20 Strange Premier League Facts You’ve Never Heard About
The Premier League has evolved over the years, with each season bringing new challenges, new rivalries, and new opportunities for players and clubs to shine. With its massive global audience and massive financial resources, the league has become one of the most competitive and prestigious football competitions in the world. In this article, we will explore 20 strange Premier League facts that nobody tells you about.
Premier League explained: History and Teams
The Premier League, also known as the English Premier League (EPL), is the top professional football league in England. It was founded in 1992, as a breakaway from the Football League, and is contested by 20 clubs that play 38 games each during the season. The league is widely considered as one of the most competitive and popular football leagues in the world, with global appeal and a huge fan base.
Originally, the EPL was composed of 22 teams. In 1995, they reduced this number to 20. The Premier League has had 49 clubs since its inception, with Manchester United being the most successful EPL club, having won the league 13 times (as of April 2023). Other successful clubs include Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester City.
Since its inception, the league has had several sponsors. The first title sponsor of the Premier League was Carling, who sponsored the league from 1993 to 2001. They were followed by Barclaycard, who sponsored the league from 2001 to 2004. From 2004 to 2016, the league was sponsored by Barclays.
In the following years, the Premier League was known as the Barclays Premier League when changing its sponsor to Barclays’ digital banking brand. Since 2019, the league has been sponsored by Nike’s subsidiary, Nike, Inc. through their subsidiary, Nike Football. The league is now officially known as the “Premier League presented by Nike”.
What makes Premier League the best football league in the world?
One of the key factors that make the Premier League so unique is its sheer diversity. From historic clubs like Manchester United, Liverpool, and Arsenal, to newly-promoted teams like Brentford and Norwich City, the league is home to a wide range of clubs with different styles, cultures, and philosophies.
The league has also seen its fair share of legendary players who have left an indelible mark on the competition. Alan Shearer’s incredible goal-scoring record, Ryan Giggs’ unmatched longevity, and Thierry Henry’s breathtaking skills are just a few examples of the kind of talent that has graced the Premier League over the years.
At the same time, the Premier League has also been the stage for some of the most dramatic and surprising moments in football history. From Leicester City’s stunning title win in 2016 to Arsenal’s unbeaten season in 2003-04, the league has witnessed its fair share of shocks and surprises, adding to the excitement and drama of each season.
Another unique aspect of the Premier League is its incredible global appeal. With broadcasting deals in over 200 countries and territories, the league has become a truly global phenomenon, with millions of fans tuning in from all corners of the world to watch their favorite teams and players in action.
20 Fun Facts about the Premier League
While most football fans know the basic facts and figures surrounding the Premier League, there are many fascinating and surprising facts that are not widely known. Here are the 20 strange Premier League facts that you’ve probably never heard about.
1. The EPL is the most widely watched football league in the world
The Premier League is watched by more people around the world than any other football league. According to research by Nielsen Sports, the league has a global audience of 1.2 billion people in 212 territories. This is due in part to the league’s global appeal and the quality of the football played, but also to the league’s commitment to broadcasting its games on television and online platforms.
In recent years, the Premier League has also made a concerted effort to expand its presence in new markets, particularly in Asia and North America.
2. The EPL is the most lucrative football league in the world
Not only is the Premier League the most popular football league in the world, but it’s also the most lucrative. According to a report by Deloitte, the league generated a record £5.2 billion in revenue during the 2019/20 season, making it the highest-grossing football league in the world.
This is due in part to the league’s massive television contracts, which are worth billions of pounds each year. These contracts allow the Premier League to attract the best players from around the world, and to invest in state-of-the-art stadiums and training facilities.
3. The youngest ever player to play in the Premier League is just 16 years and 30 days old
The EPL has a reputation for being a league that rewards young talent, and this is reflected in the fact that the youngest ever player to play in the league was just 16 years and 30 days old. This record is held by Matthew Briggs, who made his debut for Fulham in 2007.
Briggs went on to have a successful career in the lower leagues and currently plays for Gosport Borough F.C.
4. The oldest player to play in the EPL is 44 years and 183 days old
While the Premier League is known for its fast-paced, high-intensity football, there have also been a number of players who have defied the odds and played well into their forties. The oldest player to ever play in the Premier League is currently Mark Schwarzer, who was 44 years and 183 days old when he made his final appearance for Leicester City in 2015.
Schwarzer had a long and successful career in the Premier League, playing for a number of clubs including Middlesbrough, Fulham, and Chelsea.
5. The all-time leading goal scorer in the Premier League is Alan Shearer
Alan Shearer is a legend of the Premier League, and is widely regarded as one of the greatest strikers in the history of English football. Shearer played for Southampton, Blackburn Rovers, and Newcastle United during his Premier League career. He scored an incredible 260 goals in just 441 appearances.
Shearer’s goal-scoring record is still unbeaten, and it’s unlikely that anyone will surpass his achievement in the near future.
6. The fastest goal in Premier League history was recorded to be 7.69 seconds
The fastest goal in Premier League history was scored by Shane Long. He scored for Southampton FC against Watford FC on April 23, 2019, just 7.69 seconds after the game started.
Long’s goal broke the previous record held by Ledley King. King scored a goal for Tottenham Hotspur FC against Bradford City FC in 2000, after just 9.9 seconds.
7. The record for the longest unbeaten run in Premier League history goes to Arsenal
Arsenal holds the record for the longest unbeaten run in Premier League history, going 49 games without defeat between May 2003 and October 2004. The unbeaten run included a full season without losing a single game, a feat that has not been replicated since.
8. The Premier League trophy is made of solid sterling silver
The Premier League Trophy is one of the most prestigious trophies in world football. It is awarded to the team that finishes at the top of the Premier League table at the end of the season.
The trophy is made of solid sterling silver and stands at 76 cm tall. It weighs 25 pounds and is worth around £100,000. The trophy is engraved with the names of all the Premier League champions since its inception in 1992.
9. The youngest goal scorer in Premier League history is James Vaughan
James Vaughan is the youngest goal scorer in Premier League history, scoring for Everton against Crystal Palace in 2005 at the age of 16 years and 271 days. Vaughan’s record still stands today and is unlikely to be broken anytime soon.
10. The most assists in a single Premier League season is 20
The most assists in a single Premier League season is 20, a record set by Arsenal’s Thierry Henry in the 2002-2003 season. Henry’s record-breaking season was instrumental in Arsenal winning the Premier League title that year.
11. Richard Dunne is the player with the most red cards in Premier League history
Richard Dunne holds the unenviable record of being the player with the most red cards in Premier League history. The former Manchester City and Aston Villa defender was sent off eight times during his Premier League career. This is one more than Duncan Ferguson and Patrick Vieira.
Related article: 10 Players With The Most Red Cards in Football History, Ranked
12. The highest-scoring game in Premier League history was 7-4
The highest-scoring game in Premier League history took place on November 29, 2004, between Portsmouth and Reading. The game ended in a 7-4 victory for Portsmouth, with both teams scoring a total of 11 goals.
13. The Premier League has had 48 different nationality players score hat-tricks
The Premier League has seen 48 different nationalities score hat-tricks, a testament to the league’s global appeal. The first player to score a hat-trick in the Premier League was Eric Cantona in 1992, and since then, players from all over the world have achieved the feat.
14. The fastest hat-trick in Premier League was done in just 176 seconds
One of the most impressive feats in the Premier League history is the fastest hat-trick ever scored, which was accomplished by Sadio Mane. On May 16, 2015, Liverpool faced off against Aston Villa, and Mane was the hero of the day. The Senegalese forward scored three goals in a remarkable 176 seconds, beating the previous record held by Robbie Fowler by two seconds.
Mane’s feat is even more impressive when you consider the circumstances of the game. Liverpool was already leading 2-0 when Mane came off the bench in the 74th minute. He made an immediate impact, scoring his first goal just two minutes later. He followed that up with two more goals in quick succession, leaving Villa shell-shocked.
15. The Premier League has had 50 different nationality managers in its history
The EPL has also seen 50 different nationalities manage teams in the league. The first foreign manager in the Premier League was Ruud Gullit, who took charge of Chelsea in 1996.
16. The biggest away win in Premier League history is held by Manchester United
Manchester United hold the record for the biggest away win in Premier League history. They beat Nottingham Forest 8-1 in 1999. The match featured a hat-trick from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, as well as goals from Dwight Yorke, Andy Cole, and Teddy Sheringham.
17. The fewest points in a EPL season is 11 points
The fewest points in a Premier League season was achieved by Derby County in the 2007-08 season. The Rams only managed to accumulate 11 points throughout the entire season, winning just one game and scoring only 20 goals.
18. The Premier League’s most expensive match was the 2011 Manchester derby
The most expensive match in Premier League history was the Manchester derby on October 23, 2011. The match between Manchester United and Manchester City had a combined cost of over £600 million, with the two teams’ players valued at £251 million for United and £388 million for City. The match itself ended in a 6-1 victory for Manchester City, with Mario Balotelli scoring twice.
19. The EPL has had two female assistant referees
In 2010, Sian Massey-Ellis became the first female assistant referee in the Premier League. Massey-Ellis made headlines in 2011 when Sky Sports presenters made derogatory comments about her before a match between Wolves and Liverpool.
However, the incident led to widespread condemnation and calls for greater diversity in the sport. In 2020, Rebecca Welch became the second female assistant referee in the Premier League, following in Massey-Ellis’s footsteps.
20. The Premier League has had one openly gay player
Justin Fashanu was the first openly gay footballer in the world when he came out in 1990, and he played for a number of clubs in the UK, including Nottingham Forest and Norwich City. Fashanu tragically took his own life in 1998, after enduring years of homophobic abuse and discrimination.
It wasn’t until 2019 that another player, Liam Davis, came out as gay while playing in the English leagues. No player has yet come out after him.
Bonus facts: Only six teams have won the Premier League title since its inception
Since the inception of the Premier League in 1992, only six teams have managed to win the title. These teams are Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, Blackburn Rovers, and Leicester City.
Manchester United has won the most Premier League titles with 13, while Chelsea has won 5, Manchester City has won 4, Arsenal has won 3, Blackburn Rovers has won 1, and Leicester City has won 1.
This dominance of a few teams in the league is often attributed to the financial advantages they have over smaller clubs, as well as the competitive nature of the league itself.
Conclusion
That concludes our article on 20 Premier League facts you probably don’t know about. Did you know about any of these Premier League facts? Let me know in the comment!
As always, if you are interested in football facts and soccer tips and tricks, kindly visit ASC Soccer for more!
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source https://ascfootball.net/premier-league-facts/
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