Shocking: Football Clubs That Dramatically Fell from Glory in the Last Decade

Football Clubs: As One Falls, Another Rises

Back in the 2000s, the Blues were bouncing between England’s second tier and the Premier League before finally settling in the top division and becoming a mainstay, despite never truly contesting for trophies. Then, in 2008, they were taken over by an oil-rich Abu Dhabi consortium, and the rest, as they say, is history. In the era of modern football, significant financial investment has transformed Manchester City from an average club into a formidable force. A first Premier League title in 44 years was claimed in 2012, as well as another in 2014, but it wasn’t until the arrival of a certain iconic Catalonian that the club’s trajectory truly hit the stratosphere.

Since appointing iconic manager Pep Guardiola back in 2016, Manchester City has dominated English football. The club has won the Premier League in all but two seasons since the former Barcelona boss arrived, as well as a famous league, FA Cup, and Champions League treble in 2023.

While they won’t win the top flight this season due to a resurgent Liverpool, online betting sites still make them the favorites to add yet another FA Cup title to their already overflowing trophy cabinet. The latest football odds from popular online betting sites currently price the Blues as a +110 favorite to win the FA Cup for the second time in three years. But as City have risen, many clubs - not just in England - have fallen by the wayside. Here are the powerhouses that have floundered the most recently, and whether they have any hope of rising back to the top.

Introduction to Football Dynamics

The world of football is a complex and ever-changing landscape, with teams rising and falling in prominence over time. In recent years, the English Premier League has seen a significant shift in power, with traditional giants like Manchester United and Liverpool facing challenges from newly emerged powerhouses like Manchester City and Chelsea. The Champions League has also undergone a transformation, with the dominance of European heavyweights like Real Madrid and Barcelona being threatened by up-and-coming teams from the continent. As the football landscape continues to evolve, it’s essential to examine the dynamics that drive success and failure in the sport.

Manchester United

Is there really any place to start other than with City’s cross-city rivals Manchester United? Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, the Red Devils were a footballing powerhouse unlike any other. Maverick manager Sir Alex Ferguson managed to lead the club to a whopping 13 titles in 21 years, as well as twice winning the UEFA Champions League and picking up a plethora of domestic cups along the way.

After winning the title once again in 2013, the iconic Scottish boss decided his time was up and walked off into the sunset of retirement. Since then, the club has been on a downward spiral. David Moyes was the man handpicked by Fergie to inherit the kingdom, but his reign lasted just nine months, and since then, there has been a revolving door of managers unable to replicate the great Ferguson’s success. The likes of Jose Mourinho, Louis van Gaal, and Erik Ten Hag have all attempted to drink from the poisoned chalice, but none of them have managed a sustained period of success. Manchester United's struggles in European competition since Sir Alex Ferguson's departure have further highlighted the club's decline.

That brings us to 2025. United have just appointed yet another new manager in the form of former Sporting CP boss Ruben Amorim, but the Portuguese gaffer is yet to truly stamp his authority on the team. The club is currently languishing way down in 13th in the Premier League table and is set for its worst finish in 35 years. To make matters worse, rumored financial difficulties mean that the club isn’t the powerhouse of old, and the marquee names such as Cristiano Ronaldo, David Beckham, and Wayne Rooney are a distant memory. Despite their historical achievements, including multiple European Cups, the current state of the club is a stark contrast to its glorious past.

There is hope that Amorim could well be the one to revive the ailing club’s fortunes. He had a stellar record in Portugal and led Sporting to their first league title in 19 years back in 2021. He has a specific philosophy on how he wants his team to play and he is under no illusions that the squad he has inherited needs a complete overhaul. Whether he will be given the time to fully complete a turnaround remains to be seen, but for United’s loyal Old Trafford supporters, success has never been further away. Manchester United's recent struggles in the Premier League and European competitions have only added to the fans' frustrations.

Valencia

Spanish giants Valencia were a major force both domestically and on the continental stage at the turn of the millennium. They reached back-to-back UEFA Champions League finals in 2000 and 2001, unfortunately losing both of them. But despite those heartbreaks, they were able to win La Liga twice in three years under former Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez. Valencia's historical significance in European football cannot be understated, as they were once considered among the elite clubs in Europe.

Following the second of that success in 2004, Los Ches remained a strong presence in Spanish football, consistently qualifying for the Champions League as well as competing for major honors. However, their decision to build a new stadium has been disastrous once, and the debacle has lingered on for almost two decades. Despite their past continental glory, the club has struggled to maintain its status.

The Nou Mestalla project was unveiled in November 2006, aiming to replace the historic Mestalla with a state-of-the-art 80,000-seat stadium. Construction began in August 2007 but halted barely two years after the global financial crisis hit. Multiple redesigns scaled down the capacity and costs, but funding issues persisted, stalling progress for nearly 16 years. Failed agreements, including one with Bankia, deepened the delays.

Recently, a big financing deal has reignited hopes that the stadium might finally get built, but that has done little to solve Valencia’s recent woes. Two years ago, the club was very nearly relegated for the first time in over a quarter of a century, avoiding the drop by just two points. This season, it looked like they may well be in a relationship dogfight again, but a recent upturn in form has eased those worries somewhat.

Even so, Valencia remains a shadow of their former selves. They haven’t finished in Spain’s top four in the last six years, while their 2019 Copa Del Rey triumph remains their only piece of silverware in the last 17 years. Completing the Nou Mestalla and remaining in La Liga is now of paramount importance, because should they slip out of the top flight, their future existence could well be threatened. If their struggles continue, there is a potential threat of relegation to the third tier, which would be catastrophic for a club of their stature.

Rise of New Powerhouses

The rise of new powerhouses in football has been a notable trend in recent years. Teams like Manchester City, backed by the Abu Dhabi United Group, have invested heavily in world-class talent and infrastructure, enabling them to challenge the traditional elite. The Premier League has seen a significant increase in competitiveness, with teams like Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur pushing for a top-four finish. In Europe, teams like Atletico Madrid and Juventus have emerged as dominant forces, winning major trophies and consistently performing well in the Champions League. The UEFA Cup and Europa League have also provided a platform for smaller teams to shine, with clubs like Sevilla and Porto winning European trophies.

League Title Contention

League title contention is a crucial aspect of football, with teams battling it out for the top spot in their respective leagues. In the Premier League, Manchester City and Liverpool have been the dominant forces in recent years, with Manchester United and Chelsea also in the mix. The La Liga title has been contested by Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Atletico Madrid, while the Serie A title has been won by Juventus in recent years. The Champions League has also seen a range of teams competing for the top prize, with the likes of Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, and Manchester City all reaching the final in recent years.

Lower Division Teams

Lower division teams often face significant challenges in their quest for success, with limited resources and a lack of top-class talent making it difficult to compete with the elite. However, teams like Nottingham Forest, who won the European Cup in 1979 and 1980, and Aston Villa, who won the European Cup in 1982, have shown that it’s possible for smaller teams to achieve greatness with the right management and investment. The English Football League has also provided a platform for teams to rise through the ranks, with clubs like Leicester City and Southampton achieving promotion to the Premier League in recent years. The FA Cup and League Cup have also provided a platform for lower division teams to compete against the elite, with the likes of Portsmouth and Swansea City winning major trophies in recent years.