Since its inception in 1992, the English Premier League has grown
into one of football's most compelling and commercially successful
domestic competitions.
To celebrate two decades
of top-level soccer, the finest players and managers to have graced the
competition have been honored at this week's "20 Seasons Awards."
The big winners were Manchester United, the team which dominated the era by collecting 12 championships.
United's veteran Welsh
midfielder Ryan Giggs was named top player, having featured in every
Premier League season and scoring 107 goals
Did Manchester City win the league - or did United lose it?
United's legendary Scottish manager Alex Ferguson was also honored, having like Giggs been part of all 12 title triumphs.
"Being named as the best
player in the 20 seasons of the Premier League is a tremendous honor for
me," Giggs, 38, told the league's official website, "and very humbling
when you consider some of the brilliant players who were nominated
alongside me."
There was also an award
for the Old Trafford team's star striker Wayne Rooney, who received the
"Goal of 20 Seasons" gong for his stunning overhead kick against
archrivals Manchester City in February 2011.
United's 4-3 defeat of
neighbors City in September 2009, which included a winning goal from
striker Michael Owen in stoppage time, was voted the finest Premier
League match.
But despite United's dominance, Arsenal's championship-winning side of the 2003-04 season took home the Best Team prize.
Known as "The Invincibles," the London club is the only team to remain unbeaten throughout an entire Premier League campaign.
The full list of award
winners feature in the gallery above. Do you agree with the judges'
choices? Have your say in the comments section at the bottom of this
page. Continue Reading
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