The Premier League’s most successful promoted sides ever

Promotion to the Premier League is supposed to be the final destination. Survival is the dream. Anything more is a bonus.

But a select few clubs didn’t just come up to make up the numbers. They arrived, ripped up the script, and went toe-to-toe with England’s elite.

This season, it’s Sunderland that’s setting the pace for the promoted sides, gaining 23 points already with only 14 games played. Given their history, you would not want to bet against the Black Cats making this list, again!

These are the promoted teams that didn’t just survive the Premier League, they conquered it.

5 – Sunderland (1999/2000)

While Sunderland have every chance to beat their own record, their original record from 1999/2000 Premier League campaign is good enough to put them fifth.

That Sunderland side was elite, winning the Championship with quite easy and bringing that form into the Premier League with their talisman and club legend, Kevin Phillips.

Phillips would go on to score 30 goals in the Premier League, winning the Golden Boot and helping Sunderland finish an extremely impressive 7th. They would only miss out on European qualification due to goal difference.

4 – Ipswich Town (2000/2001)

The Tractor Boys had a relatively poor return to the Premier League in 2024/25, going straight back down.

But Ipswich Town’s 2000/01 side was one of the best promoted sides in history. Marcus Stewart’s tally of 19 goals helped them finish fifth only a point behind third-placed Liverpool.

They managed to bring European football to Portman Road. However, it would end up being a step too far with Ipswich getting relegated the following season.

3 – Blackburn Rovers (1992/1993)

The first season of Premier League saw Blackburn Rovers return to the top-flight, and what an unbelievable return it was.

After gaining promotion, the Rovers appointed Liverpool legend, Kenny Dalglish in charge, and their rich owner, Jack Walker, signed Alan Shearer, as well.

As a result, the Riversiders absolutely shocked the division! If not for an injury to Shearer, they could have won the Premier League, too.

Ultimately, they had to settle for a fourth-placed finish, and would go on to finish runner-ups in the season after. Before, finally, winning the Premier League in 1995.

2 – Nottingham Forest (1994/95)

Talking about the 1994/95 Premier League season, it’s impossible not to mention Nottingham Forest’s miracle run after promotion.

Stan Collymore was at the heart of everything good (and bad) for Forest when they made a return to the top-flight.

Stan the Man slammed 22 goals helping Frank Clark’s side to a third-placed finish with 77 points. No team in the history of the Premier League has managed to earn more than this Forest side did.

This meant European football was well and truly back at the City Ground, but unfortunately, their trip in the Premier League was short-lived.

1 – Newcastle United (1993/94)

The best promoted team of all time has to be the 1993/94 Newcastle United side. They would go on to match the 77-point tally, the maximum earned by a promoted side, but they had a much better goal-difference, too.

Kevin Keegan was put in charge of the Magpies in February 1992 with the club on the brink of relegation to the third tier. But in only 18 months, he turned the tide on Tyneside.

He brought Newcastle to the top-flight helping them finish third with 82 goals scored, most by any team, as per the Premier League.

That revolution was led by Andy Cole and Peter Beardsley, and paved the way for the most exciting time in Newcastle United’s history.