English Premier League 2015/2016 - 01. 08. 2016
In 2015/16 season, the Premier League experienced one of the biggest surprise in football history. Leicester City, the club that was almost relegated season before, became champions of England. Bookmakers gave 5,000–1 odds on them winning the title.
2014/15 champions Chelsea had nightmare start to the season. After 19 games, they were on 14th place, just 3 points ahead the relegation zone. José Mourinho was sacked in December. Under Guus Hiddink, The Blues played better. They recorded the longest unbeaten run in the season – 15 games and finished on 10th place.
In half of the season, Arsenal and Leicester had 39 points. City were third with 36 points. In the end of the season, it was battle between Tottenham and Leicester. Leicester became champions after 36th round. Tottenham only tied 2:2 against Chelsea. Eden Hazard´s equalizer in 83 minute ended the title battle.
Leicester finished season with 81 points, 10 points ahead second Arsenal. On the third place in the league table were Tottenham with 70 points. Manchester giants, City and United ended up 4th and 5th. Sixth Southampton qualified for Europa League group stage, seventh West Ham enters Europa League qualifying.
Newcastle, Norwich City and Aston Villa were relegated. Aston Villa recorded 19 winless matches in a row. In Norwich City vs Liverpool, teams scored 9 goals (4:5).
Top goals scorer of
the season was Harry Kane with 25 goals, followed by Sergio Agüero and Jamie
Vardy with 24 goals. Vardy broke Ruud van Nistelrooy's record. He scored in 11
consecutive matches. Petr Cech kept clean sheet in 16 games. Average attendance
were 36,451 spectators. Jamie Vardy was named Premier League Player of the
Season. Hull City, Burnley and Middlesbrough were promoted and will compete in
Premier League next season.
Transfer window
The biggest transfer of transfer window was for sure United´s Paul Pogba transfer for £89m. Both Manchester club were very potent. Besides Pogba, United signed Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Eric Bailly. City bought Everton´s center back John Stones for £47.5m. Midfielders Leroy Sane (£37m), Ilkay Gundogan (£21m) and strikers Nolito and Gabriel Jesus.
Chelsea´s new manager Antonio Conte made 2 signings so far. Marseille´s striker Michy Batshuayi for £33.2m and team of the year member midfielder N'Golo Kante for £32m. Arsenal fans are disappointed with club´s signings. £34m Granit Xhaka is the only mentionable Arsene Wenger´s acquisition.
Current champions bought Polish talent Bartosz Kapustka and striker Ahmed Musa. Liverpool signed Southampton´s striker Sadio Mane for £36m and Georginio Wijnaldum playing for Newcastle last season (£25m). Middlesbrough acquired goalkeepers Valdez and Guzan for free. Little surprise was signing Valencia´s striker Alvaro Negredo on year loan. West Ham signed Andre Ayew for £20.5m and Sofiane Feghouli for free. Tottenham bought AZ Alkmaar´s striker Vincent Janssen (£18.6m). Teams of Premier League could afford expensive signings thanks to the new TV rights deal, which increased their income.
