Leeds United’s long-suffering fans will presumably be feeling a little worse for wear this morning after their team were finally - finally! - promoted back to the Premier League on Friday night.After a 16-year absence from English football’s top flight, the Whites will make their long-awaited return at the start of next season.Marcelo Bielsa, the revered Argentine coach, is the man responsible for Leeds’ promotion and football fans can’t wait to see how him and his team fare in the Premier League next term.Leeds, who could be crowned champions this weekend if results go their way, were promoted after West Brom lost 2-1 at Huddersfield on Friday night.Videos posted on social media showed the players and fans celebrating a promotion that has been an awfully long time coming.Bielsa, meanwhile, was filmed celebrating with jubilant supporters outside his house.
Despite the fact Leeds were relegated back at the end of the 2003-04 season, they still sit comfortably in mid-table in the all-time Premier League table.
This remarkable statistic was brought to our attention by journalist Richard Jolly on Twitter, so we thought we’d check out the table in full.
We’ll just focus on the top 20, meaning the likes of Sheffield United, Burnley, Wolves, Watford and Norwich City miss the cut.
Remember, this is the all-time Premier League table (so, since 1992), not the all-time English football table, which would date back to the 1800s.
All stats are correct as of July 18, 2020.
20. West Brom (Points: 464)
The Baggies, who have yo-yoed between the Premier League and Championship in recent decades, have picked up seven more points than 21st-placed Stoke City.
19. Crystal Palace (Points: 471)
Crystal Palace have now spent seven consecutive seasons in the top-flight following their most-recent promotion in 2013.
18. Bolton (Points: 575)
Bolton were an established Premier League side between 2001-2012, but they’ve fallen on hard times in recent years and now find themselves all the way down in League Two.
17. Fulham (Points: 612)
Fulham were in the Premier League between 2001-2014 but have spent five of the past six seasons in the Championship.
16. Sunderland (Points: 618)
Another club who have plummeted down the leagues in recent years, it might be a while before Sunderland return to the top flight.
15. Middlesbrough (Points: 661)
Despite spending just one of the past 10 seasons in the Premier League, Middlesbrough sit a respectable 15th in the all-time table.
14. Leicester City (Points: 669)
Premier League champions in 2016, Leicester City have amassed most of their points over the past five campaigns.
13. Leeds United (Points: 692)
After a 16-season absence, they’re finally back. Leeds were regular top-four contenders between 1999-2002.
12. Blackburn Rovers (Points: 970)
Blackburn won the Premier League in 1995 but were relegated just four years later. They returned in 2001 but went down against in 2012 and haven’t returned since.
11. Southampton (Points: 974)
Southampton spent most of the 1990s and early 2000s clinging onto their Premier League status before they were finally relegated in 2005. The Saints returned to the top-flight in 2012.
10. West Ham (Points: 1135)
West Ham have suffered a couple of relegations during the Premier League era but will enter their ninth consecutive top-flight campaign next term after climbing to safety in recent weeks.
9. Aston Villa (Points: 1254)
Premier League ever-presents until their relegation in 2016, Aston Villa returned after a three-year absence in 2019 but are likely to go back down over the next couple of weeks.
8. Newcastle United (Points: 1315)
Newcastle United were Premier League title contenders in the mid-1990s but, despite their best efforts, were unable to land their hands on the coveted trophy.
7. Manchester City (Points: 1444)
The vast majority of Manchester City’s Premier League points have come over the past decade. Since their current owners took over in 2008, they’ve won four titles.
6. Everton (Points: 1473)
Although Everton have never finished higher than fourth in the Premier League era, the Toffees sit sixth largely because they’ve never lost their top-flight status.
5. Tottenham (Points: 1650)
Tottenham have been solid top-half finishers for most of the Premier League era, but they’ve come a lot closer to winning the title in recent seasons.
4. Liverpool (Points: 1942)
Liverpool finally won their maiden Premier League title this season. With Jurgen Klopp at the helm, it might not be much longer before they catch up with both Chelsea and Arsenal in the all-time table.
3. Chelsea (Points: 1994)
Five-time Premier League champions Chelsea’s fortunes were transformed when Roman Abramovich became the club’s owner in 2003.
2. Arsenal (Points: 2008)
The season that Leeds were relegated was also the last time Arsenal won the title.
1. Manchester United (Points: 2230)
But sitting top of the tree, with an astonishing 2230 points, it’s 13-time Premier League champions Manchester United.
The Red Devils have fallen on slightly hard times since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure in 2013 but they still sit comfortably ahead of every other team in the all-time Premier League table.
