On Saturday, Wolverhampton Wanderers will almost certainly confirm a title that's been theirs to lose since the middle of the season. They’ve been top from the end of October onwards and are on course to break the 100-point barrier. Their achievements have seen them spoken about as one of the Championship's best ever teams, and with this in mind, here are five of the division’s most impressive title winners from the last 20 years.
Fulham – 2000/01
Mohamed Al-Fayed took over Fulham in 1997 and promised they would reach the Premier League in four years. They did just that as Jean Tigana led a slick and stylish team to 101 points and the promised land. The Cottagers had a perfect balance of attacking potency and defensive steel, scoring the most goals in the division and conceding the fewest.
Lee Clark and Sean Davis gave them bite and energy in midfield, while Luis Boa Morte’s trickery created plenty of chances for the prolific strike partnership of Barry Hayles and Louis Saha. Steve Marlet, Edwin van der Sar and Steed Malbranque arrived over the summer and helped Fulham to shore up their place in the top flight.
Manchester City – 2001/02
Kevin Keegan was never noted for his tactical acumen but he was a fantastic motivator with an unshakeable belief in the value of entertaining football. After relegation under Joe Royle, he got Manchester City back to the Premier League at the first attempt with an unrivalled swagger. They scored more than 100 league goals, with the fleet-footed Darren Huckerby and cult hero Shaun Goater bagging more than 20 each.
Ali Benarbia was the team’s classy creative hub and youngsters Richard Dunne and Shaun Wright-Phillips showed great promise. City conceded more than any of the other top six but that was of no consequence when they battered in so many goals at the other end. Inspired by Nicolas Anelka’s arrival they finished ninth the following season.
Portsmouth – 2002/03
After Graham Rix was sacked in March 2002, Milan Mandaric turned to Harry Redknapp. He’d been at the club as Director of Football but was suddenly parachuted in as first team manager. Despite taking just two points from the last five games of the season to stumble over the line in 17th, Portsmouth were transformed by Redknapp’s transfer business. With the exception of Matty Taylor, he went for experience as Shaka Hislop, Steve Stone and Gianluca Festa arrived on the South Coast.
Paul Merson was the most significant addition. His skill and range of passing made Portsmouth an eye-catching proposition. Svetoslav Todorov enjoyed the best form of his career, scoring 26 goals, and a 5-0 win over Bradford on the final day rounded off a remarkable season. Some more canny signings kept their heads above water until the club’s Premier League dream eventually turned sour.
Reading – 2005/06
In contrast to the star-studded squads of Fulham, Portsmouth and Manchester City, Reading dominated the Championship with a rather more humble group of players. The Royals had finished seventh the season before and were confident of pushing on into the play-offs, but instead ended up breaking a second tier points record set by a Kevin Phillips-inspired Sunderland several years earlier.
After losing to Plymouth on the opening day, Steve Coppell’s side experienced defeat just once more that season as they went an unprecedented 33 games unbeaten. A solid and hardworking group, with an excellent team ethic, Steve Sidwell and Dave Kitson were amongst their best performers. Yet, above all else, it was a triumph of the collective. Many doubted that they’d be able to compete at the top level, but they sprung another surprise to finish eighth.
Leicester City – 2013-14
A decade on from losing their top-flight status, Leicester City made a glorious return under the idiosyncratic Nigel Pearson. It was his second spell at the club, having previously led them to the League One title, and they played fast-paced and effective football. The Foxes improved as the season wore on, losing just once after Christmas.
Within two years of winning promotion they became the most unexpected Premier League champions. Key components of that side like Kasper Schmeichel, Wes Morgan, Danny Drinkwater and Jamie Vardy were already in place at this point. The captivating Riyad Mahrez arrived from Le Havre for a paltry £400,000 midway through the season but Anthony Knockaert was arguably their outstanding individual.
