As 2018 comes to an end, the Premier League prepares for its last season without a winter break.

From the 2019/20 season onwards, the Premier League will follow the steps of many of Europe’s other top football divisions, with the potential to help England to succeed in upcoming World Cups and European Championships.

Described as “a significant movement that will greatly benefit club and country”, the break will be split over two weeks in February, with 10 teams resting the first weekend and the remaining 10 sitting out the following weekend.

This is a move which has gained tremendous support in recent years, with almost half of players in national teams who play in 50 or more games a season admitting they felt as though they played “too many” fixtures, when questioned by the World Players’ Union.

Manchester City’s manager Pep Guardiola famously said the onslaught of Christmas fixtures was “killing” his players, while Mourinho stated last season that the continuous fixtures were affecting Premier League players’ chances in the Champions League.

Premier League Executive Chairman, Richard Scudamore said: “I think it’s good for English football”. Supporting the new addition to the football calendar, the FA’s Chief Executive, Martin Glenn, added: “It has been talked about for years and there has not been the climate of collaboration there is now. I think you will see England players better rested for Euro 2020 and hopefully we will see that in their performance and continued improvement in the Champions League performance by English clubs.”