8 Football Teams With the Worst Drop in Rankings

The English Premier League is one of the most lucrative leagues in the world. The league involves 20 English and Welsh teams that play 38 matches each through a season the runs from August to May. At the end of the season, the bottom three clubs drop to the Championship, while the top two teams from the FLC are promoted to the Premier League. The third team is picked after a series of play-offs between the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth teams in the Championship. Since the conception of the Premier League in 1992, 35 different clubs have experienced relegation. Only 10 teams out of the 46 to play top-flight football are yet to be relegated. Here are eight teams that have dropped in their ranking.

8. Southampton

Southampton, nicknamed “The Saints”, was founded in 1885 as a church football team. It is one of the founding members of the Premier League in 1992. Southampton spent most of the first ten years of Premier League seasons struggling against relegation. In 2005, it was finally relegated on the final day of the season in one of the most memorable battles in the league. The relegation followed the resignation coach Strachan in 2004. The relegation of Southampton was followed by the mass exit of player further putting the hope of a promotion on hold. Several coaches including Harry Redknapp and Nigel Pearson all failed to rouse a comeback and the team spent the next four years at the lower regions of the leagues. In 2009, Southampton was relegated to league one due to financial difficulties. However, in 2012 they secured a promotion back to the EPL after 12 years absence.

7. Leeds United

Leeds United is perhaps one of the most successful teams not involved in the top flight football in England. Formed in 1919, the team enjoyed a period of success under the management of Don Revie in the 1960s and 1970s. Their relegation from the Premier League in 2004 is an example of severe spending going wrong. Leeds United had taken huge loans against the prospect of TV rights and sponsorship revenue to help them remain among the elite clubs in Europe. With the soaring debt, star players were hurriedly sold off which lead to their relegation. Once in the championship, more players left the club and were replaced by lower profile players. In 2007, Leeds was further relegated to the third tier of English football. Although the club secured a promotion back to the championship, it is still unable to control the debts.

6. Portsmouth

Portsmouth F.C is an example of a fallen giant trying to rise again. A decade ago, no one would imagine that Portsmouth would be playing in the League One, the third tier of English football in the 2017-2018 seasons. Due to financial problems, the club sold several of their top players including Peter Crouch, Glen Johnson, and Sylvain Distin. In 2009, the club was so broke that the players could not be paid for two months. The club was put into administration in February 2010 meaning that nine points would be deducted from its season’s tally. The point deduction technically placed the club at the bottom of the league and at the end of the 2009-2010 season it was relegated to the Championship. Portsmouth has since been relegated to league three.

5. Conventry City

Coventry City joined the Football League in 1919 and was one of the inaugural members of the Premier League in 1992. The team spent 34 consecutive years in the top flight before their relegation in 2001. Several of their best players like Craig Bellamy and John Hartson left the club after the relegation. Coventry City ended the first season in the championship in the 11th place. After eleven seasons in the championship, they were relegated to League One in 2012 and subsequently to League Two in 2017. With severe financial problems and lack of better players, Coventry City fans will have to wait for a long time for their beloved team to make a comeback to the Premier League.

4. Blackburn Rovers

Blackburn Rovers is one of the three clubs who were founder members of both the Premier League and Football League. They have been English champions on three occasions and have also won the FA Cup six times. The club suffered a rapid decline competing in Europe before their relegation in 1999. Rovers had hoisted the Premier League trophy just four years prior to their relegation. The club was promoted back to the top flight two years later in 2000. It was again relegated to the Championship in 2012 ending 11 years in the Premier League. In May 2017, Blackburn Rovers became the first English champions to be relegated to League One.

3. Luton Town

Luton Town F.C’s history includes major trophy wins, crises, promotions, and relegation. The club was most prominent between 1982 and 1992 when it was a member of the English First Division. It was first relegated from the First Division at the end of the 1991-1992 season and four years later it sank to the third tier. It was further relegated to the fourth tier in 2001 but won promotion back to the third tier the following year. In 2003, the club went into administration. The club went into administration in the 2007-2008 season again. In the 2008-2009 season, 30 points were docked from its tally for financial irregularities dating back several years which relegated the club to the Conference Premier.

2. Manchester City

Manchester City F.C is perhaps one of the most talented teams in the world in terms of the quality of players and the coaches. The club enjoyed a successful period between the late 1960s and early 1970s winning the League Championship, League Cup, and FA Cup. However, the club’s performance declined after the 1981 FA Cup finals culminating a relegation to League One in 1998. Manchester City was first relegated from the Premier League in 1996 after a couple of narrow escapes. Injuries and protests by the fans against the board culminated in a 22nd finish in the championship and a relegation to the third tier in 1998. However, a back to back promotion and a lucrative takeover in 2008 has given the club a lifeline once again.

1. Blackpool

Founded in 1887, Blackpool enjoyed a period of successes in English First Division in the 1950s, finishing in the top six four times. Since then, their fortunes have varied. Blackpool was promoted to the Premier League in 2010. In 2011, the club was fined £25,000 for fielding a weak team against Aston Villa and exactly 365 days after their promotion to the Premier League, they were relegated back to the Championship. In the 2014-2015 season, 27 players left the club leading to its relegation to the third tier at the end of the season. However, Blackpool has won a promotion to the Championship after they concluded the 2016-2017 season.