IS THE PREMIER LEAGUE THE BEST IN THE WORLD? Part 1
England's Premier League has become the most-watched soccer league globally and is especially popular on these shores. Coaching in the USA for over 40 years, the players I worked with knew little about the great players on the world stage other than Maradona and Pele. No more in the Premier League era! Nowadays, my players are more familiar with iconic players and clubs worldwide. This global appeal of the Premier League especially has increased soccer's popularity in the USA and influenced how the game is perceived worldwide. Soccer shirts of clubs from all over the world are on American streets every day, a testament to the Premier League's influence on the global soccer landscape.
NBC's television coverage of the Premier League over the last decade continues to break records with the size of the audience it attracts. Supplemented with fan festivals nationwide, the EPL has made its mark. However, the Premier League is not the only show in town. Major League Soccer is now well-established, with a prestigious streaming deal with AppleTV. Moreover, American soccer fans can stream all the other significant leagues in Europe and South America. However, the Premier League remains the most popular.
The Premier League boldly proclaims itself as the 'best in the world', a claim that is more than just a matter of pride. It is a significant factor in the League's global appeal and a topic of heated debate among soccer enthusiasts and sports analysts. The Premier League's claim is not just about the quality of its players, teams, and stadiums but also about the thrilling atmosphere it creates for many matches. It is undeniably excellent entertainment, but the question remains: does this truly make the Premier League the best in the world?
My analysis of the Premier League's claim to be the most competitive League in world football will be presented in two parts. First, we'll delve into this claim of the EPL's competitiveness. Then, in the next part, we'll investigate how Premier League teams perform when pitted against the best clubs in European competition.
Today, I'll explore the Premier League's claim to provide reasonable odds for all clubs to win and be crowned 'CHAMPIONS.' The League is often lauded for its openness and competitiveness, where any team can beat another, unlike other leagues where one or two clubs dominate. Is this still true in 2024? Unpredictability has been a hallmark of English football, making it a historically thrilling competition. The English media often claims the Premier League has more quality teams than any other league in the football world. Let's delve into the truth of this claim.
England, the birthplace of ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL, has a rich history in the sport. As the game developed and spread to the world, the English Football League became known for its openness, with different teams regularly winning the two significant honours on offer, the Football League Championship and the FA Cup. This historical significance is a testament to the League's competitiveness and unpredictability, making it a thrilling competition.
Over the years, 24 clubs have been Champions of England. In my lifetime, clubs like Burnley, Ipswich Town, Derby County, Nottingham Forest, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Leeds United, and Blackburn Rovers have all been Champions. Based on the most recent season, Wolverhampton Wanderers would be the best-placed of these clubs, finishing 14th last season. Several of these clubs aren't even in the Premier League at present.
In the 1992-93 season, the old First Division of the Football League morphed into the Premier League. The new model started to resemble an American professional sports league, particularly with television becoming a prominent part of how the game was promoted to the masses. Consequently, more money started coming into English football's top level. With clever marketing over time, the Premier League sold itself as a BRAND, not just a sport. Within the realms of sports globalization, the Premier League has become the world's most prominent professional sports league in terms of visibility and following. In other words, the Premier League is now said to be the most-watched pro sports league in the world.
In previous times, English football clubs were owned by local businessmen. In the third season of Premier League football, Blackburn Rovers won the Premier League backed by a local businessman, Jack Walker. It was a last hurrah. Foreign owners started to eye English clubs as money-making propositions. This influx of foreign investment has significantly changed the landscape of English football. The watershed change came in 2003 when Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich bought Chelsea FC. Abramovich's money propelled Chelsea to the top of the pile. Rivals needed more money to compete. In 2024, nearly every club in the Premier League is foreign-owned, with half of the current Premier League clubs owned by Americans. This foreign ownership has brought significant financial resources and global attention to the Premier League but has also raised concerns about its competitiveness and sustainability. The influx of foreign investment has led to a concentration of power among a few clubs, raising questions about the league's competitiveness and the ability of smaller clubs to compete.
Greater financial power has meant that higher-quality players have come to play in England with every team. However, only the clubs with the greatest economic resources have the power to buy many of the best players and coaches. The net result is the Premier League has been shared between only four clubs for twenty-nine of the thirty-two seasons of Premier League football: Arsenal, Chelsea, and the Manchester clubs, City and United. Leicester City's 2016 title is the one aberration. All the major powers were in flux that year, and the Foxes claimed the title with a lower-than-usual points total. This concentration of financial power has led to a lack of competitiveness in the league, with only a few clubs able to realistically compete for the title each season. This has raised questions about the league's competitiveness and the impact of financial power on the quality of the competition.
Following Chelsea, the Premier League's financial picture shifted even more significantly when in 2008, Manchester City was bought by Abu Dhabi United Group. Effectively, a club in the Premier League was owned by a Middle Eastern State with financial possibilities way beyond those of its rivals in English football.
Manchester City's financial power elevated the performance of their football team to an entirely new level, as the club has claimed six of the past seven Premier League tables. To challenge them, teams must play to previously unforeseen levels to even remotely compete. On two occasions, Liverpool finished second to City, with points totals that would have seen them crowned Champions in any other season. However, to challenge this dominance seriously, significant cash flow is needed to sustain the challenge.
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Another Leicester City-type performance seems impossible within this state of competition. So, are claims that the Premier League as the most competitive in the world valid? The League differs from previous eras of English football when the possibility of sharing the League title was greater. As someone old enough to remember those days, I know that the predictability and lack of jeopardy diminish what some would now call "The Brand".
There have been attempts to level the playing field with Financial Fair Play and Profit and Sustainability Rules. However, they have yet to have a real effect. Manchester City has been charged with financial breaches of Premier League rules. Until that matter is resolved, the claim that the English game is open and competitive remains bogus.
In truth, Premier League football is only truly competitive from second place down. Even then, there are still financial disparities. The Premier League is entertaining to watch, and there will be surprises here and there some weeks. However, as a competition under the present setup, it is a monopoly. From this perspective, unless financial matters and rules can be resolved, I would say the Premier League is overrated and not necessarily "the best in the world." It is the wealthiest and most visible League but has lost its historical sense of open competition. However, in-league competitiveness is not the only way we can investigate the status and level of the Premier League.
Next time, I will compare the Premier League to the other European Leagues and the top clubs of those countries.
I discuss this issue in the latest GP Soccer Podcast:
Check it out:
1) "Conversation with the Coach" iWarren Backman, the new Head Men's Soccer Coach at Dean College.
2) "Coaches Corner" Dave Hart, the Head Girls Soccer Coach at Fryeburg Academy (ME) - bringing in guest coaches.
3) News and Analysis - Giovanni Pacini's take on the recent USMNT loss to Canada
4) Euro Soccer Report with myself.