The 2010-11 campaign delivered heartbreak and devastation for Sampdoria as the Blucerchiati finished a crushing 18th in Serie A, resulting in a dramatic relegation to the second tier. This catastrophic failure was a stark reversal of the previous season's success and was fueled by the critical January departures of star players Antonio Cassano and the prolific striker Giampaolo Pazzini, whose 6 league goals (alongside Nicola Pozzi's 6) were not enough to save the team. Marked by managerial changes and an early exit from the Champions League play-off, it remains a painful and defining chapter that saw the historic club lose its top-flight status.