Premier League Clubs at a Glance

(AP) -- A glance at the 20 Premier League clubs with the league opening play Aug. 17.

Arsenal

nickname -- The Gunners

stadium -- Highbury (capacity 38,500)

manager -- Arsene Wenger (since September 1996)

honors -- defending champion (12 times), defending FA Cup champion (eight times), League Cup twice (last 1993). Cup Winners Cup once (1994), European Fairs Cup once (1970).

last season -- champion and FA Cup winner

new players -- Gilberto Silva (Atletico Mineiro), Pascal Cygan (Lille), Fabian Carini (Juventus)

departed players -- Richard Wright (Everton), Graham Stack (Beveren), Alex Manninger (Espanyol), Rohan Ricketts (Tottenham), David Grondin (Caen), Lee Dixon (released), Gilles Grimandi (released)

prospects -- Likely to hold off Man U and win title again.

Aston Villa

nickname -- The Villains

stadium -- Villa Park (39,000)

manager -- Graham Taylor (since May 2002)

honors -- league champion seven times (last in 1981), FA Cup seven times (last in 1957), League Cup five times (last in 1996), Champions Cup (1982), world club champion (1982), European Super Cup (1983).

last season -- eighth

new players -- Marcus Allback (Heerenveen), Stefan Postma (De Graafschap), Michael Boulding (Grimsby), Ulises de la Cruz (Hibernian), Lee Grant (York City).

departed players -- Paul Merson (Portsmouth), Dion Dublin (Millwall), Peter Schmeichel (Man City)

prospects -- Needed to spend bigger, will stay outside top six.

Birmingham City

nickname -- The Blues

stadium -- St. Andrews (30,000)

manager -- Steve Bruce (Decemeber 2001)

honors --

last season -- promoted from division one through playoffs

new players -- Clinton Morrison (Crystal Palace), David Holdsworth (Walsall), Peter Atherton (Bradford City), Robbie Savage (Leicester City), Aliou Cisse (Montpellier), Kenny Cunningham (Wimbledon), Paul Devlin (Sheffield Utd), Andrew Johnson (Crystal Palace)

departed players -- Danny Sonner (Walsall), Dele Adebola (Oldham Athletic), Andrew Johnson (Crystal Palace)

prospects --Strong candidates for relegation.

Blackburn Rovers

nickname -- Rovers

stadium -- Ewood Park (31,400)

manager -- Graeme Souness (since March 2000)

honors -- league champion three times (last in 1995), FA Cup six times (last in 1928).

last season -- 10th

new players -- Andy Todd (Chartlon Athletic), Marc Sebastian Pelzer (Kaiserslautern), Dwight Yorke (Manchester United)

departed players -- Mark Hughes (released), James Thomas (Swansea), Simon Grayson (released), Corrado Grabbi (Messina)

prospects -- Could finish in top seven.

Bolton Wanderers

nickname -- The Trotters

stadium -- Reebok Stadium (28,000)

manager -- Sam Allardyce (since October 1999)

honors -- FA Cup four times (last 1958), best in league third place in 1921 and '25.

last season -- 16th

new players -- Delroy Facey (Huddersfield), Jay-Jay Okocha (Paris St. Germain), Youri Djorkaeff (Kaiserslautern), Akin Bulent (Galatasaray), Bernard Mendy (Paris St. Germain), Sebastien Chabbert (Lens)

departed -- Henrik Pedersen (Silkeborg, loan), Jeff Cassar (released), Dean Holden (Charlton), Rod Wallace (Gillingham), Cleveland Taylor (Exeter City, loan), Paul Wheatcroft (released)

prospects -- Lots of new names but strong relegation favorite.

Charlton Athletic

nickname -- The Addicks

stadium -- The Valley (20,000)

manager -- Alan Curbishley (since June 1995)

honors -- FA Cup (1947), league runner up 1937

last season -- 14th

new players -- Gary Rowett (Leicester), Paul Rachubjka (Manchester United), Chris Bart-Williams (Nottingham Forest).

departed -- Andy Todd (Blackburn), Greg Shields (Kilmarnock), Sasa Ilic (released), Charlie MacDonald (released), Eddie Youds (Huddersfield), Lee Snodin (released), Dave Collis (released).

prospects -- Needs another good start, otherwise relegation material.

Chelsea

nickname -- The Blues

stadium -- Stamford Bridge (41,000)

manager -- Claudio Ranieri (since September 2000)

honors -- league champion (1955), FA Cup three times (last 2000), League Cup twice (last 1998), Cup Winners Cup twice (last 1998), European Super Cup (1999).

last season -- sixth (qualified for UEFA Cup)

new players -- Enrique De Lucas (Espanyol)

departed -- Leon Knight (Huddersfield), Gabriele Ambrosetti (Piacenza), Slavisa Jokanovic (released), Sam Dalla Bona (AC Milan)

prospects -- Debts will mean no big spending; top six at best.

Everton

nickname -- The Toffees

stadium -- Goodison Park (40,000)

manager -- Walter Smith (since July 1998)

honors -- league champion nine times (last 1987), FA Cup five times (last 1995), Cup Winners Cup (1985)

last season -- 15th

new players -- Richard Wright (Arsenal), Joseph Yobo (Olympique Marseille), Li Weifeng (Shenzen Pingan), Li Tie (Liaiong Bodao)

departed -- David Ginola (released), Jesper Blomqvist (released), Alec Cleland (released)

prospects -- Should climb to half way.

Fulham

nickname -- The Cottagers

stadium -- Craven Cottage (19,250)

manager -- Jean Tigana (since July 2000)

honors -- none (best league finish 10th in 1960), FA Cup runner up 1975.

last season -- 13th.

new players -- Facundo Sava (Gimnasia La Plata), Martin Herrera (Alaves), Junichi Inamoto (Gamba Osaka), Martin Djetou (Parma)

departed -- Marcus Hahnemann (released)

prospects -- Potential unfulfilled so could be surprise relegation struggler.

Leeds United

nickname -- The Whites

stadium -- Elland Road (40,200)

manager -- Terry Venables (since July 2002)

honors -- league champion three times (last 1992), FA Cup (1972), European Fairs Cup twice (last in 1971).

last season -- fifth (qualified for UEFA Cup)

new players -- None

departed -- Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), David Robertson (Montrose), Danny Hay (Walsall)

prospects -- Ferdinand gone so, despite Venables, won't trouble top three.

Liverpool

nickname -- The Reds

stadium -- Anfield (45,500)

manager -- Gerard Houllier (since July 1998)

honors -- league champion record 18 times (last 1990), FA Cup six times (last 2001), League Cup six times (last 2001), Champions Cup four times (last 1984), UEFA Cup three times (last 2001), European Super Cup (1977)

last season -- runner up (qualified for Champions Cup)

new players -- Alou Diarra (Bayern Munich), Bruno Cheyrou (Lille), El-Hadji Diouf (Lens), Salif Diao (Sedan), Patrice Luzi (Monaco)

departed -- Gary McAllister (Coventry), Jamie Redknapp (Tottenham), Frode Kippe (Lillestrom), Jorgen Nielsen (released), John Miles (released)

prospects -- Battling with Man United for runners up spot.

Manchester City

nickname -- The Blues

stadium -- Maine Road (34,996)

manager -- Kevin Keegan (since May 2001)

honors --

last season -- promoted as division one champion

new players -- Nicolas Anelka (Paris St. Germain), Sylvain Distin (Paris St. Germain), Marc Vivien Foe (Lyon), Vicente Matias Vuoso (Independiente), Mikkel Bischoff (FC Copenhagen),

departed -- Alione Toure (Paris St. Germain), Tyrone Mears (Preston), Terry Cooke (Grimsby), Richard Edghill (released)

prospects -- Chasing top eight finish, might get it.

Manchester United

nickname -- The Reds

stadium -- Old Trafford (69,000)

manager -- Alex Ferguson (since November 1986)

honors -- league champion 14 times (last 2001), FA Cup winner 10 times (last 1999), League Cup 1992, Champions Cup twice (last 1999), Cup Winners Cup (1991), World Club Cup (1999), European Super Cup (1991).

last season -- third place

new players -- Rio Ferdinand (Leeds), Luke Steele (Peterborough)

departed -- Dwight Yorke (Blackburn), Denis Irwin (Wolverhampton), Nick Culkin (Queen's Park Rangers), Ronnie Wallwork (West Bromwich Albion), Raimond van der Gouw (West Ham), Paul Rachubka (Charlton)

prospects -- Culd be frustrated by Arsenal again, another third place maybe.

Middlesbrough

nickname -- Boro

stadium -- The Riverside (35,000)

manager -- Steve McClaren (since June 2001)

honors -- none. best league position third in 1914, FA Cup runner up (1997), League Cup runner up twice (last 1998).

last season -- 12th

new players -- Massimo Maccarone (Empoli), Geremi (Real Madrid), Juninho (Atletico Madrid), Franck Queudrue (Lens).

departed -- Dean Gordon (Coventry), Anthony Ormerod (Scarborough), Robbie Mustoe (released), Paul Ince (released)

prospects -- Talented enough for top eight.

Newcastle United

nickname -- The Magpies

stadium -- St. James Park (52,000)

manager -- Bobby Robson (since September 1999)

honors -- league champion four times (last 1927), FA Cup six times (last 1955), European Fairs Cup (1969)

last season -- fourth

new players -- Hugo Viana (Sporting Lisbon), Titus Bramble (Ipswich)

departures -- James Coppinger (released)

prospects -- Might struggle to stay in top four.

Southampton

nickname -- The Saints

stadium -- St Mary's Stadium (32,000)

manager -- Gordon Strachan (since October 2001)

honors -- FA Cup winner 1976, league runner up 1984.

last season -- 11th

new players -- Michael Svensson (Troyes)

departed -- Dani Rodrigues (Walsall), Matt Le Tissier (released), Dan Petrescu (released), Stuart Ripley (released)

prospects -- Needs to keep Strachan-inspired momentum going but should avoid relegation battle.

Sunderland

nickname -- The Black Cats

stadium -- Stadium of Light (48,300)

manager -- Peter Reid (since March 1995)

honors -- league champion six times (last 1936), FA Cup twice (last 1973).

last season -- 17th

new players -- Thomas Myhre (Besiktas), Phil Babb (Sporting Lisbon), Sean Thornton (Tranmere).

departed -- None.

prospects --Involved in relegation fight again.

Tottenham Hotspur

nickname -- The Spurs

stadium -- White Hart Lane (36,000)

manager -- Glenn Hoddle (since March 2001)

honors -- league champion twice (last 1961), FA Cup winner eight times (last in 1991), League Cup three times (last in 1999), Cup Winners Cup (1963), UEFA Cup twice (last in 1984).

last season -- ninth

new players -- Jamie Redknapp (Liverpool), Milenko Acimovic (Red Star Belgrade), Jonathan Blondel (Royal Excelsior Mouscron), Rohan Ricketts (Arsenal)

departed -- Chris Armstrong (released), Ciaran Toner (Leyton Orient), Yannick Kamanan (Strasbourg)

prospects -- Still struggling to match past glories, 10th place finish at best.

West Bromwich Albion

nickname -- The Baggies

stadium -- The Hawthorns (26,000)

manager -- Gary Megson (since March 2000)

honors -- one league championship (1920), five FA Cups (last in 1968), one League Cup (1966).

last season -- promoted as division-one runner-up

new players -- Sean Gregan (Preston), Ronnie Wallwork (Manchester United), Joe Murphy (Tranmere)

departed -- Elliott Morris (Glentoran), Ruel Fox (released)

prospects -- Hot favorite to go straight back down.

West Ham United

nickname -- The Hammers

stadium -- Upton Park (26,000)

manager -- Glenn Roeder (since May 2001)

honors -- FA Cup winner three times (last in 1980), best league finish third 1986, Cup Winners Cup winner 1965.

last season -- seventh

new players -- Raimond van der Gouw (Manchester United), Youssef Sofiane (Auxerre), Gary Breen (free agent)

departures -- Rigobert Song (Lens), Hayden Foxe (Portsmouth), Shaka Hislop (Portsmough), Kesiana Metitri (Bristol City), Adam Newton (Peterborough), Steve Potts (released), Paul Kitson (released), Omer Riza (released), Michael Ferrante (released), Craig Forrest (retired), Gary Charles (retired)

prospects -- Should stay clear of relegation trouble.

 

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