Premier League: history, players, records
English Premier League (EPL) — the highest football division of England. To stay in the elite, every season 20 clubs fight.
EPL football was founded in 1992. She gave birth to a new era of English football. The format is simple: 38 matches, where each opponent is a test. The one who lasts the distance wins.
"The Premier League is not just a championship, it is a global phenomenon that has changed the perception of football as a spectacle."
EPL history: how it became a global brand
1992–1995: the first stage – APL creation, formation.
The league started with 22 clubs. The main bet is television contracts, which immediately made it financially independent from the rest of English football. Money began to attract quality players, and the level of play began to rise.
1995: Reduction to 20 teams.
To improve the quality of the championship and adapt to the international calendar, the number of clubs has been reduced.
2000s: APL development.
EPL opens itself to the world. Rapid growth of income from international broadcast rights, active involvement of investors, expansion of audience in Asia, USA, Middle East - English clubs are becoming not just teams, but global corporations.
2010s: the era of the tactical revolution.
The Premier League is no longer a purely physical league. The arrival of new generation coaches – Guardiola, Klopp, Pochettino, Conte – changes the style of the game, making it technical, dynamic, intellectual.
2020s: financial power that has no analogues.
"Broadcasting contracts are growing to record sums, even middle-class clubs can afford the transfers that the giants of other European leagues dream about."
Premier League system
It is built so that every match counts.
- 20 teams is the optimal number that guarantees high competition and spectacle.
- 38 rounds – each club plays two matches with each opponent: one at home, one away.
- 380 matches per season – each match can change the course of the season.
"In this championship, even a draw can be fatal for championship ambitions."
Playoffs? None. There are no accidental champions here. The winner is the one who is consistently stronger at the distance in nine months.
How is the winner determined? The logic of the championship is simple, but ruthless:
- Victory – 3 points.
- Die – 1 point.
- Defeat – 0 points.
If two EPL teams have the same number of points, the champion is determined according to the following criteria:
- Difference between scored and conceded goals.
- Goals scored.
- Statistics of face-to-face meetings between teams.
Cult teams and legendary players
EPL is not just a championship. This is a legend generator. Teams that made history and players that changed football itself.
"Manchester United" (Ferguson era). The club that dominated the 90s and 2000s. 13 Premier League titles, incredible comebacks, the era of Beckham, King, Giggs, Ronaldo.
"Arsenal" of the invincible (2003/04). Arsene Wenger's team that went through the season without a single defeat. Henri, Bergkamp, Vieira are symbols of perfect football.
"Chelsea" Mourinho. The revolution of 2004: defensive tactics, incredible physics, the dominance of Drogba, Lampard, Terry.
"Manchester City" of the Guardiola era. The most technical team in the league, which broke all possible records in England.
Klopp's Liverpool. Football chaos that has become a perfect system. Triumph in the Champions League and the long-awaited EPL title after 30 years of waiting.
Eurocups: access to the football elite
The championship is not only a fight for the title, but also a chance to play on the world stage.
Top-4 – a ticket to the Champions League. This is the main goal for the clubs, because here is the biggest money, the best opponents, the maximum prestige.
5th place – entry into the Europa League. For many teams, this is also a great chance to declare themselves at the international level.
6th or 7th place – Conference League. A new tournament that opens the way to Europe even for middle-class teams.
Players who left their mark in the statistics of the Premier League
"Titles are won by teams, but records are set by individuals."
Best scorer in history: Alan Shearer – 260 goals. No one scored more. His record has been standing for several decades.
Most goals in a season: Erling Holland – 36 (2022/23). It's not just a number, it's proof that the game continues to evolve.
The most matches in the Premier League: Gareth Barry – 653 matches. The game changes, players come and go, but real fighters endure years on the field.
Most assists: Ryan Giggs – 162 assists. A legend who created goals for an entire era of football.
Famous teams of the English Premier League: clubs that shaped history
"Manchester United".
13 titles. No club in the EPL era has surpassed this record. They ruled while others were just trying to catch up.
"1999 is a moment of absolute triumph. Treble. Premier League. FA Cup. Champions League."
Ferguson is the architect of the dynasty. He created a car that didn't just win - it destroyed rivals.
Legends: Cristiano Ronaldo. Eric Cantona. Wayne Rooney. Paul Scholes. Ryan Giggs. Each of them left their mark.
Main rivalry: "Liverpool" - a war that has been going on for decades.
"Arsenal".
2003/04. 38 matches. Zero defeats. They didn't just win the league, they rewrote it.
Legends: Thierry Henry. Patrick Vieira. Denis Bergkamp. Masters who created magic on the field.
"Chelsea": the club that overturned the rules of the game.
The first English team to win the Champions League twice (2012, 2021).
Legends: Frank Lampard. Didier Drogba. John Terry. The backbone of a team that knew no fear.
Main rivalry: "Liverpool" - a battle that repeats itself in the finals time and time again.
"Manchester City": the absolute dominance of the new era.
Pep Guardiola came - and destroyed the old order. His "City" is total control, maximum speed, perfect tactics.
"Five titles in the last six seasons. Dominance unprecedented in recent Premier League history."
Legends: Sergio Aguero. David Silva. Kevin De Bruyne. Names that define an era.
The main rivalry: "Manchester United" – the battle for the city, which turned into a fight for England.
"Liverpool": the revival of the legend.
Juergen Klopp came – and returned "Liverpool" to the top.
EPL title in 2020. Triumph in the Champions League in 2019. These are not just victories. This is the return of the heir to the throne.
Legends: Steven Gerrard. Mohamed Salah. Virgil van Dijk. Leaders who changed the course of history.
The current state of the Premier League: a new era of competition
A league that dominates football has no right to stagnate. Today EPL is a championship that:
Has the strongest lineup of teams. All 20 clubs can win matches, and even the underdogs are capable of stopping the giants.
Financially superior to all other leagues. Even mid-level clubs buy stars available only to giants in other leagues.
Attracts the best coaches in the world. Guardiola, Klopp, Arteta, Postecoglou are not just coaches, but architects of the future of football.
Is the most watched tournament in the world. No other championship has such an audience as the EPL.
Interesting facts
"Football is not just about goals and trophies. It's stories that leave a mark on the fans' memories."
The fastest goal in the history of the Premier League: 7.69 seconds – Shane Long (Southampton). The game had not yet started, and the opponent was already knocked down.
The coach who won the most: Alex Ferguson – 13 titles. Domination that no one can repeat.
Most suspensions: Duncan Ferguson and Patrick Vieira – 8 red cards. Two warriors who never retreated.
"The Premier League continues to evolve, setting new standards for world football. It's not just a league, it's the future of sports."
It is worth noting that the English Premier League remains the standard of modern football, combining tradition, innovation and global influence. Will other leagues catch up with EPL? Time will tell, but today she definitely rules the football world.
