Ranked: The 12 best seasons after earning Premier League promotion - so how will Leeds United fare?

There have been so amazing success stories since the Premier League began

12) Birmingham City, 2009-10, Ninth, 50 points. Birmingham were two places – but 13 points – off a Europa League place after returning to the Premier League with Alex McLeish at the helm. Getty

10=) Manchester City, 2002-03, Ninth, 51 points. Amazing to think now that a ninth-placed finish represented an achievement for City. Kevin Keegan had taken over Joe Royle’s relegated side the previous season, brought them up as champions, and promptly signed the likes of Peter Schmeichel, Nicolas Anelka and Sylvain Distin to bolster their place in the top tier. Getty

10=) Middlesbrough, 1998-99, Ninth, 51 points. Ninth might seem unspectacular, when set against the feats of some of the other efforts in this list, but Middlesbrough were the only one of the promoted clubs this season to avoid going straight back down. Allsport

9) Charlton Athletic, 2000-01, Ninth, 52 points. Alan Curbishley’s side had bounced straight back up after their relegation two seasons earlier, and acquitted themselves well on their return. Mid-table was a decent enough finish, and South African striker Shaun Bartlett volleyed the Premier League’s goal of the season. Allsport

8) West Ham United, 2005-06, Ninth, 55 points. The Hammers’ return to the Premier League was solid enough, but it was overshadowed by their run to the FA Cup final, where they were beaten on penalties by Liverpool after Steven Gerrard’s dramatic late equaliser. Getty

7) Reading, 2006-07, Eighth, 55 points. Never before in their history had Reading played in the top flight of English football. They took to it straight away, finishing a creditable eighth under the stewardship of chairman John Madejski and manager Steve Coppell. Getty

6) Wolverhampton Wanderers, 2018-19, Seventh, 57 points. Nuno Espirito Santo gave Wolves supporters reason to believe when he guided them to the title in the Championship in his first season. He delivered in his second, too, overseeing a campaign that saw them finished seventh and reach the FA Cup semi-final. Getty

5) Sunderland, 1999-2000, Seventh, 58 points. The Black Cats might have just missed out on a place in Europe, having been in contention all season. But at least striker Kevin Phillips got some continental recognition, as he won the European Golden Shoe after scoring 30 goals. Allsport

4) Ipswich Town, 2000-01, Fifth, 66 points. George Burley was named manager of the year for guiding a side who had a limited budget, and been among the relegation favourites, to fifth in the table and a place in Europe. Theirs is the highest points total of a promoted side since the division was trimmed to 20 teams. Allsport

3) Blackburn Rovers, 1992-93, Fourth, 71 points. Back in the top division for the first time in nearly 30 years, Blackburn just missed out on a place in the Uefa Cup. Two seasons later, they were champions. Shutterstock

1=) Nottingham Forest, 1994-95, Third, 77 points. Forest had been relegated at the end of the first Premier League season, two years earlier, marking the end of Brian Clough’s storied time at the club. They rebounded immediately under Frank Clark, and finished third upon their return. Quite a feat – although not even the best in their own club’s history after a promotion. Allsport

1=) Newcastle United, 1993-94, Third, 77 points. After coming up as champions of the First Division, Kevin Keegan’s side, with Andy Cole and Peter Beardsley at the tip of a free-scoring attacking line up, were dubbed “The Entertainers”. Only Blackburn Rovers and champions Manchester United finished above them. Allsport

Leeds United may have taken their time about returning to the Premier League, 16 years after they were relegated.

But, having had promotion back to the big time confirmed this week, optimism abounds among their supporters that they could be set to become a force again.

Pep Guardiola has termed their manager, Marcelo Bielsa, the best coach in the world. A trip to Elland Road is rarely a jolly day out for opposition players. And the club have long been regarded as slumbering giants.

How much can realistically be expected of them? Sheffield United and Wolverhampton Wanderers have shown in recent years that pushing for European places can be within the compass of newly-elevated sides.

But which promoted teams have performed best since the advent of the Premier League?

The best are in the gallery above, in reverse order. To see the next, just swipe.