Lowest placed Premier League sides to qualify for Europe

While UEFA Champions League and Europa League football is associated with teams who finish higher up in the league, there are ways that lower placed teams can qualify for Europe.

As one of Manchester United or Tottenham get set to qualify for the UEFA Champions League despite finishing in the bottom half of the Premier League, we take a look at the lowest-placed top-flight sides to qualify for Europe.

West Ham - 14th

An underwhelming Premier League campaign for David Moyes' West Ham as they finished the 2022/23 season in 14th with questions expectedly asked of the Scotsman.

His future and West Ham's season was to be judged on the Conference League final, where they would defeat Fiorentina 2-1, winning the club's first European honour since the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1965.

Victory in Prague meant the Irons qualified for the 2023/24 Europa League.

Hull City - 16th

Hull City avoided relegation by a matter of points in the 2013/14 term, and they had an FA Cup final to look forward to at Wembley.

Despite falling short in a 3-2 defeat, the Tigers were granted qualification to the Europa League for the following campaign, as a result of Arsenal already having secured qualification for the UEFA Champions League via their league position.

They would, however, fall short of the group stages, losing on aggregate to Belgian outfit Lokeren in the qualifiers.

Ipswich - 18th

A poor 2001/02 season for Ipswich saw them fall four points of safety, meaning a season in the Championship was on the horizon.

Not all was bleak, however, as in extraordinary fashion Ipswich topped the Premier League's Fair Play standings, which remarkably them a spot in the UEFA Cup for the 2002/03 season.

It came as no surprise that the Tractor Boys would fall short of qualification to the group stage, defeated by Czech side Slovan Liberec in the qualifiers.

Birmingham - 18th

Birmingham had the chance to salvage their below par 2010/11 season with a place League Cup final, taking on an Arsenal side littered with talent.

Alex McLeish's side managed the unthinkable, with an 89th minute winner from super-sub Obafemi Martins causing bedlam in the Blue side of Wembley.

Despite relegation to the Championship, Birmingham progressed to the group stage of the Europa League the following season, where they narrowly missed out on the knockout stages by a point to Club Brugge and Braga.

Wigan - 18th placed

Arguably the most historic and memorable of the five that make the list, Wigan faced title contenders Manchester City in the FA Cup final, looking to win the competition for the first time.

Ben Watson emerged as the hero that day, rising to head home a 91st minute winner past Joe Hart.

Relegation to the Championship followed, but a guaranteed spot in the 2013/14 Europa League. Every cloud has a silver lining.