The 2000-01 campaign was an improbable triumph for Ipswich Town as the newly-promoted Tractor Boys shocked the Premier League by securing a spectacular 5th-place finish and qualifying for the UEFA Cup. Manager George Burley, who was named Manager of the Year, guided the team to this unlikely success, which was built on grit and an attacking spark that saw them briefly challenge for a Champions League spot. Leading the charge was the talismanic striker Marcus Stewart, whose 19 league goals anchored their efforts and saw him finish as the Premier League's second-highest scorer. It was a standout year that marked the club's glorious, against-the-odds return to the top flight and remains a defining chapter in the history of the Tractor Boys.