Appreciating Mzansi's #Barclaysmen

In light of the ongoing #Barclaysmen trend on Twitter/X — we take time to appreciate Mzansi's English Premier League legends from that era.

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The story

Over the FIFA international break, football Twitter has been buzzing with a trend that has fans reminiscing about iconic players from the English Premier League's storied history.

The #Barclaysmen trend has taken off and put a smile on many, with supporters celebrating the former English Premier League stars with cult hero status between 2001 and 2014.

Essentially, it offers a nostalgic look at English football, featuring short highlight clips from players' careers, often set to popular indie tunes from the 2000s, from bands such as Club Foot, The Coral, and the Strokes among others.

In terms of South Africa's #Barclaysmen, the likes of Steven Pienaar (Everton, Tottenham Sunderland), Lucas Radebe (Leeds United), Mark Fish (Charlton Athletic), Aaron Mokoena (Portsmouth), Shaun Bartlett (Charlton Athletic) and Benni McCarthy (Blackburn Rovers West Ham), held the torch for Mzansi in those memorable Barclays Premier League years.

Pienaar and McCarthy certified #Barclaysmen status for their stints at Everton and Blackburn Rovers respectively, with "Rhoo" is also held in high regard by Leeds United fans as a cult hero.

Pienaar has the made the most appearances for any South African in the Premier League with 214 games for Everton, Tottenham Hotspur and Sunderland, making him the only Mzansi baller with over 200 showings in the English top flight.

"Schillo" managed 28 goals in the Premier League (27 from Everton), contributing with a further 48 assists over a decade-long period in England.

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For Blackburn Rovers fans, Benni McCarthy is a true #Barclaysmen baller, where he scored over 50 goals in 140 appearances for the Riversiders. 

His best goalscoring season at the East Yorkshire club saw him score 18 league goals (24 in all competitions) during the 2006/07 campaign, a memorable period in McCarthy's career that stamped his authority as South Africa's best striker export.

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