Everton FC has been in existence for over a century and possesses a history that is as colorful as it is successful. Formed in 1878, 14 years before their fierce local rivals, Liverpool, the Toffees have written their history few clubs can match.
With nine First Division titles, five FA Cups, and one European Cup Winners’ Cup adorning Everton’s trophy cabinet, the glory this club has known cannot be denied.
However, in the Premier League as of late, things have been different, although that cannot take away the historical impact of Everton on English football.
Some legendary players have come through the ranks at Everton, helping to shape its identity throughout the years.
But who are the best of the best?
Below are the 10 best Everton players to have ever worn the jersey; players who played big in the club’s success and whose influence continues to reverberate today.
1. Dixie Dean
Any time one discusses the best Everton players of all time, there is one name prominent above others: William Ralph “Dixie” Dean is not just a legend for Everton; many consider him to be the greatest goalscorer in English football history.
Dean’s 1927/28 season is the stuff of football legend. In only 39 league games, he scored an incredible 60 goals-a record that is yet to be broken and quite frankly is unlikely ever to be bettered.
His goalscoring abilities led Everton to the First Division title that year, and although Everton went through a topsy-turvy ride of relegation and promotion after this, his loyalty never wavered.
By 1931/32, he helped guide the club back to the summit of English football, winning another league title.
Unfortunately, the war disrupted Dean’s career, but his status as an Everton talisman would not be sullied. He was not only a prolific striker with 383 goals in 433 games, but the man also embodied the fighting spirit of Everton.
2. Neville Southall
It’s often said that goalkeepers are the unsung heroes of any successful team, but Everton has one ultimate hero between the sticks: Neville Southall.
Regarded by many as one of the finest goalkeepers of his generation, he played a big part in Everton’s most successful period during the 1980s.
When the England international goal-stopper arrived at Goodison Park in 1981, he immediately took over as the club’s No. 1 and his arrival was instrumental in Everton’s dominance of the mid-80s.
He won two First Division titles on the trot between 1985 and 1987, two FA Cups, and the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1985 with the club. Agile, nimble, quick on to the shot stop, and fearless, he was among the most respected goalkeepers in Europe.
With 750 appearances, he is the record holder, and in 1985, he also won the FWA Footballer of the Year to nail his position as an Everton legend.
3. Alan Ball
Few players have made as solid a mark on Everton’s midfield as Alan Ball. He was known for his relentless work ethic and tireless running; Ball was truly the heartbeat in Everton’s side during his tenure.
Lured from Blackpool after winning the World Cup with England in 1966, Ball had already come with quite a pedigree upon his arrival at Goodison.
Nicknamed “Perpetual Motion,” Ball’s high-octane performances were integral to Everton winning the league title in the 1969/70 season as he netted 12 goals from midfield.
His combative style of play combined with his technical ability made him a firm Goodison favorite. He made 251 appearances and scored 79 goals in just over five years with the club before the controversial move to Arsenal in 1971.
His time at Everton was relatively short, but his impact on the club was immense. To this day, many fans of an older generation believe Ball to be one of the best they ever saw wearing a blue shirt.
4. Colin Harvey
Behind every great football club, there is a local hero and for Everton, that man is Colin Harvey.
A product of the Everton youth system, he made his first-team debut at just 18 years old in one of the most iconic fixtures that the club has ever had European Cup match against Inter Milan. From that moment on, he became the mainstay in the Everton midfield.
He played an important role during Everton’s 1966 FA Cup win and played as part of that famous “Holy Trinity” midfield with Alan Ball and Howard Kendall. The elegance and vision that he possessed on the ball made him one of the mainstays of the Club’s 1970 league title win.
After retiring as a player, Harvey remained in service with the club in various functions, most notably as assistant manager during those glorious times of the 1980s and briefly as Everton’s manager in 1987.
As a manager, he never reached great heights; however, his contributions to Everton both as a player and coach have left him among the greatest at the club.
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5. Howard Kendall
Any discussion of the best players to ever grace Everton certainly cannot exclude Kendall, who not only became a great player at the club but also one of its most successful managers.
Kendall joined Everton in 1967, as a deep-lying playmaker behind the Toffees’ 1970 league win. Along with Ball and Harvey, he was part of the “Holy Trinity.” Kendall’s ability to dictate game tempo, allied with his on-field leadership qualities, made him indispensable.
He returned to Everton as manager in 1981 following a sparkling playing career.
What followed was a golden era for the club, as he led Everton to two league titles, an FA Cup, and their only European trophy the 1985 European Cup Winners’ Cup.
As big an influence Kendall had as a player, he has the same size of influence as a manager, with the Park End stand at Goodison Park named in his honor.
6. Billy Meredith
Football was a different game in the late 1800s/early 1900s, but one of the game’s first true stars was Billy Meredith, always chewing on his toothpick.
He was one of the great trailblazers of the game. While more commonly associated with the Manchester clubs, the time he spent with Everton in the early 1900s is still remarkable.
He was a winger ahead of his time, with great fitness, speed, and dribbling ability. After a sweet 31-year career, his influence on the development of professional football in England, including the founding of the Players’ Union-PFA left an indelible mark.
7. Peter Reid
Boyhood Liverpool fan, he turned blue when he joined Everton back in 1982. Having started off slowly at Goodison, Reid grew into one of the toughest midfield players around, guiding Everton to its most successful era in the 1980s.
His tireless work ethic and no-nonsense tackling made him a cult figure.
He was integral to the dominance of Everton in the 1984/85 season as the club won both the First Division title and the European Cup Winners’ Cup.
Such were Reid’s performances that he was voted the PFA Player of the Year in 1985. Little question hangs over his status as one of the hardest-working players in Everton’s history.
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8. Brian Labone
In an era of flashy footballers, Labone was class, loyalty, and professionalism personified. The quiet, unassuming captain spent his entire 13-year career at Everton, making 534 appearances for the club.
He was nicknamed “the last of the Corinthians” a defender with grace, including a reputation for perfect timing and calmness in the field of action.
He was the fulcrum for Everton’s 1962/63 and 1969/70 title-winning teams, such that his commitment to Everton was so deep as he postponed his retirement to help the team win the league title in 1970.
Labone contributed a great deal to Everton in more ways than on-pitch performance; he epitomizes the true meaning of being a professional.
9. Graeme Sharp
Second in the all-time goalscoring charts at the club to only Dixie Dean, Sharp had an amazing career at Goodison Park. Signed from Dumbarton in 1980, Sharp went on to score 160 goals in 426 appearances, helping Everton win several trophies throughout the 1980s.
His crowning moment was in the 1984 season, when his superb volley at Anfield against Liverpool won the BBC’s Goal of the Season and ended a wait of 14 years for an Everton win on enemy territory.
He had this knack of scoring in big games, thereby acquiring legendary status among the Everton faithful. Sharp left Everton in 1991, but his contributions remain unforgettable.
10. Bob Latchford
Although he never won a trophy with the club, he can certainly be regarded as one of Everton’s best strikers.
Acquired for a record fee back in 1974, his 30 goals in the 1977/78 season remained an incredible feat that garnered him wide acclaim.
His relentless pursuit of goals defined his career at Everton. He was a tower of aggression and finishing capability, making him one of the most dangerous forwards in England then.
