RANKED- WORST TITLE COLLAPSES IN MODERN FOOTBALL

 RANKED- WORST TITLE COLLAPSES IN MODERN FOOTBALL

From Ajax's Eredivisie Meltdown to Real Madrid's Galacticos and Gerrard's Slip: The Biggest Title Chokes in Recent History Ajax squandered a nine-point lead, winning just one of their last five games, handing the Eredivisie to PSV. Where does this collapse rank among the most shocking title failures in modern

football?

Manchester United (1997-98) In March 1998, Manchester United held a 12-point lead over Arsenal in the Premier League. Despite this, Arsenal surged to the title, winning 10 consecutive games to overtake United, even as some bookmakers prematurely paid out on a United victory. Arsenal capitalized on their games in hand, clinching the championship with two matches to spare. A potential 14-point lead for United was squandered after a 2-0 loss to Sheffield Wednesday—whom they had previously crushed 6-1—and a 1-1 draw against West Ham. The decisive moment came in May at Old Trafford, where Marc Overmars scored the winning goal for Arsenal, leaving United six points behind with Arsenal holding three games in hand. By United’s final home game, Arsenal had already secured the title, becoming only the third team to win the Premier League after United and Blackburn Rovers. United, however, bounced back to claim the treble the following season.

Arsenal (2007-08)

After selling Thierry Henry in the summer of 2007, Arsenal rebuilt their attack with Eduardo and relied heavily on Emmanuel Adebayor, who scored 24 league goals that season. The Gunners surged to a five-point lead with 12 games remaining, losing just once in the first half of the campaign. However, a pivotal 2-2 draw against Birmingham City saw Eduardo suffer a devastating ankle injury and captain William Gallas lose composure in a dramatic on-pitch meltdown. Arsenal faltered, winning only one of their next eight matches, including draws against Wigan and Middlesbrough and a loss to eventual champions Manchester United. Despite only three defeats in 38 games, Arsenal finished third, four points behind United. Gallas’ breakdown raises questions about whether stronger leadership could have secured Arsenal’s first title since 2004.

Liverpool (2013-14)

Steven Gerrard’s rallying cry, “This does not f*cking slip now,” proved hauntingly prophetic for Liverpool. Five points clear after 35 games, the Reds were on the cusp of their first title in decades following a 3-2 victory over Manchester City at Anfield. Gerrard’s impassioned pep talk, caught by Sky Sports, urged his teammates to stay focused, needing just seven points from their final three matches against Chelsea, Crystal Palace, and Newcastle. But disaster struck. Gerrard’s infamous slip against Chelsea led to a 2-0 home defeat, followed by a stunning collapse at Selhurst Park, where Liverpool squandered a 3-0 lead to draw 3-3 with Palace, as commentators noted they “caved in.” Despite a final-day win over Newcastle, Brendan Rodgers’ side fell short, and Manchester City claimed the title. It had, indeed, slipped.

Newcastle United (1995-96) Newcastle’s 1996 Premier League title collapse remains one of England’s most iconic. Under Kevin Keegan, the “Great Entertainers” played thrilling, attacking football, building a 12-point lead over Manchester United by January. Sir Alex Ferguson’s mind games, including Keegan’s famous “I will love it” outburst, shifted momentum. From February to April, Newcastle won just two of eight matches, including a dramatic 4-3 loss to Liverpool at Anfield, where Stan Collymore’s late goal left Keegan deflated. United, losing only once more, surged past. On the final day, Manchester United claimed the title, finishing four points ahead of Newcastle. Agonizingly close, yet so far.

Botafogo (2023) In Brazil, fans often quip that "some things only happen to Botafogo." In 2023, the Serie A club, chasing their first title since 1995, suffered the most dramatic collapse in Brazilian football history. Leading by 13 points and topping the table all season, Botafogo defeated América Mineiro 2-1 on October 18. Shockingly, they failed to win any of their final 11 matches, losing five and drawing six. This catastrophic run saw them finish fifth, with Palmeiras clinching the title six points ahead and Gremío taking second, two points behind the champions. Yet, in a stunning redemption, Botafogo claimed both the Serie A and Copa Libertadores the following season, ending nearly three decades of heartbreak. Perhaps the agony of 2023’s collapse was the catalyst they needed to savor the triumph of victory, even if they didn’t see it coming at the time.

Real Madrid (2003-04) No team in football history boasted the star power of early-2000s Real Madrid. With Zinedine Zidane, David Beckham, Ronaldo, Luis Figo, Raul, Iker Casillas, and Roberto Carlos donning the iconic white kit, they were expected to dominate La Liga. Leading by 12 points with 12 games left in the 2003-04 season, Madrid seemed unstoppable, having crushed Real Valladolid 7-2 and Sevilla 5-1. Despite a 4-1 loss to Sevilla in November raising minor concerns, a commanding reverse fixture win silenced doubts. Yet, in a shocking collapse, Madrid lost six of their final seven matches, including a 2-1 upset to relegated Murcia. Finishing fourth, seven points behind champions Valencia, the galacticos’ title dreams shattered. La Liga glory wouldn’t return until 2006-07, with the wounds of this failure lingering.