A slow start to the season cost manager Gianluca Vialli his job, despite having won five trophies since his appointment in February 1998.

[2] The last of these trophies came at the start of the season when they defeated Manchester United 2–0 in the Charity Shield to win the last-ever club game at the pre-redevelopment Wembley.

[3] Vialli's successor was Claudio Ranieri,[4] who guided the club to sixth place in the final table and attained automatic qualification for the UEFA Cup.

Source: 2000-01 FA Premier League table Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply.

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply.