Sunday 22 May 2016 16:30, UK
The 2014/15 Premier League season came to an end on May 24 – but some Premier League stars won't be getting much time off this summer.
The new season's Premier League fixtures have been announced as the excitement builds even at this early stage, and top flight bosses will be frantically planning to get their squads ready for the opening day in August 8.
For many of the top-flight's South American stars, it was a case of wrapping up the club campaign and then hastily jumping on a plane to join up with their international team-mates for the Copa America.
The tournament began on June 11 and runs until July 4, by which time most teams will be preparing to start pre-season and remarkably one Premier League side will have already played their first competitive match of the new term.
It is a similar story for those players competing in the European Under-21 Championship, that runs from June 17 until June 30.
So when exactly will your side kick-off their 2015/16 season?
July 2 - West Ham
The prize for the winners of the Premier League Fair Play League is a place in the Europa League first qualifying round and a nice, early start to the forthcoming campaign. That honour went to West Ham who pipped Liverpool to finish top of the Fair Play table, and they take on FC Lusitanos, with the first leg at Upton Park.
This will be the first competitive meeting between clubs from England and Andorra, and the Hammers are hot favourites to prevail; in eight previous European qualifiers, Lusitanos have drawn 1 and lost 7, scoring just four goals in receipt of 33.
July 30 - Southampton
Almost a month on and, providing they get through, West Ham will be joined by Southampton in the Europa League third qualifying round.
With Arsenal retaining the FA Cup, Southampton secured the Premier League's remaining Europa League spot entering here with the sixth-placed side bumped into the group phase.
August 1 - Chelsea and Arsenal
Traditionally the curtain-raiser for the new season, the Community Shield will be the first chance to see the Premier League champions Chelsea in action in 2015/16. They will, of course, play the FA Cup winners, meaning Arsenal will have the opportunity to pick up the season's first available silverware.
With overseas tours the norm for most top-flight clubs, Wembley will likely be the first glimpse fans have of their sides' new signings in the flesh.
August 8-10 - Everybody else
The date many fans will already have circled on their calendar. The league campaign gets under way in both the Premier League and the Football League.
Those fans not treated to an early start for European qualifiers can rejoice that two months without seeing their team in competitive action are over.
When will the top four start playing in the Champions League?
The top three in the Premier League will go straight into the Champions League group phase, beginning September 15 or 16. The fourth placed team, Manchester United, face a play-off with the first leg taking place on August 18 or 19.
When will Premier League sides start playing in the Europa League?
As already mentioned, for West Ham, the Europa League begins as early July 2 with Southampton entering at the third qualifying stage. Should they progress, they will be entered into the play-off round beginning on August 20, with the winners reaching the group stage. Tottenham and Liverpool will also come in at the group stage, which commences on September 17.
