Which of the 47 teams to play in the Premier League have had the most miserable existence in the modern era? We start our rundown with places 47-36
Every team reckons they have it the worst.
The manager doesn’t have a clue, the players show no passion, the board is incompetent/corrupt/apathetic, decisions never go our way and
you’re always pipped to trophies, doomed to endless relegations or worse. We deserve to have it better. It’s not fair. The world is against us.
But which club actually has it the worst? You know, like, genuinely worst? Not just haven’t-won-a-trophy-for-a-18-months worst, but gut wrenchingly, misery inducing worse?
We’ve set out to decide which set of football fans have had it the hardest in recent times, the ones who have shed the most tears, gone through the most heartache - on and off the pitch - and who, by all accounts should hate the very existence of the sport of football itself, but keep coming back for more punishment.
In order to work this out, we’ve gone through all the relegations, near misses, financial meltdowns and other misfortunes that have plagued the 47 teams to have taken a place in the Premier League since it was conjured up in 1992.
The rules
When dealing with such a subjective subject matter, it’s always going to be tricky to come up with definitive conclusions. Our ranking system therefore factored in a series of indices to see just who has had it worst.
Timeframe
Our rankings run from the creation of the Premier League in 1992 (yeah, modern football, etc), so bear that in mind before you cite a 30-year dry spell from 1954-84 or whenever. This also give the piece some relevancy to the modern footballing landscape. Perhaps the sequel will start back in 1863 and include all 141 clubs that have been Football League members, providing I can convince my bosses to go three weeks without filing any updates about Jack Wilshere’s gammy leg or 5 things we learned about Jurgen Klopp’s latest touchline celebration. We've also not included competitions that have not yet been completed this season.
Criteria
A number of factors have come into play in determining our rundown of the 47 clubs to appear in the Premier League.
- Number of trophies won (play-off winners count, Community/Charity Shields or other trumped up friendlies don’t)
- Silverware drought
- Number or promotions and or relegations
- Low points both on and off the pitch
Got that? Nice one, we’ll get started. Complaints to the usual place…
47. Manchester United
Misery figurehead: The Glazers
Silverware drought: Premier League champions in 2013
Low point: Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure
Near misses: Losing the 2011 Champions League final
Relegations since 1992: 0
Promotions: 0
Trophies won since 1992: 24
You’ve not had it too bad, have you, Manchester United fans? The Red Devils' place at the bottom (or the top, if you’re a glass half-full kind of person) is a gimme. A whole generation of United fans have only ever known success at Old Trafford and will give you a blank look if you mention their 26-year title drought that Fergie ended in 1992. Sure, the whole Moyes thing didn’t go amazingly and Van Gaal’s malaises may or may not point to further period of decline moving forwards, but it’s not been a bad 24 years, has it?
46. Chelsea
Misery figurehead: Andriy Shevchenko, proving money doesn’t always buy success
Silverware drought: Current Premier League champions
Low point: Standing on the brink of administration - until a certain Russian oligarch rocked up.
Near misses: Tears on John Terry’s pillow after the 2008 Champions League final.
Relegations since 1992: 0
Promotions: 0
Trophies won since 1992: 17
OK, so it looked a little bit sticky before the end of the 2002-03 season when there was rumours of an imminent financial meltdown, had they not qualified for the Champions League. But crucially, they did. And that meant a certain Russian oligarch put his hand in his pocket and changed English football forever. But even before Roman Abramovich bought their club from an increasingly fiscally-challenged Ken Bates, Chelsea fans had plenty of cup successes to cheer, as there was a steady stream of trophies at the Bridge. Since then, the Blues’ biggest problems have been which global superstars to spend their roubles on and how long to give managers who go a few months without winning a trophy.
That said, this season’s shambolic start was a refreshing reminder for Chelsea supporters that being a football fan means everything doesn’t always go your way.
45. Arsenal
Misery figurehead: The manager himself, should the #WengerOut brigade be believed
Silverware drought: FA Cup winners 2015
Low point: Take your pick from a number of top four near misses
Near misses: Losing the 2006 Champions League final after being 1-0 up with 15 minutes remaining.
Relegations since 1992: 0
Promotions: 0
Trophies won since 1992: 12
There is a section of Arsenal fans that were the inspiration behind this list. You know the ones, those who complain that their club has only managed to land a top four place at the end of the season and tell anyone that will listen that Arsene Wenger should go. The other 99.9% of football fans (with plenty of Gunners supporters included) shake their heads and realise that an omnipresent Champions League record, plus the odd trophy, combined some of the easiest on the eye football, while moving the club into a swanky new stadium without plunging into debt, does not equal footballing misery.
44. Tottenham Hotspur
Misery figurehead: Sol Campbell
Silverware drought: League Cup winners 2008
Low point: Making it 20 straight years of St Totteringham’s day last season
Near misses: Missing out on a Champions League spot thanks to a dodgy lasagna in 2006
Relegations since 1992: 0
Promotions: 0
Trophies won since 1992: 2
Admittedly a team of this size should probably have won more trophies in the last couple of decades than their pair of League Cups, but in terms of bone fide misery,Spurs haven’t had it so bad as it’s all been fairly plain sailing. Their Premier League place has never been in jeopardy (despite Juande Ramos’ best efforts) and their worst moment came when they tucked into a dodgy serving of lasagna on 2006. Currently on an upward curve, the next iteration of this list could see them rise if they finally beat the St Totteringham’s day curse and land English football's big prize.
43. Liverpool
Misery figurehead: Tom Hicks and George Gillette
Silverware drought: 2012 League Cup winners
Low point: Almost being driven to financial ruin by Statler and Waldorf in 2007
Near misses: Falling short in the 2013-14 season title race
Relegations since 1992: 0
Promotions: 0
Trophies won since 1992: 8
It’s a case of peaks and troughs here. Trophies have arrived fairly regularly at Anfield, but not the main prize, as it’s been a quarter of a century since the Reds won the league. The 2013-14 near-miss was one of the most emotional title charges in years, but ultimately fell short. Another low was the Hicks and Gillette meltdown which very nearly ended in tears, but the pair were ultimately sent packing. Despite these lows, any side that wins a Champions League in the manner of their 2005 success and has never had to seriously worry about dropping out of the to third of the Premier League hasn’t had it too bad.
42. Manchester City
Misery figurehead: Thaksin Shinawatra
Silverware drought: Capital One Cup winners this season
Low point: Dropping into the third flight in 1998
Near misses: Runners up in both the FA Cup and Premier League in 2013
Relegations since 1992: 3
Promotions: 3
Trophies won since 1992: 6
Had a certain petrol-rich Sheik not decided to lavish them with more cash than they knew what to do with in 2008, City would be an awful lot lower down on this list. In 1998 they dropped down to the third tier of English football for the first time in their history, as they continued to be plagued by Cityitus. But they’ve more than cancelled out their on-the-pitch misery in recent years since the Abu Dhabi United Group takeover and lower league days out like Gillingham in the play-off final are now a badge of honour for long-standing City fans.
41. Swansea City
Misery figurehead: Kevin Culls’ six-day two-game spell as boss in 1996 is a fitting reminder of the bad times in South Wales
Silverware drought: League Cup winners 2013
Low point: Four managers and relegation to the bottom flight - 1996 was a bad year
Near misses: Fell short in the 1993 Division 2 play-offs
Relegations since 1992: 2
Promotions: 4
Trophies won since 1992: 7
Are Swansea the poster child of how to run a football club in the 21st century? The Swans are the biggest rags to riches story in recent years, flirting with relegation out of the Football League in the late ‘90s and now sitting pretty as Premier League mainstays. They also had a successful day out at Wembley three years ago and play their football in a modern stadium. Not too shabby.
40. Aston Villa
Misery figurehead: Doug Ellis
Silverware drought: It’s been 20 years since the Villans lifted the League Cup
Low point: The now-annual battles against relegation
Near misses: Losing in the 2000 and 2015 FA Cup Finals
Relegations since 1992: 0
Promotions: 0
Trophies won since 1992: 2
There are a fair few genres of misery included in this list. You have your car crash football teams (you’ll meet them at the bottom of the list), your teams that have had the highs and lows (generally around the middle) and then you have your sleeping giants. How bad is the pain of knowing you have the history and potential to be better than you are? In Villa’s case, it’s not enough for them to plunge too far down this list. In the modern era there’s been a couple of League Cup successes for the fans to cheer, a couple of FA Cup near misses to get the pulses racing, but no relegations to experience - although if/when their inevitable relegation is rubber-stamped this season they will drop down a few places.
39. Stoke City
Misery figurehead: Former chairman Gunnar Gislason didn't have a great track record at selecting managers
Silverware drought: Winners of the Second Division in 1993
Low point: Going through seven managers in little over two years in 1997-99
Near misses: FA Cup runners-up 2011
Relegations since 1992: 1
Promotions: 3
Trophies won since 1992: 2
Safely established as a Premier League side, the Potters are enjoying the most successful period in their modern history. Although they’ve failed to trouble their trophy cabinet in the last 20 years, Stoke have been a model of stability in recent seasons ever since they bottomed out just before the turn of the millennium.
38. West Bromwich Albion
Misery figurehead: Pepe Mel
Silverware drought: Championship winners 2008
Low point: Relegation in 2006 a year after their miracle survival
Near misses: FA Cup semi-finals 2008
Relegations since 1992: 3
Promotions: 5
Trophies won since 1992: 2
Being a West Brom fan hasn’t been dull in recent years. But the Boing Boing Baggies have given their fans more to cheer about than to despair over in the modern era, with a very favourable promotion to relegation ration. Also, their 2005 escape from relegation felt just as good as winning any silverware.
37. Everton
Misery figurehead: Wayne Rooney
Silverware drought: FA Cup winners in 1995
Low point: Starring relegation in the face in 1998
Near misses: Losing the FA Cup final in 2009
Relegations since 1992: 0
Promotions: 0
Trophies won since 1992: 1
Just like Jerry Seinfeld, Everton are Even Steven. Aside from a couple of flirtations with relegation, the Toffees haven’t had too much to be truly miserable about, as they’ve remained Premier League mainstays since the get-go. Yes, a club of their size should have won more trophies than the 1995 FA Cup in the previous 24 years, but this isn't the unfulfilled potential power rankings.
36. Reading
Misery figurehead: Alan Pardew for ditching the Royals for West Ham
Silverware drought: Championship winners 2012
Low point: Missing out on promotion to the Premier League in 1995
Near misses: FA Cup semi-finals 2015
Relegations since 1992: 3
Promotions: 4
Trophies won since 1992: 3
It’s been a solid few years for the Royals . In the last decade they’ve spent their first-ever spell in the top flight and a secured a record 106-point haul in their 2005-06 Championship wining season to give their fans plenty to be thankful for, while a lack of any catastrophic events on or off the pitch sees them fail to trouble to top spots in our misery league. Alan Pardew is the closest to a villain following his acrimonious departure to West Ham in 2003, while their biggest injustice was no promotion to the Premier League when they finished second in Division 1 in 1994-95, but were victims of the top flight's reduction from 22 to 20 teams.
Join us tomorrow for part two...
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