The schizophrenic unit performed absolute wonders on the European front, finishing 4th in the highly competitive league phase of this year’s Champions League (ahead of the likes of City, Barcelona and Real Madrid). How on earth have they found themselves in this mess? In ‘honour’ of their current situation, I have compiled my personal list of the five best sides to ever be relegated from the Prem. Sidenote; I have opted to not include the 1996/1997 Middlesbrough side that reached both domestic cup finals (they went down courtesy of a three-point points deduction).

5. Crystal Palace (1994/1995)

Crystal Palace returned to the top flight in 1994/1995, embarking on one of the most surreal campaigns in their history. The Eagles reached the semifinals of both domestic cup competitions but also faced the scourge of relegation. They were unfortunate guinea pigs, relegated despite finishing 4th to bottom (the league was transitioning from a 22-team to a 20-team competition and needed to make a ruthless cut). This team had some real talent, with former England boss Gareth Southgate captaining the likes of Chris Armstrong, Richard Shaw and Nigel Martyn. Manager Alan Smith was fired just two days after the season’s completion, with Steve Coppell returning to the hotseat two years after handing the reins to his former assistant.

4. Newcastle United (2008/2009)

The Newcastle 2008/2009 campaign was like a slow-motion car-wreck, ending in the club’s first relegation since 1989. It was doomed from the start, with legendary figure Kevin Keegan resigning from the managerial post due to interference from the board (he apparently had no idea who new signing Xisco even was). Chris Hughton had two poor caretaker stints while surprise appointment Joe Kinnear suffered a health scare. Enter stage left: Alan Shearer. The Tyne-side Elvis was appointed for the last eight matches, but even he couldn’t stop the rot. He had a massive falling out with Michael Owen, accusing the Liverpool legend of protecting his body and not giving all to the cause during their run-in. While this was by no means an elite Newcastle side, they still had enough quality (Owen, Duff, Martins, Nolan) to survive.

3. Leicester City (2022/2023)

In Faustian terms, I think most Leicester fans would have gladly taken this relegation in exchange for that 2015/2016 title. Having said that, this Foxes lineup was littered with high-quality internationals such as Vardy, Maddison, Barnes and Tielemens. They should have never been close to a relegation dogfight. Sure, they weren’t anywhere near the unit they were when they produced that herculean title-winning run. But they flirted with a title race in 19/20 and won the FA Cup just two years prior to their relegation. They endured a slow start to the campaign (which wasn’t helped by the interruption of the Winter World Cup). They then had major internal conflict, with the ever-confident James Maddison questioning his team’s resolve after a dispiriting 5-3 loss to Fulham. Ironically, Maddison would miss a costly penalty against relegation rivals Everton near the backend of the season. That game ended 2-2, and Leicester finished the season just two points behind the Toffees.

2. Nottingham Forest (1992/1993)

Brian Clough was more than just a football manager; he was a larger-than-life persona who transcended the game. He brought a mystique to football management, constructing a cult of personality emulated by the likes of Ferguson and Mourinho. He took Forest to magnificent heights, winning back-to-back European Cup titles. But it all ended in catastrophe, as Clough’s beloved Forest were relegated in the inaugural edition of the Premier League. Clough would go on to admit that his battle with alcoholism led to disarray in his final few seasons. The choice to sell stars Teddy Sheringham and Des Walker confounded many diehard Forest fanatics. And they just couldn’t find their rhythm despite having a team that featured the likes of Stuart Pearce, Nigel Clough and Steve Stone. Roy Keane proved an instrumental part of the side, somehow making the PFL Team of the Year despite relegation! Cloughie finally stepped down as Forest manager and was replaced by Frank Clark, who won automatic promotion and guided the Reds to 3rd in their first season back in the big time.

1. West Ham (2002/2003)

This has always been the relegation that baffles me the most. Glenn Roeder was a young manager on the rise, guiding West Ham to a highly creditable 7th place finish in 2001/2002. The side was awash with current or future England internationals, with a roster including the likes of Michael Carrick, David James, Joe Cole, Jermaine Defoe and Glen Johnson. He also had the ultimate maverick up his sleeve, with Paolo Di Canio acting as the unofficial team mascot. But Roeder’s side endured a disastrous start to the campaign, winning just three of their first 24 matches. Rumours of intense infighting swirled, with Di Canio even criticizing Roeder after a rare 2-1 win over West Brom. But Roeder’s feud with Di Canio paled into insignificance on April 21st 2003, as Roeder collapsed during their clash with Middlesbrough due to what was later diagnosed as a non-malignant brain tumour. Sir Trevor Booking took over as caretaker coach but couldn’t save West Ham from the drop. Incidentally, their 42-point tally remains the highest of any team to have been demoted in a 38-match season.