The worst teams in Premier League history

For a division often hailed as the ‘best in the world’, the Premier League has boasted some truly awful sides over the years.

There have been plenty of clubs over the years that have been laughably bad, competing in their own mini-league of the worst sides to have ever taken to the Premier League stage. It’s hardly a competition to be proud of winning, but it does guarantee notoriety for years to come.

Of course, it’s not always the fault of these dismal teams, many of whom are unable to cope with the jump in quality and financial disparity between the Championship and the Premier League, but the English top flight can be a merciless place.

Here are the worst teams in Premier League history – ranked by their microscopic points tallies.

Bradford struggled for goals in 2000/01 / Gary M. Prior/GettyImages

Big Sam faced his first relegation in 2021 / Stu Forster/GettyImages

Fulham’s big names failed to deliver in 2018/19 / Catherine Ivill/GettyImages

Loic Remy couldn’t save QPR / Julian Finney/GettyImages

A disastrous managerial reign / Robin Jones/GettyImages

Terry Connor failed to oversee a win / Jamie McDonald/GettyImages

Ipswich were on the receiving end of a 9-0 thrashing at the hands of Man Utd / Mike Hewitt/GettyImages

Jermain Defoe was a bright spark for Sunderland / Ian MacNicol/GettyImages

The Premier League was a bridge too far for the Hornets in 1999/00 / Gary M. Prior/GettyImages

Watford’s 2021/22 season was chaotic / Tom Dulat/GettyImages

Chris Wilder was dismissed in March 2021 / Pool/GettyImages

Norwich couldn’t handle the step up / Gareth Copley/GettyImages

Norwich have had some bad seasons in recent years / James Williamson – AMA/GettyImages

Sunderland were out of their depth / Gary M. Prior/GettyImages

Portsmouth were awarded a points deduction in 2009/10 / Christopher Lee/GettyImages

Aston Villa managed just 17 points / Stu Forster/GettyImages

Huddersfield succumbed to second season syndrome / James Williamson – AMA/GettyImages

The Blades have been a disaster / Marc Atkins/GettyImages

Mick McCarthy had no luck with Sunderland second time around / Laurence Griffiths/GettyImages

Derby County are the worst performers in Premier League history / Ryan Pierse/GettyImages

Team

Season

Wins

Draws

Losses

GD

Points

Bradford

2000/01

5

11

22

-40

26

West Brom

2020/21

5

11

22

-41

26

Fulham

2018/19

7

5

26

-47

26

QPR

2012/13

4

13

21

-30

25

Southampton

2022/23

6

7

25

-37

25

Wolves

2011/12

5

10

23

-42

25

Ipswich Town

1994/95

7

6

29

-57

24.4*

Sunderland

2016/17

6

6

26

-40

24

Watford

1999/00

6

6

26

-42

24

Watford

2021/22

6

5

27

-43

23

Sheffield United

2020/21

7

2

29

-43

23

Norwich

2021/22

5

7

26

-61

22

Norwich

2019/20

5

6

27

-49

21

Sunderland

2002/03

4

7

27

-44

19

Portsmouth

2009/10**

7

7

24

-32

19

Aston Villa

2015/16

3

8

27

-49

17

Huddersfield

2018/19

3

7

28

-54

16

Sheffield United

2023/24***

3

7

26

-65

16

Sunderland

2005/06

3

6

29

-43

15

Derby

2007/08

1

8

29

-69

11

*Points adjusted for 38-game season
**Points deduction (-9)
***Season still active

READ THE LATEST PREMIER LEAGUE NEWS, RUMOURS & GOSSIP