'Super-coach' era in cash-laden English Premier LeagueADAM HOLT/REUTERSAwash with more cash and global appeal than ever before, the English Premier League is still struggling to lure or retain the elite players in world football like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Luis Suarez. A record injection of TV money, split evenly between England's 20 top-flight teams, is levelling out the Premier League and increasing competition. Chelsea started out as defending champions and favourites, and limped home in 10th place in the worst title defence seen in the Premier League. Leicester started out as a 5000-1 shot to win the Premier League and ended up romping home to finish 10 points clear, delivering one of the biggest underdog triumphs in any sport. Making John Stones the world's second most-expensive defender ever at NZ$65 million took City's spending to NZ$211 million, building on an already-strong squad that underperformed in the Premier League last season but reached the Champions League semi-finals.

Source: Stuff August 10, 2016 23:37 UTC