Big Six (Premier League)
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The Big Six is an informal term used to describe a group of six clubs in the Premier League—Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Tottenham Hotspur—often recognized for their sustained success and financial strength in the competition.[1][2] While not an official designation, clubs in this group have typically accounted for at least half of the total annual revenue generated by Premier League clubs since 2004.[3]
The concept first emerged in the 1980s as the Big Five, comprising Arsenal, Everton, Liverpool, Manchester United, and Tottenham Hotspur.[1] These clubs dominated between around 1982 and 1991. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, a duopoly formed between Manchester United and Arsenal due to their dominance in league titles.[4][5] This Big Two was the dominant force of English football from around 1997 and 2003. The term Big Four gained prominence in the early 2000s when Chelsea and Liverpool consistently finished in the league's top four, with the clubs dominating between 2004 and 2009.[4][6] By the early 2010s, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur were regularly competing at the top end of the table, leading to the informal expansion into the Big Six.[7][8] The Big Six would dominate the Premier League from 2010 to 2022.
History
[edit]| Season | ARS | CHE | LIV | MCI | MUN | TOT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009–10 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 4 |
| 2010–11 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 5 |
| 2011–12 | 3 | 6 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| 2012–13 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| 2013–14 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 6 |
| 2014–15 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 5 |
| 2015–16 | 2 | 10 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 3 |
| 2016–17 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 2 |
| 2017–18 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 2018–19 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 4 |
| 2019–20 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| 2020–21 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 7 |
| 2021–22 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 4 |
| 2022–23 | 2 | 12 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 8 |
| 2023–24 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 5 |
| League champions Champions League Europa League Conference League | ||||||
Big Five (1981–1996)
[edit]In the 1980s, a Big Five—consisting of Manchester United, Liverpool, Everton, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur—emerged. Prior to this, there was no clear 'elite group' of English football. The clubs dominated major competitions in the 1980s. Three of the clubs (Arsenal, Everton and Liverpool) dominated the First Division title between 1982 and 1991.
In October 1990, the Big Five met to discuss the foundation of the Premier League, something which would eventually be founded in 1992.[9][10]
Big Two (1996–2003)
[edit]Manchester United finished first in five of the first seven seasons, and second in the other two. Following the appointment of Arsène Wenger as its head coach in 1996, Arsenal began to engage in higher levels of competitiveness with Manchester United, with the two clubs dominating the Premier League's top-two positions between 1998 and 2003. As a result, they were recognized as the Big Two of the Premier League by mainstream media.[11][4] Manchester United won five league titles (1999–2000, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2006–07, 2007–08), while Arsenal secured two (2001–02, 2003–04).[12] Arsenal's unbeaten 2003–04 season led to the nickname "The Invincibles," the only team to achieve this in the Premier League era.[13]
Liverpool began to challenge the Big Two from 2001, due to their "treble" win of the UEFA Cup, Football League Cup and FA Cup, along with its striker Michael Owen winning the Ballon d'Or the same year, in addition to the club finishing in the top six of the Premier League in the early 2000s consistently. However, the Big Two continued to dominate in the Premier League. The following year, Liverpool finished second, becoming the first club outside the Big Two since Newcastle United in 1997 to finish in the top two of the Premier League, though the Big Two would dominate the top two places once more the following season.
Big Four (2003–2009)
[edit]In 2003, Chelsea was bought by Russian businessman Roman Abramovich in 2003, something which guided the club to improved performances and higher recognition. That, alongside Liverpool's increasing success, eventually formed a Big Four with Arsenal and Manchester United. Between 2004 and 2009, the Big Four dominated the top four of the Premier League, with Everton in 2005 being the only occurrence of a club outside the Big Four finishing in the top four during that time. From 2005 to 2012, the Big Four clubs appeared in seven of eight Champions League finals, with Liverpool, Manchester United, and Chelsea each winning one title, while Arsenal finished as runners-up in 2006.[14]
Big Six (2009–present)
[edit]Following an acquisition by Abu Dhabi United Group and subsequent increase in spending funds, Manchester City started to purchase elite players and qualified for the UEFA Champions League in 2011, for the first time in its history as well as winning the Premier League title in the 2011–12 season.[11] Tottenham Hotspur, under the management of Harry Redknapp from 2009 to 2012, finished in 4th and 5th place consistently, leading to its addition to the Big Four with Manchester City to form the Big Six.[11]
The Big Six dominated the finishing places of the top four in the Premier League between 2010 and 2022, with the 2015–16 season being the only one without a top-four finish by a Big Six club, as it ended with Leicester City becoming the champions for first time.[15] In seasons between 2010 and 2024, there were twelve occurrences of a Big Six club not finishing in the top six, and between 2019 and 2024, there was one season in which the Big Six clubs finished in the top six of the league, shifting from the 2016–17 to 2019–20 seasons, when the Big Six occupied all top-six places.[15]
In 2021, the European Super League (ESL), a competition created with the purpose of replacing the UEFA Champions League, was founded, consisting of the Big Six and six other clubs from Europe's Big Five leagues.[16] After receiving backlash from the UK government, the Football Association and the Premier League, the Big Six clubs withdrew their memberships from the ESL and were fined a total of £22 million by the latter two organizations, in addition to being subjected to potential penalties including a 30-point deduction and a fine of £25 million for future attempts of joining a similar league.[17] An independent fan-led regulatory body was subsequently formed by the government, tasking Premier League clubs with handling a substantial portion of its funding.[18]
In 2022 and 2023, the Big Six clubs each generated an annual revenue between £372 million to £713 million.[19] In 2021, the Big Six clubs' average spending on transfers was £50.9 million, more than twice the amount spent by any other club in the league.[20] The Herald described them as clubs with "the biggest bank balances and the biggest fanbases".[21]
Rivalries
[edit]Multiple rivalries exist among the Big Six clubs. Arsenal's rivalries include Arsenal F.C.–Chelsea F.C. rivalry, Arsenal F.C.–Manchester City F.C. rivalry, Arsenal F.C.–Manchester United F.C. rivalry and Arsenal F.C.–Tottenham Hotspur F.C. rivalry, while Liverpool were described as their "allies", by the Guardian.[22] The rivalries of Chelsea with the others, in addition to that of Arsenal, include Chelsea F.C.–Liverpool F.C. rivalry and Chelsea F.C.–Tottenham Hotspur F.C. rivalry, while Liverpool's rivalries include Liverpool F.C.–Manchester City F.C. rivalry and Liverpool F.C.–Manchester United F.C. rivalry. Manchester City and Manchester United's rivalry, derived from the clubs being based in Manchester, was labelled the Manchester derby. Manchester City and Chelsea's rivalry emerged from the clubs' successes in the UEFA Champions League in the 2020s,[23] while Chelsea also shared a rivalry with Manchester United in the late 2010s.[24]
Honours
[edit]- As of 3 April 2025
Each club won the Premier League or First Division at least once, with Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United winning it more than ten times.[12] Arsenal and Manchester United won the FA Cup ten or more times,[25] while Liverpool won the UEFA Champions League/European Cup and the UEFA Europa League/European Cup titles the most among the Big Six.[26] The FA Community Shield was won by Manchester United on twenty or more occasions.[27]
| Club | Stadium | City | Manager | Honours | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| L1 | FA | LC | CS | EC | UC | US | WC | Total | ||||
| Arsenal | Emirates Stadium | London | Mikel Arteta | 13 | 14 | 2 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 46 |
| Chelsea | Stamford Bridge | London | Enzo Maresca | 6 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 30 |
| Liverpool | Anfield | Liverpool | Arne Slot | 19 | 8 | 10 | 16 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 67 |
| Manchester City | Etihad Stadium | Manchester | Pep Guardiola | 10 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 35 |
| Manchester United | Old Trafford | Manchester | Ruben Amorim | 20 | 13 | 6 | 21 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 66 |
| Tottenham Hotspur | Tottenham Hotspur Stadium | London | Ange Postecoglou | 2 | 8 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 23 |
References
[edit]- ^ a b Conn, David (19 April 2021). "Premier League's Big Six and Why They Want to Join a European Super League". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 15 March 2025. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
- ^ "Premier League: Have Games Between the Big Six Teams Become Boring?". BBC Sport. 31 January 2021. Archived from the original on 15 March 2025. Retrieved 11 March 2025.
- ^ Slater, Matt (30 September 2021). "The 'Challenging' State of Premier League Finances and How the Big Six Operate in a World of Their Own". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 15 March 2025. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
- ^ a b c White, Mark (2 May 2023). "The Big Six Era Is OVER, With a New Era Now Taking Its Place". FourFourTwo. Archived from the original on 15 March 2025. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
- ^ Mustapha, Ibrahim (11 August 2021). "'Big Six' Is No More, But Manchester City, United, Liverpool, And Chelsea Are Pulling Away Fast". TNT Sports. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
- ^ Potts, Michael (19 April 2021). "Who Are the Big Six in the Premier League?". Radio Times. Archived from the original on 9 March 2021. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
- ^ a b Kelly, Ryan (21 April 2021). "Who Are the Premier League 'Big Six'? Top English Clubs & Nickname Explained". Goal. Archived from the original on 15 March 2025. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
- ^ Whitehead, Jacob (4 March 2025). "Does the Premier League's 'Big Six' Still Exist (On and off the Pitch)?". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 15 March 2025. Retrieved 11 March 2025.
- ^ Bennetts, Julian (15 August 2017). "The Premier League at 25: How One Secret Dinner Changed Football Forever". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 15 March 2025. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
- ^ Conn, David (4 September 2013). "Greg Dyke Seems to Forget His Role in the Premier League's Formation". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 16 August 2017. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
- ^ a b c Walsh, Sean (24 January 2025). "The Age of the Premier League's 'Big Six' Is over – Man Utd & Tottenham's Incompetence Has Left Smaller but Smarter Clubs Dreaming of Europe and the Title". Goal. Archived from the original on 15 March 2025. Retrieved 11 March 2025.
- ^ a b "Premier League Winners: Full List of Previous Champions of English Football's Top Flight by Year". Sky Sports. 19 May 2024. Archived from the original on 25 December 2024. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
- ^ Platt, Oli (4 March 2021). "Arsenal Invincibles: How Wenger's 2003–04 Gunners Went a Season Without Defeat". Goal. Archived from the original on 11 March 2025. Retrieved 26 March 2025.
- ^ Mendola, Nicholas (11 March 2025). "List of UEFA Champions League Past Winners: Year-By-Year Results, Final Locations". NBC Sports. Archived from the original on 7 February 2025. Retrieved 26 March 2025.
- ^ a b O'Hanlon, Ryan (21 January 2025). "Five Reasons the Premier League's 'Big Six' Era Is Officially Dead". ESPN. Retrieved 11 March 2025.
- ^ Ouzia, Mark (19 April 2021). "European Super League Confirmed as Premier League 'Big Six' Clubs Join Breakaway Competition as Founders". Evening Standard. Archived from the original on 27 November 2024. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
- ^ Kleinman, Mark (10 June 2021). "European Super League: 'Big Six' Clubs to Pay £22m Settlement to Premier League over Failed Breakaway Plot". Sky Sports. Archived from the original on 15 March 2025. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
- ^ "Premier League's Big Six to Foot Majority of Bill for Independent Regulator". The New York Times. 24 February 2023. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 15 March 2025. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
- ^ Chadderton, Sam (17 April 2024). "Premier League PSR: Clubs Total of £1bn of Losses in 11 Charts". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 2 December 2024. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
- ^ Critchley, Mark (5 August 2022). "Premier League Remains Stacked in Favour of the Big Six Status Quo". The Independent. Archived from the original on 15 March 2025. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
- ^ Bryce, Liam (3 January 2025). "Are We Witnessing the End of Premier League's 'Big Six'?". The Herald. Archived from the original on 8 January 2025. Retrieved 11 March 2025.
- ^ Ames, Nick (20 December 2017). "A Brief Guide to ... The Still-Compelling Arsenal-Liverpool Rivalry". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 15 March 2025. Retrieved 11 March 2025.
- ^ Mallow, Max (24 January 2025). "Manchester City Vs. Chelsea: 5 Classic Matches". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on 25 January 2025. Retrieved 11 March 2025.
- ^ "Manchester United Vs Chelsea: A Rivalry That Will Not Die". The Independent. 3 April 2010. Archived from the original on 26 December 2017. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
- ^ Mendola, Nicholas (3 March 2025). "FA Cup History: List of FA Cup Winners, Finals and Who Has Won the Most FA Cups?". NBC Sports. Archived from the original on 15 March 2025. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
- ^ Friedman, Caleb (1 June 2019). "How Many English Teams Have Won the Champions League?". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on 16 August 2022. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
- ^ Wilson, Chris (10 August 2024). "Man City Vs Man Utd LIVE: Penalty Shootout Reaction in Community Shield". The Independent. Archived from the original on 12 August 2024. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
