Football icons and famous fans attend Premier League Hall of Fame event

A trio of Premier League icons took to the stage as their induction into the Premier League Hall of Fame was marked with a celebratory event at The Shard, London, this evening [Wednesday 3 May, 2023].

Invincibles manager Arsène Wenger joined fellow 2023 inductees Rio Ferdinand and Petr Cech in attendance at the star-studded event hosted by Kelly Cates. The Premier League greats received medallions engraved with their names in front of an audience which included members of their family.

Famous football fans including actors Idris Elba and Micheal Ward, as well as broadcasters Gary Lineker, Jamie Redknapp and Reshmin Chowdhury were also present.

The Hall of Fame recognises and celebrates individuals who have an exceptional record of success and have significantly contributed to the Premier League since its inception in 1992.

It is the highest individual honour awarded by the League and all inductees have selected a charity which receives a £10,000 donation.

Sir Alex Ferguson, the Premier League’s most successful manager, joined former Arsenal captain and fellow 2023 inductee Tony Adams, in sharing a video message as the pair were unable to attend the event in person.

Quotes from the event

Arsène Wenger, who managed Arsenal for 22 seasons, masterminding three Premier League titles including “The Invincibles” season of 2003/04, stated: “I’m very happy to join the Premier League Hall of Fame with Sir Alex Ferguson, I must say he is certainly the greatest ever Premier League manager.

“There was a lot of scepticism when I arrived in the Premier League, so I had to gain people’s trust. During the invincible season I discovered what it was like to become a manager without fear. The team went to another level, above ego.”

Speaking on his future Hall of Fame pick, he named Kevin De Bruyne, commenting on his “exceptional decisiveness over the last five years.”

Goalkeeping great Petr Cech, who is the clean-sheet record holder in the competition and won four titles with Chelsea, said: “One of my earliest football memories is watching Peter Schmeichel at the Euros in 1992. He inspired me and It’s an honour to be inducted alongside him. Arsène’s legacy is also undeniable. I think the Premier League changed when he came to England and his Hall of Fame place is totally deserved.”

Rio Ferdinand, a six-time Premier League winner, speaking from The Shard said: “You can see the estate where I grew up in Peckham from here if you look closely. I’m going into the Hall of Fame alongside some of the greats, which is not something you dare think about at the beginning. I had a motto growing up that said, ‘if I play one minute of professional football then I would die a happy man.’ This [joining the Hall of Fame] is a fabulous curtain call.”

Peter Schmeichel, a five-time Premier League winner who was inducted into the Hall of Fame last year, added: “I’ve always chased something, so it’s lovely to look back and think about the eight-year-old kid with a dream who is now in the Hall of Fame. It’s all down to Sir Alex.

“He built the class of ’92 and created the Premier League before Arsène added the spice. That period helped build the popularity of the Premier League and I’m convinced they are both responsible for what we see today.”

Actor Idris Elba, a lifelong Arsenal fan, said: “It’s a huge honour to be asked to attend and see Arsène Wenger officially inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame. He’s been in the Arsenal Hall of Fame for a long time.”

Discussing future Hall of Fame players, the actor chose Bukayo Saka and Raheem Sterling.