“The Big Four”
“The Big Four” is not an expression that we are used to. We are usually familiar with the expressions “The Big Three” or “ The Big Five” but not the “Big Four”. It is most familiar in the Barclays Premier League also known as the BPL which is the official name of the British soccer league. “The Big Four” are perhaps the most famous soccer teams in England which include Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester United. All of the teams are located in cities in the southern part of England. Chelsea and Arsenal are in London, Liverpool in Liverpool, and Manchester United is in Manchester.
Chelsea has been good and bad in the past years. In 2014, they finished in 1st place while this season they are not even in the top 10 of the 20 teams. In between 1999 and 2010, they won the league three times. They had 8 top four finishes but finished in 5th and 6th places in the rest of the eleven years. These were the years of domination for “The Big Four”.
The only “The Big Four” team that did not finish in 1st place during the years of domination was Liverpool. The last time that they won the league was in 1992. They have won more European trophies than any other English team with 5 European cups, 3 UEFA Cups, and 3 UEFA Super Cups. They have also won 18league titles, 7 FA Cups, a record 8 league cups, and 15 FA Community Shields.
Manchester United was the best team during the years of domination with 11 top four finishes out of 11 seasons. They won the league six in the times 1999, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2007, and 2008 seasons. It is the world’s third most valuable club valued at $1.98 billion. Manchester United has won 20 league titles, most of any English club, 4 league cups, and a record 20 FA Community Shields. They have also won 3 European cups, 1 UEFA cup winner’s cup, 1 UEFA Super Cup, 1 Intercontinental Cup, and 1 FIFA Club World Cup.
Arsenal has also had good years in the years of domination with 11 top four finishes out of eleven seasons. They won the league in 2001 and 2003. The club was named the 7th most valuable club valued at $1.3 billion. Arsenal is one of the most successful teams in English football with 13 First Division and Premier league titles and a record 12 FA Cups.
