Former Manchester United striker Andy Cole has surprised fans by naming Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler as the best finisher he’s ever seen, snubbing United greats like Wayne Rooney.
Cole, 53, knows all about scoring, ranking as the fourth-highest goalscorer in Premier League history. But despite sharing the pitch with some of football’s greatest strikers, he believes Fowler’s ability in front of goal was unmatched.
Speaking on Rio Ferdinand’s YouTube channel, Cole said, “Oh, I loved Robbie, you know. Robbie is the best finisher I’ve seen. Left foot, right foot, headers—he was fearless. I used to sit and watch him, and his left foot was a wand.”
Fowler’s numbers back up Cole’s praise. The ex-Liverpool forward netted 183 goals in 369 appearances for the Reds, making him the ninth-highest scorer in Premier League history. His impressive career saw him win the FA Cup, two League Cups, the Europa League, and the Super Cup.
After coming through Liverpool’s academy, Fowler played for Leeds United, Manchester City, and even returned to Anfield for a second stint in 2006. He later played in Australia and Thailand before retiring in 2012.
Interestingly, Fowler and former United defender Gary Neville recently clashed over the striker’s career trajectory. On The Overlap, Neville claimed Fowler “could have been England’s greatest-ever goalscorer” if he hadn’t played for Liverpool, implying he would have won more at Manchester United.
Fowler, however, dismissed the suggestion as “disrespectful,” arguing that Liverpool were just as competitive as United in the mid-90s. “We were probably better than United in 1996,” he said. “The difference was they beat the weaker teams consistently, and we struggled.”