Throughout its history and since its inauguration in 1992, the Premier League has never ceased to fascinate passionate football fans. This competition has always produced great matches and spectacular moments of magic, adding to the huge appeal surrounding the pinnacle league of the English game.
Such moments captivate supporters, which is why EPL venues are packed to capacity, filled with colour and an impressive amount of noise from the stands. This always creates a huge clamour for match tickets, and you don’t have to miss out on the top games, thanks to the options and packages available right here at Zenseats.
But if you need some further inspiration, ahead of organising your next thrilling Premier League experience, let’s take a trip down memory lane and enjoy some of the most iconic Premier League moments of all time.
1992 - Launching a whole new ball game
Looking all the way back to 1992, just after the seismic shift in English football gave birth to the newly founded Premier League, there was inevitably huge pride at Sky Sports having secured the live broadcast rights. In an era when people were getting satellite dishes fitted at their homes, they were greeted to the all-new coverage with an intriguing publicity campaign.
Although it might look rather cheesy nowadays, the original advert by Sky has become the stuff of legend, featuring the ‘Alive and Kicking’ soundtrack by Simple Minds.
While the fashions and haircuts might have changed over the last three decades, the sense of excitement shared by players and fans alike remains the same.
1993 – Farewell to Brian Clough
Manchester United won the inaugural 1992-93 Premier League campaign, as their legendary manager Alex Ferguson led his team into what became an era of absolute dominance. But spare a thought for supporters of Nottingham Forest, who finished rock bottom and suffered relegation under Brian Clough. This was little more than a decade on from their back-to-back European Cup triumphs.
One of the most iconic managers in English football history, Brian Clough was always a larger than life character with a unique personality. Watching him bid farewell to the game marked the end of an era, clearly fighting back the tears as he spoke, it was not just Nottingham Forest fans who were feeling the unavoidable lump in their throats.
1995 - Kung-Fu Cantona
The 25th January 1995 was a date that will forever live in Premier League infamy. Eric Cantona was red-carded for kicking Crystal Palace defender Richard Shaw - although that was only the beginning of a remarkable incident. As the Frenchman trudged off the pitch at Selhurst Park, one confrontational fan emerged from the crowd to hurl racial and verbal abuse.
Cantona promptly lost all self-control and launched himself at this individual, before being dragged away by the United kit man and stewards.
Cantona was fined £20,000 and banned from playing for nine months. Meanwhile the angry fan went on to attack one of the lawyers in court. Almost two decades later there’s no remorse from Cantona. “I did the kung-fu kick on the hooligan because these kind of people shouldn’t be at games,” he reflected.
1996 – Beckham from the halfway line
He was already a rising star at Old Trafford following an outstanding 1995-96 season, but on the opening day of the 1996-97 campaign, David Beckham quite literally shot himself to global superstardom. Eric Cantona and Denis Irwin had given Manchester United a healthy lead away at Wimbledon, although the young England midfielder saved the best for last.
Already in stoppage time and almost like a buzzer-beater in basketball, Beckham spotted Wimbledon keeper Neil Sullivan off his line and simply couldn’t resist.
Despite being just behind the halfway line, Beckham took one glance and launched his effort, sending a precision missile that dropped under the crossbar and into the back of the net. Perfection.
2004 – The Special One
Love him or loathe him, there’s nobody quite like Jose Mourinho in football management. This immediately became clear when the Portuguese coach rocked up at Stamford Bridge, having previously enjoyed phenomenal success with FC Porto. This included back-to-back continental triumphs, winning the UEFA Cup in 2003 and the UEFA Champions League in 2004.
Mourinho was evidently proud of his accomplishments, when officially presented as Chelsea boss in July 2004.
“Please don’t call me arrogant because what I’m saying is true. I’m a European champion so I’m not one of the bottle. I think I’m a special one,” Mourinho told media, using the analogy of comparing a standard bottled beer to one from the tap. That iconic Premier League moment led to Mourinho earning the ‘Special One’ nickname.
2005 - Arsenal Invincibles
Many teams have become worthy Premier League champions over the years, but only one has managed to do so whilst also remaining unbeaten during the course of a whole campaign. Hats off to Arsenal for this achievement.
On their incredible march to the 2003-04 title, Arsenal were simply untouchable. They finished 11 points clear of Chelsea and 15 beyond the reach of reigning champions Manchester United in third place.
Led by Arsene Wenger, the Gunners just kept on going and secured their astonishing record on the final day of the season, beating Leicester City 2-1 at Highbury. Doing so earned the Arsenal ‘Invincibles’ team their thoroughly deserved place in the record books.
Aside from Preston North End, who were unbeaten during the inaugural 1889 Football League season, no other top-flight club in England has ever managed to accomplish this phenomenal feat.
2011 - Why Always Me?
Before there was Pep Guardiola leading the current reign of Premier League dominance, Manchester City were still considered to be the ‘noisy neighbours’ across town, according to Sir Alex Ferguson and Manchester United fans.
Nevertheless, that all changed when City thumped United 6-1 early in the 2011-12 campaign.
Often making headlines for all the wrong reasons, Mario Balotelli had previously set off some fireworks in his living room, putting him under the media spotlight yet again. “Why always me?” was the message displayed on a top under his City shirt after scoring the opening goal of that rout against United.
It’s an iconic moment that City fans will never forget, especially given the later significance of the result, beating United to the 2011-12 Premier League title on goal difference.
2016 - Andrea Bocelli serenades Leicester City
Just like the Spanish Inquisition sketch in Monty Python, nobody ever expected Leicester City to actually win the Premier League title. They were priced at a dismissive 5000/1 odds by the bookies heading into their 2015-16 campaign.
Yet as all the favourites continued to stutter and stumble, the Foxes maintained their amazing hunt, finishing the season 10 points clear at the top.
Following this most unlikely of title triumphs, manager Claudio Ranieri had one more Italian trick up his sleeve for the celebrations. None other than Andrea Bocelli serenaded the Leicester faithful, singing ‘Nessun Dorma’ to accompany the team as they lifted the trophy.
And you can’t ask for a more iconic and unique way to remember their success, having proven that anything is possible in the Premier League.
