Top 10 biggest league title collapses in football history ft. 2013-14 Liverpool
Winning a league title in a top European league is no mean feat.
Does anything compare to the thrill of a football title race? The most captivating battles for the trophy over a nine-month season occur when two or more elite teams compete against one another. They become inseparable until the last few weeks of the season, when only one team can win.
It can be challenging for a team to bounce back from a title race collapse. There have been many in the football world throughout the years, including in the Premier League, LaLiga, Bundesliga, Ligue 1, and Serie A.
Top 10 title collapses in football history
10. Liverpool: 2013/14 season
Liverpool’s late crumbling in the Premier League title battle in the 2013–2014 season was something to witness. The season is most remembered for Steven Gerrard’s notorious slip against Chelsea. With captain Gerrard in midfield and explosive goals from Luis Suarez, Daniel Sturridge, and Raheem Sterling, the Reds had been the most thrilling team that season.
However, in a series of games that ended their season, Brendan Rodgers was left scratching his head when old rival Jose Mourinho, with his Chelsea team, showed up to Anfield and orchestrated a victory.
9. Arsenal: 2007/08 season
More than anything else, a serious injury interfered with Arsenal’s plans. It was a major factor in their 2007–2008 title collapse. With only 12 Premier League games remaining, the Gunners, still in shock over Thierry Henry’s departure the previous summer, had widened the margin to five points.
But a single match against Birmingham City turned everything around. After the Gunners’ 2-2 draw, the supporters erupted on the field. It may have been the catalyst for the north London team’s decline toward the conclusion of the season.
8. Bayern Munich: 2011/12 season
Bayern Munich have won significantly more Bundesliga titles than any other team, making them the most successful team in German football. However, most of their fans will still be eager to forget the 2011–12 season, though. They lost both the Champions League and DFB-Pokal finals and ended second in the league.
7. Inter Milan: 2001/02 season
At the beginning of the 21st century, Inter Milan were going through a terrible time and hadn’t won a league title in 12 years. This is despite the fact that they had players like Ronaldo (Brazilian one), Christian Vieri, Javier Zanetti, and Clarence Seedorf in their lineup. When they had a great start and were at the top of the league table on Christmas Day, it appeared like the 2001–02 season would be their year.
Guess what unfolded? Another setback. Juventus were able to win their 26th Serie A title as Inter, which needed to defeat Lazio on the road to solidify their title dream, lost 4-2.
6. Arsenal: 2002/03 season
Arsenal had won their second double under Arsene Wenger in the 2001–02 season, and they were at the top of their game in 2002. In October, Everton’s 16-year-old Wayne Rooney stopped their 30-game winning streak, which they had started in the 2002–03 season. At the beginning of March, they were five points ahead as the leaders with nine games remaining.
But the Gunners would mysteriously only win two of their next seven games. A 3-2 loss to Leeds United at home in early May made it clear that Manchester United would be returning with the trophy.
5. AS Monaco: 2003/04 season
AS Monaco narrowly lost out on winning Ligue 1 in the 2002–03 season, but they appeared poised to make up for it in a season that will go down in history. The French team had a fantastic start to the 2003–04 season under Didier Deschamps’ leadership, dominating the standings from mid-September to mid-March. Monaco were also starting a thrilling Champions League campaign at the same time.
As the tournament progressed, they advanced to the final by unexpectedly defeating Real Madrid and Chelsea. However, their league performance deteriorated. They only won three of their final eight Ligue 1 games, placing them in third place.
4. Manchester United: 1997/98 season
With more championships than any other English team, Manchester United are the most formidable team in Premier League history. They dominated the competition in the 1990s. It appeared as though the 1997–98 season would repeat that pattern.
When the Red Devils pulled ahead of second-place Arsenal by 12 points at the beginning of March, the Gunners still had three games remaining.
But United lost their next three games, including a 1-0 loss at home to Arsenal, which saw Arsene Wenger’s team get ahead of them and win the Premier League for the first time.
3. Ajax: 2024/2025 season
The downfall of Ajax near the close of the 2024/2025 season is hardly credible, making it the most recent mega title collapse to appear on this list. With five games left, the Dutch powerhouses, led by former Nice manager Francesco Farioli, were nine points ahead of second-place PSV Eindhoven. However, they went on to blow it all away in dramatic fashion.
2. Real Madrid: 2003/04 season
The Galacticos phase at Real Madrid, led by Florentino Perez, was well underway in 2003. Global superstar David Beckham joined the Santiago Bernabeu’s already brimming talent pool during the summer transfer window. The team had won the league title in 2002–03.
Los Blancos dominated the competition in 2003-04. By the end of February, they led the table by eight points with 12 games remaining. However, Madrid’s record took a nosedive as they lost five of their league games and finished in a dismal fourth position. This is after shockingly losing the Copa del Rey final to Real Zaragoza and then falling to AS Monaco in an equally unexpected Champions League elimination match.
1. Newcastle United: 1995/96 season
Newcastle United had an incredible start to the season. Their 2-1 victory over Bolton Wanderers in the middle of January increased their lead at the top of the table to an incredible 12 points.
Newcastle’s greatest opportunity to win a league title since 1927 did not materialise, though. They lost five of their next eight games and won just two during a bad run of form from late February to early April. Manchester United were able to catch up to them and eventually overtake them in mid-March with a 1-0 victory over Arsenal.
How many Premier League titles have Liverpool won?
20 league titles.
How many LaLiga titles have Real Madrid won?
36 league titles.
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After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.