Since it was founded in the 1990s, the has exploded into the most-loved domestic football league in the world.
Around three billion viewers around the planet tune in every season to catch a glimpse of the incredible sporting drama.
And such has been its popularity, Premier League clubs rake in millions of pounds every year in TV and sponsorship deals which has helped attract and managers in the game to these shores.
But when exactly did the Premier League begin? Let’s take a brief look at the history of this football titan.
When did the Premier League start?
The first Premier League season was in 1992/93.
The first year of its existence featured 22 clubs; the top 19 teams from the previous season’s First Division along with the top two and play-off winners from the Second Division.
were the inaugural champions, with Sir Alex Ferguson’s men finishing the season ten points clear of second-placed .
Crystal Palace, Middlesbrough and Nottingham Forest finished in the bottom three and were relegated to the second tier.
The 22-club format remained until the 1995/96 season when the number of teams was reduced to 20.
This restructuring was achieved with four teams being relegated in 1994/95 and only two being promoted.
In total, 50 clubs have competed in the Premier League since it was founded in the early 90s.
The only clubs to have played in every season in the competition’s history are , , Everton, , Manchester United and Tottenham.
Why did the Premier League begin?
Before the Premier League, the top tier of English football was called the First Division.
At the start of the 1990s, the First Division clubs believed that a radical restructuring was required in order to help the game develop.
In February 1992, the 20 First Division clubs resigned from the Football League en masse and three months later the Premier League was established as a limited company.
The Premier League was given commercial independence from the Football League and The FA, allowing it to freely negotiate its own broadcast and sponsorship arrangements.
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