Last 10 teams to have finished in the Premier League top 6, excluding the traditional 'Big 6'

The upper echelons of the Premier League has often been dominated by the traditional 'Big 6' football clubs, with the teams wielding resources far beyond the means of their rivals.

The monopoly has been broken several times in recent years however, as ambitious clubs close the gap on those who have dominated English football for decades.

Leeds United

At the turn of the century Leeds United were well established as one of the top football clubs in England, finishing in the Premier League top six for five consecutive seasons and qualifying for the UEFA Champions League in the 2000/01 campaign.

The Whites, led by Australian marksman Mark Viduka, finished fifth in 2002, two points ahead of Chelsea, before financial issues saw the Yorkshire club lose a number of their star players and suffer relegation to the second tier two years later.

Bolton Wanderers

Bolton Wanderers were promoted to the Premier League in 2001 and, under the management of Sam Allardyce, the Trotters hit new heights in the top tier.

They narrowly survived relegation back to the Championship for their first two campaigns before Allardyce, and his distinctive brand of physical and direct football, recorded four consecutive top 10 finishes.

Bolton managed a sixth placed finish in the 2004/05 season and enjoyed a UEFA Cup campaign, which saw the Trotters reach the Round of 32 stage.

Blackburn Rovers

Blackburn Rovers have spent 12 of their last 13 seasons hovering around in mid-table in the Championship, however before that period Rovers were Premier League stalwarts.

Kenny Dalglish famously led Blackburn to the Premier League title in the 1994/95 season, powered by the goal-scoring heroics of striker Alan Shearer, although the success wasn't to last with the club relegated just four years later.

The club eventually worked their way back to the top flight and managed a sixth placed finish in the 2005/06 campaign under the stewardship of Mark Hughes, before again suffering relegation in 2012.

Everton

Famously never relegated from the Premier League, Everton enjoyed success from the mid-2000's which saw them quality for the UEFA Champions League once and secure European football for three consecutive season shortly afterwards.

The Toffees were serious challengers for the Premier League top six for around a decade, and from 2007-2014, Everton never finished outside of the top 10.

Everton's last top six finish came back in the 2013/14 season under the management of Spaniard Roberto Martinez, when the Toffees achieved a fifth place finish in the top flight.

Southampton

Southampton enjoyed ten successive seasons in the Premier League from 2012-2022, and in that period the Saints managed four consecutive top 10 finishes.

It was the reign of Dutch manger Ronald Koeman that saw Southampton achieve their greatest finish, when they secured sixth place in the 2015/16 season, with Sadio Mane top scoring with 15 goals.

West Ham

West Ham United have only spent three seasons outside of the Premier League since its inception back in the early 90's, although the Hammers haven't always been top 10 mainstays.

The club have enjoyed success in recent years however, including a sixth placed finish in the 2020/21 season under Scottish manager David Moyes, who led West Ham to a UEFA Conference League title two years later.

Leicester City

Leicester City famously lifted the Premier League title back in 2015/16, in what is widely considered one of the greatest success stories in the history of English football.

It was a few years later however in 2020/21 that the Foxes last managed a top six finish, under manager Brendan Rogers, who also led the club to a FA Cup win in the same season, beating Chelsea 1-0 in the final at Wembley.

Brighton & Hove Albion

Brighton have enjoyed a well-documented rise through the English football pyramid in the last 15 years, having previously operated in the lower league in decades gone by.

Under local owner Tony Bloom the Seagulls have become the archetypal method of success for 'smaller' clubs aspiring to challenge the status-quo, by employing smart, data driven recruitment methods.

Brighton have established themselves as Premier League stalwarts in recent years, spending their last eight seasons in the top-flight, including a sixth placed finish in the 2022/23 season.

Newcastle United

Newcastle United have spent the majority of their history in the English top tier, but until recent years they have struggled to establish themselves in the top six during the Premier League era.

That looks to have changed since the Saudi-led takeover in 2021, when the Magpies were suddenly catapulted to the top of England's wealthiest clubs.

Newcastle managed a fourth placed finish in the 2022/23 season, under manager Eddie Howe, qualifying for the UEFA Champions League in the process.

Aston Villa

Seven-times champions of England Aston Villa have traditionally been considered one of the bigger clubs in the country. The Villans have often challenged the top six dominance since the inception of the Premier League, without ever truly cracking the perceived hierarchy.

Villa suffered their first Premier League relegation in 2015/16 and subsequently spent three seasons in the Championship, before being promoted via the play-offs in 2019.

The club slowly rebuilt across the next few seasons, finishing in the bottom half for three years before rebounding under Spanish manager Unai Emery, who led Aston Villa to a fourth placed finish, and UEFA Champions League qualification, in 2024.