The Clarets have a rich history in English football and are one of only five English clubs to have won all four professional divisions. They had players like Ray Pointer and Jimmy McIlroy, who were renowned for their longevity at Burnley Football Club and consistently ranked among the club’s top goal scorers.
But what if you could assemble the ultimate XI from the club’s modern era players who combined consistency, leadership, flair and goals? This Burnley Dream XI brings together names who not only made a mark at Turf Moor but could form a dominant team in today’s Premier League.
Through this article, Odds96, we have built the best dream XI playing side of Burnley.
96.com Burnley Dream XI:
- Goalkeeper: Nick Pope
- Centre-Backs: James Tarkowski, Nathan Collins
- Full-Backs: Kieran Trippier, Ian Maatsen
- Midfield: Sander Berge (Defensive), Dwight McNeil (Central)
- Wingers: Wilson Odobert (Left), Nathan Tella (Right)
- Forwards: Chris Wood, Wout Weghorst
1. Nick Pope (Goalkeeper)
Nick Pope, the wall of Turf Moor, made 155 appearances across six seasons for Burnley after joining in July 2016. He quickly built a reputation as one of the Premier League’s most reliable and fearless goalkeepers, becoming central to Sean Dyche’s defensive identity. In the 2019-20 Premier League season, Pope recorded 15 clean sheets, finishing level with Manchester City’s Ederson and becoming a leading contender for the Golden Glove.
One of his most memorable displays came in a 1-0 away win vs West Ham, where he produced multiple world-class stops to deny Souček and Antonio, securing three crucial points. He also earned multiple Team of the Week recognitions, including a standout six-save performance against West Brom.
2. James Tarkowski (Centre-Back)
James Tarkowski, Burnley’s defensive commander, made 219 appearances and scored 7 goals between February 2016 and June 2022. He was pivotal in Burnley’s rise, helping secure promotion earlier in his spell, and became the backbone of Sean Dyche’s famously tough defensive system.
He delivered unforgettable defensive masterclasses, including a match vs Crystal Palace where he made 17 clearances, the highest in the Premier League that weekend. Tarkowski also led the team as captain when Ben Mee was unavailable and scored with the armband against Sheffield United.
3. Nathan Collins (Centre-Back)
Nathan Collins, the emerging defensive powerhouse, made 22 appearances and scored 2 goals during his time from June 2021 to July 2022. Despite a short spell, he quickly impressed with maturity far beyond his age. Though he had a short stint with Burnley, he still made an impact on the pitch.
The Irish defender’s physicality, timing in the tackle and mobility added a new dimension to Burnley’s back line. He also proved a threat in the air, scoring two important goals from defence and showing composure in ball progression, stepping out from the back to push transitions forward.
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4. Kieran Trippier (Right-Back)
Kieran Trippier, the assistant architect, featured 185 times across two Burnley spells, scoring 6 goals between 2011 and 2015. His crossing ability and set-piece craft became central weapons in Burnley’s attacking structure.
He played a huge role in the 2013-14 Championship promotion, helping Burnley return to the Premier League. Trippier’s excellent delivery from deep made him consistently dangerous, earning him Burnley Player of the Year (2011-12), strong proof of his influence even early in his career.
5. Ian Maatsen (Left-Back)
Ian Maatsen, the electric modern full-back, made 42 appearances and scored 4 goals during the 2022-23 season. He impressed fans and analysts with his fast attacking runs, dribbling ability and fearless forward movement. The Dutchman’s memorable performance came against Swansea City in the Championship, which guided Burnley to register their sixth straight win, where he scored a brace for his side in January 2023.
6. Sander Berge (Defensive Midfielder)
Sander Berge, the midfield enforcer, made 40 appearances for Burnley between August 2023 and August 2024, contributing 2 goals. The 6’4 Norwegiana allowed Burnley to be stronger in defensive midfield duels and recoveries. He scored his first Premier League goal for Burnley in a 2‑0 win at Fulham on 23 December 2023 and recorded 2 assists under his name.
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7. Dwight McNeil (Central Midfielder)
Dwight McNeil, Burnley’s creative engine, racked up 147 appearances and 7 goals between January 2018 and June 2022. He became a regular starter from 2018-19 onwards, showing his progression from youth into first-team football. His dribbling, vision and passing were central to Burnley’s build-up play. McNeil recorded 17 assists in the Premier League for Burnley.
8. Wilson Odobert (Left Winger)
Wilson Odobert, the lightning wing threat, made 34 appearances and scored 5 goals in the 2023-24 season. With his blistering pace and dribbling skill, the Frenchman frequently beat defenders one-on-one and stretched defences down the left. He became Burnley’s youngest Premier League goalscorer, scoring against Chelsea F.C. at the age of 18 in August 2024.
9. Nathan Tella (Right Winger)
Nathan Tella turned heads with 45 appearances and 19 goals for Burnley during his 2022-23 spell. The 26-year-old UK-born was a prolific creator and finisher, and one of his iconic matches came against Preston at Turf Moor in February 2023, when he scored a superb hat-trick to help record-equalling Burnley cruise to a 3-0 Championship victory. He was named “a rough diamond” by former club manager Vincent Kompany.
10. Chris Wood (Striker)
One of the best players for the Clarets, Chris Wood, the traditional number nine, made 165 appearances for Burnley and scored 53 goals. Wood’s physical presence gave Burnley a focal point in attack and allowed teammates to run off him. All Whites striker Chris Wood’s one of the finest moments came when he scored a stunning overhead kick in Burnley’s 2-0 win over nine-man Norwich City in the English Premier League in July 2020. For Burnley, he scored 0.32 goals per match across all competitions.
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11. Wout Weghorst (Striker)
Wout Weghorst made 20 appearances in early 2022 (plus additional brief stints) and scored 2 goals for Burnley. The Dutchman did not have much success with clarets, but his presence still made the difference for them. Under Burnley’s former boss Sean Dyche, he scored his first goal for the club in their win at Brighton in February 2022. His final goal for the Turf Moor side came in a 1-1 draw against West Ham United in April 2022.
Coach
Coaching this Dream XI without Sean Dyche would be unimaginable. He is widely regarded as one of Burnley’s greatest managers, having led the Clarets in 425 matches over nearly a decade. During his tenure, Dyche guided Burnley to Championship triumph in the 2015‑16 season and built a legacy of defensive solidity, resilience, and long-term stability at Turf Moor.
Predicted League Finish:
With this XI, Burnley would likely finish around 8th-11th place in a full Premier League season. They can easily finish better than West Ham, Leeds, Fulham, Nottingham Forest, Wolves, Everton, Brighton, Brentford, and others. The side has all the potential to secure 60 points in the EPL campaign.
In 2017‑18, Burnley finished 7th with 54 points, recording one of the most impressive Premier League campaigns. The Clarets scored 45 goals and recorded 15 wins, their highest tally in a single Premier League season, during the 2019‑20 campaign.
Conclusion
By summing it up, we can say that with the likes of Nick Pope’s commanding goalkeeping to the attacking flair of Nathan Tella and Wilson Odobert, this team combines defensive solidity, creative midfield play, and lethal finishing under the guidance of Dyche.
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FAQs
1. Who features in Burnley’s modern-era Dream XI?
The Dream XI features Nick Pope as goalkeeper; James Tarkowski and Nathan Collins as centre-backs; Kieran Trippier and Ian Maatsen as full-backs; Sander Berge and Dwight McNeil in midfield; Wilson Odobert and Nathan Tella as wingers; and Chris Wood alongside Wout Weghorst leading the attack.
2. Which player has scored the most goals for Burnley in this XI?
Chris Wood is the top scorer, having netted 53 goals in 165 appearances across all competitions for Burnley.
3. Who is the youngest Premier League goalscorer in this Burnley XI?
Wilson Odobert became Burnley’s youngest Premier League goalscorer when he scored against Chelsea at the age of 18 in August 2024.
4. Why is Sander Berge an important part of this Dream XI?
Sander Berge provides defensive stability in midfield, shielding the backline, breaking up opposition attacks, and contributing to transitional play. He also scored 2 goals and provided 2 assists in his 40 appearances for Burnley, adding both defensive and attacking balance to the team.
5. Where could this Burnley XI realistically finish in a Premier League season?
With its blend of experience, talent, and tactical balance, this Dream XI could realistically finish between 8th and 11th place in the Premier League, potentially accumulating around 60 points over a full season.
