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Most Historic Teams Relegated from Top Division



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The 2026/27 football season will see several big names missing from the top divisions in their respective countries, with the likes of West Ham and Wolfsburg among the teams who tasted painful relegations last season. But where do they rank in respect to the most historic teams ever relegated from the top division?

Spreadex Sports look at that very question in more detail below.

 

Many of European (and world) football's elite have tasted periods of instability or downright crisis in their history, with the likes of giants Man Utd, Juventus, River Plate and Liverpool all facing unprecedented relegation.

Below is a list of 25 historic clubs and their last top-flight relegation, along with the greatest achievements of each club for which they are notable and considered 'historic'.

 

Club Country Last Top-Flight Relegation Greatest Achievements

 

Juventus

 

Italy 2006 (administrative) • Record Serie A champions • 2× European Cup/Champions League winners • 15 Coppa Italia titles

 

River Plate

 

Argentina 2011 • Record Argentine league champions • 4× Copa Libertadores winners • Intercontinental Cup winners

 

Manchester United

 

England 1974 • Record 20 English league titles • 3× European Cup/Champions League winners • Treble winners (1999)

 

Atlético Madrid

 

Spain 2000 • 11 La Liga titles • 3× UEFA Europa League winners • Intercontinental Cup winners

 

Hamburger SV

 

Germany 2018 • 1983 European Cup winners • 6 German championships • Bundesliga ever-present from 1963–2018

 

AC Milan

 

Italy 1982 • 7 European Cups/Champions Leagues • 19 Serie A titles • FIFA Club World Cup winners

 

Borussia Dortmund

 

Germany 1972 • 1997 Champions League winners • 8 Bundesliga titles • Intercontinental Cup winners

 

Liverpool

 

England 1954 • 20 English league titles • 6 European Cups/Champions Leagues • Multiple domestic cup triumphs

 

Corinthians

 

Brazil 2007 • 2× FIFA Club World Cup winners • Copa Libertadores winners • 7 Brazilian championships

 

Grêmio

 

Brazil 2021 • 3× Copa Libertadores winners • Intercontinental Cup winners • Multiple Brazilian titles

 

Sampdoria

 

Italy 2023 • 1991 Serie A champions • 1990 Cup Winners' Cup winners • 1992 European Cup finalists

 

Nottingham Forest

 

England 1999 • Back-to-back European Cup winners (1979 & 1980) • English champions • 4 League Cups

 

Leeds United

 

England 2023 • 3 English league titles • 1975 European Cup finalists • 2 Inter-Cities Fairs Cups

 

Saint-Étienne

 

France 2022 • Record 10 French league titles • 1976 European Cup finalists • 6 Coupe de France titles

 

Nantes

 

France 2007 • 8 French league titles • 4 Coupe de France titles • Renowned "jeu à la nantaise" football philosophy

 

Schalke 04

 

Germany 2023 • 7 German championships • 1997 UEFA Cup winners • One of Germany's largest fanbases

 

Tottenham Hotspur

 

England 1977 • First English club to win a European trophy • 2 UEFA Cups • 8 FA Cups

 

Valencia CF

 

Spain 1986 • 6 La Liga titles • Two Champions League finals • UEFA Cup winners

 

Cruzeiro

 

Brazil 2019 • 2 Copa Libertadores titles • 4 Brazilian championships • Record 6 Copa do Brasil titles

 

Feyenoord

 

Netherlands 1989 • First Dutch European Cup winners • 2 UEFA Cups • Multiple Eredivisie titles

 

Newcastle United

 

England 2016 • 4 English league titles • 6 FA Cups • Inter-Cities Fairs Cup winners

 

Aston Villa

 

England 2016 • 1982 European Cup winners • 7 English league titles • 7 FA Cups

 

West Ham United

 

England 2026 • 3 FA Cups • 1965 European Cup Winners' Cup winners • Famous academy producing Moore, Hurst and Peters

 

1860 Munich

 

Germany 2004 • 1966 Bundesliga champions • 1965 DFB-Pokal winners • Founding Bundesliga member

 

Rangers*

 

Scotland 2012 (liquidation; entered the fourth tier rather than being relegated on sporting merit) • World-record 55 Scottish league titles • European Cup Winners' Cup winners (1972) • Over 100 major domestic trophies

Will the 2026/27 season see another historic side be doomed to relegation? Watch this space.

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