Top 10 things you didn’t know about the Premier League football
The English Premier League is one of the most popular and lucrative football leagues in the world. Since its founding in 1992, it has enthralled fans with high-quality competition between the best clubs in England. Behind the thrilling football on display, the Premier League has seen many remarkable achievements and broken numerous records over the years. Here are 10 fascinating facts you may not know about the illustrious history of the Premier League:
1. Most Watched League
With over 4.7 billion views per season across 200 countries, the Premier League is by far the most-watched football league in the world. Its global popularity brings in massive broadcast revenues totalling billions of pounds each year from international media rights deals. The Premier League’s exciting play and star players make it a hugely popular global product.
2. Highest Scoring Match
The highest-scoring match in the history of the Premier League occurred on September 29, 2007, between Portsmouth and Reading. The match ended with a scoreline of 7-4 in favour of Portsmouth, resulting in a total of 11 goals being scored.
3. Foreign Managers
Arsène Wenger’s appointment by Arsenal in 1996 broke the mold of English managers in the Premier League. Since then, many top foreign managers like José Mourinho, Rafael Benitez, Jürgen Klopp, Carlo Ancelotti, Antonio Conte and Pep Guardiola have achieved great success in England. They have implemented innovative tactics and styles, increasing the quality of competition. Today over half of Premier League clubs have non-British managers, highlighting the league’s global appeal.
4. Record Transfer Fee
In the summer of 2021, Manchester City signed Jack Grealish from Aston Villa for a record transfer fee of £100 million, highlighting the immense spending power of Premier League clubs. The record was previously held by Paul Pogba when he moved to Manchester United for £89 million in 2016. Transfer fees continue to inflate as the Premier League’s profits swell.
5. Most Appearances
Goalkeeper Gareth Barry holds the record for most Premier League appearances with 653 over his illustrious career. He played for Aston Villa, Manchester City, Everton and West Bromwich Albion across two decades. Ryan Giggs has the second most appearances with 632 followed by Frank Lampard with 609. Barry’s record demonstrates his consistency and fitness over a long period.
6. Fastest Goal
Shane Long scored the fastest goal in Premier League history just 7.69 seconds after kick-off playing for Southampton against Watford in 2019. Long pressured Watford defender Craig Cathcart who hurriedly passed back to his goalkeeper. As Ben Foster tried to clear, Long charged down his kick and blocked it into the net for a shock early opener.
7. Oldest Player
Goalkeeper John Burridge was the oldest player to make a Premier League appearance when he played for Manchester City aged 43 years and 162 days against Queens Park Rangers in 1995. The appearance broke his own record set playing for Newcastle United the previous year. Burridge enjoyed a long football career spanning nearly 30 years. He kept fitting through an unorthodox training regimen that included ballet and boxing.
8. Most Championships
Manchester United has won the most Premier League titles with 13 under long-serving manager Sir Alex Ferguson. Ferguson guided United to dominance from 1993 to 2013 before retiring. He masterminded United’s period of sustained success by utilizing tactics, psychology, and motivation to create relentless winning teams. United’s record of 20 top-flight English titles is unlikely to ever be surpassed.
9. Youngest Player
At 16 years and 30 days, Harvey Elliott became the youngest player to feature in the Premier League when he made his debut for Fulham against Wolves in May 2019. The record was previously held by Matthew Briggs who debuted for Fulham aged 16 years and 68 days in 2007. Elliott’s precocious talent and assured performance beyond his years are indicative of the Premier League’s trend towards blooding talented academy graduates earlier.
10. Most Expensive Kit Deal
In 2014, Manchester United signed a record 10-year £750 million kit deal with Adidas, highlighting the Premier League’s massive commercial appeal and earning power. Previously, United had a £303 million 13-year deal with Nike. Their deal with Adidas was the largest in the sports industry at the time. It underlined how Premier League broadcast exposure could drive sponsor value. Other lucrative Premier League kit deals include Chelsea with Nike, Manchester City with Puma and Liverpool with Nike.
With its thrilling football, star power, global reach and financial might, the Premier League has cemented its status as the world’s premier club football competition. Its history is filled with remarkable records and achievements that underline its pre-eminent position within the sport. The drama, passion and skills on display in the Premier League continue to captivate and inspire fans around the world.
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