The race to promote the Premier League from the championship always allows catchy visualization, and the 2024/25 season was no different, with Leeds United, Burnley and Sheffield United fighting for the two best automatic spots.
The whites and Clarets succeeded in the regular season at the end, thanks to the two clubs reaching the 100 points bar. But who are the best championship teams in recent history?
In this list, we examine the teams with the highest levels of the second level point, because three points were awarded for a victory in 1981/82.
The highest second level points (since 1981/82) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Row | Team | Season | Points |
1 | By reading | 2005/06 | 106 |
2 | Sunderland | 1998/99 | 105 |
3 | Newcastle | 2009/10 | 102 |
4 | Leicester | 2013/14 | 102 |
5 | Fulham | 2000/01 | 101 |
6 | Burnley | 2022/23 | 101 |
7 | Leeds | 2024/25 | 100 |
8 | Burnley | 2024/25 | 100 |
9 | Man | 2001/02 | 99 |
10 | Chélat | 1988/89 | 99 |
11 | Wolves | 2017/18 | 99 |
12 | Portsmouth | 2002/03 | 98 |
12
Portsmouth (2002/03)
Portsmouth (2002/03)
98 points (GD +52)
Harry Redknapp guided Portsmouth in the Premier League in 2002/03, winning 29 of his 46 games. In fact, they lost only one of their first 15 games and scored just under 100 goals in the league, piping Leicester City by the title.
Svetoslav Todorov was Pompey’s top scorer that year with 26 goals in all competitions in a team that included Paul Merson, Yakubu and Eddie Howe.
11
Wolverhampton Wanderers (2017/18)
Wolverhampton Wanderers (2017/18)
99 points (GD +43)
More recently, Wolverhampton Wanderers stormed the Nuno Espirito Santo championship with a team that included high -level players. The tastes of Ruben Neves and Diogo Jota brought the Portuguese Flair to Molinine, while Conor Coady, Matt Doherty and Barry Douglas were regulars in the back with John Ruddy in order.
Wolves dominated the 15th week’s table at the conclusion of the season, winning 30, then qualified for European football in its first season in the Premier League.
10
Chelsea (1988/89)
Chelsea (1988/89)
99 points (GD +46)
Another team that has just missed three figures was Chelsea in 1988/89 under Bobby Campbell, and they would have taken this stage if it was not for such a slow start, which saw them pass without victory during their first six games.
However, the blues ended up losing only five second level games all season and boasted of a team who had the star striker Kerry Dixon, who scored 25 goals in the league. The biggest victory in this memorable campaign at Stamford Bridge was a 7-0 victory against Walsall.
9
Manchester City (2001/02)
Manchester City (2001/02)
99 points (GD +56)
The third and last team to miss 100 points was Manchester City under Kevin Keegan. The Sky Blues lost only at home and scored 108 incredible goals throughout the campaign, Shaun Goater and Darren Huckerby marking more than 20.
City would have had more points if it was not for their incoherent form on the road, with the Keegan team which could not pick up maximum points in 11 of their 23 games outside.
8
Burnley (2024/25)
Burnley (2024/25)
100 points (GD +53)
Burnley made championship campaigns consecutive in triple figures, with Scott Parker succeeded Vincent Kompany in 2024/25, while the former boss of Clarets went to Bayern Munich.
Although he finished second on the difference in goals, Burnley has lost only twice and has remarkably conceded 16 goals all the season, which erased the previous championship record of 30.
If only they had marked more often, they could have seen the Cousu league for themselves – the Lancashire team recorded 12 tireless prints throughout the campaign.
7
Leeds United (2024/25)
Leeds United (2024/25)
100 points (GD +65)
Returning to the Premier League to the second time under the request of Daniel Farke, Leeds United put the last disappointment of the qualifiers behind them by recording his best championship season to date.
The whites were only beaten four times and won their last six on the Spin at the front of Burnley in the Battle for silverware, their higher goals difference giving them a second six -seasle championship trophy.
In truth, Leeds could have ended up with a more impressive point count, because a shocking goalkeeper threatened to derail their hopes of promotion.
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6
Burnley (2022/23)
Burnley (2022/23)
101 points (GD +52)
Vincent Kompany had an instant impact as manager in England after taking over in Burnley after his relegation in 2022.
The former defender of Manchester City, who joined Anderlecht, transformed the team with a number of new signatures that helped bring the Clarets to the title before Sheffield United.
Burnley only lost three games in 46 and sealed the promotion with seven games to play, which remains a championship record. They then obtained the title with a 1-0 victory outside to compete Blackburn Rovers, with Nathan Tella, Manuel Benson and Jay Rodriguez all the or more objectives.
5
Fulham (2000/01)
Fulham (2000/01)
101 points (GD +58)
Fulham also finished 101 points at the start of the millennium under Jean Tigana. Things were promising in summer after not having conceded a pre-season goal and the chalets started as they wanted to continue, winning their first 11 championship games.
The promotion was almost sealed at Christmas when they were 10 clear points at the top and despite more defeats in the second half of the campaign, ended up winning the title comfortably in a team that included Steve Finnan, Chris Coleman and Louis Saha, who passed the score charts with 27 league goals.
4
Leicester City (2013/14)
Leicester City (2013/14)
102 points (GD +40)
Leicester City broke a number of club records under Nigel Pearson 10 years ago, with their total points, perhaps threatened on the side of Maresca, this time.
The Foxes won 31 games to beat Burnley on the title, losing only one of their last 26 games. Kasper Schmeichel, Wes Morgan, Danny Drinkwater, Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy all played their role in the second level before winning the title of Premier League two years later under Claudio Ranieri.
3
Newcastle United (2009/10)
Newcastle United (2009/10)
102 points (GD +55)
Newcastle United also ended with 102 points and won the title four years before under Chris Hughton, who was appointed permanent director until October after a promising start as a goalkeeper.
The Magpies will only lose once at the end of October until the end of the campaign, winning the title at Plymouth Argyle. Kevin Nolan and Andy Carroll both scored 17 championship goals that year, with Peter Lovenkrands and Shola Ameobi who also hit the double figures.
