Another iconic set with one of the best rookie stickers you can get from the modern era! So many great players and a very nostalgic time for me personally! A time where players were loyal and there were true club legends!
Let’s get to the list!
10 – John Terry – #185 – Rookie Sticker from Merlin English Premier League 2001/02
Terry played for Chelsea from 1998 to 2017, and is the most successful captain in the club’s history, having won the Premier League five times, the FA Cup five times, and the UEFA Champions League. He was also named to the PFA Team of the Year four times and was named the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year in 2005. Terry is considered one of the greatest defenders of his generation and is remembered as one of the most influential players in Chelsea’s history.
9 – Stuart Downing Rookie Sticker – #398
He played for Chelsea from 1998 to 2017, and is the most successful captain in the club’s history, having won the Premier League five times, the FA Cup five times, and the UEFA Champions League. He was also named to the PFA Team of the Year four times and was named the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year in 2005. Terry is considered one of the greatest defenders of his generation and is remembered as one of the most influential players in Chelsea’s history.
8 – David Beckham – #369 – Rookie Sticker from Merlin’s English Premier League 1995/96
He played for Manchester United from 1992 to 2003, during which time he won numerous titles, including six Premier League titles and the UEFA Champions League. Beckham was an integral part of the Manchester United team that dominated English football in the 1990s and early 2000s, and was known for his precision passing, his powerful long-range shooting, and his ability to deliver accurate crosses from out wide. He also played for the England national team, earning over 100 caps and scoring 17 goals. After leaving Manchester United, Beckham went on to play for a number of other clubs, including Real Madrid, LA Galaxy, and Paris Saint-Germain. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of his generation and is remembered as a Manchester United legend.
7 – Frank Lampard – #189 – Rookie Sticker from Merlin’s English Premier League 1997/98
Frank Lampard was a former professional footballer who was known for his ability to score goals from midfield. He was an attacking midfielder who spent the majority of his career at Chelsea, where he became the club’s all-time leading goalscorer. Lampard was also a prolific goalscorer for the England national team, scoring 29 goals in 106 appearances. He was known for his ability to arrive in the box late and score goals from close range, and he was also capable of scoring goals from long range with his powerful shot. In total, Lampard scored over 200 goals in his professional career, and he is widely regarded as one of the greatest goalscoring midfielders of all time.
6 – Steven Gerrard – #317 – Rookie Sticker from Merlin English Premier League 1998-1999 Transfer Update
Widely regarded as a Liverpool legend and one of the greatest players in the club’s history. He was the captain of Liverpool for many years and is remembered for his leadership, his powerful long-range shooting, and his all-around ability as a midfielder. Gerrard was known for his charisma on the pitch and his ability to inspire his teammates with his performances. He spent 17 seasons at Liverpool, scoring 186 goals in 710 appearances, and helped the club win numerous titles, including the UEFA Champions League and the FA Cup. Gerrard also played for the England national team, earning 114 caps and scoring 21 goals. He is considered one of the best midfielders of his generation and is remembered as one of the greatest players in English football history.
Gerrard with an iconic scorcher from distance against Olympiacos!
5 – Peter Crouch Rookie Sticker – #65
Peter Crouch is a retired professional footballer who was known for his tall stature, his athleticism, and his ability to score spectacular goals. Crouch was a popular player during his career, and he played for a number of top English clubs, including Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, and Stoke City. He was known for his ability to score goals with his head, and he scored many spectacular goals during his career, including a number of volleys and long-range strikes. Crouch was also an accomplished target man, and he was known for his ability to hold the ball up and bring his teammates into play. In total, Crouch scored over 100 goals in his professional career and won the FA Cup with Portsmouth in 2008.
4 – Diego Forlan Rookie Sticker – #379
Diego Forlan is known for his technique and his ability to score goals from long range. He played for a number of clubs during his career, including Manchester United, where he spent two seasons from 2002 to 2004. While at Manchester United, Forlan struggled to consistently find the back of the net and was not a regular starter for the team. However, he did score some important goals for the club, including a brace against Liverpool in the Premier League and a hat-trick against Maccabi Haifa in the UEFA Champions League. After leaving Manchester United, Forlan went on to enjoy a successful career at other clubs, winning numerous individual awards and scoring over 200 goals in his professional career. He is remembered as a technically gifted player with a powerful shot, and is considered one of the best Uruguayan players of all time.
3 – Thierry Henry – #27 – Rookie Sticker from Panini Foot 1996/97
Thierry Henry is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of Arsenal Football Club. He played for Arsenal from 1999 to 2007, during which time he scored a club record 228 goals in all competitions. Henry was known for his speed, his technical ability, and his clinical finishing, and he scored many amazing goals during his time at Arsenal. He was also a key player for the France national team, earning 123 caps and scoring 51 goals. Henry won numerous individual awards during his career, including the FIFA World Cup Golden Boot, the Premier League Golden Boot, and the UEFA Champions League Golden Boot. He is considered one of the best players of his generation and is remembered as an Arsenal legend.
Henry with incredible composure scores an outrageous outside of the foot volley.
2 – Wayne Rooney Rookie Sticker – #296 – Insert
He began his career at Everton, where he came through the academy and made his professional debut for the club at the age of 16. Rooney spent two seasons at Everton before moving to Manchester United in 2004, where he became one of the best players in the world and won numerous titles, including five Premier League titles and the UEFA Champions League. After leaving Manchester United in 2017, Rooney returned to Everton for a brief spell before moving to MLS, where he played for DC United. He returned to England in 2020 to join Derby County. Throughout his career, Rooney has been known for his goalscoring ability, his technical skills, and his leadership on the pitch. He is England’s all-time leading goalscorer and is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the country’s history.
1 – Wayne Rooney Rookie Sticker – #226
Wayne Rooney is the best rookie sticker in Merlin English Premier League 2002-2003.
I believe the portrait holds the most value in terms of Rooney’s rookies. Traditionally, collectors prefer to go for this. A great sticker and one that will never lose value!