Winning a league title is one of the hardest things to do in football. Winning the league title in Europe is one of the most grueling tasks for both manager and players involved. It takes a high level of consistency and mental strength, but most importantly every team needs an ‘X’ factor.
That ‘X’ factor is sometimes in the form of a signing who brings with him the ability to turn losing situations into 3 points by the end of the 90 minutes. The signing when you look back after looking back on a season was the missing piece of the puzzle.
These clubs would have never won the league without these leading lights in their teams. So here are 5 transfers that decided the title:
5) Eric Cantona – Manchester United
Manchester United would never have dominated the Premier League the way they did if Eric Cantona had not signed for the Red Devils. The charismatic Frenchman single-handedly changed the club’s fortunes and gave United their very first Premier League title.
He was signed from Leeds United after Sir Alex Ferguson failed to secure his primary signings. The nature of the transfer was also unusually swift. Leeds felt that Cantona’s erratic personality would cause a rift in the dressing room.
But the move backfired as Cantona lifted the performance of the complete team with his ability and skill. United were 10th in the Premier League before his introduction into the first team.
Cantona started to score regularly and also created several chances for his teammates. Cantona ended up with 9 goals in his 22 appearances that season as United ended up winning the title by a comfortable 10 points.
It was quite a turnaround for United after the precarious situation they found themselves in at the beginning of the season. Cantona went on to win another three Premier League titles and retired at the early age of 30.
4) Zlatan Ibrahimovic – Paris Saint-Germain
There is hardly any list of incredible feats where Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s name has not been included. The Swede has played for some of the biggest clubs in the world and has won a host of trophies.
After helping AC Milan win the Serie A title in 2011 and going close in 2012 he decided to make the big money switch to newly rich Paris Saint-Germain. Just like Manchester City PSG had a project in mind with the ultimate objective being European domination.
But their first priority was to win the Ligue 1 after Lyon had dominated in the 2000s. Although the French giants made several other signings it was very clear Zlatan was the key to their success in the league.
The Swede netted 30 goals in 34 appearances as PSG strolled to the title in 2013 finishing with 83 points 12 ahead of second-placed Marseille. For the next three years, there was only one team that would win the Ligue 1 title as Zlatan broke records in his last season with PSG before moving to Manchester United.
3) N’Golo Kante – Leicester City
There were many heroes during Leicester City’s fairytale season when the foxes won the title last season. Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy took top honors with the Algerian claiming the PFA player of the year award.
But they are now feeling the effect of losing their pocket dynamite Kante, after he swapped the blue of Leicester for the blue of Chelsea. Sir Alex Ferguson called him the best player of last season and his performances have justified the praise that has come his way.
He made the most interceptions last season and was the reason why they were so difficult to break down by opposition teams. He really did the work of two in that central midfield and allowed the likes of Vardy and Mahrez to express themselves in attack.
It’s still early days in the Premier League but you can already see the impact he’s had at Chelsea. The attacking side of his game is also on display and he showed his fleet footedness with an impressive goal against Manchester United.
2) Jens Lehmann – Arsenal
Arsenal’s unbeaten season is one of the most memorable seasons in English football. The team that managed to win the title that year did not lose a single game, a feat that had never been accomplished in the Premier League and probably never will be repeated.
Arsenal were still looking for a solid keeper to succeed David Seaman but their search was unsuccessful until 2003 when they brought in Jens Lehmann from Borussia Dortmund.
Although Arsenal were brilliant going forward, Jens Lehmann was crucial to ensuring Arsenal remained unbeaten that season. The Gunners had some big personalities in defense but Lehmann made several crucial and breathtaking saves during that campaign
Seaman might go down as Arsenal’s greatest ever keeper but if it wasn’t for Lehman the ‘Invincibles would have never happened. The importance of Lehmann in that team will never be downplayed by any Arsenal fan.
1) Robin Van Persie – Manchester United
Robin Van Persie gave Sir Alex Ferguson the perfect send off from management after he won Manchester United the Premier League title in the Scotsman’s last season. It was at the expense of Arsenal but the Dutchman won’t care since he’s walked away with a Premier League title to his name.
Sir Alex Ferguson lost the title in dramatic fashion the year before to arch rivals Manchester City thanks to one Sergio Aguero. He vowed to the club and the fans that United will never lose a title in the manner that they did.
Van Persie was unsettled at Arsenal after not having won silverware with the club. His best season was the one in 2011/12 and Alex Ferguson saw an opportunity and pounced. Given Arsenal’s financial situation at that particular moment in time, they reluctantly accepted the bid.
Van Persie ended up winning the Premier League and also finishing as top scorer. His link-up play with Wayne Rooney was very impressive and it’s safe to say he was arguably the reason United are 20 times champions
