The Premier League is known for its competitive nature and high-quality football, but there have also been some teams whose campaigns were so dismal that they are forever etched in the league’s history as some of the worst to have ever graced the top flight. These teams were overwhelmed by the demands of the Premier League, with poor performances, managerial changes, and, in some cases, catastrophic financial mismanagement contributing to their downfall. Here’s a look at some of the worst teams in Premier League history, ranked by their underwhelming performances and factors including goals scored / conceded and notable losses.

1. Derby County (2007/08)

Points Tally: 11

The 2007/08 season saw Derby County set an unwanted record for the worst-ever Premier League points tally. Under the management of Billy Davies, who was replaced by Paul Jewell in November, Derby were immediately doomed after their poor start to the campaign. Despite the addition of experienced Premier League players like Robbie Savage, Danny Mills, and Alan Stubbs, Derby’s squad could not cope with the demands of top-flight football.

Derby’s only win of the season came in September, a 2-1 victory against Newcastle United. From then on, it was a downhill slide, and they finished with just 11 points, earning only one more victory and finishing a staggering 22 points behind 19th-place Birmingham City. Derby County’s 2007/08 season remains one of the most disastrous in Premier League history, a record that still stands to this day.

2. Sunderland (2005/06)

Points Tally: 15

Two years after their lowest-ever points total in the Premier League, Sunderland were back in the top flight for the 2005/06 season, but they had done little to prepare adequately for the challenge. Manager Mick McCarthy struggled to get results, with Sunderland winning only three matches and drawing six. Their lack of quality was evident, and the club’s poor form continued throughout the season.

Sunderland were relegated with a meager 15 points, the second-lowest total in Premier League history at the time. McCarthy was sacked midway through the season, but the change in management couldn’t prevent the inevitable. Sunderland’s 2005/06 season was a bleak chapter in their Premier League history, showcasing the immense difficulty of bouncing back from relegation.

3. Sheffield United (2023/24)

Points Tally: 16

Sheffield United’s return to the Premier League for the 2023/24 season was disastrous. The Blades, under manager Paul Heckingbottom, endured an abysmal campaign, culminating in a record-breaking 104 goals conceded – the most ever by a Premier League team in a 38-match season. Sheffield United’s defense was leaky, and their attack struggled to make an impact.

With a goal difference of -69, the team ended the season in 20th place, with only 16 points. Their lack of defensive solidity was underscored by humiliating defeats, including a 6-0 drubbing by Arsenal and an 8-0 loss to Newcastle United. Their home record was also one for the record books, with 57 goals conceded at Bramall Lane, making them the worst in Premier League history in that category.

4. Huddersfield Town (2018/19)

Points Tally: 16

After an inspiring first season in the Premier League, Huddersfield Town failed to build on their success and were relegated with a whimper in 2018/19. The team struggled to reinforce their squad and, despite the best efforts of manager David Wagner, Huddersfield won only three matches all season. Their 16 points tally saw them finish rock bottom of the Premier League, 13 points from safety.

Wagner’s mid-season departure did little to improve matters, and Huddersfield’s inability to score goals and defend effectively ultimately saw them return to the Championship. Huddersfield’s brief Premier League spell is a cautionary tale of a club unable to cope with the demands of top-flight football after a successful promotion.

5. Aston Villa (2015/16)

Points Tally: 17

Aston Villa’s 2015/16 season was a sharp contrast to the club’s fortunes in the late 2000s, when they consistently challenged for the top four. However, after the departure of Martin O’Neill in 2010, Villa’s decline became apparent, and it culminated in their relegation in 2016. With just three wins all season, Villa finished in 20th place with only 17 points.

Manager Tim Sherwood’s early-season struggles led to his sacking, and his replacement, Remi Garde, failed to stem the tide. Villa’s lack of goals (only 27 scored) and poor defence (76 conceded) sealed their fate. Their relegation in 2016 marked the end of an era as one of the Premier League’s ever-present clubs. Villa’s disastrous campaign remains one of the lowest points in their modern history.

6. Sunderland (2002/03)

Points Tally: 19

Sunderland’s 2002/03 campaign saw them sink to new depths under the management of Peter Reid. The club made the decision to sack Reid early in the season after a string of poor performances, replacing him with Howard Wilkinson, who had been out of management for years. Sunderland managed just 19 points, including a record-low goal tally of 21 goals scored.

The Black Cats struggled both offensively and defensively, and their season was marred by a long winless streak that left them well adrift from safety. Although Mick McCarthy would later lead the team to promotion, Sunderland’s 2002/03 season remains one of the most forgettable in Premier League history.

7. Swindon Town (1993/94)

Points Tally: 30

Swindon Town’s 1993/94 Premier League debut was a disaster. The team, promoted for the first time to England’s top division, struggled from the start. They didn’t win a match until late November and, despite scoring 47 goals, they conceded a staggering 100 goals, including an infamous 9-0 loss to Manchester United. Swindon’s defense was woeful, and their inability to secure victories meant they finished bottom of the league with 30 points.

Their one and only season in the Premier League ended in relegation, and they returned to the second tier with little to show for their brief stay in the top flight. The club’s defence remains one of the weakest in Premier League history, making them number 7 on our list, despite getting more points than some of the others.

8. Bradford City (2000/01)

Points Tally: 26

Despite a strong finish to the previous campaign that saw them avoid relegation in the 1999/00 season, in the 2000/01 season, they were unable to replicate their survival form, winning just five matches all season. A change of manager midway through the season couldn’t halt their slide, and they finished bottom of the table with 26 points.

The Bantams’ weak attack, with only 30 goals scored, and leaky defense (70 goals conceded) led to their relegation. Their brief stay in the Premier League is remembered for their lack of experience and failure to strengthen the squad adequately during the summer.

9. Ipswich Town (1994/95)

Points Tally: 27

Ipswich Town’s 1994/95 season was a step too far for the club, which had struggled in its previous two Premier League campaigns. The Tractor Boys lost 11 of their first 15 matches and finished rock bottom with just 27 points. Manager John Lyall’s departure in December, and the subsequent arrival of George Burley, couldn’t prevent Ipswich’s relegation.

With 93 goals conceded, Ipswich suffered heavy losses, including a notorious 9-0 defeat to Manchester United. The team’s poor form left them stranded at the bottom, and they returned to the second tier after a miserable season.

10. Norwich City (2021/22)

Points Tally: 22

Norwich City’s return to the Premier League in 2021 saw the club fail to learn from their previous relegation in 2019. The Canaries were again relegated with a meager 22 points, having sold key players such as Emiliano Buendia and not properly replacing them. Manager Daniel Farke was sacked after a poor run, and his replacement, Dean Smith, was unable to turn things around.

Norwich’s defense was porous, conceding 84 goals, and they struggled to score, finishing with just 23 goals. Their relegation was inevitable, and the following season, they had a difficult time even in the Championship.

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The teams listed above represent the worst of the worst in Premier League history. Whether through financial mismanagement, poor squad planning, or simply being outclassed in a tough competition, these clubs failed to meet the challenge of top-flight football, leaving behind a legacy of failure. While many of these teams have since regrouped and found success in the Championship, their Premier League disasters remain a stark reminder of how difficult it is to compete in the world’s most popular football league.