Jump directly to the content
Revealed
Creme de la Prem

As Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy make their Champions League debuts, SunSport lists the other English strikers to net against Europe’s elite competition

Sponsored by

HARRY KANE and Jamie Vardy will become the latest English strikers to grace the Champions League.

The role of the centre forward is one which has substantially changed over the years.

San Marino v England European Championships Group E Picture By Richard Pelham Harry Kane of England scores 0-5 and celebrates with Jamie Vardy of England
13
Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy are set to make first Champions League appearancesCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

But the Tottenham and Leicester frontmen are a throwback to a different era.

There have so far been 19 English strikers to score a Champions League goal.

Here, we take a look back at them.

Wayne Rooney — 30

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 28: Wayne Rooney of Manchester United celebrates his second goal during the UEFA Champions League Group D match between Manchester United and Fenerbahce SK at Old Trafford on September 28, 2004 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
13
Wayne Rooney scored a hat-trick on his Man United and Champions League debutCredit: Getty Images

He exploded on the scene with a hat-trick on his Manchester United debut, in a Champions League tie against Fenerbahce.

Rooney netted in the 2011 final, but will have to wait until at least next season for a chance to add to his tally.

Winner with United in 2008.

Andrew Cole — 18

21 Apr 1999: Andy Cole of Manchester United wheels away in delight after scoring the winner in the UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg match against Juventus at the Stadio delle Alpi in Turin, Italy. United won 3-2 on the night to go through 4-3on aggregate. Mandatory Credit: Mike Hewitt /Allsport
13
Andy Cole reels away after sending Manchester United to Champions League finalCredit: Mike Hewitt /Allsport

Scored a hat-trick in a win away at Feyenoord in 1997.

Cole's most famous Champions League goal is probably the clincher in the 1999 semi-final win over Juventus.

Was a winner in the same year.

Peter Crouch — 13

MILAN, ITALY - FEBRUARY 15: Peter Crouch of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates scoring the winning goal during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg match between AC Milan and Tottenham Hotspur at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on February 15, 2011 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
13
Peter Croich famously scored for Tottenham in 1-0 win over Milan at San SiroCredit: Getty Images

Surprisingly high up on this list.

Crouch netted for a Liverpool and Tottenham.

His most famous goal would surely have been Spurs' winner against AC Milan at the San Siro.

Michael Owen — 11

11 Sep 2001: Michael Owen of Liverpool celebrates scoring the equalising goal during the UEFA Champions League Group B match against Boavista played at Anfield, in Liverpool, England. The match ended in a 1-1 draw. Mandatory Credit: Alex Livesey /Allsport
13
Michael Owen celebrates scoring for Liverpool against Boavista in 2001Credit: Alex Livesey /Allsport

Scored hat-tricks for both Liverpool and United — as well as a goal for Real Madrid.

Owen was an unused sub as the Red Devils lost the 2011 final to Barcelona.

Theo Walcott — 11

MARSEILLE, FRANCE - SEPTEMBER 18: Theo Walcott of Arsenal celebrates his goal during the UEFA Champions League group F match between Olympique de Marseille and Arsenal at Stade Velodrome on September 18, 2013 in Marseille, France. (Photo by Jamie McDonald/Getty Images)
13
Theo Walcott's Champions League goal tally of 11 may surprise a few supportersCredit: Getty Images

One of only two English centre-forwards to net for Arsenal.

Walcott rarely played in the latter stage of the Champions League, but famously scored a delightful lob against Villarreal in the 2009 quarter-finals.

Teddy Sheringham — 9

26 May 1999: Teddy Sheringham of Manchester United celebrates his equaliser during the UEFA Champions League Final against Bayern Munich at the Nou Camp in Barcelona, Spain. United scored twice in injury time to win 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Ben Radford/Allsport
13
Teddy Sheringham scores Manchester United's last-gasp equaliser in finalCredit: Ben Radford/Allsport

Only played in the tournament for three seasons — but certainly left his mark.

Sheringham's stoppage time equaliser for United in their dramatic 1999 final victory will live long in the memory.

Alan Shearer — 7

Alan Shearer scored a hat-trick for Newcastle in win away at Bayer Leverkusen
13
Alan Shearer scored a hat-trick for Newcastle in win away at Bayer LeverkusenCredit: Getty Images

A great striker, who didn't feature on the biggest stage enough.

Shearer netted for Blackburn in 1995 and even a hat-trick for his beloved Newcastle in 2003.

Danny Welbeck — 7

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 01: Danny Welbeck of Arsenal scores his team's fourth and his third goal during the UEFA Champions League group D match between Arsenal FC and Galatasaray AS at Emirates Stadium on October 1, 2014 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images)
13
Danny Welbeck's only three goals for Arsenal were in win over GalatasarayCredit: Getty Images

Another who surprisingly has a Champions League hat-trick to his name.

Welbeck scored four times for United — and his treble against Galatasaray are so far his only goals for Arsenal.

Alan Smith — 6

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - APRIL 10: Alan Smith of Manchester United scores their second goal during the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final second leg match between Manchester United and AS Roma at Old Trafford on April 10 2007 in Manchester, England. (Photo by John Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images)
13
Alan Smith finishes off after sensational team move from Manchester UnitedCredit: Getty Images

Smith netted at the Bernabeu and the Olympic Stadium for Leeds.

But surely none felt as sweet as sweeping home a sensational team move in United's 7-1 rout against Roma after returning from his horrific leg break.

Chris Sutton — 6

31 Oct 2001: Chris Sutton of Celtic celebrates after scoring the second goal during the UEFA Champions League Group E match between Celtic and Juventus at Celtic Park, Glasgow. DIGITAL IMAGE. Mandatory Credit: Ross Kinnaird/ALLSPORT
13
Chris Sutton celebrates scoring in Celtic's 4-1 win over Juventus in 2001Credit: Ross Kinnaird/ALLSPORT

Netted twice in Celtic's famous 4-3 victory over Juventus in 2001.

Also scored in a defeat to Barcelona three years later.

Mike Newell — 4

Mike Newell's record for fastest Champions League hat-trick stood for 16 years
13
Mike Newell's record for fastest Champions League hat-trick stood for 16 yearsCredit: Getty Images

Scored the fastest hat-trick in Champions League history in 1995 — which stood for 16 years.

Only featured in the competition in one season.

Emile Heskey — 4

LIVERPOOL(2) V AS ROMA(0) ...19TH MARCH 2002...PICTURE BY MARK ROBINSON..EMILE HESKEY SCORES SECOND GOAL.
13
Emile Heskey's header against Roma in 2002 put Liverpool through to last-eightCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

His two goals in 2001-02 virtually took Liverpool through the second group stage phase.

Heskey scored twice in a 5-0 victory over Spartak Moscow in the following campaign.

The rest

Robbie Fowler — 2

Jermain Defoe — 2

Daniel Sturridge — 2

Gary Hooper — 2

Neil Mellor — 1

Rickie Lambert — 1

Topics