Premier League
United drop into relegation while Premier League giants revisit past lows
Manchester United have fallen into the Premier League relegation zone since 1986 after a loss to Nottingham Forest and a 4‑4 draw with Aston Villa.
United's unprecedented slide
The drop marks an unprecedented situation in United's modern era, prompting the question of which of England's traditional six big clubs has recorded the poorest campaign.
United finished 15th in the 2024/25 season and struggled again the following campaign, leading to the dismissal of Ruben Amorim.
Earlier, Michael Carrick steered a second‑half revival that lifted the side to third place and earned him the permanent manager role.
Carrick's first full season, however, began poorly with only one win in the opening nine matches and no victories in the last seven games.
Historical lows of the English giants
Manchester City have endured two 18th‑place finishes, in 1995/96 and 2000/01, the lowest positions in their Premier League history.
Both relegations occurred before the 2008 takeover by Sheikh Mansour, when City often hovered mid‑table.
In 1995/96 under Alan Ball, City recorded nine wins, eleven draws and eighteen defeats, amassing thirty‑eight points after a dismal start of two points from eleven games.
The season was decided on the final day when City recovered from a 2‑0 half‑time deficit to draw 2‑2 with Liverpool, yet fell on goal difference after Ball instructed players to waste time.
The second relegation in 2000/01 came under Joe Royle after back‑to‑back promotions, beginning with a 4‑0 loss to Charlton and the brief signing of George Weah, who left after eleven appearances.
Relegation was confirmed by a defeat to Ipswich Town, costing Royle his job, and Kevin Keegan subsequently guided City back as Second Division champions, marking the club's third drop in six years, a period that also saw a spell in the third tier in 1998.
Tottenham finished 17th in both the 2024/25 and 2025/26 Premier League campaigns.
Ange Postecoglou's 2024/25 side, plagued by injuries, lost twenty‑two of thirty‑eight games, finishing with thirty‑eight points, yet still secured the club's first European trophy in forty‑one years by beating United 1‑0 in the Europa League final in Bilbao.
Postecoglou was dismissed sixteen days after that triumph.
The following season saw further upheaval, with Thomas Frank sacked in February 2026 after eight winless games that left Spurs in sixteenth place, and Igor Tudor lasting only forty‑four days.
Roberto De Zerbi received a long‑term contract despite the looming threat of relegation, and victories over Wolverhampton and Aston Villa revived hopes before the final round.
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A 1‑0 home win over Everton lifted Tottenham to forty‑one points, keeping them in seventeenth while West Ham dropped to the second division with thirty‑nine points despite a 3‑0 win over Leeds.
United's worst Premier League finish came in 2024/25 when they ended 15th with forty‑two points and forty‑four goals, both club records low.
Erik ten Hag was sacked in October 2024 after nine rounds, shortly after extending his contract.
Ruud van Nistelrooy briefly managed the side before Amorim inherited a twelfth‑place team.
Under Amorim, United suffered eighteen defeats, the most since the 1973/74 relegation, and failed to record back‑to‑back wins at any stage, an unprecedented occurrence.