Worst Seasons by top Clubs

Discussion in 'The Beautiful Game' started by argentine soccer fan, Dec 27, 2008.

  1. argentine soccer fan

    Staff Member

    Jan 18, 2001
    San Francisco Bay Area
    Club:
    CA Boca Juniors
    Nat'l Team:
    Argentina
    This year River Plate finished dead last in Argentina's Apertura, the worst season in its history.

    River finished in 19th place, with just two wins, eight draws and nine losses, for a total of 14 points in 19 matches.

    It is a remarkable historical dubious achievement by one of the dominant clubs in Argentine Football, especially after winning the title the previous season.

    I am curious about historically bad seasons by other traditional big and dominant clubs. Surely the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona, AC Milan, Juventus, Manchester United, Penarol, Sao Paulo, Celtic and so on must have had some horrible seasons as well.

    So, whether you are a supporter or a foe of a 'big' club, please let us know about their worst historical efforts.
     
  2. argentine soccer fan

    Staff Member

    Jan 18, 2001
    San Francisco Bay Area
    Club:
    CA Boca Juniors
    Nat'l Team:
    Argentina
    For Boca Juniors, the worst season was in 1949. They were in last place for most of the season, and only managed to avoid relegation after winning their last match to finish just one point ahead of Huracan and Lanus. They ended up tied with Tigre for 15th place out of 18 teams, with 10 wins, 7 draws and 17 loses.

    BTW: River Plate was not relegated this season, as Argentina now has a system in which teams are relegated based on a three year average.
     
  3. lanman

    lanman BigSoccer Supporter

    Aug 30, 2002
    Man Utd were relegated in 1974, just 6 years after winning the European Cup. They finished 21st out of 22 with just 32 points.
     
  4. Big Soccer Member

    Jan 16, 2008
    Surrey, England
    Club:
    Newcastle United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    England
    Inter finished 17th, one place from relegation, in 1994.

    Man Utd has already been mentioned.

    Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool have never been relegated whilst they have been a big club.

    Nor Real or Barca.

    Nor Rangers or Celtic.

    Atheltico Madrid's stint in the second tier is the worst for a big Euro club in a while (and they aren't that big).
     
  5. Catel

    Catel Member

    Dec 18, 2006
    Lyon, France
    Nat'l Team:
    France
  6. cmedina1983

    cmedina1983 New Member

    Nov 14, 2008
    California
    Club:
    Sydney FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Australia
    Newcastle Jets won the A-League Grand Final last year and are now sitting at the bottom of the table this year.

    That's pretty horrible, if you ask me.
     
  7. jared9999

    jared9999 Member+

    Jan 3, 2005
    Naucalpan Estado de Mex
    Club:
    Club América
    Nat'l Team:
    Mexico
    Club America- the greatest club in mexican football also finished in last place this year:D
     
  8. jared9999

    jared9999 Member+

    Jan 3, 2005
    Naucalpan Estado de Mex
    Club:
    Club América
    Nat'l Team:
    Mexico
    i thought they finished in 20th place?
     
  9. DogWalker

    DogWalker New Member

    Dec 28, 2008
    Arlington, VA
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Where does River Plate have to finish to get relegated? 17th or worse?
     
  10. MNAFETSC

    MNAFETSC Member

    Feb 5, 2000
    Blacksburg
    I believe in order to get automatically relegated they need to finish in 19th or 20th, and for relegation playoffs they have to place in 17th or 18th. All this based on a three year span, which Im sure theyre safe at least for this seasons relegation race.
     
  11. argentine soccer fan

    Staff Member

    Jan 18, 2001
    San Francisco Bay Area
    Club:
    CA Boca Juniors
    Nat'l Team:
    Argentina
    Right. River finished in 20th place out of 20 teams.

    They are not in danger of being relegated for now, as they finished first the previous season. The two teams with the worst average over three years get relegated automatically, while those with the next two worst averages go to a playoff against the 3rd and 4th place teams of the second division.
     
  12. argentine soccer fan

    Staff Member

    Jan 18, 2001
    San Francisco Bay Area
    Club:
    CA Boca Juniors
    Nat'l Team:
    Argentina
    What is remarkable about the 2008 apertura is that three of the traditional five big teams finished near the bottom. Racing (14th), Independiente (18th) and River (20th)

    Following are the worst seasons by Buenos Aires traditional 5 big teams:

    Boca Juniors:
    1949 (15th out of 18)
    1984 (16th out of 19)

    River Plate:
    1983 (18th out of 19) *
    Apertura 2008 (20th out of 20)

    Independiente
    Clausura 2002 (20th out of 20)
    Apertura 2008 (18th out of 20)
    Clausura 2001 (17th out of 20)

    Racing Club
    Apertura 2000 (20th out of 20)
    Clausura 2008 (20th out of 20)
    Clausura 2006 (18th out of 20)
    Metropolitano 1983 (17th out of 19) **
    Metropolitano 1982 (16th out of 19)

    San Lorenzo
    1981 (17th out of 18) ***
    Clausura 1992 (19th out of 20)
    Clausura 1996 (19th out of 20)
    1980 (16th out of 19)


    *The system of averaging was instituted in 1983, saving River from relegation. (Boca, River and Independiente were never relegated.)

    **Racing was relegated based on average in 1983. After coming up short in 1984, they returned to first division in 1985.

    ***San Lorenzo was relegated in 1981, the first 'big' team to go down to Argentina's 2nd division. They returned to first division the following year.
     
  13. jared9999

    jared9999 Member+

    Jan 3, 2005
    Naucalpan Estado de Mex
    Club:
    Club América
    Nat'l Team:
    Mexico
    what exactly are their order? 1-5
     
  14. DogWalker

    DogWalker New Member

    Dec 28, 2008
    Arlington, VA
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    That means if past year is averaged they are #10. Which means they could finish next year at #20 (for the Open & Closing Seasons - Apertura & Clausura) and average #15. Then they could have that third year have a #20 Opening Season but then finish #15 - and probrably squeak by as a #16 (and avoid any relegation playoff.) I think:confused:
     
  15. Leeds92

    Leeds92 New Member

    Jun 19, 2008
    Australia
    Club:
    Leeds United AFC
    Nat'l Team:
    Australia
    When they won the league in 1992, Leeds finished in 17th the following season with only two points and 8 goals the difference between them and Crystal Palace who were the highest relegated team.
     
  16. glennaldo_sf

    glennaldo_sf Member+

    Houston Dynamo, Penang FC, Al Duhail
    United States
    Nov 25, 2004
    Doha, Qatar
    Club:
    FL Fart Vang Hedmark
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
  17. argentine soccer fan

    Staff Member

    Jan 18, 2001
    San Francisco Bay Area
    Club:
    CA Boca Juniors
    Nat'l Team:
    Argentina
    Depends on how you rank them.

    The top five based on popularity, (polls asking which club people support)

    1) Boca
    2) River
    3) Independientre
    4) Racing
    5) San Lorenzo

    All from Buenos Aires. (Avellaneda is a suburb of Buenos Aires).

    They are followed by the two teams from Rosario, (Rosario Central and Newell's Old Boys), and then the two teams from Cordoba, (Belgrano and Talleres).


    The top 9 teams based on local (1st division) and international titles:

    1) Boca (Buenos Aires): 24 local, 18 international (plus 7 amateur)
    2) River (Buenos Aires): 33 local, 5 international (plus 1 amateur)
    3) Independiente (Avellaneda): 14 Local, 15 international (plus 2 amateur)
    4) San Lorenzo (Buenos Aires): 12 local, 2 international (plus 3 amateur)
    5) Racing (Avellaneda): 7 local, 4 international (plus 9 amateur)
    6) Velez Sarsfield (Buenos Aires): 6 local, 5 international
    7)Estudiantes (La Plata): 4 local, 5 international (1 amateur)
    8)Rosario Central (Rosario): 4 local, 1 international
    9)Newells Old Boys (Rosario): 5 local

    Top ten based on total points accumulated in Argentina's 1st division professional league matches:*

    1) River Plate
    2) Boca Juniors
    3) Independiente
    4) San Lorenzo
    5) Velez
    6) Racing
    7) Estudiantes
    8) Newells
    9) Rosario Central
    10) Huracan

    *Ranked before the tournament that has just finished. Estudiantes might have passed Racing this season, they were very close.
     
  18. LaudrupFan

    LaudrupFan New Member

    Oct 22, 2005
    Inter won Uefa cup in 94 despite finishing 17th. I've no idea about circumstance but I guess it wouldn't be that embarrasing if Serie A was tight and they lost a few games towards the end of the season that sent them tumbling down the table. How about Leverkusen in 02/03, went from almost winning a treble to battling relegation in the space of a few months (along with their two star players leaving). Leeds are a big club that are facing tough times at the moment, I mean if finishing bottom of the top tier is humiliating then what is finishing midtable in the third tier?
     
  19. glennaldo_sf

    glennaldo_sf Member+

    Houston Dynamo, Penang FC, Al Duhail
    United States
    Nov 25, 2004
    Doha, Qatar
    Club:
    FL Fart Vang Hedmark
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    OK... an interesting one here... Manchester City... they're not 'dominant' nor are they a 'top' club but they are certainly 'big' and very, very rich... but, until a couple of days ago. Ok, ok... I know they don't really count but they are one of the world's richest clubs and the team that pipped Robinho from under Chelsea's noses. To see them in the relegation zone was pretty funny.
     

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