History of Derby County F.C. (1967–present) facts for kids
The history of Derby County Football Club from 1967 to today tells the story of the team from when Brian Clough took charge in 1967 until the 2022–23 season.
For many years, Derby County had a steady history. But this period saw the club go through big changes. They earned five promotions and faced five relegations. The team rose to amazing success and then had some tough times. After more than ten years in the second division, Brian Clough became manager. He started a big change at the club. Derby County went on to win the top English league title twice in the 1970s. They even reached the European Cup semi-finals in 1973. However, the club then quickly declined and faced serious money problems within ten years of their second championship. Later, they climbed back to the top league in the late 1980s and early 1990s. For the next 20 years, they often moved between the top league and the second division.
During this time, the club was led by its most famous manager, Brian Clough. Players like Kevin Hector, Roy McFarland, Archie Gemmill, Stefano Eranio, and Igor Štimac played for the team. All of them were later chosen for the club's best-ever team in 2010.
Contents
- The Clough and Taylor Years (1967–1973)
- Champions Again (1974–1975)
- A Difficult Decline (1975–1984)
- Promotions and Top Flight Return (1984–1991)
- Big Spending and Playoff Challenges (1991–1995)
- Premier Rams and Pride Park Stadium (1995–2002)
- Back in the Football League (2002–2006)
- Promotion and the Premier League Nightmare (2006–2008)
- The Championship Years (2008–2022)
- League One (2022–2024)
- Images for kids
The Clough and Taylor Years (1967–1973)
Getting Promoted and Settling In
Brian Clough and his assistant, Peter Taylor, had done well at their previous club, Hartlepools. They were recommended to Derby's chairman, Sam Longson. In their first season (1967–68), Derby finished 18th. However, they brought in many new players. These included Roy McFarland, John O'Hare, and Alan Hinton. These players would become the core of the club's most successful team ever. Clough also made many changes behind the scenes.
With new players like Willie Carlin and the important signing of Dave Mackay from Tottenham Hotspur, Clough's team was ready. Mackay, a famous midfielder, was changed into a strong defender by Clough. In the next season (1968–69), Derby County won the Football League Second Division title easily. They finished seven points ahead of second-placed Crystal Palace. The team lost only three of their last 37 games. They also won their final 9 matches, which was a club record. This promotion meant Derby returned to the top league after 16 years. Dave Mackay was named Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year. He was the only Derby County player to receive this award.
| Event | 1970 Watney Cup Final | ||||||
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| Date | 8 August 1970 | ||||||
| Venue | The Baseball Ground, Derby | ||||||
| Attendance | 32,049 | ||||||
Derby's team was ready for the top league in the 1969–70 season. They went 11 games unbeaten at the start and briefly topped the table. A record crowd of 41,826 watched them beat Tottenham Hotspur 5–0. The club signed Terry Hennessey for £100,000, a club record at the time. They finished fourth in the league. This would have given them a spot in a European competition. However, the club faced a fine and a one-year ban from European football due to some financial issues.
Derby started the 1970–71 season by winning the first-ever Watney Cup. They beat Manchester United 4–1 in the final. This was Derby's first cup win since 1946. The league season was less exciting, with Derby finishing ninth. However, Roy McFarland became the first Derby player to play for England since 1950. Clough also made two more important signings: Archie Gemmill and Colin Todd. Todd's transfer for £170,000 was a new club record.
1971–72: Champions of England
The 1971–72 season is called Derby's "greatest ever season." The first team won their first-ever League title. They also won the Texaco Cup. The reserve team won The Central League for the first time since 1936. The season began well with a 12-match unbeaten run. After a tough loss to Leeds United, Clough pushed his team hard. Derby lost only 3 of their last 19 games. This was enough to win the title, beating Leeds United and Liverpool.
Derby won their final game 1–0 against Liverpool. This left them with 58 points. Leeds and Liverpool still had games to play. To avoid pressure, Clough went on holiday. The players went to Majorca. Leeds needed a draw and Liverpool needed a win to pass Derby. But Leeds lost 2–1 to Wolverhampton Wanderers. Liverpool drew 0–0 with Arsenal. This meant Derby County were champions! Clough had built a balanced team where everyone knew their role. They had a strong defense. Colin Todd was named the club's Player of the Year. Alan Hinton was the top scorer with 15 goals. Kevin Hector scored his 100th goal for the club. Steve Powell became Derby's youngest player at 16 years and 30 days old.
Derby also won the Texaco Cup. They beat Dundee United, Stoke City, and Newcastle United. In the final, they played Airdrieonians. After a 0–0 draw, Derby won the replay 2–1. Roger Davies scored the winning goal. This gave Derby their second cup win in two seasons.
Europe and Clough's Departure
Derby's first European adventure was exciting. In the 1972–73 season, they were England's only team in the European Cup. Their first European match was a 2–0 home win against Željezničar Sarajevo. They won the tie 4–1 on aggregate. Next, they faced Benfica, a top European team. In a famous night, Derby beat Benfica 3–0 at home. They then held them to a 0–0 draw away, winning 3–0 on aggregate. They were only the second club to keep a clean sheet against Benfica over two games. After beating Spartak Trnava, they met Italian giants Juventus. Derby lost 3–1 in Turin.
Derby's European journey affected their league form. They finished seventh in the league, 14 points behind winners Liverpool. In the FA Cup, they reached the quarter-finals. They had a thrilling 5–3 win over Tottenham Hotspur in a replay. Roger Davies scored a hat-trick in that game. Kevin Hector scored his 100th league goal for Derby. The club also broke the British transfer record. They signed David Nish for £250,000.
Hopes were high for the 1973–74 season. But disagreements between Clough and the club's leaders grew. After a 1–0 win over Manchester United on 13 October 1973, Clough and Taylor resigned. They had been in charge for six and a half years. Their departure caused a big uproar among fans. They wanted Clough back. But the club chose former player Dave Mackay as the new manager.
Mackay faced a difficult situation. The players were unhappy about Clough leaving. Derby had a poor start under Mackay. However, he signed Rod Thomas and Bruce Rioch. These signings turned the season around. Derby lost only four of their last 18 games. They finished third in the league, earning a return to European football. This was a great achievement given the difficult season.
Champions Again (1974–1975)
Unlike Clough's team, which focused on strong defense, Mackay's 1974–75 team was all about attacking. With goals from Kevin Hector, Francis Lee, and Roger Davies, Derby scored many goals. All three scored 12 or more league goals. Midfielder Bruce Rioch scored 15 goals, making him the club's top league scorer. Derby scored the most goals in the league that season. However, this attacking style sometimes left them open in defense.
The season started slowly, with only one win in the first seven games. But a great run of form followed. Derby lost only 3 of their last 20 games. They won 30 points from a possible 40. This pushed them up the table. The title was secured after a 0–0 draw away to Leicester City. Ipswich Town also drew their game. This confirmed Derby as champions for the second time in four years. Peter Daniel won the Player of the Season award. Ron Webster played his 500th game for Derby. Colin Todd won the PFA Players' Player of the Year award. He is the only Derby County player to do so.
Derby's first UEFA Cup journey was also successful. They beat Servette FC from Switzerland. Then they faced Atlético Madrid from Spain. Both games ended 2–2. Derby won the penalty shootout 7–6. However, they were knocked out by Velež Mostar.
A Difficult Decline (1975–1984)
| Event | FA Charity Shield | ||||||
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| Date | 9 August 1975 | ||||||
| Venue | Wembley Stadium, London | ||||||
| Attendance | 59,000 | ||||||
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To keep their winning momentum, Mackay signed Charlie George from Arsenal for £100,000. George made his debut in the 1975 FA Charity Shield at Wembley Stadium. Derby beat FA Cup winners West Ham United 2–0 to win the shield. George had a brilliant season. He scored 24 goals. His most famous game was against Real Madrid in the European Cup. On 22 October 1975, Derby beat Real Madrid 4–1, with George scoring three goals. However, Derby lost the return leg 5–0 and were knocked out 6–5 on aggregate.
Despite this, the club was doing well in the league. They were strong title contenders until March. Then, Charlie George dislocated his shoulder. He missed the rest of the season. Derby only got 6 points from their last 14 games. They finished fourth, 7 points behind Liverpool. The club also reached the FA Cup semi-finals for the first time since 1946. But without George, they lost 2–0 to Manchester United. The season ended with a 6–2 win over Ipswich Town. Francis Lee scored two goals in his final game. Unbeknownst to fans, the club's best period was ending.
Mackay's great record should have kept him safe. But a bad start to the 1976–77 season put his job at risk. Derby didn't win a league game until their ninth match. They then thumped Tottenham Hotspur 8–2. During this time, Derby also had their biggest ever win. They beat Finn Harps 12–0 at home. Kevin Hector scored 5 goals. Leighton James and Charlie George each scored hat-tricks. However, the club was knocked out of Europe again. After a 0–2 loss to Everton, Mackay asked for a vote of confidence. When it wasn't given, he was sacked on 25 November 1976. Like Clough, Mackay lasted only 18 months after winning the title.
Mackay's departure led to many manager changes at Derby. Reserve team manager Colin Murphy took over. Derby tried to bring Brian Clough back, but he was at Nottingham Forest. Murphy only won 7 games out of 35. Derby finished 15th, their lowest since returning to the top league. Roy McFarland became Derby's most capped player. Ron Webster broke Steve Bloomer's appearance record.
Murphy was replaced by Tommy Docherty in the 1977–78 season. Docherty often bought and sold players. But only Steve Buckley was a real success. He was Derby's main left-back for the next 8 years. In his two years, Docherty led Derby to 12th and 19th place finishes. Many of Derby's star players from the glory era left. Docherty's new midfield players didn't work out. Fans were unhappy with Docherty. He resigned in May 1979.
Docherty had kept Derby in the top league. But Colin Addison couldn't do the same in the next season. Addison spent a lot of money on new players. But Derby finished 21st out of 22 teams. They were relegated after 11 years in the top flight.
Derby's first game back in the second division was a 3–0 loss. But they won 4 of their next 5 games. Roy McFarland played his 500th game for Derby. Kevin Hector returned to the club. Derby had good players like Steve Buckley, Alan Biley, and Dave Swindlehurst. But they finished 6th, far from promotion. Roy McFarland was released by the club after 13 years.
Derby hoped for promotion in the 1981–82 season. But a poor start led to Colin Addison being sacked. His assistant, John Newman, took over. Newman only won 5 games. Derby finished 16th. They avoided relegation thanks to Charlie George returning. Kevin Hector scored his 200th Derby goal. He made his final appearance for the club, his 589th, a club record. Newman was replaced by Peter Taylor.
Taylor had won European Cups with Nottingham Forest. He brought Roy McFarland back as his assistant. He also signed Bobby Davison. Taylor had a slow start. But a 15-game unbeaten run saved Derby from relegation. They finished 13th. They even beat rivals Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup.
The 1983–84 season was a disaster. Years of money problems caught up with Derby. The club faced closure. Robert Maxwell, a media owner, helped raise money to save the club. But on the pitch, things were bad. Taylor was fired after a 5–1 loss. McFarland took over. Derby rallied but were relegated to the Third Division in 1984. This was their centenary year.
Promotions and Top Flight Return (1984–1991)
Arthur Cox became Derby's new manager in May 1984. He was the club's ninth manager in less than 11 years. Cox was a huge success. He became Derby's longest-serving manager since George Jobey. Roy McFarland became his assistant.
Derby was now owned by the Maxwell family. Cox brought stability to the club. The 1984–85 season was a rebuilding year. Derby finished 7th, their lowest league placing ever. But new players like Rob Hindmarch, Charlie Palmer, and Eric Steele were signed for free. The sale of Kevin Wilson helped fund new signings like Trevor Christie, Gary Micklewhite, and Geraint Williams. Bobby Davison was a key player. He scored 24 goals, becoming the first Derby player to score 20 league goals in a season since Kevin Hector in 1967–68.
The next season, Davison was again top scorer. With new players like Jeff Chandler and Steve McClaren, Derby won promotion from the Third Division. They finished third in the 1985–86 Third Division, setting a club record of 84 points. They had big wins, including 7–0 against Lincoln City. Derby played a club record 60 games that season. The Baseball Ground was buzzing again. Cox built a strong team. They won the 1986–87 Second Division easily. They finished 6 points clear of Portsmouth. Davison and Phil Gee scored 32 goals together. Derby set a club record with 11 away league wins. They returned to top-flight football after seven tough years.
Derby's success also brought more fans to games. Attendances had dropped a lot in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
With Derby back in the top league, Robert Maxwell became chairman. He wanted to make a big impact. He signed two England international players: Mark Wright for a club record £760,000, and Peter Shilton. Both helped Derby finish 15th, safe from relegation. Cox then added more quality players like Paul Goddard and Trevor Hebberd. Dean Saunders joined in October 1988 for £1 million, Derby's first £1 million signing. The club reached 5th place in the 1988–89 Division One table. This was Cox's team at its best. But Maxwell started to pull away from the club. He put the club up for sale in September 1990. This left the club unable to buy players.
Form declined badly. Key players like Paul Goddard were sold. Injuries also hurt the team. Even though Mark Wright and Peter Shilton played for England in the 1990 World Cup semi-finals, Derby finished 16th in 1989–90. The next year was even worse. From December 1990 to April 1991, the club went 20 games without a win, a club record. They also lost 7–1 at home to Liverpool, equaling their worst home league defeat. Attendance dropped. The team was relegated in last place. They had only 5 wins and 24 points from 38 games.
Big Spending and Playoff Challenges (1991–1995)
Despite the struggles, Dean Saunders scored 17 goals, almost half of Derby's total. He was sold to Liverpool for £2.9 million. Mark Wright also left for £2.3 million. Much of this money was used to pay off Robert Maxwell. Maxwell was replaced by Lionel Pickering, who invested £12 million. Derby went from having money problems to being one of the richest clubs outside the top league. Derby broke their transfer record twice in a month in March 1992. They signed Paul Kitson for £1.3 million and then Tommy Johnson for even more. Paul Simpson and Marco Gabbiadini also joined for big fees. Bobby Davison returned on loan and scored his 100th goal for Derby. Despite all this attacking talent, Derby finished 3rd in the 1991–92 Second Division. They missed automatic promotion by 2 points. Derby entered the playoffs for the first time. They lost to Blackburn Rovers in the semi-finals, missing out on the chance to be in the first Premier League season.
Even with the addition of Craig Short for £2.5 million, Derby finished 8th in the 1992–93 Division One. They missed the playoffs entirely. The club did reach the final of the Anglo-Italian Cup at Wembley, but lost 3–1 to Cremonese. They also set a club record of 7 consecutive away league wins. However, the season was seen as a disappointment given the money spent.
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| Date | 30 May 1994 | ||||||
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| Venue | Wembley Stadium, London | ||||||
| Attendance | 73,671 | ||||||
The cup runs meant Derby played 64 matches in the 1992-93 season, a new club record. Paul Kitson was the top scorer with 24 goals. Arthur Cox retired in October 1993 after 9 years. His assistant, Roy McFarland, took over. McFarland led the club to another playoff campaign. They beat Millwall in the semi-finals. But in the final at Wembley, Derby lost 2–1 to local rivals Leicester City. They missed out on promotion again.
Many key players left during the 1994–95 season. Kitson, Charles, and Johnson moved to other clubs. Goalkeeper Martin Taylor broke his leg. Chairman Lionel Pickering was frustrated. He tightened the club's spending. McFarland couldn't buy new players. He used young players like Dean Sturridge and Russell Hoult. Derby finished 9th. McFarland left the club, ending his 28-year connection with Derby.
Premier Rams and Pride Park Stadium (1995–2002)
Jim Smith was chosen as the new manager. He appointed former Derby player Steve McClaren as his assistant. Smith sold many players, raising £4.5 million. He then rebuilt the squad with new signings. These included Robin Van Der Laan, Sean Flynn, Gary Rowett, and Darryl Powell. Smith's smart dealings meant he spent little money at first. He signed Ashley Ward for £1 million in March 1996. Smith's team started the 1995–96 season slowly. But the signing of Igor Stimac for £1.57 million changed everything.
Derby went on a 20-match unbeaten league run. They won 13 games and scored many goals. They climbed from near the bottom to the top of the table. The run ended with a loss to Sunderland. But Derby recovered. They went into the last home game against Crystal Palace knowing a win would guarantee promotion. Dean Sturridge and Robin Van Der Laan scored. Derby won 2–1. They finished 2nd and returned to the top flight, the Premier League, after five years. Smith was the first manager to win promotion in his first attempt.
The biggest news of the 1995–96 season was the announcement that Derby would leave the Baseball Ground. It had been their home since 1894. The stadium was too small due to new rules. The club needed a new, larger stadium. They decided to build a new 30,000-seat stadium, later named Pride Park Stadium. It was planned to be ready for the 1997–98 season.
Smith prepared for Derby's first Premier League season. He signed Jacob Laursen and Aljoša Asanović, who had played in the European Championship. Derby started well. They drew 1–1 with Manchester United and beat Blackburn Rovers 2–1. However, a loss to Wimbledon showed they needed more experience. The signing of Paul McGrath was key. Derby peaked at 9th place in November. Despite injuries, they finished 12th, safe from relegation. There were memorable results, including a 3–2 win against Manchester United. Paulo Wanchope scored a goal that was later voted the greatest in the club's history. The Baseball Ground held its final match against Arsenal on 11 May 1996. Arsenal won 3–1.
The first two seasons at Pride Park Stadium were the best for Jim Smith's Derby County. With players like Stimac, Wanchope, Poom, Stefano Eranio, and Francesco Baiano, Derby became known for their exciting, attacking style. Smith's team finished 9th in 1997–98 and 8th in 1998–99. This was the first time the club had two top-ten finishes since the 1970s. Pride Park was a strong home ground. They had a 12-match unbeaten start at the stadium. This included a 3–0 win over Arsenal. The stadium's capacity grew. Five Derby players played in the 1998 World Cup. Christian Dailly was sold for £5.35 million, a record for Derby. However, Steve McClaren, Smith's assistant, left to join Manchester United. The financial demands of Premier League football began to affect Derby.
Several key players left before the 1999–2000 season. Igor Štimac, Paulo Wanchope, and Lee Carsley were sold. Francesco Baiano also left. The club raised over £7 million. But they couldn't attract the same quality of players. Only Seth Johnson and Esteban Fuertes were signed. The club started poorly, with only 3 wins from their first 17 games. To avoid relegation, they signed Craig Burley, Branko Strupar, and Lee Morris. They rallied and avoided relegation by 5 points. Branko Strupar scored the first Premier League goal of the new millennium. Fans still came in large numbers. A record 33,378 fans watched a game against Liverpool.
The improved end to the season gave hope. But Derby took 14 matches to win their first league game of the 2000–01 season. Smith's touch in the transfer market seemed to be gone. Players like Bjorn Otto Bragstad and Con Blatsis didn't perform well. Safety was only guaranteed on the second-to-last day. Malcolm Christie scored the winning goal against Manchester United. Despite signing Italian international Fabrizio Ravanelli, Derby had a poor start to the 2001–02 season. Smith left in October 2001.
Colin Todd, his assistant, took over. Todd's time was short and difficult. He sold Seth Johnson for a club record £7 million. But his new signings didn't improve results. He was sacked after a 3–1 loss to lower league Bristol Rovers in the FA Cup. Todd won only four of his fifteen league games. Another former Rams hero, John Gregory, became the new manager. Gregory brought in Warren Barton and Rob Lee. He had a good start with three wins. But Derby then lost seven games in a row. The sixth loss confirmed relegation after a 6-year stay in the top flight. The season ended with Derby in 19th place.
Back in the Football League (2002–2006)
Derby had planned to stay in the Premier League. When they were relegated, the club faced money problems again. They tried to bounce back quickly. They kept their best players like Malcolm Christie and Mart Poom. An opening day 3–0 win seemed promising. But it was a false start. The club won only 10 of its first 29 games. They also lost to lower league teams in cup competitions. Players were not paid on time. High-earning players like Georgi Kinkladze and Fabrizio Ravanelli didn't perform well.
Christie, Poom, and other players were sold in January 2002. They brought in less money than before. Young players from the club's academy got a chance. These included Lee Holmes (who became the youngest player in club history at 15 years and 268 days), Lee Grant, and Lee Camp. After a 3–0 win, Derby went on a 9-match winless streak. This threatened relegation again. Gregory was suspended after a 0–3 loss to Nottingham Forest.
George Burley became the new manager. His goal was to avoid relegation. A 2–1 win in Burley's first match was a great start. Derby finished 18th in the league, 6 points clear of relegation.
Burley's first full season was tough. Derby finished 20th in 2003–04, just 1 point from relegation. Money for players was very limited. Big names like Ravanelli and Kinkladze left. Burley signed players for free or on short-term loans. Only Leon Osman made a big impact. Without him, Derby might have been relegated. More academy players like Tom Huddlestone and Marcus Tudgay played important roles. Burley kept the club safe despite changes in the club's leadership.
With no money to spend, Burley found two key free signings: Iñigo Idiakez and Grzegorz Rasiak. Idiakez was voted Player of the Season. Rasiak was top scorer with 17 goals. Derby surprised everyone by finishing fourth in the new Football League Championship. They entered the 2004–05 Playoffs. Derby had a strong second half of the season. They lost only 6 of their last 24 games. They also set a club record of 6 consecutive away wins. However, Rasiak and Idiakez were injured for the playoffs. Derby lost 2–0 to Preston North End in the first leg. The second leg was a 0–0 draw. Derby were knocked out.
Behind the scenes, things were getting worse. Burley left, saying there was interference from a director. He also disagreed with the sale of Huddlestone. The club's debt grew to over £30 million. Pride Park Stadium was sold to a company, and the club had to pay rent to play there.
Burley was replaced by Phil Brown. Brown struggled to find good players with limited money. Grzegorz Rasiak was sold to Tottenham Hotspur on the last day of the transfer window. Brown's team had a poor start, with only 3 wins from 20 games. He was sacked after a 6–1 loss to Coventry City and an FA Cup exit. Academy Coach Terry Westley took over. He signed new players and brought in youngsters like Lewin Nyatanga and Giles Barnes. Derby managed to avoid relegation, finishing 20th.
Off the pitch, the club's owners faced growing criticism. Allegations of financial problems led to one chairman resigning. A group of local businessmen, led by Peter Gadsby, took over the club in April 2006. They injected over £20 million, paid off loans, and brought Pride Park back under club ownership. Later, three former club officials were charged and sentenced to prison for taking secret payments from the club.
Promotion and the Premier League Nightmare (2006–2008)
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| Date | 28 May 2007 | ||||||
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| Venue | Wembley Stadium, London | ||||||
| Attendance | 74,993 | ||||||
Billy Davies became Derby County's new manager. With new owners, Derby could finally buy players. Steve Howard became the club's first £1 million signing in six years. Davies built a team capable of competing at the top. The season started slowly. But a 1–0 win at Wolves in September 2006 was a turning point. Derby lost only 4 of their next 27 games. This included an 8-match winning streak. Davies's team had a strong defense. They kept 12 clean sheets. Derby were 7 points clear at the top in February 2007. They signed more players for the promotion push. However, a dip in form saw them lose top spot. They finished 3rd and entered the playoffs.
In the semi-finals, Derby faced Southampton, managed by former Derby boss George Burley. Derby won the first leg 2–1. The second leg went to extra time and penalties. Derby won the shootout. They reached the new Wembley Stadium to face West Bromwich Albion in the 2007 Football League Championship play-off final.
The final was called "The £60m Final." Derby won promotion to the Premier League thanks to Stephen Pearson's goal in a 1–0 victory. Davies praised his players' "great courage." The next day, thousands of fans celebrated with an open-top bus tour.
To prepare for the Premier League, Davies signed new players. These included Andy Todd, Claude Davis for £3 million, and a new club record signing, Rob Earnshaw, for £3.5 million. However, Derby had a terrible start to the Premier League 2007-08 season. After a 6–0 loss to Liverpool, bookmakers even paid out on Derby being relegated after just five games. Fans criticized the board for not investing enough. Adam Pearson replaced Peter Gadsby as chairman. Results didn't improve. After taking only 6 points from 14 matches, Davies left.
Paul Jewell was appointed manager. In January 2008, an American group, General Sports and Entertainment, bought Derby. Jewell tried to rebuild the team, selling players and bringing in eight new ones. But results did not improve. Derby's relegation was confirmed on 29 March 2008. This was the earliest a club had been relegated from the Premier League. They also became the first club to be immediately relegated after promotion. Poor results continued. They lost 6–0 at home to Aston Villa. By the end of the season, they had the Premier League's lowest points total (11). They also equaled a 108-year Football League record of only one win in an entire season.
The Championship Years (2008–2022)
Despite the embarrassing relegation, hopes were high for an immediate return. Manager Paul Jewell brought in 16 new players. But things didn't go as planned. Derby spent most of the season near the bottom of the table. A 2–1 win over Sheffield United was their first league win in almost a year. This ended a 38-game winless run. It started a good period where they lost only one of 11 games. But form dipped again. Jewell quit in December 2008. He had won only 13 games out of 58. However, he did lead the club to their first major cup semi-final in over 30 years in the League Cup.
Jewell was replaced by Nigel Clough, son of club legend Brian Clough. Clough quickly improved the team's form. They reached the FA Cup 5th round. They lost only 3 of 13 matches. Survival was confirmed in the second-to-last game.
With money tight, Clough had to build a team from free transfers and loan deals for the 2009–10 season. Many players signed temporary deals. Derby struggled against relegation for most of the season. But a good run at the end saw them finish 14th. A club record 40 players played for the club that season.
In the 2010–11 season, safety was only guaranteed in the 44th game. Derby's 49 points were their lowest ever for a 46-game season. It was also their lowest points total in the second division since 1984.
Derby started the 2011–12 season well, winning their first 4 league games. This was their best league start since 1905–06. But October and November were disappointing. Derby only won 1 game and got 5 points from 30. They fell to 15th place. Nigel Clough signed a new contract. Derby finished 12th. Clough was happy with the team's effort. He said they needed more attacking power. Mason Bennett became the club's youngest ever player. He played at 15 years and 99 days old. Derby also announced plans for a £7 million development outside the stadium, called "The Plaza @ Pride Park."
Nigel Clough described the 2012–13 season as "frustratingly close" to the top six. Derby finished 10th. The small squad size and injuries meant they missed the playoffs. But their home form was their best in six years.
Clough was sacked nine games into the 2013–14 season. This was after a loss to rivals Nottingham Forest. Former Derby player and assistant manager Steve McClaren replaced him. Under McClaren, Derby finished third in the Championship. They reached the playoff final after beating Brighton & Hove Albion. But they lost 1–0 to Queens Park Rangers in the 89th minute. McClaren's team also broke the club record for most goals scored in one season (84 goals).
The 2014–15 season saw Derby at the top of the Championship for much of the time. They even led the table in March. But a poor run of form at the end of the season saw them win only two of thirteen matches. They dropped to eighth place, missing both automatic promotion and the playoff spots. As a result, Steve McClaren was sacked on 25 May 2015.
Paul Clement became McClaren's replacement for the 2015–16 season. Local businessman Mel Morris became the new Club Chairman. Derby broke their transfer record twice. They signed Tom Ince for £4.75 million and Bradley Johnson for £6 million. The club spent an amazing £24 million. The season started very strongly. Derby had only two losses in the first half and were top of the table. But results began to falter. After a draw with Reading, Chairman Mel Morris criticized the players. He canceled a training camp. Clement was sacked in February 2016 after a seven-match winless run. Morris said it was because the playing style hadn't improved enough. Academy director Darren Wassall took over. Derby finished fifth, qualifying for the playoffs. But they lost to Hull City in the semi-finals.
Nigel Pearson became head coach in May 2016. Derby broke their transfer record again, signing Matěj Vydra for £8 million. Jeff Hendrick was sold for £10.5 million, a record for an outgoing transfer. Derby started poorly under Pearson. He was suspended in September 2016 after an argument with Mel Morris. Assistant manager Chris Powell took over temporarily. Pearson was sacked in October. Steve McClaren was re-appointed manager, less than 18 months after being sacked. McClaren revitalized the Rams. They went from 20th to 7th place in 10 weeks. But results dropped again after New Year. McClaren was sacked in March 2017 after a 3–0 loss to Brighton. Two days later, former player Gary Rowett was appointed. He was Derby's third manager of the season. Rowett guided them to a 9th-placed finish.
The club had three unsuccessful playoff campaigns. They lost in the semi-finals twice. They lost in the 2019 final to Aston Villa. In May 2021, the club, managed by Wayne Rooney, barely avoided relegation to League One. In October 2020, owner Mel Morris announced he wanted to sell the club. Deals with two potential buyers fell through. The EFL also considered deducting points for financial fair play breaches. In July 2021, the EFL put a transfer embargo on the club.
On 17 September 2021, the club announced it was going into administration. The EFL confirmed Derby would face a 12-point deduction. Owner Mel Morris apologized to fans. On 22 September 2021, the club formally went into administration and lost 12 points. This left them bottom of the Championship. In November 2021, the club had another 9 points deducted for breaking EFL accounting rules. This left them on −3 points, 18 points from safety.
The search for a buyer continued. Several potential buyers showed interest. But legal actions from other clubs made it difficult. The EFL gave administrators more time to show how the club would be funded. In February 2022, Mel Morris reached an agreement with Middlesbrough to resolve their claim. But the sale was still delayed. In March 2022, a £30 million offer from the Binnie family was rejected. The club sold Kamil Jóźwiak for £2 million to help with funds.
On 6 April 2022, Chris Kirchner was confirmed as the preferred bidder. His offer was seen as the best for creditors. But it did not include the stadium, which was owned by Mel Morris. Further talks were needed. With games running out, relegation to League One looked likely.
After a loss to QPR on 18 April 2022, Derby County were relegated to League One. They finished 23rd. Kirchner's takeover faced more delays. On 13 June 2022, Kirchner withdrew his bid. Other groups showed interest. On 24 June 2022, Wayne Rooney quit as manager.
On 26 June 2022, local property developer David Clowes bought Pride Park. His bid to buy the club was accepted. The deal was confirmed on 1 July 2022. The club exited administration. The transfer embargo was finally lifted in May 2023.
League One (2022–2024)
In September 2022, Paul Warne became the new head coach. The team aimed for promotion from League One. But they missed out on the playoffs, finishing 7th. In the 2023–24 season, they were promoted back to the Championship. They finished as runners-up with their highest ever points total.
Images for kids
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Old Wembley Stadium
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Derby and West Bromwich Albion crests
