Huddersfield Become 1st EPL Team Relegated After Loss vs. Crystal Palace
Mar 30, 2019
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 30: Aaron Mooy of Huddersfield Town looks dejected during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Huddersfield Town at Selhurst Park on March 30, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Huddersfield Town became the first Premier League team to be relegated this season after losing 2-0 to Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Saturday:
Huddersfield Town become one of only two sides to get relegated from the Premier League in March ☠️ pic.twitter.com/QYRhoF0aO4
Goals from Luka Milivojevic and Patrick van Aanholt condemned the Terriers to their 24th Premier League defeat of the season after only 32 games.
Wins for Burnley and Southampton in combination with Huddersfield's loss mean Jan Siewert's side will return to the Championship after two seasons in England's top flight.
Only Derby County have been relegated earlier in a season than Huddersfield in Premier League history:
1 - Only Derby County who were relegated on March 29th in the 2007-08 campaign have been relegated sooner than Huddersfield Town in a Premier League season (March 30th 2019). Whimper.
The Terriers played Premier League football for the first time last season and sealed their survival with an impressive 1-1 draw against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
David Wagner was manager of the club at the time and was praised for keeping the team in the top flight:
Incredible achievement from Huddersfield. All three promoted clubs seal their survival. Brilliant job from Wagner.
However, Huddersfield have found the going much tougher second time around and have managed just three Premier League wins all season.
Wagner left the club in January by mutual consent with the team bottom of the table.
Sports reporters paid tribute to his achievements at the club:
David Wagner leaves Huddersfield. What an remarkable job he has done there — first to take them up, then to keep them up last season. A third miracle has never looked likely this season, but he will be one hell of a hard act to follow #htafchttps://t.co/nZ1uZlTcDD
David Wagner leaves Huddersfield Town by mutual consent. Sad end for a charismatic personality whose feat in getting The Terriers into the Premier League - and keeping them there last season - was a superb managerial achievement. https://t.co/y9xIoMmitN
Siewert arrived from Borussia Dortmund, where he coached the second team (the role Wagner also held before his appointment), but was unable to prevent the team from avoiding the drop.
The 36-year-old has overseen just one win since taking over, a 1-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers in February.
Huddersfield fans applauded their team for their efforts despite slipping out of the Premier League:
👏👏👏
Huddersfield fans applaud the players as their effort to avoid relegation is over with 2-0 defeat at #CPFC
Huddersfield look set to be joined by Fulham in the Championship next season. Scott Parker's side were beaten 2-0 by Manchester City on Saturday and are now 16 points from safety with six games left.
David Wagner, Huddersfield Town Part Ways with Club Bottom of Premier League
Jan 14, 2019
CARDIFF, WALES - JANUARY 12: Huddersfield manager David Wagner acknowledges the fans after the Premier League match between Cardiff City and Huddersfield Town at Cardiff City Stadium on January 12, 2019 in Cardiff, United Kingdom. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
David Wagner has departed from his role as head coach of Huddersfield Town.
The club announced the news via Twitter, adding the decision was made by "mutual consent":
📝 David Wagner has departed his role as Head Coach of #htafc by mutual consent.
The 47-year-old leaves Town after detailed discussions with the Board of Directors, with both parties agreeing this is the correct move for the future of the Club.
As reported by David Threlfall-Sykes of the club'sofficial website, Mark Hudson will take charge of the team for their next outing, a visit from defending Premier League champions Manchester City.
Club chairman Dean Hoyle thanked Wagner and explained he did not wish to sack the coach, but he himself asked for a break:
"I’d like to begin by thanking David for all he has achieved at Huddersfield Town over the last three-and-a-half years. Under his stewardship, we’ve achieved things on the football pitch that surpass anything in modern memory, and that have gone well beyond my wildest expectations as Chairman and as a fan.
"[...] As I had said previously, I had no intention of sacking David this season. Subsequently David – being the great man he is – came to us and made it clear that he needs a break from the rigours of football management.
"We discussed making that change immediately, but he also made it clear that he would give his all for the rest of this season before departing in the summer if we preferred. After a long discussion we all felt that David staying at the club until the end of the season was best, but we’ve kept discussions open and we all now feel that the time is right to part ways.
"I know the term ‘mutual consent’ is often a byword for the manager being sacked in professional football, but this is a truly joint decision. David has a real, genuine love for this club and, like me, his foremost concern in our talks has been to establish what is best for Huddersfield Town."
CARDIFF, WALES - JANUARY 12: David Wagner of Huddersfield Town with his coaching staff before the Premier League match between Cardiff City and Huddersfield Town at Cardiff City Stadium on January 12, 2019 in Cardiff, United Kingdom. (Photo by John Early/
Wagner had been in charge of the club since 2015 and guided the Terriers to their first Premier League stint and first spell in the top division since 1972 during the 2016-17 campaign.
Huddersfeld shocked many by avoiding relegation last season, but the current campaign has not gone smoothly. They sit in last place, taking just two wins out of 22 fixtures, and they haven't won a match in any competition since November.
With just 13 goals scored, they have been the least prolific team in the division, and their 37 goals conceded is the sixth-worst mark.
Despite those numbers, Wagner's departure still came as a shock:
Per sportswriter Henry Winter, he will leave a tremendous legacy at the club:
David Wagner will always be loved at Huddersfield Town not only for making them live the dream, for getting them promoted, but for his class and dignity as a man. A man who understood and cared for the community. Good luck to David wherever he goes. #htafc
His replacement will face a daunting task. The Terriers were never expected to find any success in the Premier League when they were first promoted, and saving them from relegation seems nearly impossible.
On top of that, the fans and local community will compare the next boss' work to that of Wagner, who overachieved tremendously.
The former U.S. international will likely be a wanted man when he decides to return to coaching.
