BACK WHEN the Premier League began, it wasn't uncommon for a professional football club's young players to concentrate just as much on how they cleaned a dressing room as they did doing a Cruyff turn.

SUNDERLAND DEFENDER John O’Shea is one of the Premier League's most versatile players. Before signing for the ‘Black Cats’ he played in virtually every position for Manchester United, winning a host of honours along the way. An established Republic of Ireland International looking forward to the 2012 European Championships, he exclusively explains to football4football the sacrifices he had to make as a young player on the road to becoming a professional.

THE PREMIER LEAGUE is the most entertaining as a product, that football has to offer on a regularly. Football's top stars all vie for the attention of the heads of the 20 member clubs. It wasn't so long ago that English football had to re-vamp its offering to cement its long-term future. The lure of the lira made Italy the place of choice for the game's big names. Lucrative television and media deals mean the Premier League can compete with any when it comes to profile, status and money.