Last update September 19, 2024 by Alberto Llopis
Before the Premier League whose birth was in 1992, English football already had a rich history in Football League First Division, which was the highest category of English football. Founded in 1888, The First Division was the stage where some of the greatest legends of British football and teams that marked an era emerged.. Over more than a century, This tournament laid the foundations of modern football and left an indelible legacy.
What was English football like before the Premier??: Mastery of classic equipment
During the pre-Premier League era, several teams managed to stand out and dominate English football. The Liverpool, for example, was one of the most successful teams in the years 70 Y 80, under the direction of legendary coaches such as Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley. During that time, The “Reds” won multiple league titles and achieved great achievements in European competitions.
Another team that shone in the First Division was Manchester United, that in the years 60, under the direction of Sir Matt Busby, won the league and became the first English team to lift the European Cup in 1968. The success of the “Red Devils” was an example of the power of English football on the international scene, a dominance that marked the era before the creation of the Premier League.
The Rise of Nottingham Forest and Leeds United
One of the most fascinating aspects of English football before the Premier League was the rise of less traditional teams achieving enormous feats.. The Nottingham Forest, under the direction of Brian Clough, won the First Division in 1978 and won two consecutive European Cups in 1979 Y 1980. This team is considered one of the greatest examples of how a modest club can reach the top of European football..
Similarly, the Leeds United, directed by Don Revie, became a power at the end of the years 60 and early 70. They won the league twice and were on the verge of winning the European Cup in 1975, being one of the most feared teams in England and Europe.
Revie and Clough starred in one of the most famous rivalries in that period. And the first, He made history at Leeds as we have said and Clough before triumphing at Nottingham, was his substitute. The controversial coach barely lasted 44 days in office as you can see in the movie 'The Damned United‘. And a few days later, They both saw each other live on television. And the rest was history.
Transformation towards the Premier League
English football began to transform towards the end of the years 80 and early 90 due to several factors, such as television rights and the need to modernize sport.
The most important clubs began to seek more autonomy and greater income. It was in the season 1990-91 when the heavyweights of English football proposed a new model of more economically beneficial competition.
This led to a year later in 1992, to the creation of the Premier League, separating from the Football League. This change not only increased television revenue, but also brought a new era of globalization for English football.
A) Yes, the season 1992-93 It was the first official season of the Premier League as we know today. The Manchester United led by Sir Alex Ferguson the first official champion of the Premier League as such. Arsenal being the runner-up and Liverpool the third in contention. Thus a new championship was opened that continues to this day under the same name..
The Leeds of a young Eric Cantona, was the last champion of the Football League First Division in 1992. That same summer, The Frenchman packed his bags for Manchester to repeat as champion and mark an era both collectively and individually.. Despite his incident with the famous kick to a Crystal Palace fan in 1995.
History Football League First Division It's full of iconic moments, great players and teams that left an indelible mark. Without this stage, Modern English football would not have the foundations that have made it one of the most competitive and watched leagues in the world..
