With another exuberant and record breaking Premier League season now behind us, Stoke City, West Bromwich Albion and Swansea City have all plunged out of the division and into the Championship. We’ve decided to look at 11 of the best players to have been relegated this season.
(Players on loan at each respective club have not been considered)
Jack Butland – Stoke City
When fighting to start in goals at a World Cup, getting relegated doesn’t exactly help. Butland played all but three games in the league for The Potters, keeping only six clean sheets and conceded a staggering 61 goals in the process.
However, the 25-year-old only made one error leading to a goal and made 144 saves all season. He pips fellow stoppers Fabianski and Foster to the team as he’s the more likely of the three to be playing in the Premier League again next season.
Allen Nyom – West Brom
The former Watford right-back makes this team solely due to having no competition. His contribution from full-back was well below par, completing only 39 tackles all season and providing just one assist.
The Cameroon international, who just turned 30, will be lucky if a Premier League club comes calling for his services anytime soon.
Alfie Mawson – Swansea City
A player that Swansea will no doubt struggle to keep hold of is Alfie Mawson. The 24-year-old recently won his first England call-up and played every minute of the season for the Swans.
As well as chipping in with a couple of goals, Mawson won 122 aerial battles and completed 69% of his tackles. Swansea’s season could have been a whole lot worse were it not for the young centre half.
Jonny Evans – West Brom
Partnering Mawson in defence is Northern Irish man, Jonny Evans. The former Manchester United man was linked with a baffling £30 million move to both Manchester City and Arsenal in January this year.
However, the three time Premier League winner played like a 30 pound player for most of the season but makes the cut due to his experience.
The 30-year-old may be available for much less than the aforementioned fee now that the Baggies have taken the drop, with reports of him being available for just £3 million thanks to a clause in his contract.
Martin Olsson – Swansea City
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As you may have already gathered, relegated teams don’t tend to offer much defensive qualities.
The former Blackburn and Norwich left-back makes the team due to his Premier League experience along with being a regular for his native Sweden.
Kieran Gibbs is an honourable mention but the fact he couldn’t get a game in that shambolic Arsenal defence is enough to be excluded.
Jake Livermore – West Brom
Despite finishing rock bottom of the league, The Baggies midfielder is still in contention to make England’s World Cup squad.
Livermore only completed an average of 32 passes per game but is still only 28 and is sure to get another crack at playing in the Premier League come August.
Joe Allen – Stoke City
Often described as the Welsh Xavi, Joe Allen has plenty of admirers for his ability to dictate play.
However, Allen’s form dramatically dipped at the turn of the year but is a player who will be in high demand this summer.
Having previously played under Brendan Rodgers at both Swansea and Liverpool, don’t be surprised if the 28 year old ends up in Glasgow in the coming months.
Darren Fletcher – Stoke City
Fletcher was destined to be relegated it seems, as he left fellow Championship bound West Brom for The Potters last summer.
Having spent his best years at Manchester United, Fletcher’s time in the Premier League is surely up given his age, but his total of 341 appearances in the league is a testament to his quality and tenacity.
Jay Rodriquez – West Brom
Unfortunate to even be on this list, Jay Rodriquez’s career took an turn for the worst when he suffered a horrific injury against Manchester City back in 2014.
The forward would have made the England squad for that summer’s World Cup in Brazil had it not been for injury.
The Baggies gave Rodriquez a chance to spark his career into life again when he left Southampton last summer.
The former Saint reminded us all what he can do this season and deserves another chance in the Top-flight and will have many suitors this summer.
Xherdan Shaqiri – Stoke City
Arguably one of the most talented players to have ever been relegated from the Premier League, the Swiss international turned heads when he joined The Potters in the summer of 2015.
Shaqiri’s C.V is extremely impressive, having won the Treble with Bayern Munich in 2013, but a failed loan move at Inter Milan saw him swap Bavaria for Stoke-on-Trent in order to relight his career.
Built like a Swiss bank, the 26 year old needs to be playing European football again to showcase his raw talent.
Salomon Rondon – West Brom
Only one of two players to ever score a hat-trick of headers in the Premier League, the Venezuelan marksman should have been put to better use this season.
The former Zenit man only managed to bag seven goals in the campaign but service from out wide was at a premium for the 28 year old.
With only one headed goal scored all season along with missing nine big chances, Rondon didn’t cover himself in much glory either.
However, should the South American opt to stay at West Brom, he will have no problem getting on the score sheet in the Championship. Still, expect the club record signing to seek pastures new this summer.
