The piece answers football trivia on players who finished with more own goals than goals, and on when clubs are first mathematically ruled out of winning silverware. It also notes a late-season Leeds goal that went in off Patrick Bamford's backside.
01Summary
- 01Francis Benali scored one goal for Southampton and at least two own goals, while Jamie Carragher finished with four goals and seven own goals.
- 02Riccardo Ferri scored six goals and eight own goals in Serie A, while Luigi Zannier scored three and put six into his own net in Serie A matches.
- 03Billy Balmer scored eight own goals in open play for Everton and only one goal at the right end, a penalty in 1899.
- 04Derby County were the earliest English top-flight side identified as mathematically unable to win a trophy, on 9 February 2008, after their 26th league match.
- 05Lecce became mathematically out of the 1993-94 title race on 6 February 1994, Brescia on 5 March 1995, and Patrick Bamford scored a goal off his backside for Leeds against Middlesbrough in 2023-24.
02Why it matters
For football fans, it gives unusual but precise records about own goals and trophyless seasons. It also provides context on when clubs are effectively out of contention, long before a season ends.
Pulse AIAsk about this story
Answers are generated by AI from the story summary; they are not investment, health or legal advice.
