Vincent Kompany
Manchester City's very own Captain Fantastic, Vincent Kompany may well have topped this countdown had it not been for the injuries which have blighted his career at the club.
It is no coincidence that City's two title-winning campaigns have come in years where Kompany has largely avoided injuries, and his performances in the 2011-12 season - when City clinched their first top-flight crown for 44 years - were particularly memorable.
The Belgian centre-back scored the only goal of the game in a Manchester derby which saw City move level on points at the top of the table with just two games of the season remaining, and his celebration encapsulated just how important a goal it was in what many regard to be the biggest Premier League match ever.
Kompany was named the Premier League's player of the season that year and was also included in the PFA Team of the Year - one of three occasions he has earned that accolade.
A year previously Kompany had also won Man City's Player of the Year award after helping the club to their first piece of silverware since 1976 - one of five major trophies he has won as club captain.
To date, the inspirational defender has scored 17 goals in 313 appearances for Man City across all competitions, 16 of which have come in 231 Premier League games.
