Southampton’s 2024-25 Premier League campaign came to a pitiful end in early April, with relegation confirmed with seven games still to play.
That’s an all-time low for the club and makes them only the second side in Premier League history to be relegated this early, matching Derby County’s infamous 2007-08 demise.
It’s a stunning collapse for a club that just two seasons ago was competing in the Premier League and had made a habit of defying expectations. But this year, the Saints looked out of their depth from the start. The team lacked identity, goals, and above all, fight. For fans of the south coast side, it’s been a painful watch — and now the numbers paint them in the same damning light as some of the most disastrous teams in Premier League history.
So how do Southampton’s sorry exploits compare to the worst of the worst? Let’s dive into the catalogue of catastrophe.
Derby County (2007-08): The Undisputed Worst
When people talk about the worst Premier League side ever, Derby County 2007-08 is always first off the tongue — and rightly so. Eleven points. One win. Twenty-nine defeats. A goal difference of –69. Paul Jewell went 24 games without a win in charge. Their top scorer (Kenny Miller) bagged just four. It was painful then and still painful now.
Derby set a benchmark for ineptitude that has never been beaten — only matched in parts. The Rams weren’t just bad; they were historically bad.
Swindon Town (1993-94): Defensive Disasterclass
Swindon’s only Premier League season ended with them conceding 100 goals — still a staggering statistic. Though they scored a respectable 47, their defending was virtually non-existent. Four different goalkeepers were used, and every single one let in at least six goals in a game.
Jan Åge Fjørtoft’s late-season surge gave fans fleeting hope, but five wins from 42 matches tells its own story. This was a team completely out of its depth.
Huddersfield Town (2018-19): The Warning Signs Were There
Huddersfield’s miraculous escape in 2017-18 was a brilliant underdog tale — but the following season reality hit. They were relegated with six games to go, finishing on just 16 points — the joint-third worst tally in Premier League history.
The Terriers managed only three wins all season. Their attack was toothless, and their midfield non-existent. Only Derby had a longer winless run in a single campaign.
Ipswich Town (1994-95): The 9-0 Club
Ipswich’s 1994-95 relegation was memorable for all the wrong reasons. A leaky defence saw them ship 93 goals, including a Premier League record 9-0 thrashing at the hands of Manchester United.
They ended the campaign 21 points from safety, with a –57 goal difference and a squad that looked like it had aged a decade in a single season. No fight, no flair, just a slow drift into the abyss.
Sunderland (2002-03 & 2005-06): Double Trouble
Sunderland, uniquely, make this list twice.
In 2002-03, three different managers couldn’t stop the rot as the Black Cats finished with 19 points and a then-record 15 straight defeats.
Then in 2005-06, they somehow got worse — ending the season with just 15 points, equalling Derby’s record for most losses in a season (29). Sunderland were Premier League regulars, but these campaigns were anything but elite.
Sheffield United (2020-21 & 2023-24): From Ninth to Nightmare
From finishing ninth in 2019-20 to relegation the following season, Sheffield United’s fall was dramatic. In 2020-21, they failed to win until January and were sent down with six games to spare.
If that wasn’t bad enough, the 2023-24 season was even worse. A Premier League record 104 goals conceded, a joint-record –69 goal difference, and just 16 points — again. Three managers couldn’t fix it, and it’s hard to see them recovering any time soon.
Southampton 2024-25: The Saints Go Marching Down
Which brings us to Southampton this season. The club had shown glimpses of ambition in past seasons, but that all came crashing down in a campaign defined by tactical confusion, poor recruitment, and a lack of belief.
Relegated with seven games left, they now join Derby (2008), Huddersfield (2019), Ipswich (1995), and Sheffield United (2021) in the list of sides relegated earliest in Premier League history. Based on their dismal goal difference, lack of attacking threat, and utterly toothless run of form, Southampton have earned their place in the pantheon of the Premier League’s worst-ever teams.
Dishonourable Mentions
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QPR (2012-13): Big names, bigger egos, no chemistry.
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Norwich (2019-20): All flair, zero fight. No points recovered from losing positions.
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Aston Villa (2015-16): Eleven straight defeats. The lowest win percentage for any Villa boss in Premier League history (cheers, Rémi Garde).
So, Where Do Southampton Rank?
While Derby will always wear the crown of calamity, Southampton’s early relegation in 2024-25 puts them firmly in the bottom five of all time. Relegated in April, the Saints looked as if they were resigned to their fate months earlier. No fight, no spark, and no miracle finish.
In a league where survival often hinges on resilience, Southampton were nothing short of submissive.
The only thing they can do now is rebuild — and hope they never find themselves in an article like this again.
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