EPL: Interesting facts about the world's oldest football league

The coveted trophy.

English Premier League is the most exciting football league in the world not only because of the game but also because of its competitiveness. Here we put together history and some interesting tidbits about the incredible league.

Also Read: Who will win the EPL this season?

>> The English Premier League, is the oldest league competition in world football. It has its roots in an earlier league, called the Football League, which was originally founded in 1888. It was the top level football league in England from its foundation until 1992.

The coveted trophy. Pic/AFP

>> After a decision was made by the top clubs to break away from The Football League, the FA Premier League was formed on February 20th 1992 to take advantage of a lucrative television rights. However, the league changed its name from the FA Premier League to simply the Premier League in 2007.

>> From 1993 to 2001, the league was known as the FA Carling Premiership, because it was sponsored by Carling. From 2001-2004, it was known as the Barclaycard Premiership when it was sponsored by Barclaycard and from 2004-2015, the league was sponsored by Barclays Bank and was known as the Barclays Premiership until 2007. After that, the league was known as the Barclays Premier League.

>> Since 1995 it has had 72 clubs evenly divided into three divisions, which are currently known as The Championship, League One and League Two.

>> In the first ever season, the Premier League contained 22 teams, but today there are 20 individual teams. The first ever goal scored was on August 15, 1992 by Brian Deane (Sheffield Utd). The first ever Premier League winners were Manchester United with 84 points.

>> A total of 43 clubs have played in the Premier League from its inception in 1992 until the end of the 2009/10 season.

>> The Premier League not only contains teams from England but also from Wales. Clubs such as Swansea City or Cardiff City are such example.

>> All leagues in England operate with a system of relegation and promotion. However, no teams can be promoted from the Premier League.

>> Seven clubs have been members of the Premier League for every season without getting relegated since its inception. The clubs are Arsenal, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Everton, Liverpool, Manchester United, and Tottenham Hotspur.

>> The Premier League is the most-watched football league in the world, broadcast in 212 territories to 643 million homes and a potential TV audience of 4.7 billion people.

>> Ironically, no English manager has ever won the English Premier league title.

>> Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was the longest serving (1986-2013) and most successful manager in the history of the Premier League. The current longest serving manager is Arsene Wenger who joined Arsenal in 1996.

>> Since 94-95 season only Manchester United, City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City have won league.

>> Manchester United holds the most number of trophies (20) followed by Liverpool (18), Arsenal (13). Chelsea has won 5 while Manchester city has won 4.

>> In 2003-2004 Arsenal went the whole season unbeaten, thus earning the moniker 'Invincibles'.

>> Chelsea has scored a whooping 103 goals in the 2009-10 title win.

>> The Premier League maintains two trophies - the genuine trophy (held by the reigning champions) and a spare replica.

>> The current Premier League trophy was created by Royal Jewellers Asprey of London. It consists of a trophy with a golden crown and a malachite plinth base. The plinth weighs 33 pounds (15 kg) and the trophy weighs 22 pounds (10.0 kg). The trophy and plinth are 76 cm (30 in) tall, 43 cm (17 in) wide and 25 cm (9.8 in) deep.

>> In addition to the winner's trophy and the individual winner's medals awarded to players, the Premier League also awards the monthly Manager of the Month and Player of the Month awards, as well as annual awards for Manager of the Season, Player of the Season, Golden Boot and the Golden Glove awards.