The Premier League stands as the most popular football competition on the planet. It began in 1992 when the top clubs in England decided to break away from the old First Division. While we now see global superstars and billion-dollar television deals, the early days were much humbler. For instance, the league once featured a player who successfully lied about being a cousin of a superstar just to get a contract. Furthermore, the championship trophy holds a secret design that fans rarely notice. Prepare for kick-off.
Premier League
The Premier League trophy features two golden lions on the handles. However, when the captain lifts the trophy, he becomes the third lion. This design completes the trio of lions found on the official England national team crest.
Alan Shearer holds the record for the most goals in history. He scored 260 goals during his career with Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United. Therefore, he remains the ultimate symbol of English goal-scoring power.+1
Only seven clubs have won the title since 1992. Despite hundreds of teams competing, the same few clubs dominate the top spot. Consequently, this statistic shows exactly how difficult it is to reach the summit of English football.
Brian Deane scored the first ever goal in the league. He found the net for Sheffield United against Manchester United in August 1992. Thus, his name is forever written in the history books of the sport.
One player convinced a manager he was George Weah’s cousin. In fact, Ali Dia tricked Southampton manager Graeme Souness into giving him a game. However, he played only 32 minutes before the team realized the truth and released him.+1
Arsenal remains the only team to go an entire season undefeated. The “Invincibles” played 38 games without a single loss during the 2003-2004 campaign. As a result, the league awarded them a special gold version of the trophy.+1
The league broadcast reaches over 600 million homes worldwide. It is the most-watched sports league on earth. Furthermore, fans in 188 different countries tune in every single weekend to watch the action.
Manchester City set the record for the most points in a single season. During the 2017-2018 campaign, they became the “Centurions.” This feat required them to win 32 out of their 38 matches to reach 100 points.
The transfer window was not always part of the rules. Before 2002, clubs could buy and sell players almost any time during the season. However, the league introduced the window system to bring more stability to team squads.
Ryan Giggs is the only player to score in 21 consecutive seasons. He played his entire career at Manchester United. Moreover, he won 13 league titles during his incredible time at the club.+1
The ball used in matches has changed every single year. Nike has provided the official match ball since 2000. Therefore, they create a new design each season to ensure it flies faster and straighter.
The fastest goal in history took only 7.69 seconds. Shane Long scored for Southampton against Watford in 2019 right from the kick-off. Consequently, the opposing defenders did not even have time to touch the ball.
Derby County holds the record for the fewest points in a season. In 2007-2008, they managed to win only one game and finished with just 11 points. Thus, this remains a cautionary tale for every team promoted from the lower divisions.
Stadiums must follow strict grass height regulations. The league mandates that grass cannot be longer than 30 millimeters. Therefore, every pitch must look like a perfect green carpet for the television cameras.
Finally, the trophy has a secret base made of malachite. This green semi-precious stone represents the field of play. It sits at the bottom of the silver crown, making the trophy incredibly heavy.
