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Huddersfield boss David Wagner becomes only the SIXTH non-British or Irish manager to earn promotion to the Premier League

Town chief earned a remarkable promotion to the top flight on Monday, but who are the five other men to achieve the feat?

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HUDDERSFIELD TOWN scraped past Reading on penalties in the Championship play-off final on Monday to sensationally earn themselves a spot in the Premier League.

The Yorkshire side, led by German boss David Wagner, finished the season with a negative goal difference and only scored one goal in the play-offs - an own goal.

 David Wagner led Huddersfield into the Premier League
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David Wagner led Huddersfield into the Premier LeagueCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

Yet they showed their grit and determination to land their spot in the big-time - with Wagner crucial to their historic season.


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In leading Huddersfield to the Premier League, the Town boss became only the SIXTH non-British or Irish boss to achieve promotion to the top flight.

Wagner described his side's heroics as the stuff of fiction, saying: “What happened is an unbelievable story – it’s a fairytale.”

But who are the five other foreign bosses to lead their teams to the Premier League? Find out below....

JEAN TIGANA - Fulham 2000-01

 Jean Tigana was the first foreign boss to earn promotion to the Premier League
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Jean Tigana was the first foreign boss to earn promotion to the Premier LeagueCredit: Allsport

FULHAM absolutely stormed to the Division One title in the 2000-01 season under French boss Tigana.

The west London side racked up an incredible 101 points in finishing above Blackburn Rovers by ten points.

Tigana was the trend-setter as he became the first non-British or Irish boss to lead a team into the Premier League.

ROBERTO DI MATTEO - West Brom 2009-10

 Roberto Di Matteo led West Brom back to the Premier League at the first attempt
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Roberto Di Matteo led West Brom back to the Premier League at the first attemptCredit: PA:Press Association Archive

DI MATTEO took over at West Brom immediately after the side were relegated to the Championship under Tony Mowbray.

The Italian immediately turned the Baggies' fortunes around, leading his side to automatic promotion in the second tier.

West Brom racked up 91 points that season under Di Matteo as they finished second only to Newcastle.

SLAVISA JOKANOVIC - Watford 2014-15

 Slavisa Jokanovic led his Watford side into the Premier League
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Slavisa Jokanovic led his Watford side into the Premier LeagueCredit: Action Images

JOKANOVIC was the FOURTH boss of the 2014-15 season at Watford... and he took over as early as October 7.

However, the chopping and changing reaped immediate rewards as he led the Hornets to second in the Championship to earn automatic promotion to the Premier League.

Watford ended the campaign just one point behind champions Bournemouth.

AITOR KARANKA - Middlesbrough 2015-16

 Aitor Karanka took Middlesbrough into the Premier League before being sacked
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Aitor Karanka took Middlesbrough into the Premier League before being sackedCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

RECENTLY sacked by Boro, Karanka was another non-British or Irish boss to lead his side into the Premier League.

The Spaniard led the team to second, four points behind champions Burnley after sneaking the final automatic spot on goal difference - ahead of Brighton.

However, it was short-lived for the Teessiders, who were immediately relegated back to the Championship in 2016-17.

RAFA BENITEZ - Newcastle 2016-17

 Rafa Benitez won the Championship title in his first season at Newcastle
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Rafa Benitez won the Championship title in his first season at NewcastleCredit: Getty Images

IN the present day, Benitez proved just how good a manager he is in England by leading Newcastle straight back to the Premier League.

The Spanish boss immediately got into the swing of things as the Toon beat Brighton to the Championship title by a single point.

In doing so, Benitez became the fifth foreign boss to lead a team to the top flight - before Wagner shortly followed suit.

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