10 Darkest Spurs Moments Of The Premier League Era

8. Near-Relegation

In the 1997-98 season, Spurs came as close as they have even been to being relegated from the Premier League. Having spent the entire season floundering in the bottom half of the league table, manager Gerry Francis resigned in November with the club actually in the relegation zone and the fans were calling for chairman Alan Sugar's head. The chairman then brought in Christian Gross - a pretty dark moment in itself - but the bizarre Swiss coach actually turned things around. Bringing in Spurs legend Jurgen Klinsmann on loan, the German's nine league goals - which made him the top scorer for the season, despite only playing in half of it - saved the club (including four in one game on a memorable afternoon at Selhurst Park). Spurs ended up losing just once in their last nine games and finished fourteenth - four points away from the relegation zone - but it was touch and go for the entire season and the club were closer than they have ever been in the Premier League era to playing second-tier football in the old First Division.