The 2005–06 FA Premier League (known as the FA Barclays Premiership for sponsorship reasons) was the 14th season of the Premier League. It began on 13 August 2005, and concluded on 7 May 2006. The season saw Chelsea retain their title after defeating Manchester United 3–0 at Stamford Bridge towards the end of April. On the same day, West Bromwich Albion and Birmingham City were relegated, joining Sunderland in the Championship for the following season. Chelsea drew the record they set the previous season, with 29 wins in home and away campaigns.
Moment That Happens During The Season. Chelsea Win Back To Back Titles Under Mourinho. Manchester United Sign Vidic, Evra, Van Der Sar and Park. Liverpool won the FA Cup. Arsenal Edge Out Tottenham To Finish 4th. Sunderland's Lowest Points Total In Premier League History. Wigan finished 10th And West Ham finished in The Top Half.
Summary
Several clubs reported disappointing attendance and/or trouble selling out their grounds for the opening weeks' matches. Many have argued that this was due mainly to the comparatively early season start and the Ashes Test cricket series which caught the nation's imagination and which England went on to win. Other possible reasons are the continued escalation of ticket prices and the increasing number of games shown on television (which has had the knock-on effect of greater variation in kick-off times). The overall decline in attendance for the season was only around 2%. Still, that figure is reduced because bigger clubs were promoted into the Premiership than were relegated and several clubs have suffered larger falls.
For the second time in two seasons, José Mourinho's Chelsea triumphed in the Premier League, with a home win over closest rivals Manchester United confirming them as champions after a record-setting albeit tense season.
Chelsea's early season form with 14 wins out of 16 gave the champions an unequivocal head start. With Manchester United, Arsenal, and Liverpool falling way short of their expectations before Christmas, Chelsea had effectively become champions-elect by early 2006. However, a sudden collapse in form by mid-March caused their seemingly unassailable lead of 16 points to be cut to just 7 in two months due to the impressive late run of form of Manchester United, who went on a nine-match winning streak scoring over 20 goals. However, a shock home draw with bottom-of-the-table Sunderland at Old Trafford killed United's title hopes. The momentum was back with Chelsea who didn't need a second bite at the apple with wins over Bolton, Everton and finally Manchester United giving the west Londoners their second successive championship under Mourinho.