Manchester United)

If there was one man who personified doggedness, it was Gary Neville. A United man through and through, he was part of Sir Alex Ferguson's fabled 'Class of 92' FA Youth Cup graduates alongside brother Phil Neville, David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt. He won 8 League titles, 3 FA Cups and 2 UEFA Champions League titles.

He was a member of the PFA's Premier League Team of the Year and was a member of their Team of the Century in 1997.

Club appearances: 400, Goals: 5

England caps: 85

CB: Rio Ferdinand (Leeds United/Manchester United)

Prior to attaining legendary status at Old Trafford, Rio Ferdinand's exemplary performances at Elland Road for Leeds saw the club reach the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League in the 2000-01 before United came calling with a £29.1 million offer.

Part of the famed pairing with Nemanja Vidic, Ferdinand won 6 League titles, 2 League Cups and 1 UEFA Champions League, proving himself a strong defender reliable in the air, with strong leadership qualities, and a unique technical ability and confidence on the ball.

Club appearances: 514, Goals: 11

England caps: 81, Goals:3

CB: Tony Adams (Arsenal) (Captain)

If Gary Neville was United personified, Tony Adams was Mr. Arsenal. An inspirational leader, with a knack for goal yet disciplined, Adams was part of two famous Arsenal defences. The first, under George Graham, alongside Lee Dixon, Steve Bould and Nigel Winterburn won the erstwhile First Division in 1990-91, and then with Lauren, Martin Keown and Ashley Cole, he won the league in his final season in 2002-03.

His battle with alcoholism and triumphant return is proof of why most pundits would have him in their all-star team as captain. He retired just before the Invincibles season of 2003-04, but his dynamism is something Arsenal sorely miss even to this day. 2 PL titles, 2 FA Cups and a member of PFA's Team of the Century.

Club appearances: 504, Goals: 32

England caps: 66, Goals: 5

LB: Ashley Cole (Arsenal/Chelsea)

Part of the famed Invincibles defence of 2003-04, Ashley Cole, despite his acrimonious move from Arsenal to Chelsea, was arguably the best left-back in the world during the previous decade. He modelled his game on Brazilian great Roberto Carlos and became known for his link-up play with Thierry Henry and Robert Pires along the left flank.

He has won 3 PL titles, 7 FA Cups, 1 Champions League and 1 Europa League, apart from being named in PFA's Team of the Year 4 times and was England's Player of the Year in 2010.

Club appearances: 566, Goals: 16

England caps: 107, Goals: 0

Midfielders

CDM: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)

Probably the most famous person to emerge from Merseyside since The Beatles, Steven Gerrard is considered the greatest player to have not won the Premier League. Known for his long-range efforts, Gerrard was Liverpool captain for 12 seasons before hanging up his boots after winning 2 FA Cups, 1 UEFA Cup, 1 UEFA Champions League and 3 League Cups.

He also finished third in the 2005 Ballon d'Or, which was won by Ronaldinho. He is currently manager of Rangers in the Scottish Premier League.

Club appearances: 504, Goals: 120

England caps: 114, Goals: 21

CAM: Frank Lampard (Chelsea)

For any Chelsea fan growing up in the Mourinho era, Frank Lampard was probably the poster boy of Stamford Bridge. An all-round and versatile box-to-box player, who was capable of playing anywhere in midfield, he was deployed as a central midfielder, as an attacking midfielder, as a defensive midfielder, and even as a supporting striker on occasion.

In addition to his creative and defensive midfield roles, Lampard also possessed a keen eye for goal, due to his ability to make attacking runs into the area, or produce accurate and powerful shots from distance. He is Chelsea's record goalscorer, with an astounding 211 goals, and finished second in the 2005 Ballon d'Or behind Ronaldinho. He is currently managing Derby County in The Championship.

Club appearances: 648, Goals: 211

England caps: 106, Goals: 29

CAM: Paul Scholes (Manchester United)

Probably the most under-rated player in this XI, Paul Scholes is often regarded as United's greatest ever player, having earned high praise from Pele, Zinedine Zidane and many others who played with and against him. Pint-sized in structure but with a dream of a right foot, his season highlights often consisted of a montage of long distance goals.

Criminally underutilized by Sven-Goran Eriksson, he retired from international football in 2004, having been played woefully out of position by Eriksson on the left flank. His importance was such that Sir Alex Ferguson coaxed him out of retirement in 2010-11 following a string of losses. Had he been around longer, England would have stood to possess the most talented midfield of that time.

Club appearances: 718, Goals: 155

England caps: 66, Goals: 14

Forwards/Strikers

CF: Matt Le Tissier (Southampton)

As a centre-forward/false 9, we have Southampton demi-god Matt Le Tissier. Possessor of silken ball control, and a set-piece specialist, he only ever played for England eight times and was controversially left out of Glenn Hoddle's 1998 World Cup side. Born in Guernsey, his loyalty to the Saints garnered him a lot of respect and admiration, earning him the nickname 'Le God'.

His ability brought many suitors from all over Europe, but he chose to stay at St. Mary's, a decision which many believe hindered his chances of getting more game time for England. Despite a distinct lack of pace, Le Tissier more than made up for it with an excellent first touch and unparalleled control.

Club appearances: 540, Goals: 209

England caps: 8

RS: Wayne Rooney (Everton/Manchester United)

The most recent international retiree, Wayne 'Wazza' Rooney burst onto the world stage with virtuoso displays far beyond his 17 years for Everton before clinching a blockbuster £25.6 million move to Manchester United.

He marked this move with a Champions League hat-trick against Besiktas, and subsequently made it to the England squad for Euro 2004, where he scored 4 goals. His 13 seasons at United saw him win 5 PL titles, 1 FA Cup and 1 UEFA Champions League. He retires as Manchester United's and England's highest ever goalscorer.

Club appearances: 559, Goals: 253

England caps: 120, Goals: 53

LS: Alan Shearer (Blackburn Rovers/Newcastle United)

Alan Shearer is widely recognized as the best striker of the Premier League era. One of the few players on this list not to have played for the top 4 of English football (Liverpool, Man United, Chelsea and Arsenal), Shearer is considered a classic English centre-forward, owing to his strength, physical stature, heading ability and strong shot, which enabled him to be a highly prolific goalscorer.

He is the Premier League's all-time leading goalscorer, with 260, a record which should stand for quite a number of years. He won his only PL title with Blackburn Rovers, who, along with Leicester City, are the only teams other than Man United, Arsenal and Manchester City to have won the Premier League.

Club appearances: 734, Goals: 379

England caps: 63, Goals: 30