The English Premier League in the words of those who defined it

The English Premier League kicked off in August 1992 and brought with a new era of football. It was a whole new ball game when it came to broadcasting, media coverage and star power for English football - and it would go on to change the world. Here is the story of the past 27 years by those who have shaped it.

"The trick is always buy when you're strong so he needs to buy players. You can't win anything with kids. You look at that lineup Manchester United had today and Aston Villa at quarter past two when they get the team sheet, it's just going to give them a lift and it will happen every time he plays the kids. He's got to buy players, as simple as that." - Alan Hansen, 1995

The former Liverpool player was a pundit on Match of the Day after Manchester United lost their opening 1995-96 game at Aston Villa. Hansen was critical of the failure to replace outgoing stars such as Mark Hughes and Paul Ince, replacing them with youngsters such as Paul Scholes and David Beckham. United won the league and FA Cup double.

"We don't think so, Richard. You can sit there and play with all your silly machines as much as you like. If the boys hadn't done enough, I'd whip 'em. I'm not whipping 'em for that tonight." - Ron Atkinson, 1996

The Coventry City manager lost his rag with the Sky Sports team analysis of his side's 1-0 loss to Southampton. They stayed up, and the analysis stayed too.

"When you do that with footballers like he said about Leeds, and when you do things like that about a man like Stuart Pearce. He went down in my estimations when he said that. We have not resorted to that. We're still fighting for this title and he's got to go to Middlesbrough and get something. I will love it if we beat them. The battle is still on and Man United have not won this yet." - Kevin Keegan, 1996

The Newcastle United manager's side were 12 points clear of Manchester United at one point but it was not over, despite some bookmakers paying out as if it was. The lead was eaten away and United got something at Middlesbrough, a 3-0 win to guide them to a third title in four years.  

"I'm ready to take the blame for all the problems of English football if that is what he wants." - ­Arsene Wenger, 2007

The Frenchman responds to his Manchester United counterpart over comments about Arsenal playing homegrown players. Wenger was the first to exploit his contacts on the continent to bring in foreign future stars.

"We have to carry on doing our best. It's getting tickly now - squeaky-bum time, I call it. It's going to be an interesting few weeks and the standard of the Premiership is such that nothing will be easy." - Alex Ferguson, 2003

The title race of 2002-03 would come to define them all, at least in the way the media talk about it. United won the league that year and Ferguson's quote has lasted.

 "Please don't call me arrogant because what I am saying is true. I am European champion. I think I am the special one." - Jose Mourinho, 2004



The new Chelsea manager announced himself to English football with the speech that has gone on to make his nickname. He backed it up by winning the title in his first two seasons and changing the established order.

"I think he is one of these people who is a voyeur. He likes to watch other people. There are some guys who, when they are at home, have a big telescope to see what happens in other families. He speaks about Chelsea." - Jose Mourinho, 2005

The Portuguese began a feud with Wenger, who had been talking about Chelsea. The Blues would win the league, 24 points ahead of Arsenal.

"But I want to talk about facts. I want to be clear, I do not want to play mind games too early, although they seem to want to start. But I have seen some facts..." - Rafa Benitez, 2009

The Spaniard took issue with the advantages he perceived Manchester United and Ferguson to have from referees and ­schedulers. Benitez's Liverpool, who were top when he said this, saw United win the title by four points.

"Agueeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeero!" - Martin Tyler, 2015

The commentator's iconic celebration of Sergio Ageuro's 95th-minute winner over Queens Park Rangers that secured Manchester City's first top flight title in 44 years.

"I've won more titles alone than the rest of the managers in this league combined." - Jose Mourinho, 2018

 The Portuguese manager was right but only on account of his long-time rival Wenger finally leaving Arsenal. Wenger's departure five years after his own rival Ferguson had left Manchester United brought an end to the longest managerial reigns in the Premier League. Mourinho would be let go from United within 11 months. 

"I said, 'No shoot Vinnie. No shoot'!" - Pep Guardiola, 2019

The Manchester City boss on what he shouted at central defender Vincent Kompany before the goal that effectively won City back-to-back titles. 

"The Premier League is one of the most difficult in the world. There's five, six, or seven clubs that can be the champions. Only one can win, and all the others are disappointed and live in the middle of disaster." - Jurgen Klopp, 2015



The German ran Manchester City all the way in the 2018-19 season before racing into a 25-point lead in this season before the coronavirus called a halt to the Premier League.
Newspaper headline: Quote me on that