Top 10 Best Ipswich Town Players Of All Time 

This guide will rank the greatest Ipswich Town players of all time based on overall performance, which includes their appearances, and total goals:

#Player NameNationalityAppearanceTotal Goals

1John WarkScotland472142

2Paul MarinerEngland316120

3Ray CrawfordEngland13088

4Trevor WhymarkEngland29488

5Eric GatesEngland36088

6Alan BrazilScotland20479

7Daryl MurphyIreland22567

8Pablo CouñagoSpain24162

9David JohnsonJamaica/England14057

10Darren BentEngland/Jamaica14056

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1. John Wark

John Wark, born on August 4, 1957, in Glasgow, Scotland, is considered one of the best players in Ipswich Town’s history. He has included two major periods at the club, with a spell at Liverpool and a short time at Middlesbrough in between.
Wark was known for his versatility, mainly playing as a midfielder, as a central defender, and sometimes even as a striker. What Wark achieved at Ipswich Town was remarkable. He won four Player of the Year awards, a record that still stands today.
In 2007, he was honored with induction into the Ipswich Town Hall of Fame for his outstanding contributions. Over his career, he played 678 games for the club and scored 179 goals, and he is the all-time scorer in Ipswich’s history.
His best season was 1980-81 when he netted 31 goals to help the team win the UEFA Cup. Wark also represented Scotland 29 times, scoring seven goals and participating in the 1982 FIFA World Cup.
Later on, Wark stayed connected to Ipswich Town through his role in the corporate hospitality department. His autobiography, Wark On, published in 2009, shares his football journey and lasting bond with the club.
2. Paul Mariner

Paul Mariner is widely regarded as Ipswich’s greatest footballer and a legendary figure in English football. Paul is known for his outstanding time at Ipswich Town.
Born on May 22, 1953, in Farnworth, England, Mariner began his professional career at Plymouth Argyle before moving to Ipswich in 1976. His time at Ipswich lasted until 1984, during which he became one of the club’s all-time greats.
Mariner made a lasting impact at Ipswich Town, helping the team achieve remarkable success. He was a key part of the squad that won the FA Cup in 1978 and the UEFA Cup in 1981.
With 111 goals in 386 appearances, he is one of Ipswich’s top scorers. His ability to score crucial goals and his skillful play made him a fan favorite and a fantastic player under the guidance of manager Bobby Robson.
Mariner also represented England on the international stage. Between 1977 and 1983, he earned 35 caps and scored 13 goals for the national team.
He played in major tournaments like the 1980 UEFA European Championship and the 1982 FIFA World Cup. Mariner also had brief periods at Arsenal and Portsmouth before moving to the United States.
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3. Ray Crawford

Ray Crawford is undeniably one of the greatest players to have ever played for Ipswich Town. His remarkable goal-scoring ability makes him the club’s all-time top scorer with 218 league goals, a record that may never be surpassed.
Crawford was instrumental in Ipswich’s rise to prominence in English football during the early 1960s. Born in Portsmouth in 1936, Crawford began his football career with his local team before joining Ipswich Town in 1958.
At Ipswich, he formed a great partnership with Ted Phillips to help the team secure the Second Division title in 1961 and the First Division championship the following year. Crawford was also the joint top scorer in the 1961-62 season, netting 33 goals.
Crawford initially left Ipswich in 1963 to join Wolverhampton Wanderers but returned to Portman Road in 1965, where he continued his prolific scoring, adding 61 goals in three seasons. In all, Crawford scored 290 goals in 482 appearances at the club level.
Despite only earning two England caps, with one goal to his name, Crawford’s legacy at Ipswich is immense. He was the first footballer to score hat-tricks in the Football League, League Cup, FA Cup, and UEFA Cup.
4. Trevor Whymark

Trevor Whymark is often overlooked when discussing Ipswich Town’s greatest players. He began his career at Diss Town before joining Ipswich in 1969. Over the next decade, Whymark made 261 appearances and scored 75 goals for Ipswich.
He wasn’t a top scorer, but his skill in setting up goals for others was invaluable. His ability to play in different attacking roles made him an important player for the team.
During his time at Ipswich, the club enjoyed a successful period, winning the UEFA Cup. Whymark was Instrumental in these achievements. Despite his contributions, he often stayed out of the spotlight, overshadowed by more famous teammates.
However, in 1979, Whymark left the club to play for clubs like Grimsby Town, Southend United, and Peterborough United. He later became a player-manager at Diss Town before retiring from football.
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5. Eric Gates

Eric Gates is one of the best players in the history of the Ipswich Town Football Club, having begun his professional career with Ipswich Town. He made his debut on October 27, 1973, when he was just 18 years old.
Gates then became an integral part of the team, playing behind main strikers Paul Mariner and Alan Brazil. He played for Ipswich Town until 1984, and during his time with the club, he made 295 appearances and scored 73 goals.
One of his most memorable performances was in the 1979 Cup Winners’ Cup. Ipswich Town faced Barcelona, and Gates scored both goals in a 2-1 win at Portman Road. He also played in the 1981 UEFA Cup Final against AZ Alkmaar.
Despite being smaller in size, Gates was known for his technical skills and a sharp eye for goal. His talent was recognized at the national level as well, as he earned two caps for the England national team during his career.
6. Alan Brazil

Alan Brazil was exceptional for Ipswich Town Football Club during the late 1970s and early 1980s. However, Brazil began his professional career with Ipswich Town in 1977 under the guidance of manager Bobby Robson. And, he went on to play in 154 league games, scoring 70 goals. His best season was 1981-82 when he scored 27 league goals.
His outstanding performance was a major factor in Ipswich winning the FA Cup in 1980 and the UEFA Cup in 1981, which also won him the Ipswich Town Player of the Year award for the 1981-82 season.
Brazil continued his career with other clubs after leaving Ipswich In 1993, including Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United. He also played for Scotland in the 1982 FIFA World Cup. Later, he became a popular sports commentator.
7. Daryl Murphy

Daryl Murphy is one of Ipswich Town’s top players ever. He was a forward and made a big impact at the club. Murphy started his professional career at Waterford United before moving to Sunderland in 2005, where he played over 100 games.
Murphy first joined Ipswich Town on loan for the 2009-10 season. He played 34 matches and scored four goals, then he returned on loan again from Celtic for the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons. During the 2012-13 season, he scored seven goals in 40 appearances.
In June 2013, Murphy signed a permanent two-year deal with Ipswich. He formed a great partnership with David McGoldrick and was instrumental in the team’s success.
The 2014-15 season was his best, scoring 27 goals in all competitions, including a memorable goal against Fulham on the opening day. Murphy made over 200 appearances and scored 67 goals for Ipswich Town. His strong performances and goals made him one of the club’s top scorers.
Even after he left in 2016, his time at Ipswich was remembered by fans. Murphy went on to play for Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest, but his legacy at Ipswich Town remains important.
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8. Pablo Couñago

Pablo Couñago is arguably one of the greatest players to ever play for Ipswich Towns. He was an integral part of the team in the early 2000s. However, Couñago started his career at Celta de Vigo, then he joined Ipswich Town in 2001 after impressing with Spain’s U21 team.
He signed a four-year contract with manager George Burley. His first season at Ipswich was tough as he only made five league starts and 12 substitute appearances, totaling 19 appearances in all competitions.
Things changed after Ipswich was relegated to the First Division. Couñago found his scoring touch, scoring twice in a 6–1 win over Leicester City in August 2002.
In the 2002–03 season, he was the club’s top scorer with 21 goals and won the Players’ Player of the Year award. In the following years, Couñago continued to play well, scoring 12 goals in the 2003–04 season and helping Ipswich reach the play-offs.
However, his playing time decreased in the 2004–05 season due to new strikers like Darren Bent and Shefki Kuqi. Despite this, he scored three more goals in limited appearances before he signed with Malaga.
After a period with Málaga CF, where he struggled to score, Couñago returned to Ipswich in 2007 for two more years. In total, he made 241 appearances and scored 62 goals for Ipswich.
9. David Johnson

David Johnson, born on October 23, 1951, was sensational for Ipswich, and he is remembered as one of the greatest players to ever play for the team. He joined the club in November 1972 when Ipswich traded their top scorer, Rod Belfitt, to Everton and paid a £40,000 fee.
Johnson made his first appearance for Ipswich on November 4, 1972, against Leeds United. From the start, he proved to be a great buy for the team. As expected, Johnson played a massive part in the team’s achievements.
He helped Ipswich win the Texaco Cup in 1973, and the following season, he was crucial in Ipswich’s UEFA Cup campaign, especially in their victory over Real Madrid.
Johnson’s best performance was the goal he scored against S.S. Lazio in the quarter-finals, which helped Ipswich move forward in the competition.
Johnson stayed with Ipswich until 1976, then he moved to Liverpool, winning several major trophies. Sadly, Johnson passed away on November 23, 2022.
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10. Darren Bent

Darren Bent was superb for the team, which makes fans consider him one the best players In Ipswich Town’s history. Bent started his football career at Godmanchester Rovers before joining Ipswich Town’s youth academy in 1998.
He made his first-team debut for Ipswich in 2001 and became a mainstay for the team. Bent played in 122 league matches and scored 48 goals. His best season was 2002-03 when he scored 18 goals.
This strong performance helped Ipswich stay competitive in the First Division and later the Championship. Bent was known for his speed, finishing skills, and work rate.
In 2005, Bent moved to Charlton Athletic for £2.5 million. He was Charlton’s top scorer for two seasons before moving to Tottenham Hotspur in 2007 for a club-record fee of £16.5 million.
Bent’s career also included playing for Sunderland and Aston Villa, and he earned 13 caps for the England national team, scoring four goals. Bent’s impact at Ipswich during the early 2000s made him one of the best players in the club’s history.
Kenneth is a an avid soccer follower, fan and writer. He is a consistent follower of the sport and is a fan of Chelsea FC.



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