I took a look at the average rankings for this transfer window, the number of competitive matches in the last two years and the number of players each country had in the English Premier League last season - non-EU (European Union) countries only.
There will be good news for Zambia after August 8th, as their average over the last 2 years will place the 2012 AFCON winners in the top 70. They've had no player in the Premier League last season.
Countries that would qualify based on the average FIFA ranking (as of 11 August 2012) with no players in the last season of the Premier League:
Peru, Ukraine, Iran, Venezuela, Tunisia, Gabon, Belarus, Burkina Faso, Panama, Armenia, Libya, Guinea, Albania and Zambia.
While I don't have the time for this, someone could even come up with a list of players that would qualify for a work permit. It's quite easy for Ukraine (3 competitive matches in the last two years), Brazil (4) and Gabon (6).
Order of columns:
Country
Average ranking over the last two years (as of 11 August 2012)
Number of players in the last EPL season
Number of competitive matches in the last two years
| Brazil | 5.42 | 11 | 4 |
| Uruguay | 5.58 | 2 | 11 |
| Argentina | 7.58 | 11 | 9 |
| Croatia | 9.08 | 5 | 15 |
| Russia | 13.67 | 2 | 13 |
| Chile | 13.96 | 3 | 10 |
| Côte d'Ivoire | 18.04 | 8 | 14 |
| Norway | 18.08 | 3 | 8 |
| Switzerland | 21.42 | 4 | 8 |
| Australia | 21.83 | 6 | 14 |
| Japan | 21.92 | 1 | 15 |
| Mexico | 22.42 | 2 | 11 |
| Ghana | 24.42 | 3 | 14 |
| Paraguay | 24.67 | 1 | 11 |
| Serbia | 25.42 | 5 | 10 |
| USA | 27 | 7 | 7 |
| Turkey | 28.67 | 1 | 12 |
| Korea Republic | 32.63 | 4 | 14 |
| Egypt | 34.21 | 1 | 10 |
| Bosnia-Herzegovina | 35.29 | 2 | 12 |
| Montenegro | 35.96 | 2 | 10 |
| Colombia | 37.21 | 1 | 9 |
| Algeria | 38.92 | 1 | 10 |
| Peru | 43.67 | 0 | 11 |
| Ukraine | 44.54 | 0 | 3 |
| Nigeria | 44.71 | 8 | 10 |
| Israel | 47.42 | 1 | 10 |
| Cameroon | 50.46 | 5 | 10 |
| Ecuador | 50.5 | 1 | 8 |
| Iran | 50.83 | 0 | 14 |
| Venezuela | 51.25 | 0 | 12 |
| Tunisia | 52.71 | 0 | 13 |
| Honduras | 53.42 | 2 | 11 |
| South Africa | 53.96 | 1 | 8 |
| Gabon | 54.21 | 0 | 6 |
| Belarus | 55 | 0 | 10 |
| Burkina Faso | 55.83 | 0 | 9 |
| Jamaica | 56.33 | 3 | 9 |
| Panama | 57.08 | 0 | 15 |
| Armenia | 57.25 | 0 | 10 |
| Senegal | 59.42 | 5 | 11 |
| Costa Rica | 59.92 | 1 | 13 |
| Mali | 62.21 | 2 | 14 |
| Libya | 62.25 | 0 | 11 |
| Guinea | 64.79 | 0 | 11 |
| Morocco | 67.92 | 2 | 11 |
| Albania | 68.96 | 0 | 10 |
| Zambia | 69.17 | 0 | 14 |
I never knew about the two year average thing. I did know about the 70th minimum and that players had to have a featured role in their national team. I know you can also petition if there are extenuating circumstances, but no idea how successful such things are. I wonder if a list is kept anywhere of the 2 year rankings? You have provided one, but otherwise, clubs need to know who they can sign when the window opens.
ReplyDeleteIt's definately something I'd be wanting my eye on if I was a club manager, there are some useful players at some of these lesser teams that would be great for a non-Premier League side to snap up who could come in and make an impact if they were snapped up. Off the radar players.
I wouldn't mind checking out some of Panama's players, I think some of them would fit in well in the English lower leagues. I'd be looking to raid the rising Panama national team if I was such a manager.
Ah, I see after further reading of the linked article it does say the website provides monthly lists of countries which make the grade which can be downloaded.
ReplyDeleteI can't find it though.
Croatia had 5 players that played in the EPL last season. Not 4.
ReplyDeleteNiko Kranjcar
Ivan Klasnic
Vedran Corluka
Nikica Jelavic
Luka Modric
Thanks, Corluka's name wasn't bolded in the Wiki article. Fixed it myself.
Delete