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Premier League Frequently Asked Questions
The Premier League consists of the top ranked professional Men's teams in English football (also known as soccer). The top teams in the Football League make up the Premier League. These teams change each season. The Premier League is the most watched league in the world. The league generates billions of Euro annually, thanks in part to worldwide broadcasting of the games.
You can see more about upcoming matches and order tickets on our Premier League page.
When was the league founded?
After a couple of years planning, the Premier League broke apart from the Football League in order to increase their earning potential. The official founding date is February 20, 1992. Originally, the league consisted of 22 clubs.
Why was the league created?
Basically, to make more money. The higher ranking clubs decided to break away from the Football League to take advantage of profitable television contracts.
How many clubs are in the league?
Currently, there are 20 clubs in the league. These clubs act as shareholders in the corporation of the league. Each club gets one vote on important issues. They also elect a chairman, chief executive and a board of directors to handle the business of the league. Each club plays the others twice, once at home and the other away, for a total of 38 games.
Which club currently has the most wins?
Manchester United currently holds the most wins at 13. However, 47 clubs have competed in the league but only 5 have ever won the title: Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester City and Blackburn Rovers. Seven clubs have competed in every season since the beginning: Arsenal, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Everton, Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.
What is the "Big Four"?
Four clubs that have dominated the group are Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and the big winner Manchester United.
When is the league played?
The season runs from August through May. The games are typically played on the weekend afternoons, but some matches are held on weekday evenings.
Does the league have sponsors?
Currently, Barclays Bank sponsors the league but that contract runs out during the 2015-16 season and the league has chosen not to use a title sponsor after that time. Presently, Nike is the official ball supplier of the league.
How are the teams ranked?
Teams are awarded 3 points for a win and 1 for a draw. Zero points are awarded for a loss. If there is a tie, goal difference and number of goals are calculated. In the event of a tie for the championship, a play-off match is played at a unbiased stadium. The three lowest ranked teams go back down to the Football League and are replaced by the 3 highest ranked clubs from the Football League.
What is the prize for winning the league?
The reigning champions get to display the Premier League trophy. There are actually two trophies, the original and a replica. When Arsenal won the title in 2004 without a single loss, the league made a special gold version of the trophy. The league also has various awards for managers and players during the season. At the end of each season, the top scoring player is awarded the Golden Boot.
Which player has the most champion medals?
Ryan Giggs has 13 Premier League champion's medals. He plays for Manchester United.
Which player holds the record for most goals?
Alan Shearer (Newcastle United) holds the record with 260. He also shares the record of most goals in one season with Andrew Cole. They each scored 34 goals in a single season.
Where can I find out more about the Premier League?
The official website of the league is http://www.PremierLeague.com
(Photo via Ronnie Macdonald)