Alan Shearer, Ryan Giggs or Thierry Henry? Who will be honoured in the first Premier League Hall of Fame - in pictures

The Premier League in England has announced it is launching a Hall of Fame, and the first players will be inducted in March. Membership of the Premier League Hall of Fame will be the highest honour awarded to players by the league, and is intended to celebrate the exceptional skill and talent of the stars who have graced the competition since its inception in 1992. The first two inductees to have their careers commemorated will be revealed on March 19, but their names have been kept secret. A shortlist of nominees will also be announced at the same time, with fans invited to vote to help select the additional former players to join the Premier League Hall of Fame 2020. "Since 1992, the Premier League has been home to world-class players who have defined generations and provided us with compelling football season after season," Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters said. "A place in the Premier League Hall of Fame is reserved for the very best. It will be an occasion for our fans around the world to look back over the years and help us celebrate some truly exceptional playing careers." To be eligible, players must be retired, and only a player's Premier League career is considered in their candidacy. That rules out the likes of Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo for a while. With that criteria in mind, above is a gallery of the top contenders to be in the first two. To move on to the next image, click on the arrows or thumbnails, or if using a mobile device simply swipe.

Alan Shearer, Ryan Giggs or Thierry Henry? Who will be honoured in the first Premier League Hall of Fame - in pictures

New launch will name the top two stars since league started in 1992