8 months ago
On August 11, 2023, the global spectacle that is the English Premier League (2023-24 season) will start up one more time. This will bring great joy and delight to football fans all around the world, including myself. The English Premier League is the most-watched sports league in the world, it is broadcast in 212 territories to 643 million homes and a potential TV audience of 4.7 billion people.
Why is it called 'The beautiful game?'The term "the beautiful game" is a commonly used nickname for football, and it is widely believed to have been coined by the iconic Brazilian footballer Pelé. According to some accounts, Pelé first used the term "the beautiful game" in his autobiography, "My Life and the Beautiful Game," which was published in 1977.
In this article, we will take a deep dive into the evolution of football from its roots in the UK to the present global phenomenon it has become. Modern-day football has its roots in a community game referred to as 'Folk Football'.
The games were often violent and chaotic, and injuries were not uncommon. Folk football, depending on where it was played, varied in its rules and objectives, but the game typically involved getting a ball from one end of a town or village to another by any means necessary. While the tradition of folk football has largely died out, some modern sports like rugby and football are thought to have evolved from these early games.
Sheffield FC was founded in 1857 in Sheffield, United Kingdom, and is the oldest football club in the world. The first set of standardized rules, for football, was established in 1863 by the newly formed Football Association (FA) in England, which helped to codify the game and make it more widely recognized as a sport. The codification of the rules by the Football Association in 1863 involved creating a standardized set of rules that could be applied consistently across different matches and players.
In 1923, the average wage for a footballer was around £8 ($10) per week, while today,
the average wage for a Premier League footballer is around £60,000 ($76,200) per week.In the following decades, football became increasingly popular in the UK, with the formation of various football leagues and the establishment of major competitions such as the FA Cup. By the turn of the 20th century, football had become the most popular sport in the UK and began to spread to other parts of Europe.
The first international football match was played between England and Scotland in 1872, and the first international football tournament, the British Home Championship, was established in 1884. These events helped to popularize football in other parts of Europe, and by the early 20th century, several European countries had established their football associations and begun to participate in international competitions.
The first footballer to cost one million pounds in transfer fees was Trevor Francis,
who was transferred from Birmingham City to Nottingham Forest in 1979.
One of the factors in the spread of football throughout the world was the establishment of FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) in 1904. This organization helped to establish standardized rules for the game and oversee international competitions, which helped to promote the game and increase its popularity to a growing global audience.
English and European Football Club Giants.Since the end of the Second World War, there have been several dominant football clubs in England, each with its unique history and legacy. These clubs have enjoyed periods of sustained success, often coinciding with the tenure of iconic managers and the emergence of talented players.
One of the most dominant English football clubs since the 1950s has been Manchester United. Under the management of Sir Matt Busby, the club won the league title three times and reached the European Cup final twice in the 1950s and early 1960s. However, it was under the management of Sir Alex Ferguson that Manchester United truly became a dominant force in English football. Ferguson led the club to 13 league titles, five FA Cups, and two Champions League titles during his 26-year tenure.
Another dominant club in English football history is Liverpool. The club won its first league title in 1947, but it was under the management of Bill Shankly in the 1960s and 1970s that Liverpool, truly, became a force to be reckoned with. Shankly led the club to three league titles, two FA Cups, and a UEFA Cup during his tenure. Liverpool continued to enjoy success in the 1980s under the management of Bob Paisley, winning six league titles, three European Cups, and three League Cups.
The UK's most expensive football stadium ever built is the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, which cost almost £1 billion.
Several English football clubs have enjoyed periods of dominance in the UEFA Cup/Champions League. Liverpool won the European Cup/Champions League five times between 1977 and 2005, while Manchester United won the competition three times under Ferguson's leadership. Other dominant European clubs in this era include AC Milan, which won the competition seven times, and Real Madrid, which has won the competition a record 13 times.
In the decades that followed, football continued to grow in popularity around the world, with the establishment of various football leagues and competitions in different countries. The European Cup, which was established in 1955, helped to promote football in Europe and became one of the most prestigious competitions in the world.
The UEFA Champions League is the most lucrative football competition in the world,
with the winning team receiving €19 million in prize money.
The 1990s and 2000s saw a significant increase in the globalization of football, with the establishment of major international competitions such as the UEFA Champions League and the expansion of football into new markets such as Asia and North America. The growth of football has been facilitated by advances in technology and communication, which have made it easier for fans to follow their favorite teams and players from anywhere in the world.
The FIFA World Cup is the most-watched sporting event in the world, with an estimated 1.5 billion people
tuning in to watch the 2022 tournament. The total revenue generated by the tournament was around $6.1 billion.Today, football is the most popular sport in the world, with billions of fans and thousands of professional and amateur teams playing in leagues and competitions across the globe. The game has evolved from its humble origins in England to become a truly global phenomenon, with millions of people watching and playing football every day.
Is there too much money in football?The presence of excessive money in football has given rise to several concerns. Firstly, it has led to a significant financial disparity between clubs. Wealthy clubs with substantial financial backing can outspend smaller clubs, creating an uneven playing field and diminishing competition. This financial imbalance can result in a lack of competitiveness within leagues and restrict the opportunities for smaller clubs to succeed.
Moreover, the concentration of wealth can undermine the integrity and fairness of the sport, as success becomes increasingly determined by financial resources rather than sporting merit. Additionally, it has fueled the inflation of player wages and transfer fees, potentially overshadowing the true essence of the game.
The most expensive transfer fee for a footballer was €222 million, which was paid by
Paris Saint-Germain to sign Neymar from Barcelona in 2017.Another consequence of the surplus money in football is the inflation of player wages and transfer fees. The huge influx of funds has driven player wages and transfer fees to astronomical levels. This has fostered a culture where players demand exorbitant wages, with the focus on financial gain often overshadowing the spirit of the game and the genuine dedication to the sport. The emphasis on financial aspects can distort priorities and values, potentially compromising the essence of football as a sport and a source of entertainment for fans.
Footnote:R.I.P Pele Oct 1940 - Dec 2022.
(Pele was 82 when he, sadly, lost his battle against cancer and passed away late last year).
