The first two Premier League Hall of Fame members announced

The Premier League has revealed the first two players to enter the long-awaited Hall of Fame.

Alan Shearer and Thierry Henry have been confirmed as the first two footballers to be inducted into the new Premier League Hall of Fame.

Shearer, of course, is the league’s all-time record scorer on 260 goals. He played in the English top-flight for Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United between 1992 until he retired in 2006.

The former England captain won the Premier League once in 1994/95 with Blackburn and the Golden Boot three times.

Henry, meanwhile, is regarded as one of the greatest ever to grace the English league. The Frenchman played for Arsenal and scored a superb 175 goals in 258 league appearances on route to two league titles in 2001/02 and 2003/04.

Two centre-forwards, both gifted with natural skill and talent who have written their names in Premier League history

We’re delighted to announce Alan Shearer and Thierry Henry as the first two inductees of the #PLHallOfFame pic.twitter.com/MAKgi3SYzV

— Premier League (@premierleague) April 26, 2021

Henry, who played in England across two spells between 1999 and 2012, won the Golden Boot four times.

He also holds the record for the most assists in a single league season on 20 assists alongside Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne.

“Alan Shearer and Thierry Henry are two world-class players who lit up the Premier League throughout their time in the competition,” read a statement from Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters.

“Both players were capable of scoring every kind of goal, including some of the best we have ever seen.

“Shearer’s record 260 Premier League goals puts him at the top of a long list of exceptional goalscorers. The fact that record remains unchallenged today, 15 years since his retirement, goes to show what an achievement it was.

“Henry broke individual and team records during eight seasons with Arsenal when he became a footballing icon.

“He was a talisman in the ‘Invincibles’ team and his four Premier League Golden Boots during a five-year period reflect the impact he had.”

With Shearer and Henry inducted, fans will now have the chance to vote on the other six retired stars who should join them in this prestigious list.

Only retired players, who played in the Premier League since its inception in 1992, can compete for the honor. Each inductee will also get a personalized medallion, with the year of their induction engraved on it.