#4 Sunderland 1999-2000
The Black Cats’ second season in the Premier League was far more successful than their first stint, which was during the 1996-1997 season where they finished 18th and were sent back to the First division. They went on to win the First Division title, winning the league by a massive margin of 18 points and returned to the Premier League.
However, this time around, they had manager Peter Reid in charge, and striker Kevin Philips up front, and the Black Cats went on to shock fans and critics alike.
They spent half of the season fighting in the top half of the table, beating Tottenham and Chelsea despite the Blues beating them in the first game of the season. However, a series of draws and losses changed what would have been Champions League football for the very first time and the Black Cats finished seven points of fifth placed, Chelsea.
On a positive note for Sunderland, stars who faltered the last time they were in the Premier League, shone this around. Kevin Philips won the Premier League and the European Golden Shoe, but Sunderland missed out on a sixth position finish on goal difference only.
