The 2022-23 campaign delivered ultimate heartbreak for Southampton, as The Saints finished a devastating 20th in the Premier League, ending their eleven-year stay in the top flight with relegation to the EFL Championship. Despite the turmoil of three different managers and a constant battle against the drop, captain James Ward-Prowse battled fiercely, scoring 9 crucial league goals (11 in all competitions) and anchoring a memorable run to the EFL Cup Semi-finals. It was a turbulent year defined by off-pitch instability that ultimately marked a painful but defining end to an era for the historic club.