Preview of English Premier League Managerial Changes

The upcoming 2016-17 premier league will be the 25thseason of Premier League. The season is due to start on 13 August 2016, willend on 21 May 2017. Last season, there are a few managers left their clubs. This season, high-profile managers such as Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola will renew their rivalry as the Manchester Clubs while Antonio Conte’s arrival at Chelsea has set pulses racing.

Manchester United

Outgoing Manager: Louis Van Gaal

Manner of departure: Sacked

Incoming Manager: Jose Mourinho

LouisVan Gaal has been sacked as the manager of Manchester United after two years of a three-year contract. The appointment of Mourinho as the replacement for the former Netherlands boss was confirmed after 48 hours Van Gaal was sacked. The Dutchman Van Gaal, said he was very disappointed to leave, but added “the foundations are firmly in place to achieve even greater success”. Jose Mourinhowho is now the successor agreed a £10m-a-year, three years contract to join Manchester United. Upon his arrival, he has been working on rebuilding the club’s senior squad. Players like Juan Mata, one of the Manchester United’s record signings and three key Louis Van Gaal acquisitions Marcos Rojo, Daley Blind and Bastian Schweinsteiger are set for sale. In a recent press conference, Mourinho appeared to have a dig at Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger by claiming “There are some managers who last won a title 10 years ago, some of them the last time was never. The last time I won a title was one year ago, I have a lot to prove, imagine the others.” Seems like the new Manchester United manager wastes no time in renewing grudge with Arsenal rival Arsene Wenger.

Manchester City

Outgoing Manager: Manuel Pellegrini

Manner of departure: Mutual Consent

Incoming Manager: Pep Guardiola

On 1^st February 2016, Manchester City has confirmed that Pep Guardiola will replace Manual Pellegrini as the next Manchester City manager for 16/17 EPL seasononwards. Manuel Pellegrini has also confirmed that he will leave City at the end of the season to make way for Guardiola.  The highest paid manager in the world will be paid £15 million a year salary by Manchester City in a three year contract.

At age of 45 years old, Pep Guardiola is one of the most successful manager in football history with the winning of 14 titles including 3 La Liga titles, 2 UEFA Champions League, 2 UEFA Super Cup and 2 FIFA Club World Cup with Barcelona in four years and seven silverwares including 3 Bundesliga, 2 DFB Pokal, 1 UEFA Super Cup and 1 FIFA Club World Cup with Bayern Munich in three years. His impressive past achievements make Manchester City, the premier league giant believe that he can create a dynasty that will take the club to the next level.

Chelsea

Outgoing Manager: Guus Hiddink

Manner of departure: End of caretaker spell

Incoming Manager: Antonio Conte

Last season defending champion Chelsea had gone through a hard time. Jose Mourinho was sacked in December by Chelsea as the relationship between Mourinho with the players has been broken down. Guus Hiddink was hired as an interim boss and in the end Chelsea finished the season at ten in the EPL table, which means Chelsea will not qualify for UEFA Champions League or UEFA Europa League next season. Antonio Conte, the manager of Italy has signed a three-year contract worth £5m a year to be the head coach of Chelsea. Conte had won three consecutive Serie A titles with Juventus before he took charge of Italian national team. With the big money spent on recruiting Conte, the Blue is expecting the highly regarded manager will bring the club back to the top ofthe EPL table next season.

Southampton

Outgoing Manager: Ronald Koeman

Manner of departure: Signed by Everton

Incoming Manager: Claude Puel

Ronald Koeman the manager of Southampton decided to joinEverton after his two years spells with Southampton. Prior his departure, Koeman led Southampton to a sixth place finish at the end of the season, Southampton’s highest ever Premier League finish and qualification for the group stage of the UEFA Europa League. Claude Pue, was appointed the manager ofSouthampton after four years in charge of Ligue 1 club, OGC Nice.

Everton

Outgoing Manager: David Unsworth

Manner of departure: End of caretaker spell

Incoming Manager: Ronald Koeman

Everton manager Roberto Martinez was sacked by Everton in May and David Unsworth stepped in to be the interim manager of Everton until the end of the season. Everton have successfully lured Dutch legend, Ronald Koeman away from Southampton and confirmed Koeman to be the new manager of Everton on 14th June 2016. The Dutch Legend said “I am very excited to be Everton manager. I believe in the club, in the team, in the fans and in our ability to achieve things in future.”

Watford

Outgoing manager: Quique Sanchez Flores

Manner of departure: Mutual consent

Incoming Manager: Walter Mazzarri

Watford decided to let Quique Sanchez Flores depart after an impressive debut season but finish at 13^th at the end of the season. Walter Mazzarri who was sacked by Internazionale in year 2014 had reached an agreement with Watford to become Head Coach from 1st July 2016 on a three year deal.

Which is the most popular club in EPL?

While not the strongest per UEFA rankings, English Premier League is claimed to bethe most popular league globally. Studies done by Twitter has discovered which football clubs in English Premier League have the biggest spread of globalsupport and where their fans are located around the world. Twitter’s research is based on the official Twitter accounts for each team, using their followers as an indicator. The top five clubs include:

Number 5: Manchester City

Manchester City is one of the top five most popular club in England

Manchester City, the football club that is based in Manchester, England, has once finishing in relegation to the third tier of English football in 1998. After it has regained Premier league status, Abu Dhabi United Group purchased the club and it has ever since become one of the wealthiest club in the world. They won the Premier league title in 2012 for the first time for 44 years and they won the second time in 2014. Upon their victory, the number of supporters has grown exponentially. Today, they are one of the top five most popular club with about 2.76 million followers in Twitter.

Number 4: Liverpool

Liverpool has never been relegated from Premier League

Since the beginning of the Premier League in 1992, Liverpool has never been relegated from Premier League. Though Liverpool is yet to win a Premier League title since its inception in 1992, the club have won more European trophies than any other English team with Five European Cups. Following a poor start to the 2015/2016 season, manager Brendon Rodgers has been sacked and replaced by Jurgen Klopp in October 2015. Regardless of the poor performance, the Reds have the most fans of any Premier League club in 13 countries, including their home soil UK and Australia, with 4.29 million followers.

Number 3: Chelsea

Chelsea won the EPL title last season

Chelsea have the most fans of any Premier League club in 81 different countries, including Russia, Brazil and Mexico. Russia, is the home to the club ownerRoman Abramovich, which could tell why Chelsea have a stronghold in this region. Other than Russia, the Blues are the most followed club by a number of countries in Europe, Central America, South America, the Middle East and Asia. With 6.18 million followers, Chelsea is the third most popular club amongst other English Premier League Clubs.

Number 2: Manchester United

Manchester United won the most leagues titles 

Manchester United make it to the list of clubs that have not been relegated from Premier League together with their rivalry club Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Aston Villa, Everton, Tottenham and Chelsea. United have won 20 league titles, 11 FA cups, 4 League Cups and a record of 20 FA Community Shields that makes them the most successful club in Premier League. During their golden age under Sir Alex Ferguson, they won 38 silverwares between 1986 and 2013. Based on the studies, Red Devils have 6.28 million followers and have most fans in 23 different countries, including China and India, the two most populated nations.

Number 1: Arsenal

Arsenal is one of the most successful clubs in English Football

Arsenal has one of the highest incomes and largest fanbases in the world. The club is one of the most successful clubs in English Football. Under the guidance of ArseneWenger, the club’s longest serving manager, Arsenal have successfully won 6 FA cups, 3 Premier League title, 6 FA Community Shield and the record breaking of a league season undefeated – which amount to 49 league games. The Gunners enjoy popularities in 55 different countries, including the USA, Canada, North Africa. Besides, Gunners also leading the way in France, Germany, Poland and Ukraine. Arsenal are crowned the most popular English club around the globe with 6.47 million twitter followers.

The top 10 richest football clubs in the world

According to Forbes Rich List, Real Madrid are once again at the top of the World’s Richest Club for three consecutive years. All the clubs make it to the top 10most valuable clubs are based in Europe. There are five English teams, two Spanish teams, two teams based in Italy and one team from Bundesliga League in Germany. 

Below is the list of the top 10 Richest Football Clubs in the world.

10. AC Milan 
Owner/Controlling Shareholder: Silvio Berlusconi
Current Value ($bil): 1.02
Revenues ($mil): 310
AC Milan is a professional football club based in Milan, that plays in Serie A. The club is one of the richest and most valuable club in Italy. Despite the fact, AC Milan finished Serie A campaign terribly with only 52 points at number 10.

9. Juventus 
Owner/Controlling Shareholder: Agnelli family
Current Value ($bil): 1.3
Revenues ($mil): 390
Juventus, the Italian giant has spent majority of its history in the top flight Serie A except for the 2006-2007 season. Juventus are the richest and best-supported club in Italy. They won the Serie A title in for the 2014-2015 season, which is the fourth successive Serie A titles since the 2011-2012 season.

Juventus is the richest and best supported club in Italy

8. Liverpool 
Owner/Controlling Shareholder: John Henry, Tom Werner
Current Value ($bil): 1.55
Revenues ($mil): 471
Based in the city which shares the same name, Liverpool FC are one of the richest clubs in English Premier League. The club have won more European trophies than any other team in English Premier League. However, Liverpool have yet to win a Premier League title since its inception in 1992. 

7. Chelsea 
Owner/Controlling Shareholder: Roman Abramovich
Current Value ($bil): 1.66
Revenues ($mil): 505
Chelsea have been purchased by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich in 2003. They won the English Premier League last season, however, since the beginning of this season 2015-2016, their performance have been awful.

Since the beginning of this season, Chelsea's performance have been awful

6. Manchester City
Owner/Controlling Shareholder: Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Current Value ($bil): 1.92
Revenues ($mil): 558
Manchester City is one of the five English Clubs that make it to the top ten richest club in the world. Upon purchased by Abu Dhabi United Group in 2008, city have become one of the wealthiest club in the world. In 2012, they won the Premier League title, the first title for 44 years. Moving forward with the support from wealthy Sheikh Mansor, City continue to prosper financially.

5. Arsenal 

Owner/Controlling Shareholder: Stan Kroenke
Current Value ($bil): 2.02
Revenues ($mil): 524
Arsenal are an English Football Club based in Holloway London. As one of the wealthiest football club in the world, Arsenal have the largest fan bases in the world as well. In 2006, they moved from Highbury stadium to Emirates Stadium. Emirates stadium is the third largest football stadium in England after Wembley and Old Trafford.

 Emirates stadium is the third largest football stadium in England after Wembley and Old Trafford

4. Bayern Munich 
Owner/Controlling Shareholder: Club members
Current Value ($bil): 2.68
Revenues ($mil): 570
The club members owned Bayern are no doubt the most successful team in German football, as they have won the most championship and most cups. The 2015-2016 season is the 53^rd season of the Bundesliga, out of 52 seasons, Bayern have won 25 Bundesliga titles – almost 50% of the time –  including the title for the previous season.

Bayern has won 25 Bundesliga titles which is almost 50% of the time

3. Manchester United
Owner/Controlling Shareholder: Glazer family
Current Value ($bil): 3.32
Revenues ($mil): 6.25
United are the highest-ranked English club in the richest football club chart. Manchester United have won 20 league titles, the most of any English football club. Besides, Manchester United was the second highest revenues football club in the world, with a revenue of £462 million.

Manchester United supporters welcome a bus carrying the players and officials at old trafford 

2. Barcelona 
Owner/Controlling Shareholder: Club members
Current Value ($bil): 3.56
Revenues ($mil): 675
Barcelona is the second wealthiest club in the world with the net worth of £2.1 billion. The club is one of the most supported teams in the world and has the largest social media followers. Barcelona is one of the most successful club and they are one of the clubs that never been relegated from the top division in La Liga.

Suarez is one of the star player of Barcelona

1. Real Madrid 
Owner/Controlling Shareholder: Club members
Current Value ($bil): 3.65
Revenues ($mil): 694
Real Madrid beat their all-time rival Barcelona become the world’s richest club. Real Madrid are also the club with highest revenues in the world. The club also leads the current UEFA club rankings and IFFHS Club World Ranking. Despite a 5% decrease in value, Real Madrid top the list for the third consecutive year.

Real Madrid trio: Benzema, Bale and Christiano (BBC)

Will Barcelona, the defending champions claim the La Liga title once again?

Last season (season 2014/15) is one of the greatest seasonfor Barcelona as they have completed the treble of La Liga Title, Copa del Rey and Champions League. This is the second time for Barcelona to achieve such glory, the first time was in the season 2008/09 under Pep Guardiola six years ago.

Barcelona have completed the treble for the first time in season 2008/09 under Pep Guardiola

Barcelona won their 23^rd La Liga title after defeating defending champions Atletico Madrid at the Vicente Calderon Stadium. Barcelona finishing the season with 94 points, 2 points ahead of Real Madrid and 16 points more than the defending champion Atletico Madrid.

Barcelona players posed with the trophies

The season 2015-16 started on 22^nd of August, to October, all teams have played 10 games. Real Madrid at the top of the chart with 24 points and at the second place is Barcelona, following by Celta Vigo and Atletico Madrid.

Upon the departure of the manager, Gerardo Martino in May 2014, Luis Enrique was hired to take over the role as the new manager of Barcelona. In Enrique’s first year at Camp Nou, Barcelona enjoyed great success with treble winning. With the South American attacking trio of Messi, Suarez and Neymar, Barcelona ended last season with 122 goals, the most in a season for an attacking trio in Spanish football history. Besides, Luis Enrique squad was also ranked number 1 in defense last season. Barcelona enjoys the luxury to have some of the excellent player in the world such as Messi, Suarez, Neymar, Iniesta and etc. However, Messi has been out of action early of the season due to injury, he will not return until the first week of December. Based on the latest La Liga Table, Barcelona manage to earn 24 points, same points as the leader of the chart (Real Madrid) even though Messi was absent. 

With the South American attacking trio of Messi, Suarez and Neymar, Barcelona ended last season with 122 goals

RealMadrid has the history of winning 32 championships, but they just won three titles in the past 10 seasons. The last time they became the champion was in the 2011-12 season. Last season, Real Madrid struggling with inconsistency in the second half of the season, in the end Real Madrid is two points behind Barcelona to win the La Liga title. As a result, Carlo Ancelotti was sacked and Rafael Benitez was appointed to replace Ancelotti. Another major movement in this season is Real Madrid long time goalkeeper Iker Casillas, who is best goalkeeper in the planet is no longer with the squad. On top of that, the deal to hire another great player, David De Gea as the replacement for Casillas was failed.  Although they don’t have Casillas or De Gea in the team, Real Madrid is doing well to this point under the leadership of Ancelotti with 10 unbeaten record.

David De Gea as the replacement for Casillas in Real Madrid was failed

Atletico Madrid surprised everyone by clinching the title ahead of the Barcelona andReal Madrid, the two most dominant sides in 2014-15 season. However, they failed to reproduce the same form last season lead them to lose the battle for La Liga title.  Over the years, talents like Diego Costa, David Villa, David de Gea have left the club. This summer, Atletico Madrid have successfully kept their core players and brought in more great talents. Atletico Madrid is four points away from Real Madrid and Barcelona, they will remain in the title race, if they enhance their winning rate.

Antoine Griezmann in fine form this season

This season, Celta Vigo is playing well. At the third place of the table, they have won six matches. Including the match which they thrashed last season treble winner Barcelona. Despite playing many seasons in La liga, Celta have never won the league title, perhaps they will finally win their first title this season.

Like any other season, La Liga remains tremendously competitive. The title race for this season will be between Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Celta Vigo. The current top 4 team have the qualities to win the title, however only one team with the consistent performance will clinch this season’s La Liga title.

Just like any other season, the Barcelona stands a very high chance to win theirsecond straight La Liga as their squad are excellent in both attacking and defending.

Which club will win the Premier League title this season?

Before the beginning of the new season 2015/2016, Telegraph Sport’s football writers had done their verdicts on this season and Chelsea turn up to be the most favourable club to win the title. Chelsea came into the season as defending champions of the 2014-2015 season. Manchester city finishing previous season at second place with 8 points behind following by Arsenal and Manchester United.

Unlike Bundesliga, the winner of the Premier League title is much less predictable. By looking at the current premier league table after 20 matches are played, Arsenal is now at the top spot. Leicester City at the second place earned 40 points (2 points behind Arsenal), whereas Manchester City is at the third place. Title defender Chelsea started off the season with awful performance, they are now at the 14^th, with only 6 wins and 5 draws out of 20 matches. Chelsea is now 19 points behind Arsenal, it is very challenging for Chelsea to get back to the top spot. They have to win most of the matches with the condition that title challengers like Manchester City, Arsenal and Leicester City perform badly for the rest of the season in order to be the champion once again.

Chelsea started off the season with awful performance

Jose Mourinho sacked by Chelsea after disastrous Premier League start

Arsenal legend Thierry Henry told Talksport that he genuinely think it will finally be Arsenal’s year. The healthy competition between Giroudand Walcott is something Arsenal needed in the game. With players like MesutOzil, Alexis Sanchez back to their form, consistently keep up their good form, Arsenal will be stand a genuine chance of winning the title.

Arsenal's playmaker Mesut Ozil has been on top form for Arsenal so far this season

 Arsenal have not win a  Premier League title since season 2003-2004

As for Manchester City, their closest challengers are Arsenal, Leicester City and Tottenham. Manchester city have massively bolster their team sheets with the likes of Sterling, De Bruyne and Otamendi.  Roberto Mancini, the former manager of Manchester City told BBC that, Manchester City has the quality to win the Premier League title. Rio Ferdinand,the former Manchester United defender, shared his honest opinion that he think Manchester City will win the title as City have done a good job in transfer business and the change of Pellegrini’s tactical approach.

Ferdinand is backing City for title glory again

Thisseason surprise table-toppers Leicester City showing no sign of letting up so far, having lost just two games and two points behind Arsenal. Red-hot Leicester duo Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez have been in the top form since the beginning of the season.  

Mahrez and Vardy have been two of the Premier League standout performers with Leicester

In an interview with ESPN, Sir Alex Ferguson, the former old Trafford boss believes Manchester United are still in PremierLeague title race as the competition is so open this season.  The legendary manager pointed out the fact that the inconsistency form shown across the division could lead to title fall into any team’s hands.