From the lofty heights of glory to utter despair, this is the
unfortunate experience that some football fans have gone through when
following their team.
Yet, this collection of teams are undoubtedly the pick of the bunch when looking at the biggest downfalls in football history...
Yet, this collection of teams are undoubtedly the pick of the bunch when looking at the biggest downfalls in football history...
7. Bolton Wanderers
The latest club to be on the verge of financial collapse is Sky Bet
Championship side Bolton Wanderers, who are nearly £200m in debt and
already under a transfer embargo. The Trotters are dead last in the
second tier of English football and this is a far cry from their
footballing past.
The Wanderers won the FA Cup three times in the 1920s and are the club to have spent the most amount of seasons in the top flight who are currently outside of the Premier League. Under Sam Allardyce Bolton became a top flight mainstay and attracted some top quality players, even reaching the UEFA Cup on two occasions, prior to their relegation in 2012.
The Wanderers won the FA Cup three times in the 1920s and are the club to have spent the most amount of seasons in the top flight who are currently outside of the Premier League. Under Sam Allardyce Bolton became a top flight mainstay and attracted some top quality players, even reaching the UEFA Cup on two occasions, prior to their relegation in 2012.
6. Real Oviedo
The Spanish club were La Liga regulars in the 1990s and made a UEFA Cup
appearance in 1991 after finishing 6th the season prior. The likes of
Stan Collymore, Juan Mata and Santi Cazorla all wore the blue of Oviedo,
but the situation worsened following relegation in 2001.
Another relegation left Oviedo in serious financial trouble and with a new stadium to run they were forced to drop down to the fourth tier of Spanish football. Incredibly, the club's supporters assisted with the enormous debt and they have slowly made their way back to the Segunda division, just one below La Liga.
Another relegation left Oviedo in serious financial trouble and with a new stadium to run they were forced to drop down to the fourth tier of Spanish football. Incredibly, the club's supporters assisted with the enormous debt and they have slowly made their way back to the Segunda division, just one below La Liga.
5. Fiorentina
A powerhouse in Italian and European football, Fiorentina have had their
fair share of drama in the last few decades. Il Viola won the Serie A
on two occasions, as well as claiming honours on the continent, but in
2001 their financial woes were made public and the club ceased to exist
entirely.
Nevertheless, it regrouped, entered the fourth tier of Italian football and embarked on returning to its glory days. Now, the Florence based side is again in the upper echelons of the Serie A and have already returned to playing in Europe.
Nevertheless, it regrouped, entered the fourth tier of Italian football and embarked on returning to its glory days. Now, the Florence based side is again in the upper echelons of the Serie A and have already returned to playing in Europe.
4. Portsmouth
Pompey are another club that used to be part of Premier League
furniture, but are now a distant memory. The south coast club reached
two FA Cup finals in the late 2000s, one of which they won and were
represented by such stars as Sol Campbell, Jermain Defoe and Lassana
Diarra.
Yet, after Harry Redknapp's reign the club came under severe financial pressure and were forced to sell their stars. Three relegations and two administrations later and Pompey's supporters are subject to League Two football, where the club ultimately struggle.
Yet, after Harry Redknapp's reign the club came under severe financial pressure and were forced to sell their stars. Three relegations and two administrations later and Pompey's supporters are subject to League Two football, where the club ultimately struggle.
3. Leeds United
'Doing a Leeds' is already a well known phrase in English football to
describe a club that falls from grace, after the Whites went from
Champions League semi finalists to top flight relegation in just a few
seasons.
Once Premier League heavyweights, Leeds United have failed to return to the top flight and long gone are the days when Harry Kewell, Rio Ferdinand and Alan Smith lit Elland Road alight.
Once Premier League heavyweights, Leeds United have failed to return to the top flight and long gone are the days when Harry Kewell, Rio Ferdinand and Alan Smith lit Elland Road alight.
2. Rangers
The most successful club in world football are slowly making their way
back to the Scottish top flight after being liquidated at the end of the
2011/12 season, which saw them drop to the fourth division.
Rangers have won the Scottish league title a record 54 times, as well as countless other domestic and European honours. Their Old Firm rivalry with Celtic remains one of the world's most fierce, but their dramatic downfall has kept football fans starved of the fiery affair for a number of years.
Rangers have won the Scottish league title a record 54 times, as well as countless other domestic and European honours. Their Old Firm rivalry with Celtic remains one of the world's most fierce, but their dramatic downfall has kept football fans starved of the fiery affair for a number of years.
1. Parma
However, the collapse of the Parmalat parent company in 2004 triggered their demise and they never reached the heights of their previous glory days. Consistent financial troubles eventually led to bankruptcy, causing them to re-enter Italian football at Serie D, where they currently top a regional league.
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