The 10 greatest underdog teams in football history

#5 Nottingham Forest, 1977/78 Division One

1978 League Cup Final Wembley Stadium Notts Forest v Liverpool — Brian Clough pulled off a miracle with Nottingham Forest in 1977/78

The craziest thing about Nottingham Forest’s Division One league title win in 1977/78 – England’s top prize in the pre-Premier League era – wasn’t so much that they used just seventeen players across the entire season, nor was it that they brought in players on a largely tight budget – some of them journeymen like Kenny Burns. The most shocking thing was that they’d only been promoted in the previous season.

It’d essentially be the same as a side like Brighton or Huddersfield winning the Premier League today. If anything, that’d be an even bigger shock than Leicester’s 2015/16 title win. The victory was masterminded by the legendary manager Brian Clough, backed by his assistant Peter Taylor – the two men who had seen success at Derby County on an equally tight budget.

Forest won their first three games of the season before a loss to Arsenal; they would only lose another two times in the entire season. Along the way, they beat the likes of Everton, Manchester City and Manchester United, and kept Liverpool – who won the European Cup that season – firmly in second place, scoring 69 and conceding just 24.

And Kenny Burns went on to be named Footballer of the Year. Talk about a miracle season!

About the author

Scott is a veteran MMA writer with over two decades of experience, including his ongoing tenure in Sportskeeda, which began seven years ago. He has written over 3000 pieces for the organization, while also covering football. Before joining Sportskeeda, Scott wrote articles for websites like The Oratory and Inside Pulse MMA.

Scott has a degree in history, which drives his research skills and helps him compile accurate information. His long stint in the field helps Scott provide a clear take on important topics, such as the criticism of promotions regarding fighter pay. While he feels fighters deserve a bigger revenue share, he doesn’t want MMA to suffer with purse-split issues.

Scott’s work has been previously reshared by the former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman. He uses credible sources, such as the UFC’s official website, during the writing process.

His dedication to MMA writing won him the Feature Writer of the Month award for Sportskeeda in November 2021.

Outside of work, Scott likes to go to the gym, walk his dog, and travel.

Know More

Edited by Shambhu Ajith