<P> In 2007, the Premier League became the highest ranking European League based on the performances of English teams in European competitions over a five - year period . This broke the eight - year dominance of the Spanish league, La Liga . </P> <P> Between the 1992--93 and the 2016--17 seasons, Premier League clubs won the UEFA Champions League four times (and had five runners - up), behind Spain's La Liga with ten wins, and Italy's Serie A with five wins; ahead of, among others, Germany's Bundesliga with three wins . The FIFA Club World Cup (originally called the FIFA Club World Championship) has been won once by a Premier League club (Manchester United in 2008), with two runners - up (Liverpool in 2005, Chelsea in 2012), behind Spain's La Liga with five wins, Brazil's Brasileirão with four wins, and Italy's Serie A with two wins (see table here). </P> <P> A system of promotion and relegation exists between the Premier League and the EFL Championship . The three lowest placed teams in the Premier League are relegated to the Championship, and the top two teams from the Championship promoted to the Premier League, with an additional team promoted after a series of play - offs involving the third, fourth, fifth and sixth placed clubs . The Premier League had 22 teams when it began in 1992, but this was reduced to the present 20 - team format in 1995 . </P> <P> A total of 49 clubs have played in the Premier League from its inception in 1992, up to and including the 2017--18 season . </P>

Who has won premier league and champions league