Were in League One (3rd tier) in 2008. Got promoted to the Championship in 2009, then the PL in 2014. Won the Premier League in 2016 at 5000/1 odds. The greatest story in sports history. Not just football. ALL sports. 5000/1.
Six consecutive years of decline. PL in 2017, Championship in 2018, League One in 2019. Netflix made a documentary about it. "Sunderland 'Til I Die" showed the human cost of relegation — lost jobs, lost identity, a city's heart broken.
Were in a Champions League semi-final in 2001. Financial mismanagement led to relegation in 2004. Spent 16 YEARS outside the Premier League. Dropped to League One. Bielsa brought them back in 2020. The Elland Road celebrations were 16 years of pain released in one night.
Won back-to-back European Cups in 1979-80 under Brian Clough. By 2005, they were in League One. Spent 23 years outside the top flight. Came back up under Steve Cooper in 2022. From European champions to third tier and back — only in English football.
Bought by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney for £2M. Were in the National League (5th tier). Got promoted to League Two in 2023, League One in 2024. The documentary, the investment, the ambition — it's a fairy tale with a Hollywood budget.