
Football
Premier League Super Subs: Defoe, Giroud & Top Impact Players
The ones who always get the praise are, of course, the starters. The ones who are always there and play almost every game. However, when the class players, the regular starters, the people who should bring you victory, fail to do so, well, that's when the magic of the "super subs" comes into play. To be such a player, you need to have a certain mentality. You need to adapt quickly, make an immediate impact, take advantage of every opportunity, and if you have all of these, then you have all the ingredients to be a "super sub". The players who stay on the bench accumulate some positive malice before they enter the field, and in the few minutes they get, they do their best to change the face of the game completely.

Jermain Defoe of Tottenham/Getty Images
In this article, we will discover the best super subs in the history of the Premier League.
The Art of the Impact Sub
Substitutes are more than just players who can bring freshness to the game. They are well-thought-out tactical tools. Coaches use them to inject more energy into the game at the end of the game, to change the formation and surprise the opponent, and last but not least, to exploit the fatigue of the opponents.
But not every player is ready to cope with this role brilliantly. "Super-subs" must bring an explosion to the game, possess very good finishing quality and instantly read the game. For them, a simple touch is enough to change the score on the table. These players get their positive energy from the bench while watching the game, and then when they come on, they speculate every moment.
SB Market Index: How We Evaluate the Premier League's Best Super
This evaluation combines a statistical analysis of their goals scored as substitutes with expert and media perception to provide a comprehensive ranking.
Industry Insights
A curated analysis from top football and sports media sources measures how prominently each player is featured in discussions about the Premier League's greatest players or top goalscorers, reflecting their overall standing.
Source Name | Defoe | Giroud | Hernández | Kanu | Solskjær | Sturridge | Crouch | Welbeck | Flo | Keane |
Wikipedia – Hall of Fame inductees / Premier League Page | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
FourFourTwo – Ranked 100 Best Premier League Players | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Soccertipsters – Top 20 goal scorers list | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Sports Mole – Top 30 Premier League Players | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Reddit – r/football consensus list of 100 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Betway blog – top-50 Premier League players | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Total | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 |

SB Score
Player | Substitute Goals | SB Score |
Jermain Defoe | 24 | 1.000 |
Olivier Giroud | 21 | 0.875 |
Javier Hernández | 19 | 0.792 |
Kanu | 17 | 0.708 |
Ole Gunnar Solskjær | 17 | 0.708 |
Daniel Sturridge | 17 | 0.708 |
Peter Crouch | 16 | 0.667 |
Danny Welbeck | 16 | 0.667 |
Tore Andre Flo | 13 | 0.542 |
Robbie Keane | 13 | 0.542 |
This score is calculated based on the total number of goals scored as a substitute in the Premier League (100% weightage). The raw stats are used to calculate the final SB Score.

SB Market Index
Rank | Player | SB Score | Industry Insights | SB Market Index |
1 | Jermain Defoe | 1.000 | 3 | 2.600 |
2 | Robbie Keane | 0.542 | 3 | 2.508 |
3 | Peter Crouch | 0.667 | 2 | 1.733 |
4 | Kanu | 0.708 | 1 | 0.942 |
5 | Ole Gunnar Solskjær | 0.708 | 1 | 0.942 |
6 | Olivier Giroud | 0.875 | 0 | 0.175 |
7 | Javier Hernández | 0.792 | 0 | 0.158 |
8 | Daniel Sturridge | 0.708 | 0 | 0.142 |
9 | Danny Welbeck | 0.667 | 0 | 0.133 |
10 | Tore Andre Flo | 0.542 | 0 | 0.108 |

Spotlight on the Super Subs
Jermain Defoe (The King of Impact)
When it comes to super-subs in the Premier League, few have been as good as Jermain Defoe. The Englishman scored 24 goals after coming on as a substitute. The former Tottenham, Portsmouth and Sunderland player is pure proof that a simple touch can change the direction of a game.
Defoe was extremely efficient and agile. He did not have high stamina, but he was extremely fast when he had a lot of energy, which he used excellently in the last minutes of games.
Olivier Giroud & Javier Hernández (Modern Masters)
Frenchman Olivier Giroud is a player of great contrasts. He is a classic number nine with a knack for scoring goals in the last few minutes. Giroud's 21 goals as a substitute put him second on the Premier League's all-time list. The former Arsenal and Chelsea striker is a master of positioning himself in the box, and often, through a header or an unexpected finish, has produced legendary goals.
Beneath Giroud is Javier "Chicharito" Hernández, the ultimate definition of an impact player. During his time at Manchester United, he was the striker who kept you glued to the TV. With 19 goals as a substitute, Chicharito had the gift of arriving just when defences were losing focus. The Mexican's finishing and killer instinct were outstanding during Sir Alex Ferguson's time at Old Trafford.
The Legendary Solskjær
Of course, we couldn't help but talk about Ole Gunnar Solskjær. When you think of super-subs, the first thing that comes to mind is the Norwegian striker and his extra-time winning goal in the 1999 Champions League final, arguably the most famous super-sub goal in football history.
With 17 goals to his name, the “Baby-Faced Assassin” was a different kind of super-sub. Ole Gunnar Solskjær was a calm guy and knew how to act gently when his opponent underestimated him. He knew how to make you think you had already won the duel when in fact the ball was in the goal.
The Logjam at 13
There is a big crowd at number 13. Legends like Michael Owen, Andrew Cole and Robbie Keane are all on that number of goals. All of these players are hard to forget in the world of the Premier League. They all made a major impact when they came off the bench and are remembered by fans for their legendary goals.
Then there is Marcus Rashford, who stands out in the group for one important reason: he is still active. Even if he moves to Barcelona, Rashford can return to England one day and increase his goal tally as a substitute.
Key Observations
What's fascinating about this list is that many of these "super-subs" were also top-flight starters during their careers. Players like Defoe, Michael Owen, Andrew Cole and Daniel Sturridge didn't spend their prime on the bench, but when they did come off the bench, they were often even more dangerous. It's not about being second choice, it's about being the right choice at the right time.
Conclusion
Substitute goals are a defining quality in the Premier League. And perhaps what we don't see in this list is the timing of the goals or the importance of the games, which is hugely important. Because those moments can make a huge difference when the season ends and you look at the table.
Jermain Defoe's record 24 goals as a substitute is the ultimate benchmark. But he's far from alone. Players like Giroud, Chicharito, Solskjær and Rashford have all built up a reputation as reliable, game-changing players who can turn the tables on the bench.
Once again, football shows us that even if you're not a regular starter, you can still be a legend. You can be decisive. You can be extremely useful. And you can bring valuable points to your team, even if it sometimes feels disappointing to be left on the bench.
SportsBoom Suggests
Players known for their 'super sub' abilities often see their odds shorten for 'Anytime Goalscorer' if they are named on the bench, as bettors anticipate their potential late-game impact.

With a strong background in journalism and years of experience in sports commentary, Dragoș Șoneriu has written about every aspect of sport, from match reports and features to tactical analyses and investigative pieces. A lifelong Arsenal fan, he dreams of seeing his beloved team lift the Premier League trophy. Outside of work, Dragoș collects anything football-related, from stickers and mugs to vintage shirts and scarves.