20 Years of the Premier League as Seen by Opta

20 Seasons of the English Premier League

as seen by

Total games played7,846 Ever-present sides in the Premier League

(Arsenal, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Everton, Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham)

Total goals scored (2.62 per game, most by a team: Manchester United 1,541, player: Shearer 260)20,589

Teams to have played in the Premier League45

Yellow cards (most by a team:

Chelsea 1,224, player: Kevin Davies and Lee Bowyer, 99 each)22,870

Red cards (most by a team: Blackburn 76, player: Ferguson, Vieira and Dunne, eight each)1,201 Clean sheets kept (most by a

team: Manchester United 346, goalkeeper: David James, 169)4,558

Substitutions (most by a team: Chelsea 1,211, most subs on for a player: Kanu, 118, subs off: Solano, 132)22,666

Relegations from the Premier League (most: Crystal Palace, four)61

Players to have played in the Premier League (most appearances – Giggs, 598)3,111

Hat-tricks scored in the Premier League (most – Alan Shearer, 11)248

Premier League title winners (Manchester United 12, Arsenal and Chelsea three each, Blackburn and Manchester City, one each)5

Everton have lost the most games in Premier League history (most by a player: David James, 197)

Manchester United are the only side to have managed 500 wins in the Premier League (most by a player: Ryan Giggs, 386)500

Tottenham have conceded the most goals in the Premier League, the only team to ship over 1,000 (most by a player: David James, 665)1,020

All data based on Opta definitions and correct at time of going to print.

The Premier League has brought us some stunning moments since its inception. The 20 seasons have seen 45 teams do battle in 7,846 games, scoring 20,589 goals.

We’ve seen high drama, controversy and season after season of compelling

action. To celebrate the 20 year milestone, the Premier League recently

bestowed a series of awards, asking fans and experts to select the best

season, game, player, manager, goal and more.

We’ve had a look at the award winners in the way that only Opta can, and

produced our own tribute to the players and teams that have captivated us

for the past two decades. We’ve also taken a look at some of the Premier

League’s leading marksmen, goalkeepers, play-makers and aggressors.

No-one looks at football more closely than Opta. We delve into the details

that others miss, to pull out the stories behind the numbers.

We hope that you enjoy our unique take on the Premier League so far.

Goals scored from the penalty spot (most by a team: Chelsea, 83. Player: Alan Shearer, 56)1,327 Introduction

0120 seasons of the English Premier League as seen by Opta

Sides who have played just one season (Barnsley, Burnley, Blackpool, Swindon and Swansea)

Own goals scored (most by a team: Everton, 36, player: Richard Dunne, 9)653

Aston Villa have drawn the most games in Premier League history (most by a player: David James, 158)

five

Home wins, 2,107 draws, 2,098 away wins in Premier League history3,641

Swindon in 1993/94 are the only side to have conceded 100 goals in a Premier League season100

South America was the last continent (excluding Antarctica) to be represented in the Premier League – Adrian Paz for Ipswich in 1994/956

The Premier League’s Best Manager: Sir Alex Ferguson

The winner of the “Best Manager” award in the Premier League’s 20 seasons award,

Sir Alex Ferguson’s record in the competition is little short of staggering.

Only José Mourinho has managed a higher win % in the Premier League than Ferguson, whose

longevity helps him stand even further apart from the pack. Having joined Manchester United in

1986/87, he has been in charge since, racking up his 500th Premier League win on the last day

of the 2011/12 season at Sunderland, the next-most victories is Arsène Wenger (347) followed

by Harry Redknapp (227).

In 20 seasons of the Premier League, Ferguson has lifted the title on 12 occasions: Arsène

Wenger (3) and José Mourinho (2) are the only other bosses to have done this more than once.

02 20 seasons of the English Premier League as seen by Opta

*Minimum two full seasons as manager

Key

Win Draw Loss

José Mourinho120 games

Sir Alex Ferguson772 games

Carlo Ancelotti76 games

Roberto Mancini97 games

Arsène Wenger600 games

Rafael Benítez228 games

Claudio Ranieri146 games

Kenny Dalglish238 games

Gianluca Vialli94 games

Roy Evans184 games

70.8%

64.8%

63.2%

61.9%

57.8%

55.3%

52.1%

48.3%

47.9%

47.3%

Win Ratio

The Premier League’s Best Season: 2011/12

In the recent 20 seasons awards, the 2011/12 season was voted the best-ever, and in terms of action, this was a fair reflection. Last season saw more goals per game than any other in the competition’s history, and the most in any English top-flight campaign since 1968/69.

Three of the four Premier League seasons with the most goals

per game have been the last three campaigns, as the trend

towards more strikes continues.

On top of this fans saw 19 hat-tricks scored in 2011/12, the

most in a 20-team Premier League season, while the title was

won on goal difference for the first time in its history, and the

first time in the English top-flight since 1988/89 when Arsenal

pipped Liverpool. Incredibly, the drama lasted until the last

kick of the season, when Manchester City became the first

side EVER in the history of the Premier League to win a game

that they were losing at the end of 90 minutes, equalising on

91:15 before getting the winner on 93:20.

Goals

Goals per Game

93/94* 94/95* 95/96 97/98 98/99 99/00 00/01 01/02 02/03 03/04 04/05 05/06 06/07 07/08 08/09 09/10 10/11 11/1296/97

1,195 1,195 988 1,019 959 1,060 992 1,001 1,000 1,012 975 944 931 1,002 942 1,053 1,063 1,0669702.59 2.59 2.60 2.68 2.52 2.79 2.61 2.63 2.63 2.66 2.57 2.48 2.45 2.64 2.48 2.77 2.80 2.812.55

* 462 games played instead of 380

92/93*

1,2222.65

In 2003/04, Arsenal achieved a feat unheard of in the English top-flight since 1888/89 (Preston North End) by going a full season unbeaten. They eventually extended their run to 49 consecutive games without a defeat, by far the longest of its kind in the Premier League.

Chelsea between October 2004 and October 2005 are the

only other team to have gone the equivalent of a full season

unbeaten (40 games), with their run starting on the same

weekend that Arsenal’s ended in a 2-0 reversal at Old Trafford.

To the left are some details of Arsenal’s last title-winning

season compared to other recent champions.

The Gunners were leaders in many categories in the 2003/04

season, though interestingly were only second in terms of

total passes, despite their reputation, behind Manchester

United. However their high pass completion rate, especially

in the final third, made the difference.

The Chelsea side of 2004/05 set a new record of most

points won in a single season thanks to only conceding a

competition record 15 goals from just 84 shots on target

faced (little over two per game).

Goals % Goals to Shots

Total Passes

73

72

68

93

15.5%

14.1%

13.7%

17.7%

17,752

16,808

19,421

20,860

26

15

24

29

2003/04

2004/05

2008/09

2011/12

Goals Conceded

Overall Pass Completion % Passes in Final Third

80.9%

81.5%

83.0%

85.9%

4,702

4,639

6,386

6,658

2003/04

2004/05

2008/09

2011/12

2003/04

2004/05

2008/09

2011/12

2003/04

2004/05

2008/09

2011/12

2003/04

2004/05

2008/09

2011/12

2003/04

2004/05

2008/09

2011/12


“We’ve been remarkably consistent, haven’t lost

a game and we have played stylish football. We

have entertained people who just love football.”

The Premier League’s Best Team: Arsenal’s Invincibles

49

40

30

29

29

29

25

Longest Premier League Unbeaten Runs

07/05/03 - 16/ 10/04

23/ 10/04 - 29/ 10/05

23/ 12 /01 - 06/ 10/02

23/ 12 /07 - 18 / 10/08

26/ 12 /98 - 25/09/99

11 /04/ 10 - 01/02/ 11

26/02/95 - 06/ 11 /95

Arsène Wenger, 2004

1

28 192 334

188

39

7

32

12

515

223

824

1311

910

The Premier League’s Best Game: Manchester United 4 - 3 Manchester City

Rooney 2’

Fletcher 49’

Fletcher 80’

Owen 90+6’

16’ Barry

52’ Bellamy

90’ Bellamy

FosterEvra

Ferdinand Vidic

O’Shea (23 Carrick 90+3’) Anderson

Giggs(25 Valencia 62’) Park

Fletcher( 07 Owen 78’) Berbatov

Rooney

GivenRichardsBridgeLescottToureIrelandWright-PhillipsBarryDe Jong (17 Petrov 83’)TevezBellamy

Sunday, 20th September 2009

Referee: Martin Atkinson | Attendance: 75,066

Average Positions

Voted the Premier League’s best match, the Manchester derby of September 2009 saw Manchester City travel to Old Trafford looking to extend their perfect start to the season (four wins from four).

After battling back from a goal down twice before, Craig

Bellamy looked to have given City a point by scoring with five

seconds of normal time remaining to make it 3-3. However a

Michael Owen strike five minutes and 27 seconds into injury

time saw United take all three points.

United had 24 shots to City’s 11, and 59.5% of the

possession, a domination that is highlighted in the average

positions of the two teams, where all but three of United’s

players spent more time in City’s half than their own,

compared to just two for their visitors.

Possession

59.5%40.5%

64.1%35.9%


1

16

1

2

26

72.4%

11

15

0

2

14

78.9%

0 0

Corners

Fouls

Offsides

Yellow Cards

Red Cards

Tackles

Passing Succ.

0102031928070818343239

1203051522081113240910

Territory

United’s win was in large

part down to their evergreen

winger Ryan Giggs (11),

who assisted three goals in

the game. The 20 seasons

“Best Player” set up 10 shots

in this match, one of only

three occasions all season

in which a player created

over 10 chances in a single

game, underlining why he

has assisted more goals in

Premier League history than

any other player.

Ryan Giggs

HT

4

3

1

8

10

6

4

0 1

Shots On Target

Shots Off Target

Blocked Shots

Saves

Post

4

GK

DF

DF

DF

DF

MF

MF

MF

MF

FW

FW

Sir Alex Ferguson

GK

DF

DF

DF

DF

MF

MF

MF

MF

FW

FW

Mark Hughes

With both sides still pushing for the title, the Manchester derby of 12th February 2011 was always going to be special. However few would have foreseen the moment of genius that saw Wayne Rooney cap an impressive Manchester United move with an incredible overhead kick in the 78th minute to hand his side all three points.

Rooney’s goal followed a move

of 14 passes that saw all but

one of United’s outfield players

(Chris Smalling) involved before

the explosive finish, more than

earning the accolade of “Best

Goal” in the Premier League’s 20

seasons awards.


Wayne Rooney Premier League Career Statistics

Right-Footed Goals

Left-Footed Goals

Headed Goals

Shots On Target

Shots Off Target

Blocked Shots

Goals Inside Box

Penalties

Direct Free Kicks(Outside Box)

Goals Outside Box

The Premier League’s Best Goal: Wayne Rooney v Manchester City

457

510

317

111

14 19

115

13

3

13

221515

315

18

249

9 911

18

1017

510

The Premier League’s Best Save: Craig Gordon v Bolton Wanderers FC

Petr Cech has proved to be a wonderful signing for Chelsea as he enters his ninth season at the club, and the numbers back up the claim that he is one of the best goalkeepers to have played in the Premier League era.

The Czech ‘keeper has averaged a clean sheet every two

games in the Premier League since his transfer to Chelsea

* Only players with 100 PL apps or more considered.


Games/Clean Sheets

2.00

2.12

2.37

2.42

2.46

2.48

2.53

2.54

2.62

2.68

Petr Cech

José Reina

Edwin Van der Sar

Peter Schmeichel

David Seaman

Carlo Cudicini

Manuel Almunia

Jerzy Dudek

Ed de Goey

Mark Bosnich

Minutes/Goals Conceded

127:40 mins

107:15 mins

106:1 mins

105:40 mins

98:58 mins

97:49 mins

96:09 mins

95:47 mins

94:40 mins

91:50 mins

Petr Cech

José Reina

Jens Lehmann

David Seaman

Manuel Almunia

Carlo Cudicini

Peter Schmeichel

Jerzy Dudek

Ed de Goey

Edwin Van der Sar

David James still remains the goalkeeper with the most clean

sheets, however, totalling 169 in his 18-season Premier League

career. Petr Cech has some way to go to be at the top of this

ranking, with 41 fewer than former England ‘keeper James.

David James

Petr Cech

169

128

Until Manchester United signed David De Gea, Craig Gordon’s £9million transfer fee was the highest ever paid for a goalkeeper by a British club. Despite this, he enjoyed mixed fortunes at the Black Cats only playing 88 Premier League games and keeping 19 clean sheets in that time.

Top Stoppers

from French side Rennes in 2004 – a better rate than

any other goalkeeper in the competition’s history. Cech

has also managed the best minutes per goal conceded

ratio, conceding a goal every 127 minutes, 40 seconds

on average, and over 20 minutes longer than any other

goalkeeper’s average.

The undoubted highlight of his time at The Stadium of

Light was this stunning save against Bolton Wanderers,

subsequently voted as the Best Save in Premier League history.

Games Played.................................................................................................................................

Minutes Played ....................................................................................................................Saves .......................................................................................................................................................

Goals Conceded .......................................................................................................................Save Percentage ...............................................................................................................Save Percentage (in box) ....................................................................................Save Percentage (out box) ................................................................................Catches ................................................................................................................................................Punches ....................................................................................................................................................

Drops ...............................................................................................................................................................Penalties Faced .............................................................................................................................Penalty Goals Conceded ................................................................................................Penalties Saved .............................................................................................................................

887,897264127

67.4%58.7%85.6%

109617

15130

Towards the end of January 1996, it looked as if Newcastle United had the Premier League title already wrapped up little over the half-way mark. Kevin Keegan’s Magpies were 12 points clear at the top of the table and looked unassailable.

12 points is the biggest deficit a team has ever made up to

win the Premier League, followed by Arsenal recouping 11

points in the 1997/98 season, and below it is possible to see

the key moments where the campaign was won and lost.


The Premier League’s Best Quote: “I will love it if we beat them. Love it. ”

I’ve kept really quiet but I’ll tell you something, he went down in my estimations when he said that. We have not resorted to that. You can tell him now, we’re still fighting for this title and he’s got to go to Middlesbrough and get something. And I’ll tell you, honestly, I will love it if we beat them. Love it.

“ “

Kevin Keegan, 1996

Newcastle are 12 points clear of

Manchester United after 23 games.

Newcastle lose 0-2 at West Ham,

starting a dire run.

Newcastle lose 4-3 in dramatic

circumstances at Anfield, giving the

advantage to Manchester United.

Manchester United lose 3-1 at Southampton and Newcastle win

against Aston Villa, putting them three points behind the Reds with a

game in hand.

Newcastle win 1-0 at Leeds, putting them three points behind

Manchester United with two games left to the Red Devils’ one, leading to

Keegan’s infamous “I would love it” speech.

Two draws from their final two matches sees Newcastle give the

title to Manchester United, in what is now the most famous example

of Alex Ferguson’s “mind games”.

Pos.12

3

TeamNewcastle UnitedLiverpool

Manchester United

P2323

23

W1712

12

D36

6

L35

5

F4546

41

A1921

27

GD+26+25

+14

Pts5442

42

1

2

3

45

6

1

2

3

4

5

6

Premier League Table January 21st 1996

Pos.123

TeamManchester UnitedNewcastle UnitedLiverpool

P383838

W252420

D7611

L687

F736670

A353734

GD+38+29+36

Pts827871

Premier League Table May 5th 1996

Hotshots

The Premier League’s Best Penalty Takers

Each of the last three seasons has seen at least 100 penalties taken in the Premier League, something that had happened just once in the previous 11. Given the increasing importance of spot-kicks, a decent specialist is key for every team – especially given that last season saw the lowest percentage of penalties scored of any campaign since 2001/02 (72%). Below are the top six penalty takers in the Premier League since 1998/99.

With a conversion rate of nearly 95%, Danny Murphy has been the most reliable penalty

taker of recent seasons, though in terms of volume, Frank Lampard has a strong claim to

being the best, scoring 37 of 41 in the Premier League. Leighton Baines has taken the most

without missing (eight). At the other end of the scale there are some men you would not want

stepping up to the spot:

Over the last 14 seasons, Juan Pablo Ángel has one of the poorest conversion rates, and it is

interesting to note that four of the bottom six are England internationals: Jermain Defoe,

Kevin Phillips, Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney.

The Premier League’s Best Minutes per Goal Ratios

2011/12 was a season that saw a number of new strikers burst onto the Premier League scene. Manchester City’s Sergio Agüero started the season in fine form, netting eight goals in his first five games in the English top-flight, before Newcastle’s Papiss Demba Cissé took over the mantle in January with a record-equalling 11 goals in his first 10 appearances.

The two new Premier League additions currently boast the best minutes per goal ratios in Premier League history (minimum of 10 goals scored), with another of Manchester City’s recent signings, Mario Balotelli, in fourth place on the list, behind Arsenal legend Thierry Henry.

Recent European Champion Fernando Torres has dropped down the list following a poor run of form at Chelsea. The former Atletico Madrid man scored a Premier League goal every 121 minutes on average at Liverpool, but this has dropped to every 381 minutes since his move to Stamford Bridge.


85.613

113.023

121.8175

126.919

128.295

128.8

138.5

140.7

146.4146.6

Papiss Demba Cissé

Sergio Agüero

Thierry Henry

Mario Balotelli

Ruud van Nistelrooy

23

96

20

1672

Javier Hernández

Robin van Persie

Hernán Crespo

Edin Dzeko

Fernando Torres

Goals Scored

Minutes per Goal

Danny Murphy

James Beattie

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink

Thierry Henry

Mikel Arteta

Frank Lampard

94.7% Conversion

94.1%

92.9%

92.0%

90.9%

90.2%

Juan Pablo Ángel

Jermain Defoe

Steed Malbranque

Kevin Phillips

Michael Owen

Wayne Rooney

50.0%

57.1%

60.0%

61.1%

66.7%

68.4%

Pass Masters

As Spain emerge as the dominant force in world football with their tiki-taka style of play, Opta take a look at the most prolific passers in the Premier League over the last few seasons.

It is of little surprise that the two players to have

made the most passes per 90 minutes over the

last 10 seasons in the Premier League are both

key components of the Spanish side that has

won the last two Euros and the last World Cup,

Cesc Fábregas and Xabi Alonso. In terms of

passing accuracy though, only the defensive

midfielder John Obi Mikel is ahead of England’s

Paul Scholes, who tends to play a more

attacking game than his Chelsea counterpart.

For sheer creativity it is another Manchester

United stalwart, Ryan Giggs, who has led the

way in the last decade.


Premier League Assists

Passes per 90 Minutes

Fran

cesc

Fáb

rega

s

Xabi

Alo

nso

John

Obi

Mik

el

Paul

Sch

oles

Mic

hael

Car

rick

Mic

hael

Ess

ien

Alexa

ndre

Son

g

Luka

Mod

ric

Kerim

oglo

u Tu

gay

Cla

ude

Mak

élél

é

71.6

2

70.9

8

70.2

7

68.5

9

61.6

1

61.3

0

60.0

9

59.6

0

59.5

1

58.4

1

Pass Completion %

John

Obi

Mik

el

Paul

Sch

oles

John

Ter

ry

Will

iam

Gal

las

Baca

ry S

agna

Mic

hael

Ess

ien

Kier

on D

yer

Rica

rdo

Car

valh

o

Ash

ley

Col

e

Luka

Mod

ric

89.5

%

88.3

%

88.0

%

87.9

%

86.4

%

86.4

%

86.2

%

86.1%

86.0

%

85.6

%

Chances Created per 90 Minutes

Ryan

Gig

gs

Fran

cesc

Fáb

rega

s

Mik

el A

rteta

Fran

k La

mpa

rd

Stev

en G

erra

rd

Ant

onio

Val

enci

a

Jerm

aine

Pen

nant

Luka

Mod

ric

Robi

n va

n Pe

rsie

Thie

rry

Hen

ry

2.93

2.84

2.50

2.37

2.36

2.31

2.31

2.22

2.15

2.0

1

R. G

iggs

D. B

eckh

am

D. B

ergk

amp

F. La

mpa

rd

S. M

cMan

aman

And

y C

ole

T. Sh

erin

gham

194

107

105

103

103

102

100

D. A

nder

ton

M. L

e Tiss

ier

A. S

hear

er

T. H

enry

96 90 89

74

* La

st 1

0 se

ason

s on

ly

That’s Gotta Hurt

2011/12 was a season of surprises in the Premier League. Manchester City won their first top-flight title since 1968, all three promoted sides survived relegation for the first time in a decade, and five players committed more fouls than Kevin Davies.

Prior to last season, the Bolton frontman had topped the

Premier League fouls count in seven of the previous eight

campaigns, finishing second to John Carew in the other

(2007/08).

In 2011/12, however, the burly striker started just 21 games

and committed 58 fouls, a total beaten by five other Premier

League players including Norwich City’s Grant Holt, who

topped the list with 89 offences.

Interestingly, league-wide the foul count has been gradually

reducing since its peak in 2002. Last season saw an average

of just 21.9 fouls committed per game, significantly the

lowest rate since 1999.

2003/04Kevin Davies 982004/05Kevin Davies 1072005/06Kevin Davies 1162006/07Kevin Davies & Michael Brown

91

2007/08John Carew 1002008/09Kevin Davies 1172009/10Kevin Davies 1212010/11Kevin Davies 1232011/12Grant Holt 89


Fouls per Game

28.6

27.4

26.5

25.4

26.3

24.3

21.9

2005/06

2006/07

2007/08

2008/09

2009/10

2010/11

2011/12

www.optasports.comwe live sport

Before his 27-minute cameo against Swansea in January 2012, Thierry Henry had scored against every opponent he had faced in the Premier League (34/34). Gary Bull is now the only player who can claim this, scoring in his only game for Forest v Crystal Palace in January 1995100%

All images © Action Images

Five players have scored own goals on Premier League debuts – Chris Swailes, Jacob Laursen, Richard Johnson, Martin Cranie and Dean AshtonfiveFabrizio Ravanelli is the only player to have

scored a hat-trick on his Premier League debut (August 1996 – Middlesbrough v Liverpool)3Manchester United benefitted from 10 opposition own goals in 2009/10 – no other side has ever benefitted from more than six in a single season. “Own goals” was their second-top scorer in this campaign10

Gareth Bale was the only player to be booked more than once for simulation in 2011-12 (twice)2

Between January 1st – May 22nd 2011, Robin van Persie scored in nine consecutive Premier League matches away from home; a new record9 Thierry Henry is the only player to score more

than 100 goals in a single Premier League stadium (Highbury)114

Jamie Carragher has scored as many goals for Tottenham (3) as he has for Liverpool in the Premier League3 Lennard Sowah was the first player to play a Premier League

game who was born after the competition started when he played for Portsmouth on 3rd April 2010 against Blackburn1992

8 31st October 2009 saw the most-ever red cards on a single day in the Premier League

8th May 1993 saw 47 goals scored, the most on a single day in the Premier League47

Alan Shearer holds the record for most hat-tricks in a single season (five in 1995/96)5

Documents

20 Years of the Premier League as Seen by Opta