Whereas most groups are likely to qualify for a European competitors by performing effectively within the league, there have been some notable exceptions to this from through the years.
Throughout Europe, groups can even qualify for European competitions by doing effectively in cup competitions, no matter their league kind.
We’ve taken a more in-depth have a look at this phenomenon and have discovered seven of the worst groups to qualify for a European competitors in current historical past.
Tottenham
For a lot of Spurs followers, their home struggles may have been forgotten after they beat Manchester United within the Europa League remaining.
Due to that triumph, it means they’ll be taking part in within the Champions League subsequent season, regardless of at present sitting seventeenth within the Premier League and being 28 factors adrift of the highest 5.
Accidents have hampered Ange Postecoglou’s aspect all season, however even after they’ve had a completely match squad, they’ve seemed nowhere close to Champions League high quality this season.
As of writing, they’ve misplaced 21 league matches this season, which is identical quantity as Leeds United misplaced in 2022-23 after they have been relegated to the Championship. Ouch.
Birmingham Metropolis
Birmingham managed to qualify for the Europa League in 2011 and have been relegated from the Premier League in the identical season.
Alex McLeish’s aspect induced an upset within the League Cup and beat Arsenal within the remaining, which booked their place within the Europa League for the next season.
Sadly for Birmingham, they couldn’t fairly match those self same requirements within the league as they have been relegated on the ultimate day of the 2010-11 marketing campaign.
It subsequently meant that Birmingham acquired to play within the Europa League as a Championship membership throughout the next season.
They’d a good stab at Europe in equity and gained three of their six group stage video games, however that also wasn’t sufficient to progress to the knockout phases.
Wigan Athletic
In an analogous vein to Birmingham, Wigan gained a home cup and certified for the Europa League while additionally being relegated to the Championship.
Roberto Martinez masterminded Wigan’s FA Cup triumph in 2013, however he couldn’t steer the membership to Premier League security.
Throughout 2013-14, Wigan performed within the Europa League as a Championship membership however didn’t make it out of their group.
Millwall
Millwall managed to qualify for the UEFA Cup in 2004, regardless of taking part in within the Championship and never successful any silverware that yr.
Dennis Sensible’s aspect completed tenth within the Championship, however they did make it to the FA Cup remaining, the place they have been overwhelmed by Manchester United.
As United had already certified for the Champions League that season, Millwall got a European spot for ending as FA Cup runners-up.
Millwall performed Hungarian aspect Ferencvaros in a playoff qualifying spherical, however didn’t get previous them over two legs.
Aachen
In an analogous case to Millwall, Aachen managed to qualify for the UEFA Cup whereas they have been taking part in within the German second division.
After ending as runners-up within the DFB-Pokal in 2004, they certified for the UEFA Cup and ended up doing pretty effectively.
In a gaggle which additionally contained the likes of Lille and Sevilla, they managed to make it by means of to the spherical of 32 earlier than they in the end misplaced in opposition to AZ Alkmaar.
EA Guingamp
Regardless of taking part in within the French second division, Guingamp managed to qualify for the Europa League in 2009 after defying the percentages and successful the Coupe de France.
Sadly, they solely made it to the playoff spherical of the Europa League and have been effectively overwhelmed by Hamburger throughout two legs.
Beira-Mar
In 1998-99, Beira-Mar certified for the UEFA Cup throughout the identical season that they have been relegated from the Portuguese high flight.
They gained qualification because of successful the Taca de Portugal, however have been in the end relegated that very same season with a mere 33 factors to their title within the league.
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