Every Substitute Hat-Trick Scored Since 1992
In a league where records are broken every season, some feats remain stubbornly rare. Scoring a hat-trick in the Premier League is already a momentous achievement, but doing so after coming on as a substitute elevates it into footballing folklore. Since the league’s inception in 1992, only seven players have managed this remarkable accomplishment, underlining just how extraordinary the challenge is.
This article recounts each of those historic performances, from Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s legendary four-goal haul in 1999 to Son Heung-Min’s electric treble in 2022, giving every player the credit they deserve.
Ole Gunnar Solskjær
No list of substitute heroes is complete without the “Super Sub” himself. Solskjær not only became the first player to score a Premier League hat-trick from the bench, but he remains the only one to score four goals after coming on.
Entering in the 71st minute with United already cruising 4-1, he required just nine minutes to net his first. He added another in the 88th before completing his quadruple with stoppage-time strikes in the 91st and 94th minutes. His ruthless finishing turned an emphatic victory into an iconic 8-1 thrashing, the biggest away win in Premier League history until Leicester’s 9-0 over Southampton two decades later.
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This cameo also solidified Solskjær’s reputation as Ferguson’s ultimate secret weapon. Over his Premier League career, the Norwegian scored 17 times as a sub – only three players ever surpassed that tally. But no performance captured his uncanny ability to punish tiring defences quite like this unforgettable February afternoon.
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink
Few strikers had the sheer power and predatory instinct of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, and his 2004 treble against Wolves is a perfect example. Brought on with Chelsea trailing 2-1 at Stamford Bridge, the Dutchman celebrated his 32nd birthday by single-handedly turning the game around.
Within 10 minutes of his arrival, Frank Lampard equalised, setting the stage for Hasselbaink’s fireworks. He struck three times in the final 13 minutes, completing a birthday hat-trick that rescued the Blues’ title challenge. He remains one of only two Premier League players to score a hat-trick on their birthday, alongside Carlos Tevez.
Robert Earnshaw
Earnshaw’s career is often associated with his flair in the Championship, but his greatest Premier League moment came in a West Brom shirt. Subbed on with the score 1-1, the Welshman changed everything in just 26 minutes.
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His first goal came nine minutes after his introduction, giving the Baggies the lead. He added two more in the 84th and 90th minutes to complete a perfect treble. The result was monumental: a 4-1 win that kickstarted West Brom’s miraculous survival, the first time in Premier League history that a team bottom at Christmas avoided relegation.
Emmanuel Adebayor
Adebayor already had a hat-trick against Derby earlier that season, but lightning struck twice in extraordinary fashion. Coming on at half-time for Robin van Persie, the Togolese forward once again tormented the Rams.
He opened his account within 14 minutes of his entrance and sealed his second treble of the campaign with two late goals. Arsenal won 6-2, and Adebayor became – and still remains – the only player to score home and away hat-tricks against the same opponent in a single Premier League season.
Romelu Lukaku
Ferguson’s farewell match as Manchester United manager is remembered for its wild 5-5 scoreline, the only such draw in Premier League history. Yet it was also the stage for Romelu Lukaku’s first Premier League hat-trick.
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On loan at West Brom from Chelsea, Lukaku entered at half-time with his side 3-1 down. He pulled one back within five minutes, scored again in the 80th, and completed his treble in stoppage time. It was a coming-of-age performance, taking his season tally to 17 league goals and signalling his readiness to be a Premier League star.
Steven Naismith
Scottish forward Steven Naismith was not known for prolific scoring, but on this day against Chelsea he delivered a masterclass in efficiency. Substituted on early in the first half, he struck twice within 13 minutes and added his third late on.
Remarkably, Naismith scored his hat-trick with just three shots. Even more memorably, he became the first player to score a Premier League treble against a José Mourinho-managed Chelsea side. Though he never again reached such heights, this was the performance of his Everton career.
Son Heung-Min
The most recent entry in this exclusive club came courtesy of Tottenham’s South Korean star. Dropped to the bench after a barren start to the season, Son responded in the most emphatic fashion.
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Replacing Richarlison in the 59th minute, he broke his drought with a stunning strike 14 minutes later. Two more goals in the 84th and 86th minutes completed a 13-minute hat-trick, sparking delirium at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Spurs ran out 6-2 winners, and Son reminded everyone why he remains one of the league’s deadliest forwards.
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