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The highest of highs in the 21st century for Derby County have been met by the lowest of lows.
The Rams have not been in the Premier League since 2008, and their last campaign in the division was nothing short of a disaster.
Derby were relegated with a record-breaking 11 points, with only Southampton coming anywhere close to matching that total when they picked up 12 points in 2024/25.
The East Midlands outfit have suffered three relegations since the start of the new millennium, and after we created Derby’s best XI, EFL Analysis has taken a look at the Championship side’s worst XI of the 21st century.
Derby County’s worst XI of the 21st century
Goalkeeper – Ben Hamer
Ben Hamer makes the list as the Rams’ worst goalkeeper of the last few years. While he did have some bright moments, there is no denying that he was not up to the level that was needed.
Mistakes were frequent from Hamer in the 2019/20 campaign, and he shared responsibility of the gloves with Kelle Roos while Derby’s best ‘keeper, Scott Carson, was out on loan at Manchester City.
In 25 appearances he kept just four clean sheets, conceding 34 goals.
Defender – Andy Griffin
Andy Griffin was a part of that awful 2007/08 side – of which nearly every player could find themselves in here.
The defender joined from Portsmouth on a free transfer ahead of that campaign, but he played just 15 games before finding himself out of favour with manager Paul Jewell.
He joined Stoke City in January 2008, after a successful loan with the Potters, and helped them win promotion to the Premier League the very next season.
Defender – Bob Malcolm
Bob Malcolm takes the first of the two centre-back positions with the defender playing just 14 games for the Rams during his short time at the club.
He originally joined during the 2006/07 campaign, and while he helped the club to promotion, the Scot played just once in the Premier League before moving to QPR on loan.
The pace of the game in England was tough for Malcolm to adjust to, and his departure was obvious to see coming.
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Defender – Claude Davis
While Malcolm was perhaps not expected to make the step up to the Premier League, Claude Davis definitely was.
As per a report from BBC Sport, the Rams spent £3m on the centre-back, but he struggled greatly and simply looked lost at times as he was attacked by top flight forwards.
19 appearances in the Premier League was more than enough proof that Derby did not pick the right defender, and his struggles continued into the Championship before his former side eventually allowed him to join Crystal Palace.
Defender – Bjørn Otto Bragstad
Bjørn Otto Bragstad is a player that many Rams fans will have forgotten about, and it’s clear to see why as he made just 12 league appearances during his two years in DE24.
A calamitous 2001/02 season saw the Norwegian sent out on loan to Birmingham City. However, he lasted just a matter of weeks with Blues, and he was sold the following January after that stint at St. Andrew’s.
Derby did not win a single game with Bragstad in the team, and the centre-back was more often than not a liability.
Midfielder – Ikechi Anya
Ikechi Anya made the move to the East Midlands outfit for a fee that BBC Sport stated to be around the £4m mark.
Signed by Nigel Pearson, Anya started off brightly, but this quickly changed and after playing 26 times in the Championship in 2016/17, this dropped to just seven appearances the next season.
A surprise start against Fulham in the play-off semi-finals in May 2018 proved to be his very last showing in black-and-white, and the winger left the club two years later at the end of his contract.
Midfielder – Eddie Lewis
Another of those from the 2007/08 team, Eddie Lewis had a difficult time at Pride Park and he was perhaps glad when he could return to the US at the end of the season.
More of a natural left midfielder, the ex-Leeds United man struggled with the pace of the Premier League under Paul Jewell and while he was a regular, it was clear to see that he was not at the level required for the Rams.
After 27 games and just two assists in all competitions, Lewis left Derby to head back to his home country and he saw out his career at LA Galaxy in the MLS.
Midfielder – Hossam Ghaly
Signed on loan from Tottenham Hotspur in January 2008, there was plenty of expectation around Hossam Ghaly.
However, he struggled to find his feet in a very poor side and was often left isolated in midfield without much help. Ghaly made 15 Premier League appearances for the Rams, but he failed to get the crowd off their feet at all during this time.
He returned to Tottenham a little bit battered and bruised from his experience, and he never played a game in England’s top flight again after.
Midfielder – Craig Fagan
Able to play as a winger but also up front, Craig Fagan was never prolific for the Rams and he struggled greatly once the team were promoted to the Premier League.
In 39 league games for Derby, Fagan scored just the one goal – coming in his first season at the club. He failed to show the same threat that he had done at Hull City, and it was perhaps no surprise when he returned to Humberside on loan.
He joined the Tigers permanently at the end of the 2007/08 campaign, with his time at Pride Park largely forgettable.
Forward – Leon Best
Arguably the Rams’ worst ever loanee, Leon Best had a very difficult time during his DE24 stay.
Signed for the 2014/15 Championship season, the striker played 15 games in the league but he failed to find the back of the net on every occasion.
He was perhaps unlucky to not open his account against Nottingham Forest, with Ryan Shotton’s strike crossing the line before Best fired in himself. But he never improved and his loan deal was cut short as he returned to Blackburn Rovers in January 2015.
Forward – Liam Dickinson
Partnering Best in this team is Liam Dickinson, who joined Derby in July 2008 for £750,000, as per BBC Sport.
Signed from Stockport County, the forward was a player who was expected to grow into the team and was not exactly a starter on his arrival.
However, Dickinson failed to make any sort of impact in the East Midlands, and failed to make a single appearance for the senior team before moving to Leeds United on loan. He left the Rams after just a year, joining Brighton for £100,000, according to the BBC.