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Top 10 revealed
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They may not always start matches, but they’ve finished plenty - and with a bang. In a league defined by drama and late twists, the Premier League's greatest 'super subs' have made a habit of turning games on their heads. No player wants to acclaim the 'super sub' label and most would prefer to start matches. But whether it’s rescuing a point, sealing a win, or delivering a knockout blow, these impact players have become cult heroes and tactical weapons for their managers across the years. From last-minute winners to moments of pure inspiration from the bench, Transfermarkt looks back at the most iconic super subs in Premier League history, calculating the players with the most goals from the substitutes bench since the 1992/93 season.
The best super subs in Premier League history
Leading the way as the ultimate super sub is none other than Jermaine Defoe. In 149 Premier League games from the bench, the Englishman scored 24 goals. In second place is Frenchman Olivier Giroud, who scored 21 goals from 103 appearances off of the substitutes bench. Third goes to Mexican Javier Hernández, or Chicharito as he was commonly known, who became notorious for being a super sub at Manchester United - he managed 19 goals as a sub. The original super sub Ole Gunnar Solskjær takes fourth with 17 goals.
Also with 17 goals, and in fifth and sixth respectively comes former England striker Daniel Sturridge and Nigerian Nwankwo Kanu. Seventh goes to Danny Welbeck with 16 goals - he could still add to that tally with Brighton next season. Former England striker and robotic enthusiast Peter Crouch is eighth with 16 goals. Former Nigerian forward Victor Anichebe takes ninth place with 14 goals, whilst Bosnian Edin Džeko completes the top 10 with 13 goals as a substitute.
