Staying power: Sportsmail's club-by-club guide to the longest-serving stars in the Premier League

17 April 2009 12:05
As another season draws to a close, Sportsmail celebrates the longest-serving players at the 20 Premier League clubs.[LNB]Predictably, the likes of Ryan Giggs, John Terry and Jamie Carragher make our list, but the inclusion of a 21-year-old West Ham player may surprise you. [LNB]And at Fulham, Roy Hodgson's success has apparently coincided with a complete change of personnel - Clint Dempsey  joined the club little more than two years ago and is already a stalwart at Craven Cottage.[LNB]But which players could do with moving on? And which names do you want to see wearing their club colours for a while yet?[LNB]Here is Sportsmail Online's club-by-club guide to the longest-serving Premier League players.[LNB]Arsenal[LNB]Kolo Toure (age 28, joined Arsenal February 2002)The only remaining first-team regular from Arsenal's 'Invincibles' sideof 2003-04, the Ivory Coast international is still a vital part ofArsene Wenger's squad as they chase Champions League and FA Cup glory. [LNB][LNB]Aston VillaGareth Barry (age 28, debut April 1998)The England midfielder was a trainee at Villa, making his first-team debut on the left side of defence aged 17 in 1998.The intervening decade has seen Barry become a key player in Villa's cause but the transfer rumours will no doubt start in earnest again this summer.[LNB]Blackburn RoversTugay Kerimoglu (age 38, signed June 2001)Graeme Souness signed the Turkey international from Rangers for £1.3million and Tugay's elegant style soon endeared him to Rovers fans. Eight years later he is still capable of controlling the midfield, although more commonly coming on as a substitute.[LNB]Bolton WanderersJussi Jaaskelainen (age 33, signed November 1997)The goalkeeper cost just £100,000 and has gone on to make more than 350 appearances for Rovers.Jaaskelainen will be 34 on Sunday, which is still sprightly for a goalkeeper, and his contract at the Reebok Stadium runs until 2012.[LNB]ChelseaJohn Terry (age 28, joined 1994)The future England skipper joined Chelsea as a 14-year-old and is a Blue to his core, leading the club to Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup glory. How Terry would love to compensate for that missed Moscow penalty by adding the 2009 Champions League crown to his trophy cabinet.[LNB]EvertonTony Hibbert (age 28) and Leon Osman (age 27, both joined 1997)Both players were part of the Everton team that won the 1998 FA Youth Cup and have progressed through the ranks at Goodison Park.[LNB]Osman (left) made his first team debut before Hibbert and has spent loan spells at Derby and Carlisle, while Hibbert has stayed with the Toffees throughout his career.[LNB]FulhamClint Dempsey (age 26, joined Fulham January 2007)Believe it or not, Dempsey is Fulham's longest-serving current player, despite having made just 87 appearances.Simon Davies made his debut just after the American, while Collins John and Moritz Volz are both on loan (at NEC Nijmegen and Ipswich Town).[LNB]Hull CityIan Ashbee (age 32, joined City June 2002)The midfield player has led Hull City and scored in each of the English divisions, skippering the Tigers throughout their remarkable journey to the Premier League.[LNB]LiverpoolJamie Carragher (age 31, signed October 1996)A one-club man, Carragher signed professional terms at Anfield in October 1996, having impressed as a trainee and won the FA Youth Cup that year.The Bootle-born defender has made 571 appearances for the Reds and is Liverpool's vice-captain.[LNB]Manchester CityRichard Dunne (age 29, joined October 2000)Joe Royle signed Dunne from Everton for £3m in 2000 and he was awarded the captain's armband six years later, playing every minute of every game for City in the 2006-07 season.Dunne has been City's Player of the Season for the past four campaigns, a club record.[LNB]Manchester UnitedRyan Giggs (age 35, joined July 1990)The Wales international has made more appearances and won more trophies than any other player in United's history.Giggs is also the only player to have scored in every Premier League season.[LNB]MiddlesbroughBrad Jones (age 27, joined 2000)The Australian goalkeeper reached the semi-finals of the FA Youth Cup with Boro in 2000 and has had loan spells at the likes of Blackpool, Sheffield Wednesday, Stockport and Rotherham during his nine years with the club.[LNB]NewcastleSteve Harper (age 34, signed July 1993)It took Harper six years at St James' Park before he made his first-team debut and the goalkeeper has spent the majority of his time at Newcastle in Shay Given's shadow.But the Irishman's move to Manchester City has finally given Harper his chance - all he has to do now is keep Newcastle in the Premier League.[LNB]PortsmouthRichard Hughes (age 29, signed March 2002)The Scot joined Pompey from Bournemouth in 2002 and has made 129 appearances for the club, scoring just the one goal (in the FA Cup against Liverpool at Fratton Park in 2004).[LNB]Stoke CityAndy Wilkinson (age 24, joined 2003)An academy graduate, the defender has had loan spells at Telford, Partick Thistle, Shrewsbury Town and Blackpool and has made 17 appearances for Stoke this season.[LNB]SunderlandGrant Leadbitter (age 23, September 2003)The midfielder made his Sunderland debut in the League Cup against Huddersfield in 2003 and, after a loan spell at Rotherham, has gone on to make 116 appearances for the Black Cats. [LNB]TottenhamLedley King (age 28, joined Spurs June 1998)King signed as a professional for Tottenham in May 1999. The defender set a Premier League record 18 months later when he netted his first goal for the club - scoring after just 10 seconds against Bradford City.[LNB]West Bromwich AlbionNeil Clement (age 30, joined July 2000)Currently sidelined after knee surgery, Clement joined the Baggies in July 2000 from Chelsea. A four-month loan spell at Hull City last season is the only time the defender has been away from the Midlands club since. [LNB]West HamMark Noble (age 21, joined February 2003)The England Under 21 international is, remarkably, the longest-serving player at Upton Park. [LNB]Noble appeared in the Hammers reserve team aged 15 and made his first-team debut 18 months later, aged just 17 years and 108 days, when he came on as a sub in a 2-0 League Cup victory over local rivals Southend in August 2004. [LNB]Wigan AthleticMike Pollitt (age 37, joined June 2005)Wigan snapped up the goalkeeper for £200,000 from Rotherham United in the summer of 2005, but Pollitt's first-team appearances were limited when Chris Kirkland arrived at the JJB a year later.Loan spells at Burnley and Ipswich followed and the stopper has made just three appearances for the Latics this season.[LNB][LNB] MARTIN SAMUEL: Wenger and Fergie set for new civil warTHE LIST: Nos 20-11 of the world's greatest sporting venuesEXCLUSIVE: City manager Hughes needs every man to be an IrelandDragon slayer: Ronaldo's thunderbolt edges United past PortoStun Gunners: Arsenal romp sets up semi showdown with United  [LNB]  

Source: Daily_Mail