The Premier League, also referred to as the English Premier League (EPL), was officially founded in 1992 after clubs decided to break from the First Division of the Football League that was established in 1888.
Although today it holds the status of the best football league in the world, the background of the Premier League was bleak. Its attendance was record low, and the league were notorious hooligans.
In 1985 and 1986, since the parts could not reach an agreement, the league began without TV coverage. During this period, big clubs explored the possibility of starting a new independent league – the Premier League we know today.
Its establishment was not as part of the Football League, with traditions dating back to the 1880s. However, it would continue being a part of the league system. In this system, the worst placed teams would be relegated to the second levels and the best promoted from the level to the Premier League.
With the game’s popularity and status it held, new contracts were made with the mainstream media.
Sky was handed the TV rights and in return, they extended the program to 5 hours sessions. The concept was highly influenced by the American NFL broadcasting. Sessions such as Monday Night Football were introduced for the audience.
At the beginning, EPL was sponsored by Barclays Bank, that is why it was also previously known as the Barclays Premier League.
Top clubs in England don’t win the biggest European Cups as frequently as the best clubs in Spain, but the EPL is still considered one of the toughest competitions overall.
Basic facts
Founded: 1992 (1888)
Country: England
Organizer: The Football Association (FA)
Names
Football League (1888-1992)
Premier League (1992-)
League records
Most championships: Manchester United (20, Football League is included)
Most played seasons: Everton (116, Football League is included)
League System
The Premier League is the top tier of the English football league system. It has been, since the first season in 1992-1993. The other three tiers are included in the English Football League (EFL) where two additional tiers are incorporated – the two being a part of the national league. Here is an overview of the tiers in the current league system in England:
| Table 1. English football tiers | |
| Club | Tier |
| Premier League | 1 |
| Championship | 2 |
| League One | 3 |
| League Two | 4 |
| National League | 5 |
| National League North / South | 6 |
Source: Footballhistory.org
There are several other tiers following the National League North and National League South. They are, however, divided by regions.
Teams and Players
Over the years, there are clubs that have shown excellent performance in the Premier League.
Here are statistics of the English clubs that have won the most titles in the EPL since 1993:
| Table 2. Clubs and Premier League titles | |
| Club | Titles |
| Manchester United | 13 |
| Chelsea | 5 |
| Manchester City | 4 |
| Arsenal | 3 |
| Blackburn Rovers | 1 |
| Leicester City | 1 |
| Liverpool | 1 |
Note that these stats only cover the period after the league changed its name. If all the seasons are included, since 1888, the stats would look a bit different but Manchester United would still be at the top with 20 titles followed by Liverpool with 18 titles.
Premier League Winners
All winners since first season including collected points per season by the winner.
| Table 3. Accumulation of points by the winning team | ||
| Season | Winner | Points |
| 2019-20 | Liverpool | 99 |
| 2018-19 | Manchester City | 98 |
| 2017-18 | Manchester City | 100 |
| 2016-17 | Chelsea | 93 |
| 2015-16 | Leicester City | 81 |
| 2014-15 | Chelsea | 87 |
| 2013-14 | Manchester City | 86 |
| 2012-13 | Manchester United | 89 |
| 2011-12 | Manchester City | 89 |
| 2010-11 | Manchester United | 80 |
| 2009-10 | Chelsea | 86 |
| 2008-09 | Manchester United | 90 |
| 2007-08 | Manchester United | 87 |
| 2006-07 | Manchester United | 89 |
| 2005-06 | Chelsea | 91 |
| 2004-05 | Chelsea | 95 |
| 2003-04 | Arsenal | 90 |
| 2002-03 | Manchester United | 83 |
| 2001-02 | Arsenal | 87 |
| 2000-01 | Manchester United | 80 |
| 1999-00 | Manchester United | 91 |
| 1998-99 | Manchester United | 79 |
| 1997-98 | Arsenal | 78 |
| 1996-97 | Manchester United | 75 |
| 1995-96 | Manchester United | 82 |
| 1994-95 | Blackburn Rovers | 89 |
| 1993-94 | Manchester United | 92 |
| 1992-93 | Manchester United | 84 |
During the first three seasons, the Premier League consistent of 22 teams. Today, it has 20 teams face each other twice, home and away, per season.
A total of 380 games are played with every club awarded points at the end of each game. In 2017-2018 season, Manchester City collected the most points by a team in a season – 100 points (2.6 per match).
Top Goal Scorers
The total number of goals scored by a single player in the EPL is 440, a record held by Alan Shearer from the years in Newcastle.
Andy Cole has scored 187 goals, Wayne Rooney (187 goals), Frank Lampard (177 goals), Thierry Henry (175 goals), Robbie Fowler (163 goals), and Michael Owen (150 goals).
Extra impressive is Henry with most goals per match: 0,68.
Football League Titles
Here are the statistics of all the English clubs that have won the Football League, including Premier League, with title numbers and first winning season since 1888-2020.
| Table 4. Clubs and League titles | ||
| Club | Titles | 1st title |
| Manchester United | 20 | 1907-08 |
| Liverpool | 19 | 1900-01 |
| Arsenal | 13 | 1930-31 |
| Everton | 9 | 1890-91 |
| Aston Villa | 7 | 1893-94 |
| Sunderland | 6 | 1891-92 |
| Manchester City | 6 | 1936-37 |
| Chelsea | 6 | 1954-55 |
| Sheffield Wednesday | 4 | 1902-03 |
| Newcastle | 4 | 1904-05 |
| Blackburn | 3 | 1911-12 |
| Huddersfield Town | 3 | 1923-24 |
| Wolverhampton | 3 | 1953-54 |
| Leeds United | 3 | 1968-69 |
| Preston North End | 2 | 1888-89 |
| Burnley | 2 | 1920-21 |
| Portsmouth | 2 | 1948-49 |
| Tottenham | 2 | 1950-51 |
| Derby | 2 | 1971-72 |
| Sheffield United | 1 | 1897-98 |
| West Bromwich | 1 | 1919-20 |
| Ipswich Town | 1 | 1961-62 |
| Nottingham Forest | 1 | 1977-78 |
| Leicester City | 1 | 2015-16 |
Overall, the Champions of the English league clubs are made up of 24 clubs.
Until the 1892-93 season, only one tier existed. This was shortly before Division Two was created. In the 1920-21 season, another tier was added; the Third Division and during the 1958-59 season the Fourth Division was created.
Division 1, 2 and 3 was then renamed to The Championship, League 1 and League 2 before the 2004-05 season
Premier League Fans
Before the league changed its name to the Premier League, standing terraces were used by audiences to watch the game.
This was, however, forbidden and sit downs introduced. This would allow people to conveniently watch the game, and comfortably.
EPL Money
There is a lot of money involved in the Premier League. TV contracts are awfully expensive and the usually amount to big revenues for the association and clubs.
The games are aired to over 180 countries. The revenue gap between the Premier League and the EFL Championship is massive.
The collective revenue for the clubs within the 15 years following the initiation of Premier League grew to over 1000%!
The income from the broadcasts are split into:
- Equal share payments– the biggest part which all teams get in the same size
- Facility fees– payment for a club being featured in a live match
- Merit payments– based on performance.
Some of the revenue is generated by ticket sales to the matches – the costs of the tickets also increased significantly during the Premier League era.
The success of the Premier League made its members extremely rich and foreign players and managers were internationally sourced in a scale never seen before in England.
This forever changed the character of the game in the league.
Revenue
Kit sponsorship revenues alone is enormous hitting over 100 million Euros annually.
Here’s a diagram showing the total revenues of the Premier League clubs in 2014/2015 (in million pounds).
Transfers
In buying and selling of players, millions of pounds are involved.
Here’s the total spending in the January transfer window from 2006 to 2016 (in million pounds).
Qualification for European Cups
The qualifications of the Premier League includes 4 places in the Champions League and one place in Europa League
The one place from the Europa League belongs to the winners of the FA Cup. Winners of the Capital One Cup also qualify for the Europa League.
Relegations
The bottom 3 teams at the table (places 18-20) are relegated to EFL Championship, the second level.