LONDON: Brentford were promoted to the Premier League for the first time in 74 years on Saturday as they beat Swansea 2-0 in a Championship play-off final worth around £180 million ($255 million) to the winners.
Thomas Frank’s side completed their fairytale rise thanks to first-half goals from Ivan Toney and Emiliano Marcondes at Wembley.
Swansea’s Jay Fulton was sent off midway through the second half to put the result beyond doubt in what is widely regarded as football’s single most lucrative game, mainly because of the broadcast revenues that Premier League clubs receive.
After decades stuck in lower league obscurity, unfashionable Brentford will be one of the smallest clubs ever to play in the top tier.
In just their second season at the new Brentford Community Stadium, the Bees will welcome the likes of Manchester City, Manchester United and Liverpool to west London.
The riches earned from the victory will be transformative for Brentford, who have finally erased the painful memories of their wretched play-off past. Beaten by Fulham in last season’s Championship final, Brentford had failed to earn promotion in all nine of their play-off appearances before this term.
No team had lost more play-off finals than Brentford’s four, but Frank had insisted the bad omens would count for nothing.
The Bees boss was proved right as he became the first Danish coach to win a Football League promotion.
“I don’t know if I can describe it. It’s been such a long journey,” Frank said before his players gate-crashed the interview to throw him into the air in celebration.
“This group of players is incredible. Everyone has played a major part,” Frank added, once he was back on his feet. “The feeling was calm and relaxed and ready to be ruthless. “Right now I want to get drunk and then worry about the Premier League tomorrow!”
Brentford’s rise has captured the imagination of neutrals after they spent 59 out of 60 seasons in the third or fourth tiers before reaching the Championship in 2014.
They have climbed well above their traditional status thanks to innovative owner Matthew Benham.
Benham has introduced an analytics-influenced approach overseen by two directors of football, ensuring the club make the most of their resources, which are meagre in comparison with the Championship’s wealthier teams.
Fittingly, it was Championship top scorer Toney who put Brentford on course for the top-flight for the first time since 1947.
Toney, signed from third tier Peterborough last year, fired Brentford to a third-place finish despite the close-season sales of star forwards Ollie Watkins and Said Benrahma to Aston Villa and West Ham respectively.