Topics: Thierry Henry, Alan Shearer, Arsenal, Newcastle, Blackburn, English Premier League
The two inaugural inductees of the Premier League Hall of Fame have been announced, with the next six set to be voted for by the fans.

The Premier League have kicked off their newly-introduced Hall of Fame, with the greatest players to have graced the English top-flight set to be honored for their contribution. The first two inductees have now been revealed and – surprise, surprise – they are none other than Alan Shearer and Thierry Henry.

Several names are set to be included in this list over the upcoming months, with an additional six set to be voted into the Hall of Fame by fans this week. However, the first two inaugural inductees were announced early on Monday and they are two strikers regarded by many as the greatest to have ever played in England.

The pair scored a combined 435 goals, with the English forward – the Premier League's all-time goalscorer – netting 260 times in 14 seasons while his French counterpart – he won a record four Golden Boots – racked up 175 goals in 258 outings. The two won three league crowns in their time in England, one and two respectively, and tormented defenders throughout their careers.

Speaking about this feat, Shearer is quoted as saying on Newcastle's official website: "When you look at some of the unbelievable players to have graced the Premier League - week in, week out, year in, year out - I feel very honored to join the Hall of Fame. I have to thank all of my team-mates, as well as the managers and coaches that I've worked with.

"All I ever wanted to be was a professional footballer. It was my dream to do that, my dream to win trophies and my dream to score at St James' Park, to wear the number nine black-and-white shirt and it was fantastic. I enjoyed every minute of it."

Henry showed similar gratitude and spoke with great honor at being inducted alongside the Premier League's all-time leading scorer, saying (as per Arsenal's official website): "To be inducted alongside Alan Shearer as the two first inductees into the Premier League Hall of Fame is more than special.

"When I was young, I was just trying to make sure I could get a pair of boots and now we're talking about the Hall of Fame. During my career I wanted to play hard and make sure I was fighting for the cause, because that's all the fans want to see. If you asked me at the start of my career about entering the Hall of Fame, I wouldn't have believed you. It's an amazing honor."

23 additional nominees will be announced, with fans set to choose the next six players to join Shearer and Henry in the Hall of Fame. In order for someone to be eligible for this list, he must have retired by August 1, 2020, thus ruling out the likes of Wayne Rooney, Sergio Aguero, and Cristiano Ronaldo.