Sampdoria have been mathematically relegated to Serie B after their defeat to Udinese, although the fans of the club fear even worse awaits them this summer.
The Blucerchiati had struggled all season and are doomed to the drop with four matches still to be played in Serie A.
It is a sad setback for the club that famously won the Scudetto in the 1990-91 campaign with stars including Gianluca Vialli, Roberto Mancini, Attilio Lombardo, Pietro Vierchowod and legendary coach Vujadin Boskov.
Samp also won four editions of the Coppa Italia, one Supercoppa Italiana, the 1990 Cup Winners’ Cup and reached the Final of the European Cup in 1992.
They had been in the top flight uninterrupted since 2012-13, but in recent years had been flirting with relegation more and more.
This also coincided with serious financial problems off the field, which saw President Massimo Ferrero step down, yet remain the majority shareholder.
Attempts from the board of directors to sell the club have been blocked off by Ferrero and there are genuine fears from the fans that Sampdoria will be declared bankrupt this summer.
That would mean them starting again not from Serie B, but Serie D.
To add insult to injury, the relegation comes just days after their bitter rivals Genoa secured promotion back to Serie A only one year after dropping down.