The English Premier League was established in 1992 and has since become one of the most popular and successful football leagues in the world. Here are some interesting facts about the EPL of 1992:
- The EPL was created after a dispute between top-flight clubs and the Football League over television rights. The clubs wanted to negotiate their own television deals, which they couldn’t do as part of the Football League.
- The league initially consisted of 22 teams, but this was reduced to 20 teams in 1995.
- The first match of the EPL was played on August 15, 1992, between Arsenal and Wimbledon. The game ended in a 2-4 victory for Wimbledon.
- Manchester United won the first-ever EPL title in the 1992-1993 season. They went on to win the title again in 1994, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, and 2013.
- Blackburn Rovers won the EPL title in the 1994-1995 season, becoming the first team outside of the “big five” (Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, and Tottenham) to win the title in the Premier League era.
- The 1992-1993 season saw the introduction of the back-pass rule, which prohibited goalkeepers from handling the ball if it had been deliberately kicked to them by a teammate.
- The EPL of 1992 also saw the introduction of shirt sponsorship, with Blackburn Rovers becoming the first team to display a sponsor’s logo on their shirt.
- The EPL of 1992 featured some of the greatest football players of all time, including Eric Cantona, Alan Shearer, Ryan Giggs, and David Beckham.
- The league has since become a global phenomenon, with millions of fans around the world tuning in to watch their favorite teams compete in the EPL.
- The EPL of 1992 set the stage for what has become one of the most successful and lucrative sports leagues in the world. It continues to attract the world’s top players, coaches, and fans, making it a truly global spectacle.