Southampton returned to the Premier League at the first time of asking after beating Leeds United 1-0 at Wembley.
Adam Armstrong’s first-half goal proved to be the difference in the Sky Bet Championship play-off final on Sunday.
The last time they were relegated from the top flight in 2005 it took seven years to return, but this time they got the job done far more efficiently under Russell Martin.
Leeds, meanwhile, will have to battle it out in the second tier for another season.
How Saints marched to victory at Wembley
It was Southampton who took the lead on 24 minutes at Wembley.
Daniel Farke rang the changes throughout the second half to try and drag his side back into it, and one of his substitutes, Dan James, came so close to the equaliser on 84 minutes as he crashed a shot onto the underside of the crossbar before it bounced clear.
“I feel emotional and overwhelmed by the love and support I’ve had over the past nine or 10 months, especially in the tougher times.
“The support from the board, I had to validate their decision and justify being handed the chance.
“I’m so pleased for them because it wasn’t an exciting appointment. I’d finish 10th with Swansea and had a very clear way of doing things at MK Dons so for them to take me on was brave.
“The team have been so brave and I’m grateful and proud of them.
“I did enjoy some of it. I enjoyed watching the players grow and I absolutely love that group of players. What we’ve asked them to do is not easy.”
On how it feels to be a Premier League manager: “I could get sacked tomorrow so maybe not!”
Southampton goalkeeper Alex McCarthy to Sky Sports:
“It’s been a tough season, lots of ups and downs, but we’ve got back to where we want to be. It’s crazy in football, things turn around very quickly.
“It’s one of those where you don’t have time to think about it so when I got in the team, I wanted to show what I could do.
“We knew it would be a tough game, but we thought we had the upper hand after beating Leeds twice this season. To get over the line at the end was unbelievable.
“Since Russ has come in, he’s completely changed the place. It was so flat after last season, the changing room was all over the place, but he’s built something special.”
