English Premier League

Full Name: FA Premier League - Barclays Premier League
Country: England
Founded: 1992 (1888)
Tier: 1
Number of Teams: 20
Previous Names: Football League (1888-1892), Football League First Division (1892-1992)
Current League Champions: Manchester United

The Football League was formed in 1888, the first organized league football competition anywhere in the world. After 104 years of existence the Football Association launched a breakaway FA Premier League which incorporated the clubs from the 1991-92 Football League First Division. Whatever the name it is the top tier of English football and is also the wealthiest and most popular league in the world.

Premier League Map:

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English Premier League Teams - 2009-10 Season:

Details:

The arrival of the Premier League coincided with the transition to all-seater stadiums and the first Sky TV contract. These two events began a massive infusion of wealth into the game and a nearly complete transformation of the culture of watching and attending matches. The launch of the Premier League has become almost a year zero in football for so many supporters. It is hard to against the success and popularity of the Premier League. English clubs are consistently successful in Europe, the league has a wider global audience than any other and billionaire sheikhs line up to inexplicably plop down enormous money on relatively minor provincial clubs.

 

Despite all the success there are quite a few who have turned their back on the Premier League or watch it in grudging frustration. Ticket prices have risen incredibly since its launch and many clubs' original working class fan bases have simply been priced out of the game. Combine this with the end of the terraces and the transition to heavily monitored all-ticket sections and the result has been a quieter and less atmospheric experience for many. The budget disparity between the Premier League and the second-tier Football League Championship is enormous and promoted clubs often come up with little more to hope for than a desperate fight against relegation. Not to mention the growing gap between the Champions League regular "Big Four" and the rest of the league.

 

The English Premier League is formally known as the Barclays Premier League for title sponsor Barclays, a UK-based bank. It's often simply called the Premier League or the Premiership or the Prem or EPL in the acronym-loving United States.

League Format:

  • The English Premier League season begins in August and ends in May with no winter break.
  • The 20 teams play each other twice (home and away) for a total of 38 matches.
  • 3 points are awarded for a win, 1 point for a draw and 0 points for a loss.
  • Final league position is based on the total number of points earned over the full season.
  • The team with the most points is considered the league champion.
  • The bottom three teams are relegated to the second-tier Football League Championship.

International Tournament Qualification:

  • The top 3 teams qualify for the next season's UEFA Champions League group stage.
  • The 4th placed team qualifies for the UEFA Champions League 4th Qualifying Round.
  • The 5th placed team qualifies for the UEFA Europa League 4th Qualifying Round.
  • If the FA Cup winner or the League Cup winner finishes in positions 1-5 the 6th placed team qualifies for the UEFA Europa League 4th Qualifying Round (FA Cup) or 3rd Qualifying Round (League Cup).
  • If both the FA Cup and League Cup winners finish in positions 1-5 the 7th placed team qualifies for the UEFA Europa League 3rd Qualifying Round.

Total English Premier League Titles:

11 Manchester United (1993, 94, 96, 97, 99, 2000, 01, 03, 07, 08, 09)

 

3 Arsenal (1998, 2002, 04)

 

2 Chelsea (2005, 06)

 

1 Blackburn Rovers (1995)

Total First Tier English League Titles:

18 Liverpool (1901, 06, 22, 23, 47, 64, 66, 73, 76, 77, 79, 80, 82, 83, 84, 86, 88, 90)

18 Manchester United (1908, 11, 52, 56, 57, 65, 67, 1993, 94, 96, 97, 99, 2000, 01, 03, 07, 08, 09)

 

13 Arsenal (1931, 33, 34, 35, 38, 48, 53, 71, 89, 91, 98, 2002, 04)

 

9 Everton (1891, 1915, 28, 32, 39, 63, 70, 85, 87)

 

7 Aston Villa (1894, 96, 97, 99, 1900, 10, 81)

 

6 Sunderland (1892, 93, 95, 1902, 13, 36)

 

4 Newcastle United (1905, 07, 09, 27)

4 Sheffield Wednesday (1903, 04, 29, 30)

 

3 Blackburn Rovers (1912, 14, 95)

3 Chelsea (1955, 2005, 06)

3 Huddersfield Town (1924, 25, 26)

3 Leeds United (1969, 74, 92)

3 Wolverhampton Wanderers (1954, 58, 59)

 

2 Burnley (1921, 60)

2 Derby County (1972, 75)

2 Manchester City (1937, 68)

2 Portsmouth (1949, 50)

2 Preston North End (1889, 90)

2 Tottenham Hotspur (1951, 61)

 

1 Ipswich Town (1962)

1 Nottingham Forest (1978)

1 Sheffield United (1898)

1 West Bromwich Albion (1920)

Official Website:

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Last Updated on Sunday, 07 March 2010 21:24