What is the Future of English Football?

Steven Gerrard in 2005

For a number of years the Premier League has been touted as the most entertaining football league in the World, but with the recent rise of La Liga and the decline of English dominance in Europe, where is English football heading? 

Over the years, the Premier League has been graced with footballs finest, with the likes of global superstars, Cristiano Ronaldo, Thierry Henry, David Beckham, helping to produce some of the greatest spectacles in World football.

At club level, England has dominated World football with Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea all succeeding in Europe's biggest club competition, the Champions League.

For the last six years, we have seen English sides reign supreme in Europe, with Liverpool winning the trophy in 2005 and the first all-English final in 2008 between Manchester United and Chelsea.

However, in recent seasons, the Spanish equivalent of the Premier League, La Liga has seen a massive growth in popularity following the re-emergence of giants Real Madrid and the growing supremacy of Barcelona.

La Liga has become a much more competitive and exciting league to watch with the arrivals of superstars like, Ronaldo and Kaka, giving it a new edge with easy on the eye football.

On the International front, Spain became the envy of the World after being crowned European Champions in 2008 and ending their years of hurt to win the World Cup in 2010.

Whilst Spanish football enjoys a renaissance, the sudden decline of English football could not have been more apparent than during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa as a troubled England side tumbled out during the knockout stages.

This was combined with the added disappointment that there were no English representatives in the Champions League final.

As English football dwindles on an International and club front the question must be asked what can be done to catch up to the excellence of Spanish football?

The FA appears to be dealing with the problem head on with new regulations in place this season to encourage home grown talent and transfer rules have been put in place to decrease foreign influence on the Premier League.

Whether these changes have a positive effect remains to be seen, but personally English football will reign supreme again!