The EPL is undoubtedly the most popular football league in the world. It pulls over 700 million viewers every year, scattered across 200+ countries. The latest broadcast deal, signed in 2019, is worth over $11.3 billion. English football, to put it crudely, is big business.
So why is the Premier League so popular? La Liga long had the best players in Messi and Ronaldo. France boasts Mbappé and many other stars. Back in the 1990s, the Serie A ruled supreme, with its stylish allure and football greats like van Basten and Baggio.
Yet El Clásico doesn’t hold a candle to the energy of English derbies. Mbappé may be the favorite for the Ballon d’Or, but people turn on their televisions for Nottingham Forest vs. Manchester United.
The reason English football is so popular is the long-standing heritage, the rich history, and the passion and authenticity of the fans who stick with their clubs, whether they’re fighting for glory in the EPL or scrambling for points in the basement of League Two.
This energy that fans transpire, particularly during the storied local derbies, is something we can all relate to, whether you’re at the Emirates or Old Trafford, or watching on television thousands of miles away.
When it’s derby day, it doesn’t matter that Arsenal sits top of the league and Spurs are struggling for a top-four spot. When that whistle goes, it’s anyone’s game. Even if Everton is fearing relegation and Klopp’s men are top of the league (*cough*, not this season though), the atmosphere at Goodison is like nothing else.
London Derbies
What sets England apart is the sheer number of regional rivalries. In England, it goes hyper-local. London, for example, has a staggering 17 professional clubs. In the Premier League alone, you’ve got Arsenal, Brentford, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Fulham, Tottenham Hotspur, and West Ham United. Here are three of our favorite London derbies:
Spurs-Fulham
This may not be the most famous derby on this list, but we’re including it as an example of the derbies that don’t register with a lot of fans. Yet these London clubs do have a rivalry.
In the most recent edition, for example, things got a little bit spicy. Richarlison, the struggling recent signing from Everton, added to the hilarity by taking his shirt off during a celebration of a goal that was eventually ruled offside (we still don’t get why taking your shirt off is forbidden, but it made for some great banter on Twitter!).
Millwall-West Ham United
We told you. English rivalries go beyond the EPL. That passion lives, the atmosphere so electric that you’d think it’s the World Cup final. When it’s East London Derby Day, things can get a little ugly.
That’s because West Ham United considers Millwall its OG enemy. Not Spurs, not Arsenal, but lowly Millwall. That’s the power of historic beef. There were three pitch invasions and multiple fights during their last contest in 2009.
Arsenal-Spurs
We can’t be taken seriously when it comes to London derbies without mentioning the famed North London divide. Arsenal vs. Tottenham is a storied affair, often offering entertaining, high-octane contests with plenty of drama.
Let’s revisit Sol Cambell’s return to White Hart Lane after leaving Spurs for the Gooners, a match Ray Parlour describes as the scariest moment of his entire career. The hatred was palpable, with fans throwing all sorts of objects at the team bus before the match even started. The result, 1-1, was immaterial to the league standings, but English rivalries go beyond the scoreboard.
Newcastle United-Sunderland
It doesn’t matter that the Geordies are now amongst the richest clubs in the world. Or that Sunderland has been languishing outside the Premier League for several years.
This rivalry symbolizes the intensity of football in the north of England, where old-school blue-collar workers have long fiercely supported their respective teams. The Tyne-Wear derby is one of the most intense and goes back to the 19th century. The rivalry between the two sides can even be traced back three centuries, with historical animosity acting as the bedrock for the modern-day fight on the pitch.
Manchester United-Liverpool
Perhaps the greatest football rivalry in England, the North West Derby. It’s hotly contested, both teams are often found fighting for the league. The two most successful clubs are, English First Division, Premier League, FA Cup, European Cup, and Champions League; most years, these two clubs are among the favorites.
The rivalry is even felt amongst players, which is rare. Steven Gerrard, for instance, refuses to have United shirts in his house (from player swaps, including England teammates Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand!).
And this is just a selection, with fans of other clubs perhaps ready to email the editor about the absence of their clubs. Of course, there are many more epic rivalries. QPR vs. Chelsea, ManU vs. Leeds, or how Portvale vs. Stoke? You’ll find England has plenty to offer, whether it’s in the EPL or League Two.
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