A career isn’t defined a debut. It can set a tone for a stint in player’s career, though, and that has been the case for many of the greatest Premier League debuts...
5 - Paulo Wanchope (Derby v Man United)
Not a great deal was known about Wanchope when the Rams signed the Costa Rican for £600,000 in March 1997. He was Costa Rican. And he cost £600,000. That was it, really.
By the time he walked off the Old Trafford pitch, however, having made his league debut, Derby fans must have believed their club had sourced a legend in the making.
Naturally enough, nobody gave the visitors a prayer beforehand in the Premier League betting. Team generally didn’t go to the home of the dominant force in English football, take a two-goal lead in the first half, then leave at the end 3-2 to the good.
And naturally enough, strikers of any vintage, least of all a player on his debut, didn’t tend to run right at the heart of United’s back-line, embarking on a forty-yard adventure that had four of the opposition flailing along the way.
At almost every stage of Wanchope’s unforgettable individual goal he was on the cusp of losing control of the ball. It was all limbs and brilliance.
4 - Sergio Aguero (Man City v Swansea)
Forget about City’s signing of Robinho, on the same day of their transformative takeover in 2008.
Sergio Aguero was the first bona fide superstar the club purchased, the Argentine arriving with the promise of goals and electrifying forward play. Excitement among the Blue faithful was palpable.
Yet on the opening weekend of the 2011/12 season, Roberto Mancini made them wait to see their new idol, Aguero coming on with City 1-0 up late-on against a Swansea side that was largely matching them pass-for-pass.
If his introduction was delayed it was also an explosive one, the striker scoring soon after, then improvising an ingenious assist for David Silva.
The Etihad had barely composed itself before he rifled a spectacular 25-yarder top bins.
3 - Mario Stanic (Chelsea v West Ham)
Stanic’s transfer from Parma may have taken third billing to the purchases of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Eidur Gudjohnsen in the summer of 2000, but he certainly grabbed centre stage as Chelsea opened their account with a 4-2 victory over West Ham.
Two late strikes by the substitute, either side of a Freddie Kanoute equaliser, ensured the Blues got off to a winning start but even this impressive feat cedes to the sheer majesty of the first of his brace.
A mile away from goal, the Croatian indulged in some elaborate keepy-uppy before unleashing a dipping, swerving rocket from range.
Just 90 minutes into 2000/01 and the goal of the season was already witnessed.
2 - Marcus Rashford (Man United v Arsenal)
Rashford wasn’t considered the most talented prospect from United’s famed academy, with other emerging kids rated higher. Those in the know had their doubts that the local lad could make the breakthrough at Old Trafford, though of course a professional career beckoned elsewhere.
But then Anthony Martial got injured in the warm-up ahead of a Europa League clash with Midtjylland and it’s fair to say that Rashford took his chance, notching twice. In doing so he became United’s youngest ever goal-scorer in Europe.
Just three days later and the 18-year-old was at it again, thrown in as a starter because of an injury crisis, and scoring twice and assisting against Arsenal in the Premier League.
Cue some hasty back-tracking from those in the know.
1 - Fabrizio Ravanelli (Middlesbrough v Liverpool)
An exciting new era for Boro was epitomised by the signing of Ravanelli, the arch hit-man having recently won the Champions League with Juventus.
Add in too the recent securement of Juninho and a revolution was taking place in the North-East, one that captivated football.
Still, the football betting didn’t have a great deal of faith in the hosts on the opening day, what with the visitors being Liverpool. A decent, cohesive performance would have sufficed. A glimpse of better days to come.
Instead, the Italian international ran amok, executing a clinical hat-trick that has gone down in the annals of Premier League history.
Rewatching that exhilarating 3-3 draw now is like submerging into a warm bath of nostalgia, whoever we support.
*Credit for the photos in this article belongs to Alamy*
