The Story of a Premiership Season

Close Season 2001

Manchester City sack Joe Royle after three years in the job. A row then ensues as to whether he is entitled to compensation as a Premier League manager or as the departing manager of a Nationwide League side. Three days later Kevin Keegan takes over at Maine Road. Royle then considers legal action against Manchester City over claims he ran the side like a pub team.
After four years Teddy Sheringham rejoins Tottenham on a free transfer from Manchester United.
Bryan Robson resigns after seven years as Middlesbrough manager.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s assistant, Steve McClaren, leaves to become Middlesbrough manager, on a five-year, £8 million deal.

An elite group of 24 Premiership referees is formed and their full-time earnings, from 2001–02, will be up to £70,000 per annum. Salaries will be based on a match-fee of £900 plus bonuses based on good performances.

Chelsea pay £11 million for West Ham’s Frank Lampard. Everton’s Francis Jeffers joins Arsenal for £10 million. The Gunners then spend £8.5 million Rangers’ Giovanni Van Bronckhorst.
Coventry’s Craig Bellamy joins Newcastle for £6.5 million and Emmanuel Petit leaves Barcelona for Chelsea, for £7.5 million.

Sol Campbell joins Arsenal on a Bosman, ‘free transfer’ and walks into Highbury commanding a huge salary, thought to be in excess of £100,000 a week.

Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt commit their futures to Old Trafford by signing six and five year contracts, respectively. Wes Brown follows suit by agreeing a four-year deal.

Southampton break their club record in signing Derby’s Rory Delap for £4 million.

Juan Sebastian Veron’s £28.5 million from Lazio takes Sir Alex Ferguson’s summer spending to £42 million while former United ’keeper Peter Schmeichel is Aston Villa’s new signing.

Junichi Inamoto joins Arsenal for £3.5 million, from Gamba Osaka, and becomes the first Japanese Premier League player.

Fabrizio Ravanelli joins Derby County, from Lazio.
Fulham sign Edwin van der Sar from Juventus for £7 million.
Laurent Robert joins Newcastle, from PSG, for £10 million.