A Wrexham by Any Other Name… Clubs with Meteoric Climbs | OneFootball

Welsh club Wrexham has captured headlines across the world for its unprecedented back-to-back-to-back promotion from non-league to the EFL Championship (and their famous owners and polarizing documentary). But while they may represent the extreme of success, there are a handful of clubs across Europe that have defied tradition, expectations, and economic odds to rise rapidly through the soccer ranks.

From RB Leipzig’s corporate fueled surge to Union Berlin’s fan powered fairytale, from AFC Bournemouth’s improbable climb to Atalanta’s tactical revolution which these four teams offer unique blueprints of modern success. Whether through controversy, community, or creativity, each has rewritten what it means to rise in the modern game.

RB Leipzig: A Controversial Climber

In just over a decade, RB Leipzig has become one of Germany’s most divisive but successful clubs. Founded in 2009 when Red Bull purchased the license of SSV Markranstadt, a fifth tier team, Leipzig’s ascent through the German soccer pyramid was methodical, fast, and heavily financed. In only seven seasons, they reached the Bundesliga, turning heads with their professional infrastructure, data-driven scouting, and youthful squad. Their arrival shook traditionalists in Germany, where fan ownership and community roots are sacred. Critics argue that Leipzig represents corporate intrusion into a historically grassroots game. Yet, despite protests and boycotts, Leipzig’s sporting record silences many detractors: regular top-four finishes, Champions League appearances, and a DFB-Pokal win in 2022. Players like Timo Werner, Dayot Upamecano, and Christopher Nkunku emerged as elite talents under their watch. Love them or loathe them, Leipzig has carved out a place among Germany’s elite and not through history or heritage, but through precision, planning, and unapologetic ambition.

AFC Bournemouth: From Brink of Collapse to Premier League Mainstay

In 2010, AFC Bournemouth was on the verge of extinction. Struggling with crippling debt and languishing in England’s League Two, they barely escaped relegation from the soccer League. Enter Eddie Howe, a young, unproven manager who became the heart of a fairytale no one saw coming. Within five seasons, Howe guided the Cherries from the fourth tier to the Premier League. Their promotion in 2015 shocked the world. With the smallest stadium in the league (just 11,000 seats) and a budget dwarfed by even Championship clubs, Bournemouth played brave, expansive game against giants. They didn’t just survive; they competed. Howe’s squad, built on clever loans, undervalued signings, and tactical discipline, earned respect. Though relegated in 2020, they bounced back to the top flight in 2022 and continue to defy expectations. Their journey symbolizes grit, patience, and the power of belief, proving that dreams aren’t exclusive to the game’s traditional powerhouses.

Union Berlin: Defying Gravity with Grit and Unity

Union Berlin’s story is one of soccer romance in its purest form. For decades, the club was more known for its passionate fanbase than its sporting prowess. Based in East Berlin, they spent most of their existence in the lower leagues. Supporters literally donated blood to help pay for club expenses. Promotion to the Bundesliga in 2019 felt like a miracle. But rather than just making up the numbers, Union pushed on. Without star names or a big budget, they steadily climbed the table through cohesion, clever transfers, and unyielding home form at their raucous Stadion An der Alten Forsterei. In 2023, they qualified for the Champions League that something unimaginable just a few years earlier. Their rise isn’t about flashy ownership or massive signings, but smart planning and community strength. Union Berlin represents what can happen when a club’s identity remains intact, even in the face of elite competition.

Atalanta: Revolution in Bergamo

Atalanta’s transformation from a mid-table Italian side to a European force is among the most inspiring stories in modern soccer. Historically, they were a modest Serie A club producing good players but never mounting serious challenges. That changed dramatically under Gian Piero Gasperini. Appointed in 2016, the coach implemented a high octane, attacking philosophy that turned heads across Europe. By 2019–20, Atalanta were the highest-scoring team in Serie A and reached the Champions League semi-finals, stunning the likes of Valencia and nearly toppling PSG. What makes their rise so admirable is the model behind it: youth development, tactical innovation, and shrewd recruitment. Based in the small city of Bergamo, with limited resources, they punched far above their weight while sticking to their core values. Even when star players left like Papu Gómez or Cristian Romero as the system endure. Atalanta’s success is proof that identity and innovation can rival financial muscle.