English professional football (soccer) league established in 1992. The league, which comprises 20 clubs, superseded the first division of the Football League as the top level of football in England. Each year the bottom three clubs of the Premier League are relegated (dropped), and the top three finishers of first division teams of the Football League are promoted to the Premier League. The league was formed by the first division clubs following the 1991–92 season in order to maximize the economic potential of English football. The new league quickly improved the comfort and safety of stadiums, signed lucrative broadcast and sponsorship deals, and began attracting many of the world's top players and managers. In 1998 Scotland established its own premier league.