European Giants and Their Most Recent Relegations
Relegation is one of football’s most painful experiences. It can damage a club financially, force star players to leave and create memories supporters would rather forget.
The threat becomes particularly fascinating when attached to one of Europe’s biggest clubs. Teams such as Manchester United, Liverpool, Juventus and Atlético Madrid are now associated with major trophies, huge transfer fees and packed stadiums—but all have experienced life outside their country’s top division.
Others have avoided relegation completely. Barcelona, Real Madrid, Athletic Club and Inter Milan have never dropped out of their respective top flights.
As another season gets underway, we look back at the last relegation suffered by some of the biggest clubs in England, Italy and Spain.
When Were the Premier League’s Big Six Last Relegated?
Every member of England’s traditional “Big Six” has been relegated at least once. However, five—Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham—have played in every Premier League season since the competition began in 1992.
Manchester City are the exception. Their most recent relegation came in 2001, making their transformation into a dominant force one of the most remarkable stories in modern English football.
Arsenal — 1913
Arsenal have the longest current uninterrupted stay in the English top flight, but it is incorrect to say they have never been relegated.
The club, then known as Woolwich Arsenal, finished at the bottom of the First Division in the 1912/13 season. Arsenal eventually returned to the top division after the First World War and have remained there ever since.
The fact that Arsenal’s only relegation came more than a century ago explains why many younger supporters assume the club has never gone down.
Liverpool — 1954
Liverpool were relegated from the First Division at the end of the 1953/54 season.
Unlike some other major teams, the Reds did not return immediately. Liverpool spent eight seasons in the Second Division before earning promotion under legendary manager Bill Shankly in 1962.
They have not been relegated since. Liverpool’s consistency has been particularly impressive: since returning to the top flight, they have never finished below eighth place. The Guardian
Manchester United — 1974
Manchester United suffered relegation in the 1973/74 season, only six years after winning the European Cup.
Denis Law famously scored against his former club for Manchester City near the end of the campaign, although that goal did not mathematically cause United’s relegation. Results elsewhere had already made their position extremely difficult.
United responded strongly, winning the Second Division and returning to the top flight after one season away. They have remained there since the 1975/76 campaign.
Tottenham Hotspur — 1977
Tottenham’s most recent relegation came in 1977.
The drop represented a dramatic decline after the success Spurs had enjoyed during the 1960s and early 1970s. Tottenham spent only one season in the Second Division before earning promotion in 1978.
Shortly afterwards, the club signed Argentina internationals Osvaldo Ardiles and Ricky Villa, beginning another memorable period in Tottenham’s history.
Chelsea — 1988
Chelsea were relegated at the end of the 1987/88 season following a two-legged play-off defeat to Middlesbrough.
The Blues quickly recovered, winning the Second Division title the following season. They later became a permanent member of the Premier League and developed into one of Europe’s leading clubs during the 2000s.
Chelsea’s relatively recent rise makes their 1988 relegation an interesting reminder of how dramatically a club’s status can change.
Manchester City — 2001
Manchester City have the most recent relegation among England’s current Big Six.
City went down from the Premier League in 1996 before dropping into the third tier in 1998. Successive promotions returned them to the Premier League, but they were relegated again at the end of the 2000/01 season.
Kevin Keegan then guided City back to the top flight at the first attempt. The club’s subsequent transformation from a team moving between divisions to a serial title contender makes the 2001 date arguably the biggest surprise in the English list. Planet Football
When Were Italy’s Biggest Clubs Last Relegated?
Italian football provides some of the most unusual relegation stories. Several famous clubs have gone down because of results on the pitch, while others were demoted through punishments or financial collapse.
Inter Milan — Never Relegated
Inter are the only major Italian club on the list never to have been relegated from the country’s top division.
The Nerazzurri have competed at the highest level throughout their history. Even during difficult seasons, they have always avoided dropping into Serie B.
This record gives Inter a unique position in Italian football—one that rivals AC Milan and Juventus cannot claim.
Juventus — 2006
Juventus’s 2006 relegation was not caused by their league position.
The Turin club were demoted to Serie B following the Calciopoli scandal. Their 2005 and 2006 league titles were revoked, and Juventus began the 2006/07 second-division season with a points penalty.
Despite losing important players, Juventus retained several major stars and won promotion at the first attempt. It remains the only season the club has spent outside Italy’s top flight.
AC Milan — 1982
AC Milan have experienced two very different relegations.
The club were demoted in 1980 as part of the Totonero match-fixing scandal. After returning immediately, Milan suffered an on-field relegation at the end of the 1981/82 campaign.
They recovered once more and, within a few years, built one of the greatest teams in European football. The Guardian
AS Roma — 1951
Roma’s only relegation came at the end of the 1950/51 season.
The capital club immediately responded by winning Serie B and returning to the top division. Roma have remained in Serie A ever since, experiencing several title challenges and successful periods without another relegation.
Napoli — 2001
Napoli were relegated from Serie A in 2001 after a turbulent period both on and off the pitch.
The club’s problems did not end there. Napoli later suffered a financial collapse and were forced to rebuild from the lower divisions.
Their eventual return to the top and later Serie A success turned that difficult period into one of Italian football’s greatest comeback stories.
Fiorentina — 2002
Fiorentina’s 2002 case involved both sporting failure and financial disaster.
The club were relegated from Serie A after the 2001/02 season but could not register for the following Serie B campaign because of severe financial problems. The original company entered bankruptcy, and a new team restarted in Serie C2 under the name Florentia Viola.
Fiorentina then climbed through the divisions and reclaimed their historic identity. Quotidiano Sport
Which La Liga Giants Have Never Been Relegated?
Three clubs have participated in every La Liga season since the competition began in 1929: Barcelona, Real Madrid and Athletic Club.
That uninterrupted status is a remarkable achievement in a league where other major clubs—including Atlético Madrid, Valencia and Sevilla—have all experienced relegation.
Barcelona — Never Relegated
Barcelona have never played outside Spain’s top division.
Even during periods of financial trouble, political uncertainty or poor form, the Catalan club have always maintained their La Liga status.
Real Madrid — Never Relegated
Real Madrid are another founding La Liga member who have never been relegated.
Their record reflects the extraordinary consistency of a club that has spent most of its history competing for Spanish and European trophies.
Athletic Club — Never Relegated
Athletic Club’s achievement may be the most impressive of the three.
Unlike Barcelona and Real Madrid, Athletic operate under a distinctive player-recruitment policy connected to the Basque region. Despite that limitation, the Bilbao club have survived every La Liga campaign since 1929.
Barcelona, Real Madrid and Athletic Club remain the only three teams never to have been relegated from La Liga. GOAL
Atlético Madrid — 2000
Atlético Madrid were relegated in 2000 despite having a squad containing several recognised players.
The club spent two seasons in the Segunda División before returning to La Liga in 2002. Since then, Atlético have rebuilt themselves into regular title contenders and one of Europe’s most difficult teams to face.
Valencia — 1986
Valencia suffered their only La Liga relegation at the end of the 1985/86 season.
The Spanish giants immediately returned by winning the second division the following year. Valencia later enjoyed major domestic and European success, including consecutive Champions League final appearances in the early 2000s.
Sevilla — 2000
Sevilla were also relegated from La Liga in 2000.
Like Valencia, they responded quickly and returned to the top flight after one season. Sevilla later became famous for their extraordinary success in the UEFA Cup and Europa League.
What Is the Biggest Relegation Surprise?
Manchester City’s 2001 relegation is arguably the biggest surprise when viewed from a modern perspective.
City are now associated with major trophies, elite players and title challenges. Yet just a few years before their modern rise, they had played in England’s third tier and were still struggling to establish themselves in the Premier League.
Juventus’s 2006 demotion is perhaps the most dramatic story because it resulted from the Calciopoli scandal rather than performances on the pitch.
Athletic Club’s never-relegated status may be the most impressive achievement. Maintaining an uninterrupted La Liga presence while following a specialised recruitment philosophy requires extraordinary consistency.
Does Being a Big Club Guarantee Survival?
Football history shows that reputation alone cannot prevent relegation.
Poor recruitment, financial problems, managerial instability, boardroom mistakes and declining performances can push even the biggest teams towards danger. Juventus and Fiorentina also demonstrate that serious off-field issues can affect a club’s league status.
Modern wealth makes relegation less likely for Europe’s elite clubs, but no team should take its top-flight position for granted.
Bet on Europe’s Biggest Leagues with Bangbet
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Final Verdict
Barcelona, Real Madrid, Athletic Club and Inter Milan possess a rare honour: none have ever been relegated from their domestic top flights.
Every member of England’s Big Six has gone down at least once, although Arsenal’s last relegation dates back to 1913. Manchester City’s 2001 drop is the most recent and perhaps the most surprising given their modern dominance.
These stories prove that football status can change dramatically. Today’s struggling club can become tomorrow’s champion—and even the biggest names are not always safe from the drop.
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