Hazard, Aguero, Cisse and more sparkling Premier League debuts
After Eden Hazard's star turn in his first Premier League game for Chelsea, we look at some other foreign imports who made an immediate mark in their first Premier League game.
Fabrizio Ravenelli for Middlesbrough in 1996
Ravenelli joined Bryan Robson's Middlesbrough on a £7million transfer from Juventus at the peak of his career, having scored in Juventus' Champions League final triumph just a few months previously. In possibly the greatest Premier League debut ever, the Italian - aka the White Feather - set the Riverside Stadium alight when he scored a hat-trick on his debut for the club in a blockbusting 3-3 draw against Liverpool on the opening day of the 1996/97 season.
Michu for Swansea City in 2012
A £2million summer signing from Spanish side Rayo Vallecano, the lanky 26-year-old attacking midfielder scored twice with his sweet left-foot to give Swansea an unlikely 2-0 lead over QPR at Loftus Road. The Spaniard - who scored 17 goals last season - then put in Sinclair to hammer home from 18 yards and cap a 5-0 rout for delighted new manager Michael Laudrup.
Sergio Aguero for Manchester City in 2011
Struggling with blisters, the Argentinian had to settle for a place on the bench for Manchester City's first game of their title-winning 2011/12 season. When he came on with 20 minutes to go, however, he gave the Swansea defenders a torrid time, scoring two and assisting David Silva for a tap in. Aguero slotted home unmarked at the far post shortly after his introduction and then audaciously flicked the ball for Silva to volley home, before scoring with a long-range strike late in the match, to help give his team a 4-0 victory.
Papiss Demba Cisse for Newcastle in 2012
The Senagalese striker marked his debut with a stunning match-winning goal against Aston Villa last season. A £10million January 2012 signing from Freiburg, Cisse hit a spectacular half-volley to help Newcastle move back up to fifth in the Premier League table. His compatriot Demba Ba had his first half strike cancelled out before Cisse hit an unstoppable left-foot half-volley into the top left corner. He went on to score 13 goals in 14 matches before the end of the season.
Deco for Chelsea in 2008
Chelsea signed Deco from Barcelona for £8million in June 2008, as Luiz Felipe Scolari's first signing at Stamford Bridge. The diminutive attacker scored on his Premier League debut with a stunning 30-yard goal in a 4–0 victory over Portsmouth, with David James left stunned. Deco followed up his performance by scoring in his second game for Chelsea, a curling free kick against Wigan Athletic, although that was about as good as it got for him with the Blues.
Jurgen Klinsmann for Tottenham in 1994
After being signed by Spurs manager Ossie Ardiles from Monaco for £2million after starring at the 1994 World Cup, Klinsmann's first Premier League game was a memorable one. Sheffield Wednesday had clawed two goals back following Teddy Sheringham's opening brace, before Klinsmann scored the winner in a thrilling 4-3 win for a cavalier Spurs side. He celebrated his bullet header with a self-deprecating/mocking dive, after being criticised in the British media for his reputation as a diver.
Words by John Downes