Relegation is one of football\u2019s most painful experiences. It can damage a club financially, force star players to leave and create memories supporters would rather forget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The threat becomes particularly fascinating when attached to one of Europe\u2019s biggest clubs. Teams such as Manchester United, Liverpool, Juventus and Atl\u00e9tico Madrid are now associated with major trophies, huge transfer fees and packed stadiums\u2014but all have experienced life outside their country\u2019s top division.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Others have avoided relegation completely. Barcelona, Real Madrid, Athletic Club and Inter Milan have never dropped out of their respective top flights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As another season gets underway, we look back at the last relegation suffered by some of the biggest clubs in England, Italy and Spain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Every member of England\u2019s traditional \u201cBig Six\u201d has been relegated at least once. However, five\u2014Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham\u2014have played in every Premier League season since the competition began in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Arsenal have the longest current uninterrupted stay in the English top flight, but it is incorrect to say they have never been relegated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The fact that Arsenal\u2019s only relegation came more than a century ago explains why many younger supporters assume the club has never gone down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Liverpool were relegated from the First Division at the end of the 1953\/54 season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They have not been relegated since. Liverpool\u2019s consistency has been particularly impressive: since returning to the top flight, they have never finished below eighth place. The Guardian<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Manchester United suffered relegation in the 1973\/74 season, only six years after winning the European Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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\u2019s relegation. Results elsewhere had already made their position extremely difficult.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tottenham\u2019s most recent relegation came in 1977.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Shortly afterwards, the club signed Argentina internationals Osvaldo Ardiles and Ricky Villa, beginning another memorable period in Tottenham\u2019s history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Chelsea were relegated at the end of the 1987\/88 season following a two-legged play-off defeat to Middlesbrough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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\u2019s leading clubs during the 2000s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Chelsea\u2019s relatively recent rise makes their 1988 relegation an interesting reminder of how dramatically a club\u2019s status can change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Manchester City have the most recent relegation among England\u2019s current Big Six.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kevin Keegan then guided City back to the top flight at the first attempt. The club\u2019s 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<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Inter are the only major Italian club on the list never to have been relegated from the country\u2019s top division.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Nerazzurri have competed at the highest level throughout their history. Even during difficult seasons, they have always avoided dropping into Serie B.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This record gives Inter a unique position in Italian football\u2014one that rivals AC Milan and Juventus cannot claim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Juventus\u2019s 2006 relegation was not caused by their league position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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\u2019s top flight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n AC Milan have experienced two very different relegations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They recovered once more and, within a few years, built one of the greatest teams in European football. The Guardian<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Roma\u2019s only relegation came at the end of the 1950\/51 season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Napoli were relegated from Serie A in 2001 after a turbulent period both on and off the pitch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The club\u2019s problems did not end there. Napoli later suffered a financial collapse and were forced to rebuild from the lower divisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Their eventual return to the top and later Serie A success turned that difficult period into one of Italian football\u2019s greatest comeback stories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fiorentina\u2019s 2002 case involved both sporting failure and financial disaster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fiorentina then climbed through the divisions and reclaimed their historic identity. Quotidiano Sport<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Three clubs have participated in every La Liga season since the competition began in 1929: Barcelona, Real Madrid and Athletic Club.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That uninterrupted status is a remarkable achievement in a league where other major clubs\u2014including Atl\u00e9tico Madrid, Valencia and Sevilla\u2014have all experienced relegation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Barcelona have never played outside Spain\u2019s top division.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even during periods of financial trouble, political uncertainty or poor form, the Catalan club have always maintained their La Liga status.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Real Madrid are another founding La Liga member who have never been relegated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Their record reflects the extraordinary consistency of a club that has spent most of its history competing for Spanish and European trophies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Athletic Club\u2019s achievement may be the most impressive of the three.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\nManchester United \u2014 1974<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Tottenham Hotspur \u2014 1977<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Chelsea \u2014 1988<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Manchester City \u2014 2001<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When Were Italy\u2019s Biggest Clubs Last Relegated?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Inter Milan \u2014 Never Relegated<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Juventus \u2014 2006<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
AC Milan \u2014 1982<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
AS Roma \u2014 1951<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Napoli \u2014 2001<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Fiorentina \u2014 2002<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Which La Liga Giants Have Never Been Relegated?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Barcelona \u2014 Never Relegated<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Real Madrid \u2014 Never Relegated<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Athletic Club \u2014 Never Relegated<\/h3>\n\n\n\n