The earliest Premier League title wins ever

It was on this day, April 14, back in 2001 that Manchester United claimed the earliest Premier League title win in history – and a record that still stands to this day nearly two decades later.

In honour of that achievement, we’ve taken a trip down memory lane to recount some of the earliest ever Premier League title wins.

Manchester United – April 14, 2000/01

As mentioned, it’s Manchester United who holds the record for the earliest ever Premier League title win, securing the 2000/2001 championship 19 years ago to the day on April 14, 2001, with five games to spare. Yet for an achievement that still stands the test of time today, it was not greeted with the fanfare it deserved, given Sir Alex Ferguson’s side were handed the title after second-placed Arsenal slipped up at home with defeat against Middlesbrough.

Manchester City – April 15, 2017/18

Up until just two years ago, United also held the record from that 2000/01 season for being the only club in Premier League history to win the title with five games to spare. That was until Pep Guardiola’s Manchester Man City matched them in the 2017-18 campaign when wrapping up the title on April 15, 2018, with five games left to play after United lost 1-0 at home to West Brom. City would go on to set multiple records that season including the record points, wins and goals tallies.

Manchester United – April 22, 1999/2000

United are, unsurprisingly, a regular feature of this list given their dominance of English football under Ferguson. In the 1999/2000 season, the Red Devils set a then-new record for the earliest ever Premier League title win on April 22, 2000 – a record they eclipsed by eight days a year later – after winning 3-1 away at Southampton. That was despite being knocked out of the Champions League by Real Madrid earlier in the week. The victory also saw United become the first team to win the title with four games to spare.

Manchester United – April 22, 2012/13

United matched their efforts from 1999/2000 13 years later in the 2012/13 campaign as they landed the title on April 22, 2013, again with four games left to play, in what was Ferguson’s final season at Old Trafford. This time, it was a 3-0 win against Aston Villa at home that sealed the triumph – after title rivals, City had been beaten by Tottenham a day earlier – in a game-best remembered for Robin van Persie’s stunning volley on route to winning the Premier League’s Golden Boot in his first season at the club. United are still waiting for their next title win.

Arsenal – April 25, 2003/04

Our final entry on this list is arguably the most memorable way a club has clinched the Premier League title – at the home of their arch-rivals. That is exactly what happened on April 25, 2004, as Arsenal secured the 2003/04 title at White Hart Lane against Tottenham with four games to spare. The Gunners were unable to prevent the home side from coming from behind to seal a 2-2 draw but that didn’t stop Arsenal Wenger’s men from celebrating wildly on the White Hart Lane pitch at full-time, with the north London side going on to finish the Premier League season unbeaten – an achievement still unmatched today.

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