English Premier League history: Top winners

The English Premier League (EPL), launched in 1992, has quickly established itself as one of the most exciting and competitive football leagues in the world. With dramatic matches, the presence of top football stars and the enthusiasm of fans, the league has left its mark with a series of unforgettable moments. The article on Premiumsoccertips.net will take you back to the memorable champions in the English Premier League history winners through each season.

The beginning of the Premier League

The Premier League was founded in 1992, marking a turning point when it separated from the Football League First Division, the top flight of English football since 1888. The creation of this new league was aimed at exploiting the potential of attractive television contracts, and at the same time, starting a new era in the field of marketing and football development.

From the first season in 1992-1993, the Premier League organized matches in a round-robin format with the participation of 20 clubs (initially 22). The team with the most points would be crowned champion, contributing to the history and reputation of the tournament.

Check out the notable champions

7. Blackburn Rovers

Blackburn Rovers, a club steeped in English football tradition, are one of the Premier League’s most distinguished champions. Despite their success before the Football League was founded in 1888, their heyday seemed to have ended by the end of the 20th century. With two league titles and six FA Cups, the last in 1928, Blackburn built a proud legacy, but then endured decades of instability, oscillating between divisions and falling out of the title race.

The turning point came in 1991 when Jack Walker, a local businessman and loyal fan, took over the club. With ambitions to revive the glory days, Walker invested heavily to build a team capable of competing at the top. Under his ownership, Blackburn returned to the top flight in 1992 and in their first season in the Premier League they finished an impressive fourth.

Blackburn’s peak came in the 1994/95 season under Kenny Dalglish. With the attacking duo of Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton scoring a combined 49 goals, the team won the Premier League with 89 points. The fiery attack was supported by a solid defence, conceding just 39 goals throughout the season. In particular, Shearer set a personal record with 34 goals, becoming the season’s top scorer. This success made Blackburn an unforgettable part of Premier League history, a testament to the club’s strategy and ambition.

6. Leicester City

Leicester City’s 2015/16 Premier League triumph is widely regarded as the greatest fairytale in modern football history. Despite being one of England’s oldest clubs, Leicester have spent much of their time up and down the divisions. They missed out on becoming founding members of the Premier League when they were defeated in the play-offs by Blackburn Rovers in 1992. However, in the late 1990s, Leicester established themselves as a consistent top-flight side before falling into a difficult period, having to stay out of the Premier League for 10 years from 2004 to 2014.

When they returned to the Premier League in 2014, the Foxes faced the risk of relegation in their first season, but managed to stay up with a string of positive results in the final stages of the season, finishing 14th. Notably, despite playing a major role in this revival, manager Nigel Pearson was sacked in the summer. The decision to appoint Claudio Ranieri as his replacement was initially met with scepticism, as the Italian was not expected to steer Leicester away from relegation again.

5. Liverpool

Liverpool’s journey to their first Premier League title in the 2019/20 season marked a significant and significant milestone in football history. When the Premier League was launched in 1992, Liverpool were still the most successful team in England with 18 national championships, far ahead of their rivals. However, the Premier League era saw Manchester United dominate under Sir Alex Ferguson, with 13 titles, forcing Liverpool into a 30-year wait for domestic glory.

Since Jurgen Klopp took over as head coach in 2015, Liverpool have undergone a dramatic transformation. With the energetic “gegenpressing” philosophy, Klopp gradually built an excellent squad, becoming one of the strongest teams in modern football. By 2019, Liverpool won the Champions League for the sixth time, affirming their position in the European arena. However, on the domestic stage, they still had many difficulties in overcoming Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, the team that dominated the tournament in previous years.

4. Arsenal

Arsenal, one of the most storied clubs in English football, has been a fixture of the game for generations, but the Premier League triumphs under Arsène Wenger are still considered the highlight. A consistent fixture, Arsenal have been in the top flight since 1919, the longest such run in the competition’s history. However, the early stages of the Premier League era were less than impressive for the Gunners, with managers George Graham and Bruce Rioch failing to lead the team into title contention.

The big turning point came in 1996 when Arsène Wenger was appointed as manager. With his modern management style, Wenger completely transformed Arsenal and left a deep mark on English football. From implementing a scientific nutritional regime for players to focusing on technical play, he brought a breath of fresh air. Those efforts were quickly rewarded when Arsenal won their first Premier League title under Wenger in the 1997/98 season. This achievement was repeated in the 2001/02 season, affirming Arsenal’s position as a leading force under the French strategist.

3. Chelsea

Chelsea’s rise to the Premier League era is a remarkable story of transformation. Once a mid-table club in English football, Chelsea’s fortunes changed dramatically in 2003 when Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich took over. With his vast financial resources, Abramovich spent over £100 million in his first season, bringing in a host of stars to bolster his squad. Although the 2003/04 campaign did not yield any silverware, it laid the foundations for the golden era that followed.

The real turning point came in 2004, when José Mourinho was appointed manager after leading Porto to Champions League glory. Mourinho quickly made his mark, leading Chelsea to their first Premier League title in 2004/05. It was a legendary season, as Chelsea collected a record 95 points, won 29 games and conceded just 15 goals—a defensive record that has yet to be surpassed. The following season, Chelsea continued to successfully defend the title, affirming their position as a major force in English football.

2. Manchester City

Manchester City has undergone an impressive transformation from a mid-table English club to one of the world’s leading powers. The early years of the Premier League era were not smooth sailing for the club, as they struggled and even relegated to the third tier in 1998. However, a turning point came in 2008 when the Abu Dhabi United Group took over the club. With ample financial resources, Manchester City began to build on their ambitions to become one of football’s elite clubs.

The appointment of Pep Guardiola in 2016 brought Manchester City to a new level in an impressive way. Guardiola not only changed the club’s football philosophy but also established a beautiful and effective attacking style of play, turning City into a team that was virtually unstoppable. In the 2017/18 season, Manchester City made history by becoming the first team to reach the 100-point mark in the Premier League, a groundbreaking achievement. The following season, they continued their class by successfully defending the title with 98 points, surpassing Liverpool in a tense race to the final rounds.

1. Manchester United – Premier League Champions

Manchester City’s dominance under Pep Guardiola reached its peak between 2021 and 2024 when they achieved an unprecedented feat of winning four consecutive Premier League titles. This was the first time in English football history that a club had achieved this feat, cementing City’s status as the strongest team in the country and one of the most formidable forces in the world.

Manchester United, meanwhile, established an unparalleled dynasty in the Premier League era, particularly under the leadership of Sir Alex Ferguson. When the competition launched in 1992, the ‘Red Devils’ had gone 26 years without winning the national championship. However, Ferguson quickly turned things around, leading the team to their first two titles, including the 1993/94 season with a record 92 points, setting the stage for more than a decade of dominance.

Ferguson built an empire at Old Trafford, helping United win eight of the first eleven Premier League titles, including a historic treble in 1998/99. Legendary players such as Eric Cantona, Ryan Giggs, and Roy Keane became symbols of this golden period. In particular, from 1999 to 2001, United became the first team in the Premier League era to win three consecutive titles.

After a brief period of decline from 2004 to 2006, Manchester United returned to form in 2007, starting a run of three consecutive titles from 2007 to 2009. This period saw the rise of stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, and Nemanja Vidić, who were central to Ferguson’s great team. In particular, the 2011 Premier League title not only meant winning the championship but also helped United surpass Liverpool’s record of 18 national championships, officially affirming its position as the most successful club in English football history.

Conclusion

These are the stories of the Premier League’s historic champions, indispensable for football lovers. Whether it’s the breathtaking moment of victory in the final minutes or the birth of a new dynasty, each champion’s story reflects fierce ambition, boundless passion and the relentless effort to reach greatness.

See more: Top teams with the most losses in Premier League history