To the uninitiated, the world of club soccer can be intimidating. Where to start? What to watch? Which league to follow? For every person who tells you to stick to Spain’s La Liga, there is someone insisting that the best soccer is played in Italy’s Serie A.
It’s easy to be lured by the Champions League as it represents the best of the best, but its name is misleading. It’s not really a league at all, and its knockout format can produce some cagey, stifling affairs.
Major League Soccer is an obvious option for American viewers, but its quality falls well below the highest standards. When all options are weighed up, there is a very big case to be made for the English Premier League being the best league in the world. Here are 10 reasons why:
1. The Pace
Each of the major European leagues have their selling points, but the speed at which the game is played in England is one of its distinguishing factors. The pace of the average game in the Premier League is such that newcomers from abroad, no matter how much they may have achieved in other leagues, are treated with skepticism until they can prove their ability to play at the tempo required. Once you get used to the speed as a viewer, it is hard to go back to anything else.
2. The Physicality
An even greater challenge for many foreign players adapting to life in the Premier League is the sheer physicality of the game. The English game is known for its “blood and thunder” mentality, and although the league is now dominated by foreign talent, the brutal physical competition remains a trademark of the league. It is not a place for the feint of heart or the fragile of bone.
3. The Wealth of International Talent
One of the most alluring things about the Premier League is that it is full of some of the most exciting talent from around the world. South America, Africa, and Europe are all well represented by some of the best players currently playing the game. Many argue that this comes at the cost of local youth development in England, but there are plenty of young English players holding their own alongside the international talent, and the diversity only elevates the quality of the teams and adds to the entertainment.
4. The Fans
English soccer fans are known for their passion. There are people who are virtually married to the teams they support, and there are so many rousing songs that ring out around the grounds and create a dramatic, and sometimes even moving, atmosphere at Premier League games each week, that it’s hard to deny the impact of the match-going public. There may be a history of dark episodes associated with the English game, but make no mistake—the true fans are among the best in the world.
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