Beyond Leicester City and Premier League: Understanding English football's pyramid

           The unlikely emergence of Leicester because the champions in European country has forced several soccer fans round the globe to take a seat up and raise – what number additional groups area unit there which may challenge the standard heavyweights?

There don't seem to be several.

In fact, the Foxes themselves survived the Premier League cut the previous season. A gritty rear-guard action in 2014-15, during which they won 3 and thespian one in every of the 5 matches within the final stretch.
That alone created the Leicester story an improbable one, considering however the large disbursement clubs elsewhere, notably clubs from London and Manchester – have reduced the league to a procession of expensive stars.


Credit ought to incline to the slick, previous fox in Claudio Ranieri, and a hosts of self-assuring players. The 64-year-old's arrival at the King Power arena publicised a replacement amount in English soccer. Now, alternative clubs are galvanized by the Leicester story.

The former Chelsea manager agreeing to Leicester was 1st seen as a mere wedding of convenience between a fledgling, relegation fighting team and a on the face of it inapplicable manager. But, very little did we all know that they were plotting probably the most important coup in soccer.

For the promoted facet, avoiding relegation was their sole target. But now, they're wholly in Associate in Nursing altogether completely different league, among the league and conjointly on the far side. they'll contend with the most important clubs in Europe, within the behemoth known as UEFA Champions League, and conjointly fighting to stay the domestic league title.
Their success conjointly tells another story, that of plangency in EPL. only a few leagues will boast of Associate in Nursing outsider difficult for the title, in addition to winning it.

A similar story unfolded  in English soccer in late 1970's with Nottingham Forest winning the league simply once the promotion, and thenceforth doing the impossible — by not solely winning the continental title, however defensive it with success.

That unbelievable story will currently be relived with award winning documentary "I believe Miracles". A poignant tale retold, simply within the good moment of your time once Leicester were making their own miracle. And Brian Clough was no normal coach. thus is Ranieri.

Stories of however these clubs rose through the ranks and managed to form magic area unit so astonishing. except for several folks, understanding the leagues during which they operate, the promotions and relegations to follow, need some effort.

Like a swimmingly functioned 'pymarid' of any chain, 'competitions' in European country has several layers, albeit Associate in Nursing perforated one. each season, clubs go pass these several layers through a collective and generalised system known as 'promotion and relegation'.

Here's a short guide thereto pyramid, through that Leicester emerged because the champions of European country. For our own comfort, this write-up can specialize in the highest six placeable levels. Yes, there area unit more levels – however not essentially all of them competitory on the national level.

Level 1: Sitting at high of the heap is maybe the foremost well-liked league within the world — the Premier League. it's twenty clubs participating each season, with the team with most points once thirty eight games turning into the champions of European country. the highest four groups sometimes represent European country and Wales within the Champions League. And bottom 3 area unit relegated.

It's typically thought of a complete tier with promotions returning from the Championship of the League. There area unit 3 levels or leagues within the second tier.

Level 2: The League Championship has twenty four four groups competitory, with high 2 clubs at the top of the season mechanically obtaining promoted to the Premier League, and next four contend within the playoffs. The winner from the play-offs gain the third promotion spot. the lowest 3 clubs area unit relegated to the League One.
Level 3: League One has twenty four clubs competitory in it. high 3 groups, once again, area unit mechanically promoted to the Championship, and next four contend in playoffs for the fourth promotion spot. the lowest four clubs area unit relegated to League 2.

Level 4: League 2 is analogous to League One, except that 2 groups area unit relegated, not four.

The third tier is National League, erst the Conference National. it is also all-time low nation-wide league system in European country.

Level 5: National League is that the highest level of the National League System. not like the Premier League and also the leagues united, solely the champions area unit promoted mechanically, with future four clubs competitory in playoffs for the second promotion spot. the lowest four clubs area unit relegated to either North or South division.

Level 6: It includes of 2 divisions — National League North and National League South. Running in parallel with twenty two groups every, the extent sixth of English soccer have the champions obtaining mechanically promoted. Next four groups from every division contend in playoffs, and also the winners get second promotion spots. every of the lowest 3 groups in every division is relegated to either Northern Premier League, Southern League or land League.

Level 7: Northern Premier League Premier, Southern conference Premier and land League Premier area unit the 3 divisions running in parallel within the seventh level. twenty four groups every contend in these leagues. The champions get automatic promotion. future four groups contend in playoffs, with winners obtaining the second promotion spot. the lowest four clubs from every division area unit relegated to tier eight division.

With 2 or additional divisions running parallel, the promotion and relegation get typically confusing for people who don't seem to be into the system. that is the nature of soccer at its home, wherever each borough, each section features a viable and self-sufficient club.

Besides the leagues, European country has 2 outstanding tournaments, solfa syllable Cup and League Cup, with groups from these varied tiers competitory for pride and recognition. These cups area unit for verity romantics of footballs, with smallest of clubs stunning, humbling the planet famed groups.

FA Cup is that the world’s oldest soccer tournament within the world with many clubs competitory in it. Manchester United won the most recent edition for a record sharing twelfth time, beating Crystal Palace within the final. The 2015-16 season had as several as 736 clubs vying for the celebrated trophy.

League Cup is additionally a knock-out tournament, however it's just for the ninety two clubs in high four tiers of English soccer. during this regard, solfa syllable Cup is additional complete and respectable, considering it's receptive any eligible club all the way down to level ten.

Comments