Is second-season syndrome a myth as Sunderland look to a bright Premier League future | OneFootball

Sunderland have enjoyed a strong first campaign back in the Premier League, still in the hunt for Europe as the campaign enters its final month. Attention is already turning to whether so-called second-season syndrome should worry them next term.

According to Sunderland Echo, analysis of the previous six seasons shows only seven of 18 promoted clubs even reached year two. Of those seven, only one was relegated in its second campaign.

The sample is mixed. In 2024/25 and 2023/24 all three promoted sides went straight back down. In 2022/23 Fulham, Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest stayed up, then posted bottom-half finishes in year two.

The pattern varies elsewhere. Brentford went 13th then ninth after going up in 2021/22, while Norwich City and Watford were relegated immediately. Leeds United finished ninth in 2020/21 then slipped to 17th, and in 2019/20 Sheffield United fell from ninth to 20th as Aston Villa rose from 17th to 11th.

Head coach Régis Le Bris has addressed the label, stressing growth over fear. He says Sunderland must keep improving the squad, the club and his coaching, and that the level of competition is unknowable.

For Sunderland, survival is never guaranteed, yet this snapshot suggests second-season collapse is not inevitable. The task now is to consolidate and continue the upward direction.

Source: Sunderland Echo