It was the prime era of Barclays Premier League football, Thierry Henry, Wayne Rooney, Jose Mourinho, utter mayhem.
But the top teams like Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea were not the only ones that loved a character, and some of the smaller sides had some iconic names who will never be forgotten.
Jay-Jay Okocha, Mark Viduka, Robbie Keane, Darren Bent, Lomana LuaLua, Park Ji-Sung, Yakubu – the list is endless.
However, one name every neutral fan fell in love with was Morten Gamst Pedersen, the Norwegian with the magical left foot.
And incredibly, the 41-year-old is still going strong and has yet to retire.
In fact, he has grand plans on returning to England to play for Wrexham in League Two next season.
Owned by Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, the Dragons won the National League this season with an incredible 111 points.
“It’s unbelievable what they are doing,” Pedersen told Sport Bible.
“I think it’s so cool. Yes, they get promoted and everything, but they are also building a brand from a club that’s quite far down in the system.
“It shows that if you get the right people and the right attitude, and everybody drags in the same direction, you can do a lot.”
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When asked whether he would pull a Wrexham shirt on a make the move next season, he seemed keen on the move.
He said: “Yeah, I would love to. Why not? Of course. Maybe if you tag me in a social media post, Ryan Reynolds could read this, and we get a chance to meet…”
Even at the grand age of 41, Pedersen has never lost that pizzazz that saw Blackburn fans fall in love with him.
The pace might have gone but he has moved from the wings to a more central area where he is happy for his younger teammates to do the leg work.
“I play more centrally now. I can play as a central midfield or a number 10; more like a playmaker role,” he added.
“I also play on the wing as well, because if you get a full-back that’s good to overlap, that’s perfect for me.
“I’ll use my strength on my left foot. I prefer to play further up the pitch.
“I was playing as a holding midfield for the last 35 minutes in my last game. It was nice to ping some balls.”
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The veteran star is currently plying his trade in the second tier of Norway for Ranheim but when he is not playing football, he is singing lead in a band.
Alongside fellow footballers Freddy dos Santos, Raymond Kvisvik, Kristofer Hæstad and Oyvind Svenning, the quartet make up the boyband The Players.
They have even released a hit single, “This Is For Real”, with the proceeds going towards the Soccer Against Crime campaign.
But Pedersen will forever be remembered in Lancashire for his 349 appearances for Blackburn.
Having arrived from Tromso in 2004 as an unknown quantity, it is fair to say he fell in love with Ewood Park.
What followed was nine years of pure quality, outrageous goals and blonde highlights, writing himself into the folklore of the club.
When he was told he could leave in 2013 on a free transfer, it was a gut-wrenching punch while his loyalty prevented him even staying in the Premier League.
“A few English clubs were interested but I’m going to be honest. It would have been really, really tough to sign for another English team,” he said.
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“The love I had for Blackburn and the people that worked there.
“It wasn’t easy just to walk away.
“I’ve been a loyal person to Blackburn and they’ve been loyal to me. That’s why I still have good connections with them.”
