Here are the photos from World Soccer Talk photographer Mark Shaiken:

When Crystal Palace began celebrating a return to the Premier League for the first time in eight years, it signaled that slightly depressive thought – a world without soccer. Only this summer brings an air of intrigue unlike previous off-seasons, triggered by a series of managerial changes at the three leading clubs.

Former Everton stalwart David Moyes has replaced the irreplaceable, Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United. During Moyes’ 11-year tenure at Goodison Park he was regularly praised for achieving results with a limited budget.

With a mega transfer kitty at a powerhouse outfit, his transfer moves will be magnified like never before. In fact, every decision the Scot makes will be dissected and debated incessantly.

Without a trophy at Everton it gives the club’s fans reason to be cautious, rather than embrace their new man immediately. Ferguson will leave behind a legacy that has little chance of being replicated, but Moyes has an opportunity to prolong it, all the while proving his credentials as a top manager.

It’s a fascinating situation for the illustrious club.

Just over 6km across town the Red Devils’ fierce neighbours and title challengers Manchester City also enter a new era.

The club’s Italian boss Roberto Mancini was given his marching orders, and if reports are true, Malaga manager Manuel Pellegrini will fill the vacant post. If it does happen, it is somewhat of a risky choice to employ a manager at such a powerful club without any experience in English football.

The club’s owner Sheikh Mansour could be drafting in the Chilean due to his success in the Champions League. The 59-year-old guided Villarreal to the last eight twice, and also took Malaga agonizingly close to the last four in this season’s competition.

If City allow the former Real Madrid boss the freedom to add more quality to the squad then he’ll have a strong chance of resurrecting their hopes in Europe, and domestically too.

Their London counterparts Chelsea look set to announce the return of Jose Mourinho, who spent almost three-and-a-half seasons at Stamford Bridge between 2004 and 2007. Affectionately known as “The Special One,” the Blues fans will be delighted to have the Portuguese tactician back in the dugout.

The 50-year-old masterminded the side’s first league triumph in 50 years in 2004-05, and repeated the dosage the next season. He won six trophies in three years for the Blues and is the club’s most successful manager. Whilst they reigned supreme on the domestic stage, capturing success in the Champions League could not be achieved.

Luis Garcia’s infamous “ghost goal” saw Chelsea bow out in the semi-finals and again two years later after some contentious referring, followed by a last-gasp stunner from Barcelona’s Andreas Iniesta that thwarted the manager’s hopes of delivering what the club so dearly craved.

For the man with a 67.03% winning ratio with the Blues, it is little surprise the club would welcome back the charismatic figure with open arms. Ever since Roman Abramovich’s takeover in June 2003, the west London team’s expectations rose astronomically.

With one of the most talented squads in world football, Mourinho will be spoilt for choice when he begins pre-season training. Although they missed out on arguably the world’s best striker Ramadel Falcao, one can still expect the club to continue splashing the cash, and in doing so give their manager the best opportunity to recapture their first title since 2009-10.

Three of the leading club’s will undergo a period of transformation this off-season – a truly unprecedented situation.

Thankfully it will alleviate some of that nostalgia we all suffer from in late May.

The revamped Wembley Stadium is once again flourishing as the hub of major football occasions. On Monday, the home of football will turn its attention to the most lucrative football match on the planet. It’s not the just-played Champions League Final. It’s the Championship playoff to decide which club will be promoted to the Premier League.

Watford and Crystal Palace will fight it out for a £90 million payout, and more importantly a coveted position among the Premier League elite. The Championship play-off final is a game that radiates drama and passion in volumes.

One way or another, there will be ecstasy and misery.

Watford could have secured automatic promotion on the final day of the season at home to Leeds United, but lost and Hull City took full advantage.

Finishing in third-place, the Hornets faced Leicester City in the two-legged tie, a team they defeated twice in the league this season. The manner in which they reached a spot at Wembley was attained in the most surreal circumstances.

Leicester midfielder Anthony Knockaert won a dubious penalty much to the dismay of the hostile Vicarage Road faithful. At 2-2 on aggregate the Foxes’ destiny seemed assured, only for ex-Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia to make an incredible double save. Astonishingly, within twenty seconds the home side booked their place in the play-off final when Troy Deeney thumped in a shot to send the crowd into hysterics.

That extraordinary finish made their upcoming opponent’s passage to Wembley seem subdued. Nonetheless it was achieved after Palace reversed a torrid run of form, after limping into the play-offs in fifth spot to face a red-hot Brighton and Hove Albion.

A first-leg goaless draw at Selhurst Park did little to alleviate the fears of a swift exit. Palace had just a solitary win from their past 11 games, their end-of-season capitulation almost saw them miss out on a play-offs spot completely.

Ian Holloway’s team travelled south to face a team that had gone 10 games unbeaten and hadn’t suffered defeat at home since January. Without the league’s top scorer Glenn Murray for the return leg, the omens looked heavily against the Eagles, only for Sir Alex Ferguson’s final signature Wilfried Zaha to score a fine brace.

It was the first time the prodigious winger had scored away from home since October, and just the second time since he confirmed a move to Manchester United in January.

Before Watford and Crystal Palace clash on Monday, who has a greater chance of establishing themselves in the top-flight, and avoiding the dreaded drop?

Watford will be severely tested by an imposed transfer embargo due to the financial misconduct of former owner Laurence Bassini, which will ban them from making any purchases over the summer. One could suggest the side will be under extreme duress to gain results in the first half of the campaign.

However, manager Gianfranco Zola managed West Ham United between 2008-2010, and after a rough start he is beginning to become a fine managerial prospect. His achievements with Watford have been remarkable for a club not expected to challenge for promotion.

The attacking flair of his playing days with Chelsea has been integrated into his squad, evident by the side’s league-high 85 goals this season. It could hold them in good stead for their first top-flight campaign since 2007, but tightening up a fragile defence will have to wait until the winter transfer market.

Whether the club are within reach of safety by January is anyone’s guess, and Zola could have his work cut out for him.

On the other hand, Palace have spent thirteen previous seasons in the top-flight – last time in 2004-05 – and have a parochial support desperate for stability. They will be buoyed by Holloway’s Premier League experience with Blackpool just two years ago. The 50-year-old is an astute boss, and having worked with limited resources before he will be the catalyst for setting the tone early on.

Losing Zaha will be a crushing blow, but the £15m from the deal, plus the play-off injection will allow them to strengthen the squad.

It’s glaringly obvious that Palace would have a much better opportunity of consolidating their standing in the top-flight, but don’t count out the tenacious Hertfordshire side.

When the likes of Swansea City can take the league by storm, there’s no reason why two Premier League hopefuls can’t make a lasting impact.

Editor’s note: For viewers in the United States, the game will be shown live on beIN SPORT at 9.55am ET on Monday, May 27 (Memorial Day).

Well before Swansea City secured a first major trophy in their 101-year history with a League Cup demolition of Bradford City, probing questions were raised about life after Brendan Rodgers.

Why people chose to fear the worst is curious when you consider the replacement’s football philosophy. “Sometimes the easiest thing in football is a simple five or eight yards, it can be the most effective.

A man synonymous for embarking on a mazy run made that tactical judgement – Michael Laudrup.

But the sentiment is precisely the same passing model Rodgers brought the club success with, and so it has proved under new management also. The club’s predecessor could not resist the greater challenges that lie ahead with Liverpool, prompting the Welsh outfit to draft in an esteemed figure of the game.

The former Juventus, Barcelona, Real Madrid and Ajax legend, for some, is the most technically gifted player to have ever graced a football pitch. On the surface it appeared a real coup, only heavy doubts lingered over a poor track record at both Getafe and Spartak Moscow.

One could argue much of the work Rodgers’ had done meant the Dane could experience a smooth transition into English football. But any astute football fan would be aware of the second year blues syndrome that has curtailed many teams over time.

The club lost arguably its two most important cogs, Scott Sinclair and Joe Allen in the summer.  Attacking midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson decided he wouldn’t extend an impressive loan spell, and the ‘transition’ for Laudrup became an increasingly fraught one.

For those who feared a struggle would incur, they need not worry, as the travelling party at Loftus Road were given a sneak preview into the club’s impressive campaign.  A 5-0 drubbing of Queens Park Rangers in front of a parochial support on the first day of the campaign is no mean feat, and much of the damaged stemmed from a tall Spaniard.

The Swans paid £2 million for Miguel Perez Cuesta – nicknamed Michu – from Rayo Vallecano and there was little fanfare, rather he was labelled a relative unknown. Even 15 goals in 37 appearances in the La Liga – making him the most prolific midfielder – failed to stir the English media. Two goals on his debut set the tone for an emphatic first-year in the division.

Power, technique an overt passion for the game saw him become an instant hit at the Liberty Stadium. His 21 goals from 40 appearances in all competitions – 17 in the league – have helped guide Swansea to remarkable heights.

Pablo Hernandez was another inspired signing from the new boss, who moved to the club from Valencia for a club record fee of £5.5 million.  The tricky winger started his Swansea career in blistering fashion, playing a significant role in the final third.  A divine assist for the first goal in the League Cup final epitomised the player’s ability, and vindicated Laudrup’s decision-making.

The final piece of the jigsaw is Jonathon de Guzman, who came on a season-long loan deal from Villarreal. Quick, pacey and strong on the ball, all hallmarks of an effective attacker, and the 25-year-old exemplified this type of play throughout the term.  Two goals in the cup final was just reward for the newly capped Netherlands international, and Swansea will be desperate to retain his services this summer.

Three direct replacements for the outgoing contingent and it’s blindingly obvious the new trio have been an upgrade.

Last season’s highly credible finish of 11th place will be trumped by a guaranteed finish of ninth, or even eighth — quite simply an amazing achievement.

European football will descend on the Liberty Stadium next season, and in doing so will reaffirm their standing as one of the league’s most confident outfits.