The Premier League, commonly known as the “Premiership”, is an English professional league for football clubs. It is at the top of the English football league system and is England’s primary football competition. It is contested by 20 clubs, operating a system of promotion and relegation with The Football League.
In Singapore, the Premiership is popularly known as “EPL”, which stands for “English Premier League”.
The EPL started in the 1992-1993 season. Prior to this, the league was known as First Division.
The EPL has since become the world's most watched sporting league and is arguably the world's most lucrative football league. It is currently ranked ahead of the Spanish La Liga and Italian Serie A in the Union of European Football Associations (“UEFA”) rankings of leagues based on performances in European competitions over the last 5 years.
Over the years, it has even become fashionable for EPL players to not only play good football but also to look good. Have you heard of the ‘Spice Boys’ from Liverpool (ie. Jamie Redknapp, Robbie Fowler (with the perpetual plaster on his nose to aid in his breathing!), Steven MacManaman and David James)? Good-looking and talented EPL players often land themselves with lucrative advertising endorsements, although a call-girl has been reported as saying that there is a particular EPL player (who is highly talented and frankly speaking, not that bad looking, although he does have quite a temper) whom she can recognise even in the dark as “no one is as ugly as him”.
So far, only 4 clubs have won the Premiership title, namely, Manchester United, Blackburn Rovers, Arsenal and Chelsea. The current champions are Manchester United, who won their tenth EPL title in the 2007-2008 season, the most of any EPL team. Glory, Glory, Man United!
There are 20 clubs in the EPL. During the course of a season, which lasts from August to May, each club plays the others twice, once at their home stadium and once at that of their opponents, for a total of 38 games. Teams receive 3 points for a win and 1 point for a draw. No points are awarded for a loss. Teams are ranked by total points, then goal difference and then goals scored. At the end of each season, the club with the most points is crowned champion. If points are equal, the goal difference and then goals scored determine the winner. If still equal, teams are deemed to occupy the same position. If there is a tie for the championship, for relegation, or for qualification to other competitions, a play-off match at a neutral venue decides rank. The 3 lowest placed teams are relegated into the Football League Championship and the top 2 teams from the Championship, together with the winner of play-offs involving the 3rd to 6th placed Championship clubs, are promoted in their place.
The top 4 teams in the EPL qualify for the UEFA Champions League, with the top 2 teams directly entering the group phase. The 3rd and 4th placed teams enter the competition at the 3rd qualifying round and must win a two-legged knockout tie in order to enter the group phase. However, this has changed as of the 2008-2009 season, so that the top 3 teams enter the 2009–2010 UEFA Champions League at the group stage, and the 4th placed team enters the 3rd qualifying round for non-champions. The 5th placed team automatically qualifies for the UEFA Cup (which is different from the UEFA Champions League) and the 6th and 7th placed teams can also qualify, depending on what happens in the two domestic cup competitions.
If the Football Association Challenge Cup (commonly known as “FA Cup”) winners qualify for the Champions League, the runner-up is awarded the UEFA Cup place; if the runner-up has also qualified for the Champions League, the spot goes to the next-highest placed league finisher not already qualified for Europe. If the Football League Cup (commonly known as “League Cup”) is won by a team that has already qualified for Europe, the League Cup's UEFA Cup spot also goes to the next highest placed team in the League.
The EPL was recently promoted to the top of the UEFA rankings of European leagues based on their performances in European competitions over a 5-year period. This broke the 8-year dominance of the Spanish league, La Liga. The top 3 leagues in Europe are currently allowed to enter 4 teams into the Champions League. The 3rd-placed team in the EPL would receive automatic qualification for the group stages, rather than entry into the 3rd Qualifying Round as at present, while the 4th-placed team would enter a redesigned two tiered qualification round against a team from a higher ranked nation than they had previously been under the old rules.
The EPL is the world's most popular and most watched sporting league worldwide. It is particularly popular in Asia where it is the most widely distributed sports programme. In Singapore alone, there is even a channel known as “Football Channel” for cable television, in addition to other sports channels. This shows how serious we are about football.
Since the 2007-2008 season, the EPL has been sponsored by Barclays. Hence, the EPL is currently known as “Barclays Premier League”.
One of the main criticisms levelled at the EPL is the increasing gulf between the EPL and the Football League. Owing in large part to the disparity in revenue from television rights between the leagues, many newly promoted teams have found it difficult to avoid relegation in their 1st season in the EPL. Judging by the standards of the current 3 teams from the Football League who have been promoted to the EPL, it would not be surprising if all 3 teams get relegated to the Football League at the end of this season.
The most successful EPL team is undoubtedly Manchester United. Sir Alex Fergueson’s boys are currently going for a record-breaking 18th league title (ie. 7 titles under the old First Division and 10 titles under the current EPL). This is, however, still short of Liverpool’s 18 league titles. Not to worry – it is only a matter of time before the Red Devils overtake Liverpool as the most successful English club ever! Until then, Sir Alex, do not even think about retirement until the boys have won at least 20 league titles!
Another major criticism is the development of the "Big Four" clubs. Since Blackburn Rover lifted the trophy in 1994-1995, only 3 clubs have won the EPL title - Manchester United (10 times), Arsenal (3 times) and Chelsea (2 times). In addition, Manchester United have not finished outside the top 3 since the formation of the EPL, with Arsenal finishing inside the top 5 in all but 2 seasons, while Liverpool, without an EPL title since the pre-EPL era (but regular winners of the UEFA Champions League), have not finished lower than 5th since 1999. In recent years, the success of these clubs has led to these 4 teams being increasingly referred to as the "Big Four". The Big Four clubs have finished in the first 4 positions for the last 3 seasons, therefore they have all qualified for the last 3 seasons of the Champions League and receive the financial benefits of such qualification. The benefits, especially increased revenue, is believed to have widened the gap between the Big Four clubs and the rest of the EPL.
EPL clubs have almost complete freedom to sign whatever number and category of players they wish. There is no team or individual salary cap, no squad size limit, no age restrictions other than those applied by general employment law, no restrictions on the overall number of foreign players, and few restrictions on individual foreign players — all players with European Union (“EU”) nationality, including those able to claim an EU passport through a parent or grandparent, are eligible to play, and top players from outside the EU are able to obtain UK work permits. It is due to this freedom that at one stage, Arsenal did not have a single English player in their first team.
As a result of the increasingly lucrative television deals, player wages rose sharply following the formation of the EPL. The record transfer fee for an EPL has been broken several times over the lifetime of the competition. Prior to the start of the first EPL season Alan Shearer became the first British player to command a £3 million-plus transfer fee. The record rose steadily in the EPL’s first few seasons, until Alan Shearer made a world record breaking £15 million move to Newcastle United in 1996. This stood as a British record for four years until it was eclipsed by the £18 million Leeds United paid West Ham United for Rio Ferdinand. Manchester United subsequently broke the record three times by signing Ruud van Nistelrooy, Juan Sebastian Veron and Rio Ferdinand. As of 2007, the current record holder is Andriv Shevchenko, who joined Chelsea from AC Milan in May 2006. The exact figure of the transfer fee was not disclosed, but was reported as being around £30 million.
The 2008-2009 season of EPL started on 16 August 2008 (Saturday). The Manchester United vs Newcastle match was closely watched. Alas! The reigning champions could only manage a draw against Newcastle. It was disappointing. However, it was understandable as many of Manchester United’s first team players were not playing due to injuries, suspensions and international duty. In fact, 2 young Man U players made their premiership debuts when they came on as substitutes during the match.
Sir Alex has recently promoted to the first team squad, a pair of 17-year old Brazilian twins, Rafael and Fabio Da Silva, who play right and left-back. Hmm... does this combination remind you of another pair of brothers?
Sources:
(1) Wikipedia
(2) Barclays Premier League website
(3) Ninja
In Singapore, the Premiership is popularly known as “EPL”, which stands for “English Premier League”.
The EPL started in the 1992-1993 season. Prior to this, the league was known as First Division.
The EPL has since become the world's most watched sporting league and is arguably the world's most lucrative football league. It is currently ranked ahead of the Spanish La Liga and Italian Serie A in the Union of European Football Associations (“UEFA”) rankings of leagues based on performances in European competitions over the last 5 years.
Over the years, it has even become fashionable for EPL players to not only play good football but also to look good. Have you heard of the ‘Spice Boys’ from Liverpool (ie. Jamie Redknapp, Robbie Fowler (with the perpetual plaster on his nose to aid in his breathing!), Steven MacManaman and David James)? Good-looking and talented EPL players often land themselves with lucrative advertising endorsements, although a call-girl has been reported as saying that there is a particular EPL player (who is highly talented and frankly speaking, not that bad looking, although he does have quite a temper) whom she can recognise even in the dark as “no one is as ugly as him”.
So far, only 4 clubs have won the Premiership title, namely, Manchester United, Blackburn Rovers, Arsenal and Chelsea. The current champions are Manchester United, who won their tenth EPL title in the 2007-2008 season, the most of any EPL team. Glory, Glory, Man United!
There are 20 clubs in the EPL. During the course of a season, which lasts from August to May, each club plays the others twice, once at their home stadium and once at that of their opponents, for a total of 38 games. Teams receive 3 points for a win and 1 point for a draw. No points are awarded for a loss. Teams are ranked by total points, then goal difference and then goals scored. At the end of each season, the club with the most points is crowned champion. If points are equal, the goal difference and then goals scored determine the winner. If still equal, teams are deemed to occupy the same position. If there is a tie for the championship, for relegation, or for qualification to other competitions, a play-off match at a neutral venue decides rank. The 3 lowest placed teams are relegated into the Football League Championship and the top 2 teams from the Championship, together with the winner of play-offs involving the 3rd to 6th placed Championship clubs, are promoted in their place.
The top 4 teams in the EPL qualify for the UEFA Champions League, with the top 2 teams directly entering the group phase. The 3rd and 4th placed teams enter the competition at the 3rd qualifying round and must win a two-legged knockout tie in order to enter the group phase. However, this has changed as of the 2008-2009 season, so that the top 3 teams enter the 2009–2010 UEFA Champions League at the group stage, and the 4th placed team enters the 3rd qualifying round for non-champions. The 5th placed team automatically qualifies for the UEFA Cup (which is different from the UEFA Champions League) and the 6th and 7th placed teams can also qualify, depending on what happens in the two domestic cup competitions.
If the Football Association Challenge Cup (commonly known as “FA Cup”) winners qualify for the Champions League, the runner-up is awarded the UEFA Cup place; if the runner-up has also qualified for the Champions League, the spot goes to the next-highest placed league finisher not already qualified for Europe. If the Football League Cup (commonly known as “League Cup”) is won by a team that has already qualified for Europe, the League Cup's UEFA Cup spot also goes to the next highest placed team in the League.
The EPL was recently promoted to the top of the UEFA rankings of European leagues based on their performances in European competitions over a 5-year period. This broke the 8-year dominance of the Spanish league, La Liga. The top 3 leagues in Europe are currently allowed to enter 4 teams into the Champions League. The 3rd-placed team in the EPL would receive automatic qualification for the group stages, rather than entry into the 3rd Qualifying Round as at present, while the 4th-placed team would enter a redesigned two tiered qualification round against a team from a higher ranked nation than they had previously been under the old rules.
The EPL is the world's most popular and most watched sporting league worldwide. It is particularly popular in Asia where it is the most widely distributed sports programme. In Singapore alone, there is even a channel known as “Football Channel” for cable television, in addition to other sports channels. This shows how serious we are about football.
Since the 2007-2008 season, the EPL has been sponsored by Barclays. Hence, the EPL is currently known as “Barclays Premier League”.
One of the main criticisms levelled at the EPL is the increasing gulf between the EPL and the Football League. Owing in large part to the disparity in revenue from television rights between the leagues, many newly promoted teams have found it difficult to avoid relegation in their 1st season in the EPL. Judging by the standards of the current 3 teams from the Football League who have been promoted to the EPL, it would not be surprising if all 3 teams get relegated to the Football League at the end of this season.
The most successful EPL team is undoubtedly Manchester United. Sir Alex Fergueson’s boys are currently going for a record-breaking 18th league title (ie. 7 titles under the old First Division and 10 titles under the current EPL). This is, however, still short of Liverpool’s 18 league titles. Not to worry – it is only a matter of time before the Red Devils overtake Liverpool as the most successful English club ever! Until then, Sir Alex, do not even think about retirement until the boys have won at least 20 league titles!
Another major criticism is the development of the "Big Four" clubs. Since Blackburn Rover lifted the trophy in 1994-1995, only 3 clubs have won the EPL title - Manchester United (10 times), Arsenal (3 times) and Chelsea (2 times). In addition, Manchester United have not finished outside the top 3 since the formation of the EPL, with Arsenal finishing inside the top 5 in all but 2 seasons, while Liverpool, without an EPL title since the pre-EPL era (but regular winners of the UEFA Champions League), have not finished lower than 5th since 1999. In recent years, the success of these clubs has led to these 4 teams being increasingly referred to as the "Big Four". The Big Four clubs have finished in the first 4 positions for the last 3 seasons, therefore they have all qualified for the last 3 seasons of the Champions League and receive the financial benefits of such qualification. The benefits, especially increased revenue, is believed to have widened the gap between the Big Four clubs and the rest of the EPL.
EPL clubs have almost complete freedom to sign whatever number and category of players they wish. There is no team or individual salary cap, no squad size limit, no age restrictions other than those applied by general employment law, no restrictions on the overall number of foreign players, and few restrictions on individual foreign players — all players with European Union (“EU”) nationality, including those able to claim an EU passport through a parent or grandparent, are eligible to play, and top players from outside the EU are able to obtain UK work permits. It is due to this freedom that at one stage, Arsenal did not have a single English player in their first team.
As a result of the increasingly lucrative television deals, player wages rose sharply following the formation of the EPL. The record transfer fee for an EPL has been broken several times over the lifetime of the competition. Prior to the start of the first EPL season Alan Shearer became the first British player to command a £3 million-plus transfer fee. The record rose steadily in the EPL’s first few seasons, until Alan Shearer made a world record breaking £15 million move to Newcastle United in 1996. This stood as a British record for four years until it was eclipsed by the £18 million Leeds United paid West Ham United for Rio Ferdinand. Manchester United subsequently broke the record three times by signing Ruud van Nistelrooy, Juan Sebastian Veron and Rio Ferdinand. As of 2007, the current record holder is Andriv Shevchenko, who joined Chelsea from AC Milan in May 2006. The exact figure of the transfer fee was not disclosed, but was reported as being around £30 million.
The 2008-2009 season of EPL started on 16 August 2008 (Saturday). The Manchester United vs Newcastle match was closely watched. Alas! The reigning champions could only manage a draw against Newcastle. It was disappointing. However, it was understandable as many of Manchester United’s first team players were not playing due to injuries, suspensions and international duty. In fact, 2 young Man U players made their premiership debuts when they came on as substitutes during the match.
Sir Alex has recently promoted to the first team squad, a pair of 17-year old Brazilian twins, Rafael and Fabio Da Silva, who play right and left-back. Hmm... does this combination remind you of another pair of brothers?
Sources:
(1) Wikipedia
(2) Barclays Premier League website
(3) Ninja
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