Fever Pitch

By the end of the 1980s, Britain's Football League was in a dire state, with growing violence, bad press, and empty stadiums . England's highly viewed performance in the 1990 World Cup , however, proved the sport could still draw audiences…and revenue. This is the origin story of the Premier League-how Manchester United and other powerhouse clubs broke off to form their own entity, how a media mogul made a multi-million-dollar gamble to air the games, and how in its first year, this upstart league changed the national sport forever.

By the mid-1990s, the Premier League had grown in scope, attracting fans from across the globe. Manchester United remained the league's most powerful club, and to remain on top, it developed a group of young players who rose to the level of rockstars. Some, like David Beckham, were ready for the spotlight. Others, like Keith Gillespie, were not. See how the league's young guns handled becoming celebrities, fashionistas, gamblers, and trade-bait while still keeping their eyes on the ultimate prize: the league trophy.

In the late-1990s, Manchester United appeared unbeatable, as a club and as a brand. But the game was about to turn for the reigning champs. On the pitch, Arsenal, with its innovative new manager, Arsène Wenger, were suddenly a threat to take the trophy. And off the pitch, media tycoon Rupert Murdoch's efforts to buy Man United were making headlines. Firsthand accounts from star footballers and other key figures reveal the gripping locker room and boardroom battles of the Premier League's sixth and seventh seasons.

In the late-1990s, Manchester United appeared unbeatable, as a club and as a brand. But the game was about to turn for the reigning champs. On the pitch, Arsenal, with its innovative new manager, Arsène Wenger, were suddenly a threat to take the trophy. And off the pitch, media tycoon Rupert Murdoch's efforts to buy Man United were making headlines. Firsthand accounts from star footballers and other key figures reveal the gripping locker room and boardroom battles of the Premier League's sixth and seventh seasons.