The 2010’s were home to some memorable Premier League goalscorers, from Wayne Rooney to Luis Suarez and Sergio Aguero to Jamie Vardy, and Paddy Power can reveal which put the most money in punters’ pockets.
We’re reporting that Wayne Rooney was the most popular first goalscorer bet of the decade – with over £2m staked on him to find the net first in the 2010’s.
But despite his popularity, he didn’t always come good when it came to winning bets. Former Man United teammate Robin van Persie made bettors twice as much money as Rooney this decade.
Though we can disclose Gareth Bale was the man we paid out most on, as he scooped bettors over half a million quid before leaving for Real Madrid in 2013.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, two-time Premier League Golden Boot winner Harry Kane comes in as the second-most profitable first goalscorer, just ahead of Jamie Vardy.
Former Manchester City striker Vincent Kompany, who scored 18 goals in 265 PL appearances, is very much the punter’s pal and shock inclusion on the list.
Perhaps his most memorable goal was last year’s 25-yard strike against Leicester to secure the title – but many bettors will remember him for netting them first goalscorer cash at big prices.
Meanwhile, Rio Ferdinand was the player who was backed to score first most, while failing to actually do so. The defender was backed by over 6,000 Paddy Power customers to find the net first – and zero of those were winners.
Asked about the bets spokesman Paddy Power said: “We’ve been privileged enough to see some of the greatest goalscorers ever in the Premier League this decade, but not as privileged as the punters who kept winning money by backing them.
“While it’s no huge shock that Rooney, RVP and Kane were winners, Vincent Kompany continues his reputation as the nice guy of football by lining the pockets of first goalscorer bettors.”
Most popular players to score first in the 2010s
1. Wayne Rooney
2. Robin Van Persie
3. Luis Suarez
4. Sergio Aguero
5. Fernando Torres
6. Olivier Giroud
7. Romelu Lukaku
8. Harry Kane
9. Daniel Sturridge
10. Jamie Vardy
Most profitable first goalscorer bets in the 2010s
1. Gareth Bale
2. Harry Kane
3. Jamie Vardy
4. Vincent Kompany
5. Demba Ba
Players to have been backed to score first most, without doing so
1. Rio Ferdinand
2. Kolo Toure
3. Jamie Carragher
4. Nemanja Matic
5. Marcos Rojo
