The 2000-01 campaign delivered ultimate heartbreak for Saint-Étienne as Les Verts dramatically crashed to a 17th-place finish in Division 1, a result that sealed a devastating relegation to the second tier. Despite the turbulence and a managerial merry-go-round, the Brazilian striker Alex Dias was a beacon of attacking class, scoring 13 crucial league goals, including a memorable hat-trick against Troyes. The season was unfortunately defined by a woeful away record of zero wins and the subsequent drop, making it an unforgettable and painful chapter in the club's long history.