Manchester City has the chance of an unprecedented quadruple – GAME OF THE PEOPLE

ONLY FIVE clubs have achieved a hat-trick of league titles in England: Huddersfield (1923-26); Arsenal (1932-1935); Liverpool (1981-84); Manchester United (1998-2001); and Manchester City (2020-23). City could make it four in a row this season, underscoring their era of dominance and the merits of Guardiola’s system. They’re not the Harlem Globetrotters or dodgy ball artists, they’re definitely a team. Above all, their success was a triumph of a system.

All the teams mentioned above have one thing in common; they are led by coaches who are either innovators or great managers or very insightful team-building advocates. Herbert Chapman, Bob Paisley (via Bill Shankly), Alex Ferguson and Pep Guardiola. Add Matt Busby to that quartet and you have a collection of managers who have shaped English football.

Huddersfield Town’s moment in the sun the last three seasons, in which they completed the first hat-trick of titles. Others had come close before them, such as Liverpool, who had won the league in 1921–22 and 1922–23, and both Preston North End (1891) and Sunderland (1894) had finished runners-up after back-to-back titles. Most teams have historically had a peak of around two or three years, so it’s not a huge surprise that completing a hat-trick is such a monumental task.

Huddersfield’s margin of success has been narrow – in their three title campaigns, the average difference between top and second was 2.33 points. Their win rate was 53%, the smallest of the five hats. Moreover, 48% of their victories were by one goal (1-0, 2-1, 3-2, etc.). Their main competitors during this period were West Bromwich Albion, Sunderland and Bolton Wanderers, although the team leading them closest was Cardiff City, who were overtaken on goal average in 1924. Herbert Chapman was responsible for two of the three Huddersfield wins, after which he moved to Arsenal.

Unsurprisingly, given what we know of Chapman, his stint at Arsenal defined 1930s football in England. He led the Gunners to their first league title in 1931 and then in 1932-33, the club won their first hat-trick. Although Arsenal were stronger than their rivals, they did not run away with the championship. They averaged 3.6 points better than their rivals, but also scored 308 goals over three seasons. Chapman’s priority was defense and 38% of their wins were by one goal. Their win rate was 58% and in that three-year run, they recorded wins by six, seven and eight goals. Arsenal had no consistent rival, with eight other clubs finishing in the top four between 1932–33 and 1934–35. Chapman was responsible for the first hat-trick and in the middle of 1933-34, he died suddenly.

In the post-World War II environment, the most exciting team to emerge was Manchester United’s ‘Busby Babes’, who won the league in 1956 and 1957. Tragically, with a hat-trick of championships on the books, that team perished in the Munich snow in 1958.

Liverpool in the early 1980s he completed a treble during a golden era of success for the club. Between 1981-82 and 1983-84, Liverpool won three league titles, three Football League Cups and the European Cup. In the league, they won 57% of their games in that period and averaged six points between them and the runners-up. Two-thirds of their wins were by one or two goals. In addition to the hat-trick from 1981-84, Liverpool’s era of dominance in total included 10 league titles, two FA Cups, four League Cups, one UEFA Cup and four European Cups. It all ended in 1990 and the next club to preside over English football was Manchester United. However, in truth, Liverpool from the Shankly days to Kenny Dalglish’s exciting 1987-90 side were the closest thing to the idea of ​​a legendary football dynasty.

Alex Ferguson, who joined Manchester United in 1986, it took him a few years to shape his vision for the club, but he eventually broke through, aided by a host of talented young players. In 1993, United won the Premier League and then started winning trophies. There were many high places, but the 1998-99 season saw them with a treble of League, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League. It was the first of a three-year winning streak at the top of the Premier League. United’s title in 1999 was won by one point over Arsenal, but in the following two seasons they won by 18 and 10 points respectively. Their dominance only seemed to grow stronger. They lost just 12 league games in three years and their win rate was impressive 65%.

from Manchester City the rise to the top is well documented and people have contrasting views on the advantages the club has over its main rivals. City’s win rate between 2020-21 and 2022-23 was incredible 74% and have only lost 14 times in 114 games. They have also shown they can score goals (276 in 114) and also defend well (91 in 114). Equally impressive, over 40% of City’s wins have been by three or more goals. Pep Guardiola’s tenure began in 2016-17, but City’s first success came a year later. Manchester United finished as runners-up that season, but then Liverpool emerged as their main rivals. In 2022–23 and 2023–24, Arsenal took over as main rivals City.

And now, with the Premier League coming to a close in 2023-24, City could be champions for a fourth consecutive season, which would create another landmark. Arsenal are still in the running and will be until the final day of the campaign. However, as it stands, Manchester City in recent years – love them or hate them – will surely be remembered as the most ruthless winning machine in the modern game.

But there are important factors to consider. The most recent teams in this study, Manchester United and Manchester City, were representative of the era of corporate football. The financial stakes are huge today and these two clubs are part of an elite group that has far more money and influence than most of the competition. The gap between, say, Manchester City and most of the Premier League is now a gulf and looks set to widen. Therefore, it is easier for them to dominate their opponents than their predecessors. The numbers, while highlighting the qualities of some football teams, should also come with a caveat.

Published by Neil Fredrik Jensen

Game of the People was founded in 2012 and is ranked among the top 100 soccer websites by various sources. The site consistently wins awards for its work across a wide range of topics. View all posts by Neil Fredrik Jensen