The 15 worst Premier League sides of all time

Not every team performs equally well

15. Swindon Town 1993/94 – 30 points, 13. Norwich City 2019/20 – 21 points, 12. Watford 2021/22 – 23 points, 11. Norwich City 2021/22 – 22 points, 10. Ipswich Town 1994/95 – 27 points, 9. Bradford City 2000/01 – 26 points, 8. Queens Park Rangers 2012/13 – 25 points, 7. Sunderland 2002/03 – 19 points, 5. Sheffield United 2023/24 – 16 points, 4. Southampton 2024/25 – 12 points, 3. Aston Villa 2015/16 - 17 points, 2. Sunderland 2005/06 – 15 points, 1. Derby County 2007/08 – 11 points

The Premier League is the best league in the world, but not every team performs equally well in England's top -flight division. From teams that never looked ready to compete, to squads that underperformed massively despite solid talent, these are the campaigns that fans would rather forget.

15. Swindon Town 1993/94 – 30 points

15. Swindon Town 1993/94 – 30 points, 13. Norwich City 2019/20 – 21 points, 12. Watford 2021/22 – 23 points, 11. Norwich City 2021/22 – 22 points, 10. Ipswich Town 1994/95 – 27 points, 9. Bradford City 2000/01 – 26 points, 8. Queens Park Rangers 2012/13 – 25 points, 7. Sunderland 2002/03 – 19 points, 5. Sheffield United 2023/24 – 16 points, 4. Southampton 2024/25 – 12 points, 3. Aston Villa 2015/16 - 17 points, 2. Sunderland 2005/06 – 15 points, 1. Derby County 2007/08 – 11 points

Swindon's only Premier League season was a baptism of fire. They won just five games and conceded a record 100 goals back when seasons lasted 42 matches. Manager John Gorman’s attacking style left them brutally exposed at the back; they tried to play football, but were completely outclassed at this level.

13. Norwich City 2019/20 – 21 points

15. Swindon Town 1993/94 – 30 points, 13. Norwich City 2019/20 – 21 points, 12. Watford 2021/22 – 23 points, 11. Norwich City 2021/22 – 22 points, 10. Ipswich Town 1994/95 – 27 points, 9. Bradford City 2000/01 – 26 points, 8. Queens Park Rangers 2012/13 – 25 points, 7. Sunderland 2002/03 – 19 points, 5. Sheffield United 2023/24 – 16 points, 4. Southampton 2024/25 – 12 points, 3. Aston Villa 2015/16 - 17 points, 2. Sunderland 2005/06 – 15 points, 1. Derby County 2007/08 – 11 points

Despite playing attractive football under Daniel Farke, Norwich, who hardly invested at all following promotion, were simply unable to compete with the big boys. They started brightly with a famous win over Manchester City, but the wheels came off after Christmas and they lost every game post-lockdown. Teemu Pukki's early-season goals dried up, and their defence proved too fragile.

12. Watford 2021/22 – 23 points

15. Swindon Town 1993/94 – 30 points, 13. Norwich City 2019/20 – 21 points, 12. Watford 2021/22 – 23 points, 11. Norwich City 2021/22 – 22 points, 10. Ipswich Town 1994/95 – 27 points, 9. Bradford City 2000/01 – 26 points, 8. Queens Park Rangers 2012/13 – 25 points, 7. Sunderland 2002/03 – 19 points, 5. Sheffield United 2023/24 – 16 points, 4. Southampton 2024/25 – 12 points, 3. Aston Villa 2015/16 - 17 points, 2. Sunderland 2005/06 – 15 points, 1. Derby County 2007/08 – 11 points

Watford burned through three managers — Xisco Muñoz, Claudio Ranieri and Roy Hodgson — in another season of constant upheaval. There was plenty of attacking flair with Ismaïla Sarr, Emmanuel Dennis and João Pedro, but the defence was calamitous. A failure to control games and a lack of structure made relegation inevitable. The squad had talent but was poorly managed and unbalanced.

11. Norwich City 2021/22 – 22 points

15. Swindon Town 1993/94 – 30 points, 13. Norwich City 2019/20 – 21 points, 12. Watford 2021/22 – 23 points, 11. Norwich City 2021/22 – 22 points, 10. Ipswich Town 1994/95 – 27 points, 9. Bradford City 2000/01 – 26 points, 8. Queens Park Rangers 2012/13 – 25 points, 7. Sunderland 2002/03 – 19 points, 5. Sheffield United 2023/24 – 16 points, 4. Southampton 2024/25 – 12 points, 3. Aston Villa 2015/16 - 17 points, 2. Sunderland 2005/06 – 15 points, 1. Derby County 2007/08 – 11 points

After one season in the Championship, Norwich returned to the Premier League under Daniel Farke but looked ill-equipped once again, this time with an even weaker squad, having let Emi Buendia and Todd Cantwell leave. Farke was sacked in November, oddly after their first win, and Dean Smith couldn’t halt the slide. They scored the fewest goals (23) and conceded 84. Premier League quality was again sorely missing.

10. Ipswich Town 1994/95 – 27 points

15. Swindon Town 1993/94 – 30 points, 13. Norwich City 2019/20 – 21 points, 12. Watford 2021/22 – 23 points, 11. Norwich City 2021/22 – 22 points, 10. Ipswich Town 1994/95 – 27 points, 9. Bradford City 2000/01 – 26 points, 8. Queens Park Rangers 2012/13 – 25 points, 7. Sunderland 2002/03 – 19 points, 5. Sheffield United 2023/24 – 16 points, 4. Southampton 2024/25 – 12 points, 3. Aston Villa 2015/16 - 17 points, 2. Sunderland 2005/06 – 15 points, 1. Derby County 2007/08 – 11 points

Ipswich were humiliated regularly throughout 1994/95, including a 9–0 defeat to Manchester United — still the joint-biggest Premier League loss. John Lyall was replaced by George Burley mid-season, but it made little difference. Their defence collapsed, shipping 93 goals, and confidence vanished.

9. Bradford City 2000/01 – 26 points

15. Swindon Town 1993/94 – 30 points, 13. Norwich City 2019/20 – 21 points, 12. Watford 2021/22 – 23 points, 11. Norwich City 2021/22 – 22 points, 10. Ipswich Town 1994/95 – 27 points, 9. Bradford City 2000/01 – 26 points, 8. Queens Park Rangers 2012/13 – 25 points, 7. Sunderland 2002/03 – 19 points, 5. Sheffield United 2023/24 – 16 points, 4. Southampton 2024/25 – 12 points, 3. Aston Villa 2015/16 - 17 points, 2. Sunderland 2005/06 – 15 points, 1. Derby County 2007/08 – 11 points

Having pulled off a great escape the season before, Bradford couldn’t repeat the feat in 2001. Chris Hutchings replaced Paul Jewell but was quickly sacked, with Jim Jefferies unable to turn things around. New signings flopped, and the club never recovered from a poor start. They had enough experience in the squad to stay up, but the chemistry was all wrong.

8. Queens Park Rangers 2012/13 – 25 points

15. Swindon Town 1993/94 – 30 points, 13. Norwich City 2019/20 – 21 points, 12. Watford 2021/22 – 23 points, 11. Norwich City 2021/22 – 22 points, 10. Ipswich Town 1994/95 – 27 points, 9. Bradford City 2000/01 – 26 points, 8. Queens Park Rangers 2012/13 – 25 points, 7. Sunderland 2002/03 – 19 points, 5. Sheffield United 2023/24 – 16 points, 4. Southampton 2024/25 – 12 points, 3. Aston Villa 2015/16 - 17 points, 2. Sunderland 2005/06 – 15 points, 1. Derby County 2007/08 – 11 points

QPR had no shortage of talent, but the dressing room was a mess filled with mercenaries. Big earners like José Bosingwa and Júlio César (pictured) underperformed, and Mark Hughes was sacked in November with the team winless. Harry Redknapp couldn’t fix things either, and the side were relegated with a whimper. A prime example of a club trying to buy success without building a team.

7. Sunderland 2002/03 – 19 points

15. Swindon Town 1993/94 – 30 points, 13. Norwich City 2019/20 – 21 points, 12. Watford 2021/22 – 23 points, 11. Norwich City 2021/22 – 22 points, 10. Ipswich Town 1994/95 – 27 points, 9. Bradford City 2000/01 – 26 points, 8. Queens Park Rangers 2012/13 – 25 points, 7. Sunderland 2002/03 – 19 points, 5. Sheffield United 2023/24 – 16 points, 4. Southampton 2024/25 – 12 points, 3. Aston Villa 2015/16 - 17 points, 2. Sunderland 2005/06 – 15 points, 1. Derby County 2007/08 – 11 points

After back-to-back seventh-place finishes just a few seasons earlier, Sunderland fell apart in 2002/03. The incredibly popular Peter Reid (pictured) was sacked early, with Howard Wilkinson and later Mick McCarthy failing to steady the ship. The Black Cats scored just 21 goals and ended the season with 15 consecutive defeats. The squad was shockingly poor, and relegation felt inevitable from mid-season.

5. Sheffield United 2023/24 – 16 points

15. Swindon Town 1993/94 – 30 points, 13. Norwich City 2019/20 – 21 points, 12. Watford 2021/22 – 23 points, 11. Norwich City 2021/22 – 22 points, 10. Ipswich Town 1994/95 – 27 points, 9. Bradford City 2000/01 – 26 points, 8. Queens Park Rangers 2012/13 – 25 points, 7. Sunderland 2002/03 – 19 points, 5. Sheffield United 2023/24 – 16 points, 4. Southampton 2024/25 – 12 points, 3. Aston Villa 2015/16 - 17 points, 2. Sunderland 2005/06 – 15 points, 1. Derby County 2007/08 – 11 points

Sheffield United’s return to the top flight was historically bad. They conceded 104 goals — the most ever in a 38-game Premier League season — and won just three matches. Paul Heckingbottom was sacked in December, replaced by Chris Wilder, but the damage was already done. The squad lacked both the depth and the organisation to compete.

4. Southampton 2024/25 – 12 points

15. Swindon Town 1993/94 – 30 points, 13. Norwich City 2019/20 – 21 points, 12. Watford 2021/22 – 23 points, 11. Norwich City 2021/22 – 22 points, 10. Ipswich Town 1994/95 – 27 points, 9. Bradford City 2000/01 – 26 points, 8. Queens Park Rangers 2012/13 – 25 points, 7. Sunderland 2002/03 – 19 points, 5. Sheffield United 2023/24 – 16 points, 4. Southampton 2024/25 – 12 points, 3. Aston Villa 2015/16 - 17 points, 2. Sunderland 2005/06 – 15 points, 1. Derby County 2007/08 – 11 points

Relegated with seven games left to play, the earliest in Premier League history, Southampton’s 2024/25 campaign was a horror show. Russell Martin’s tactics left the defence exposed, and it cost him his job. He was replaced by the equally hapless Ivan Jurić in December; the Croatian only lasted four months at the helm. Despite some young talent, including Tyler Dibling (pictured), they severely lacked overall quality.

3. Aston Villa 2015/16 - 17 points

15. Swindon Town 1993/94 – 30 points, 13. Norwich City 2019/20 – 21 points, 12. Watford 2021/22 – 23 points, 11. Norwich City 2021/22 – 22 points, 10. Ipswich Town 1994/95 – 27 points, 9. Bradford City 2000/01 – 26 points, 8. Queens Park Rangers 2012/13 – 25 points, 7. Sunderland 2002/03 – 19 points, 5. Sheffield United 2023/24 – 16 points, 4. Southampton 2024/25 – 12 points, 3. Aston Villa 2015/16 - 17 points, 2. Sunderland 2005/06 – 15 points, 1. Derby County 2007/08 – 11 points

Villa’s decline had been coming, but few expected it to be this bad. Tim Sherwood was sacked in October, Rémi Garde (pictured) came and went, and Eric Black oversaw the end. They won just three games all season and suffered 11 straight defeats to close the campaign. For a club of Villa’s stature, it was a total humiliation.

Big personalities

15. Swindon Town 1993/94 – 30 points, 13. Norwich City 2019/20 – 21 points, 12. Watford 2021/22 – 23 points, 11. Norwich City 2021/22 – 22 points, 10. Ipswich Town 1994/95 – 27 points, 9. Bradford City 2000/01 – 26 points, 8. Queens Park Rangers 2012/13 – 25 points, 7. Sunderland 2002/03 – 19 points, 5. Sheffield United 2023/24 – 16 points, 4. Southampton 2024/25 – 12 points, 3. Aston Villa 2015/16 - 17 points, 2. Sunderland 2005/06 – 15 points, 1. Derby County 2007/08 – 11 points

The squad included the likes of Joleon Lescott (pictured), Micah Richards and Jack Grealish, but performances were dismal. Dressing-room leaks and poor discipline hinted at a team that had stopped fighting. This was a team that had enough to stay up, but defensive errors, poor mentality and a toothless attack doomed them from the start.

2. Sunderland 2005/06 – 15 points

15. Swindon Town 1993/94 – 30 points, 13. Norwich City 2019/20 – 21 points, 12. Watford 2021/22 – 23 points, 11. Norwich City 2021/22 – 22 points, 10. Ipswich Town 1994/95 – 27 points, 9. Bradford City 2000/01 – 26 points, 8. Queens Park Rangers 2012/13 – 25 points, 7. Sunderland 2002/03 – 19 points, 5. Sheffield United 2023/24 – 16 points, 4. Southampton 2024/25 – 12 points, 3. Aston Villa 2015/16 - 17 points, 2. Sunderland 2005/06 – 15 points, 1. Derby County 2007/08 – 11 points

Sunderland returned to the Premier League under Mick McCarthy in 2005 but endured another historically bad campaign. They won just three matches and were relegated by mid-April, finishing with only 15 points. McCarthy was sacked in March, and caretaker boss Kevin Ball couldn’t stop the rot. Goals were rare, the football was dire, and they looked beaten most weeks.

Hopeless

15. Swindon Town 1993/94 – 30 points, 13. Norwich City 2019/20 – 21 points, 12. Watford 2021/22 – 23 points, 11. Norwich City 2021/22 – 22 points, 10. Ipswich Town 1994/95 – 27 points, 9. Bradford City 2000/01 – 26 points, 8. Queens Park Rangers 2012/13 – 25 points, 7. Sunderland 2002/03 – 19 points, 5. Sheffield United 2023/24 – 16 points, 4. Southampton 2024/25 – 12 points, 3. Aston Villa 2015/16 - 17 points, 2. Sunderland 2005/06 – 15 points, 1. Derby County 2007/08 – 11 points

With a lack of top-flight quality from front to back, the team never looked like competing. Jon Stead and Anthony Le Tallec struggled for goals, while the defence leaked regularly. This was the Black Cats' second entry on this list — a testament to their struggles early in the new millennium.

1. Derby County 2007/08 – 11 points

15. Swindon Town 1993/94 – 30 points, 13. Norwich City 2019/20 – 21 points, 12. Watford 2021/22 – 23 points, 11. Norwich City 2021/22 – 22 points, 10. Ipswich Town 1994/95 – 27 points, 9. Bradford City 2000/01 – 26 points, 8. Queens Park Rangers 2012/13 – 25 points, 7. Sunderland 2002/03 – 19 points, 5. Sheffield United 2023/24 – 16 points, 4. Southampton 2024/25 – 12 points, 3. Aston Villa 2015/16 - 17 points, 2. Sunderland 2005/06 – 15 points, 1. Derby County 2007/08 – 11 points

No Premier League team has ever looked less competitive than Derby County in 2007/08. They won just one match all season — a 1–0 win over Newcastle in September — and finished with a record-low 11 points. Billy Davies (pictured) was sacked in November, replaced by Paul Jewell, who failed to win a single match.

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