- Peter Crouch has scored incredible 51 goals with his head in Premier League
- Towering Stoke striker believes traditional centre-forward play is dying art
- Crouch surpassed Alan Shearer’s total of 46 headed goals in May 2015
- Achievement has been recognised in new edition of Guinness World Records
Peter Crouch has scored a remarkable 51 Premier League goals with his head and believes traditional centre-forward play is a dying art.
The Stoke striker will enter the Guinness World Records 2018 for his achievement but thinks predatory instincts from front-men are not what they once were.
Crouch said: ‘I see centre-forwards hanging around outside the box and it blows my mind, I just can’t get my head around it.
Peter Crouch thinks old fashioned centre-forward play is fading out of the game as he enters the Guiness Book of World Records for most headed goals in the Premier League
Crouch poses with his certificate after entering the Guinness World Records 2018
The Stoke forward has headed more goals (51) in the Premier League than any other player
‘I believe, if you are a forward, you should be in the box, ready for the ball. That’s the way I have always played my game and that will never change.’
Having surpassed Alan Shearer’s record of 46 headed goals in the top flight, Crouch is delighted to be the outright leader and can only see Andy Carroll topping him.
‘I think there is probably only Andy Carroll now who will stay around and score the type of goals that I do.
‘Other than that, there’s not many around in the Premier League who play the way we do, with opposite wingers on different sides, crossing has become a bit of a rarity.’
The 36-year-old believes a striker should always be in the box ready for an opportunity
Crouch features mostly as a substitute for Stoke but still has the killer instinct for goal
The former 42-cap England international still has the capacity to trouble defences at 36-years-old.
Despite not being first choice for Mark Hughes, Crouch continues to contribute from the bench, heading the winner against Southampton in September.
In the twilight of his career, the prolific forward reflected that his international career ended prematurely and his England team-mates should have won a major trophy during with their golden generation.
He believes the only current player who could break the record is Andy Carroll
He said: ‘When I played for England I felt like I was going to score in every game. I loved it, was in every squad for five years in a period where I felt we had our best squad since 1966.
‘It was an incredible side to be a part of and really should have gone on and won something.’
With his focus now exclusively on Stoke, Crouch will be hoping to be given the nod for their next match against Manchester City and harness those old-fashioned centre-forward traits to add to his record.