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List of unrelegated association football clubs

From Wikipedia - Reading time: 16 min

Several association football clubs succeed in playing at the highest level of their domestic league without being relegated for several years, if at all. This page lists the clubs that managed to stay in top flight for an extended period of time, and those that have never been relegated from their current top-tier league.

Historical considerations

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More often than not, football clubs have played in more than one top-tier competition. It is therefore possible that teams relegated at one point in their history, but have not done so in the competition in which they currently compete. This is the case for multiple teams in countries where football was played in regional leagues prior to the creation of a unified national league. In such countries, a national champion was previously declared by means of a play-off tournament between teams that qualified through their regional tournaments. In Germany, for instance, seven teams have never been relegated from the Bundesliga (some joining more recently), but three of them found themselves expelled from the older Oberligen. Hamburg played continuously in the top tier of the German football system from the end of World War I until 2018.[1][2] In the Netherlands, football used to be organised in regional competitions as well. The unified Eredivisie was born in 1956, and four teams have continuously played at this highest national level since then.[3]

Even before the establishment of regional competitions, football was played in league systems. The very first football championships in Europe were often organised on a local level. Taking these smaller competitions into account, Austria Wien and Rapid Wien can claim to have played at the highest possible level since competition began in Austria in 1911.[1] At that time however, the only organised football was played in the league of Lower Austria,[4] which was then located in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and only teams from Vienna took part.[5] Later, Austrian teams competed in the German football system for several years, which made it possible for Rapid Wien to become German champion in 1941.[6] The current Austrian Bundesliga was only established in 1974,[7] and to this point a total of five teams have never been relegated from that competition.[8]

In Greece and Turkey, competitive football was organised in even smaller leagues. In both countries, city-leagues were the highest level for quite some time.[9][10] In 1959, a unified Hellenic championship was founded, and Olympiacos, Panathinaikos and PAOK have played in every season of it.[1] However, these teams were already high-flyers in the preceding city-leagues. The same applies to Beşiktaş, Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray in Turkey.[1]

In Russia, football too was first played at city-level. The St. Petersburg Football League was established in 1901, and its Moscovite counterpart followed in 1909. Many years later, in 1936, the Soviet Top League was formed. This competition ceased to exist when the Soviet Union fell, and new leagues were formed in the fifteen successor states. As a result, many teams entered a top division for the first time in their history. In Estonia, for example, the new Meistriliiga was composed of clubs that never participated in the top flight before.[11][12] As these are relatively new competitions, many clubs can claim to have never been relegated from the top-level. But only Dynamo Kyiv and Dinamo Tbilisi have always played at the highest possible level.[1] On the other hand, Dynamo Moscow played in every season of the Soviet Top League but was relegated from the Russian Premier League in the 2015–16 season.

Timeline chart showing Yugoslav First League successors

Besides the Soviet, also the Czechoslovak and Yugoslav football leagues split into multiple competitions in the early 1990s. A total of eight teams have not been relegated from the national championships of the Czech Republic[13] and Slovakia,[14] but no team managed to achieve this in Czechoslovak times. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, football became divided alongside ethnic lines and competition was held in three different leagues, before the establishment of a national division in 2000. In Kosovo, a national league also exists, although it was not recognised by UEFA or FIFA until 2016. In all, three clubs – Red Star Belgrade, Partizan Belgrade and Dinamo Zagreb – have played at the highest level since the creation of socialist Yugoslavia, whilst Hajduk Split have never been relegated since they first played in the championship of the now long gone Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes.[1]

In many instances, new top-tier leagues were created to replace existing national championships. In England, six teams have been present in every season of the Premier League, which was founded in 1992.[15] None of them had an uninterrupted run in the preceding First Division.[16] Thus, a great number of teams can claim to have never been relegated from newer competitions. In Northern Ireland, the teams of Cliftonville, Glentoran and Linfield have played at the top-tier for 133 years,[1] but five more have been present in every season of the NIFL Premiership, which was only established in 2008.[17]

In Scotland, Celtic and Aberdeen[18] have never been relegated. Until 2012 Rangers had participated in every top-tier season since 1890,[1] but were removed and admitted to the fourth tier of Scottish football amid a financial crisis (climbing back to the top by 2016), so do not have an unbroken run but have never been relegated due to on-field performance, remaining the only Scottish club to never finish below 6th when competing in the top-tier. This contrasts with Celtic and Aberdeen, remaining at the top continuously despite the former finishing below 6th seven times and the latter finishing bottom twice.

Many leagues have been running for a long time. Unsurprisingly, fewer clubs manage to stay on top the longer a competition runs. The Spanish Primera División was born in 1929, and only Athletic Bilbao, FC Barcelona and Real Madrid have been present ever since. The same year the Italian Serie A became a round-robin tournament, and only Inter Milan has continuously played at the highest level from that moment forward – even doing so since 1909. And finally, no team that plays in the Swiss Super League – established in 1897 – has not been relegated at one point in their history.[1]

Unrelegated for 75 years

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This table lists all clubs that have continuously played at the highest level for 75 years or more until their first relegation. Taken into account are all the leagues that formed the highest level at the time each club played in them. Competitions that were organised on sub-regional levels are excluded though. This is the reason no clubs from Greece or Turkey are listed, as in those countries football was played in city-level competitions up until 1959.

The large number of Brazilian football clubs on this list can be explained by the fact that these clubs were dominant in the relatively small state leagues, which formed the highest tier of competition in Brazil for more than half a century. The Taça Brasil, which existed between 1959 and 1968, is not considered a top-tier tournament for the purpose of this list, as it was a knockout competition between the different state champions, and no team took part in every edition.

As of 2024, the majority of the teams listed below continue to play at the top, although a few have ended their uninterrupted spell. Some teams had been relegated (and promoted back) before the start of their record spell.

The squads on bold letter have on-going spells playing at their respective top flight divisions.

Overview of unrelegated association football clubs with spans of 75 years or more[19]
Club First year of spell Last year of spell Duration (years) Competition(s)
Scotland Celtic 1890 – 134 Football League, Premier League & Premiership (128 seasons in total)
Northern Ireland Cliftonville Football League, Premier League & NIFL Premiership (124 seasons in total)
Northern Ireland Glentoran
Northern Ireland Linfield
Scotland Rangers[a] 2012 122 Football League & Premier League (115 seasons in total)
Northern Ireland Lisburn Distillery 1995 105 Football League (94 seasons in total)
Scotland Heart of Midlothian 1977 87 Football League (80 seasons in total)
Germany Eintracht Frankfurt 1899 1996 97 Kreisliga Nordmain, Bezirksliga Main, Bezirksliga Main-Hessen, Gauliga Südwest/Mainhessen, Oberliga Süd & Bundesliga (95 seasons in total)
Germany Werder Bremen 1980 81 Verband Bremer Fussballveriene, Bezirk Bremen, Northern German football championship, Gauliga Niedersachsen, Oberliga Nord & Bundesliga
Uruguay Peñarol[b] 1900 – 124 Primera División (121 seasons in total)
Italy Juventus[21] 2006 106 Italian Football Championship (101 seasons in total)[22]
Italy AC Milan[c] 1980 80 Italian Football Championship (75 seasons in total)[22]
Uruguay Nacional 1901 – 123 Primera División (120 seasons in total)
Hungary Ferencváros 2006 105 Nemzeti Bajnokság (102 seasons in total)
Scotland Aberdeen[d] 1905 – 119 Football League, Premier League & Premiership (112 seasons in total)[18][23]
Paraguay Guaraní 1906 – 118 Primera División (113 seasons in total)
Paraguay Olimpia
Brazil Botafogo 2002 96 Campeonato Carioca, Taça de Prata & Série A
Paraguay Club Libertad 1998 92 Primera División (87 seasons in total)
Brazil Fluminense 1997 91 Campeonato Carioca, Taça de Prata & Série A
Brazil Atlético Mineiro 1908 2005 97 Campeonato Mineiro, Taça de Prata & Série A
Italy Inter Milan 1909 – 114 Italian Football Championship[22] (109 seasons in total)
Malta Floriana[e] 1985 76 Premier League
Brazil Internacional 2016 107 Campeonato Gaúcho, Taça de Prata & Série A
Argentina River Plate 2011 102 Primera División (102 seasons in total)
Austria Austria Wien 1911 – 113 1. Klasse, Gauliga Ostmark, Staatsliga, Nationalliga & Bundesliga (113 seasons in total)
Austria Rapid Wien
Northern Ireland Glenavon 2004 93 Football League & Premier League (82 seasons in total)
Brazil Flamengo 1912 – 112 Campeonato Carioca, Taça de Prata & Série A
Hungary Újpest Nemzeti Bajnokság (108 seasons in total)
Argentina Independiente 2013 101 Primera División (101 seasons in total)
Argentina Boca Juniors 1913 – 111 Primera División (111 seasons in total)
Paraguay Cerro Porteño Primera División (111 seasons in total)
Brazil Corinthians[f] 2007 94 Campeonato Paulista, Taça de Prata & Série A
Brazil Santos[g] 2023 110 Campeonato Paulista, Taça de Prata & Série A
Hungary Budapest Honvéd 1916 2003 87 Nemzeti Bajnokság (84 seasons in total)
Brazil Palmeiras 2002 86 Campeonato Paulista, Taça de Prata & Série A
Netherlands Ajax 1917 – 107 Eerste Klasse West & Eredivisie (106 seasons in total)
England Arsenal 1919 – 105 Football League First Division, Premier League (98 seasons in total)
Germany Hamburger SV 2018 99 Norddeutsche Fußballmeisterschaft, Gauliga Nordmark, Oberliga Nord & Bundesliga (96 seasons in total)
Belgium Standard Liège 1921 – 103 Pro League (100 seasons in total)
Costa Rica Alajuelense Liga FPD
Costa Rica Herediano
Republic of Ireland Bohemians[h] League of Ireland
Netherlands Feyenoord Eerste Klasse West & Eredivisie (101 seasons in total)
Brazil Cruzeiro 2019 98 Campeonato Mineiro, Taça de Prata & Série A
Brazil Vasco da Gama 2008 87 Campeonato Carioca, Taça de Prata & Série A
Egypt Al Ahly 1922 – 102 Cairo League, Egyptian Premier League
Egypt Zamalek
Republic of Ireland Shamrock Rovers 2005 83 League of Ireland
Netherlands Sparta Rotterdam 2002 80 Eerste Klasse West & Eredivisie
Croatia Hajduk Split 1923 – 101 Yugoslav First League & Prva HNL (91 seasons in total)
Suriname Transvaal SVB Topklasse & Suriname Major League
Iceland Valur 1999 76 Úrvalsdeild
Northern Ireland Ards 1998 75 Football League (68 seasons in total – only became champions once)
Northern Ireland Portadown 1924 2008 84 Football League & Premier League (77 seasons in total)
Netherlands PSV Eindhoven 1926 – 98 Eerste Klasse Zuid & Eredivisie (97 seasons in total)
Peru Universitario 1928 – 96 Primera División
Spain Athletic Bilbao 1929 – 95 Primera División (94 seasons in total)
Spain FC Barcelona
Spain Real Madrid CF
Albania KF Tirana 2017 88 Kategoria Superiore
Brazil São Paulo[i] 1930 – 94 Campeonato Paulista, Taça de Prata & Série A
Indonesia Persija Jakarta Perserikatan, Liga Indonesia Premier Division, and Liga 1
Israel Maccabi Tel Aviv 1931 – 93 Palestine League, Israeli League, Liga Alef, Liga Leumit & Premier League
Malta Hibernians[j] 1932 – 92 Premier League
Chile Colo-Colo 1933 – 91 Campeonato Nacional
Portugal Benfica 1934 – 90 Primeira Liga (89 seasons in total)
Portugal Porto
Portugal Sporting CP
Cyprus APOEL FC First Division
Belgium Anderlecht 1935 – 89 Pro League (85 seasons in total)
Georgia (country) Dinamo Tbilisi 1936 - 88 Soviet Top League & Umaglesi Liga
Ukraine Dynamo Kyiv Soviet Top League & Premier League
Russia Dynamo Moscow 2016 80 Soviet Top League & Football Championship
Bulgaria Levski Sofia 1937 – 87 State Football Championship & A Group
Faroe Islands Havnar Bóltfelag 1942 – 82 Premier League
Guatemala Municipal Liga Nacional (71 seasons in total)
Mexico América 1943 – 81 Liga MX
Mexico Guadalajara
Malta Valletta 1944 2024 80 Premier League
Croatia Dinamo Zagreb 1946 – 78 Yugoslav First League & Prva HNL (79 seasons in total)
Serbia Partizan Yugoslav First League, First League of Serbia and Montenegro & Serbian SuperLiga (79 seasons in total)
Serbia Red Star Belgrade
Romania FCSB 1947 – 77 Liga I
Colombia Deportivo Cali 1948 – 76 Primera Division
Colombia Independiente Medellín
Colombia Santa Fe
Colombia Junior
Colombia Millonarios
Colombia Nacional
Colombia Once Caldas
Poland Legia Warsaw Ekstraklasa
Cyprus Anorthosis First Division
  1. ^ Technically never relegated. Demoted three tiers despite finishing 2nd.
  2. ^ There is dispute as to whether Peñarol is a direct continuation of CURCC, which was founded in 1900, or is a separate club founded in 1913.[20]
  3. ^ AC Milan withdrew from the 1908 Italian Championship.
  4. ^ Absent from 1917 to 1919.
  5. ^ Absent for eleven seasons.
  6. ^ Corinthians withdrew from the 1979 Brasileirão.
  7. ^ Santos withdrew from the 1920 Paulistão and from the 1979 Brasileirão.
  8. ^ Bohemians were relegated in 1911 from the (now Northern) Irish League, but returned in 1912 and stayed there until 1920 to form the Irish Free State (now Republic of Ireland) League, from which they have never been relegated.
  9. ^ São Paulo withdrew from the 1935 Paulistão and from the 1979 Brasileirão.
  10. ^ Absent for four seasons.

Never relegated

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Unrelegated from a top league

[edit]

This is a list of football clubs which have never been relegated from their current national top-level league and have played at least ten seasons at this level. The year on the third column indicates when they began their uninterrupted run.

League Club Since Observations
Algeria Algeria JS Kabylie 1969
Andorra Andorra FC Santa Coloma 1994
Argentina Argentina[1][24] Boca Juniors 1913
Defensa y Justicia 2014
Austria Austria[8] Austria Wien 1974
Rapid Wien
Sturm Graz Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the Bundesliga
Wolfsberger AC 2012 Relegated at lower divisions but never from a top-tier
Azerbaijan Azerbaijan[1] Neftçi 1992 Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the Premyer Liqası
Qarabağ
Belarus Belarus[25] Dynamo Brest 1992
Dinamo Minsk Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the Vysheyshaya Liga
Neman Grodno
Shakhtyor
BATE 1998
Bolivia Bolivia The Strongest 1950
Oriente Petrolero 1977
Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina Sarajevo 2000 Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the Premijer Liga
Široki Brijeg
Željezničar Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the Premijer Liga
Zrinjski Mostar Played in the wartime league of the Independent State of Croatia. Between 1945 and 1992, they were banned by the Yugoslav government
Brazil Brazil[1][16] Flamengo 1964 Absent but never got relegated
São Paulo 1967
Bulgaria Bulgaria[1] Levski Sofia 1937
Ludogorets Razgrad 2011
Chile Chile[1] Colo-Colo 1933
China China Beijing Guoan 1991 Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the Chinese Super League
Shanghai Shenhua 1982
Colombia Colombia Atlético Nacional 1948
Millonarios
Santa Fe
Deportivo Cali Absent but never got relegated
Independiente Medellín
Junior
Once Caldas
La Equidad 2007
Águilas Doradas 2011
Costa Rica Costa Rica Alajuelense 1921
Herediano
Saprissa 1949
Pérez Zeledón 1991
Croatia Croatia[1] Dinamo Zagreb 1991
Hajduk Split
Osijek Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the Prva HNL
Rijeka
Slaven Belupo 1997
Lokomotiva 2009 Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the Prva HNL
Cyprus Cyprus[1] APOEL 1934 Before 1974, played in the Greek top-level league when they became Cypriot champion
Anorthosis 1948 Before 1948, withdrew from the top-level league twice but they were never relegated
Omonia 1953 Before 1974, played in the Greek top-level league when they became Cypriot champion
Apollon 1957
Czech Republic Czech Republic[13] Sparta Prague 1993 Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the First League
Slavia Prague
Slovan Liberec
Jablonec 1994 Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the First League
Teplice 1996
Mladá Boleslav 2004
Denmark Denmark[26] Brøndby 1991
Copenhagen 1992 Successors of clubs that have relegated from a top-tier league
Midtjylland 2000
Nordsjælland 2002
Ecuador Ecuador[1] Barcelona 1957
Independiente del Valle 2010
Egypt Egypt[1] Al Ahly 1948
Zamalek
ENPPI 2002
Tala'ea El Gaish SC 2004
Smouha 2010
England England[3][16] Arsenal 1992 Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the Premier League
Chelsea
Everton
Liverpool
Manchester United
Tottenham Hotspur
Estonia Estonia[11] Flora 1992
Narva Trans
FCI Levadia 1999
Tartu Tammeka 2005
Nõmme Kalju 2008
Paide Linnameeskond 2009
Faroe Islands Faroe Islands[1] Havnar Bóltfelag 1942
Víkingur Gøta 2008
Finland Finland[1] HJK 1990 Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the Veikkausliiga
IFK Mariehamn 2005
Georgia (country) Georgia[27] Dinamo Tbilisi 1990
Germany Germany[1] Bayern Munich 1965 Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the Bundesliga
Bayer Leverkusen 1979
VfL Wolfsburg 1997
TSG 1899 Hoffenheim 2008
FC Augsburg 2011 Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the Bundesliga
Ghana Ghana[1] Asante Kotoko 1958
Hearts of Oak
Ashanti Gold 1986
Aduana Stars F.C. 2009
Greece Greece[1] Olympiacos 1959
Panathinaikos
PAOK
Asteras Tripolis 2007
Guatemala Guatemala CSD Municipal 1942
Comunicaciones F.C. 1950
Honduras Honduras[1] Marathón 1965
Motagua
Olimpia
Real España
Vida
Hungary Hungary Paksi FC 2006
Indonesia Indonesia[1] Persija Jakarta 1951
PSM Makassar PSM withdrew from the qualifying stage for financial reasons in 1952 and played in the breakaway LPI 2010/11–2013, but they were never relegated
Republic of Ireland Republic of Ireland[1] Bohemians 1921
St Patrick's Athletic 1951
Iran Iran[28] Persepolis 1970
Israel Israel Maccabi Tel Aviv 1931
Italy Italy[16][29] Inter Milan 1929
Ivory Coast Ivory Coast[1] ASEC Mimosas 1960
Japan Japan[30] Kashima Antlers 1993 Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the J1 League
Yokohama F. Marinos
Kazakhstan Kazakhstan[31] Shakhter Karagandy 1992
Atyrau 2001
Kuwait Kuwait Al-Qadsia 1961 Withdrew from the league in 1996–97, but they never got relegated.
Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan[32] FC Dordoi 1999
Abdysh-Ata Kant 2003
Malaysia Malaysia Selangor 2005 Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the Malaysia Super League
Johor Darul Ta'zim 2006
Malta Malta[1] Hibernians 1932 Absent but never got relegated
Mexico Mexico[1][N 1] América 1943
Guadalajara
Toluca 1953
UNAM 1962
Cruz Azul 1964
Santos Laguna 1988
Club Tijuana 2011
Montenegro Montenegro[34] FK Budućnost Podgorica 2006 Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the 1. CFL
OFK Petrovac
FK Sutjeska Nikšić Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the 1. CFL
Morocco Morocco Raja CA 1956
Wydad AC
ASFAR 1959
Netherlands Netherlands[3] Ajax 1956 Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the Eredivisie
PSV
Feyenoord In 1917 a new regional top-tier, the Eerste klasse West B, was created under pressure from clubs in the second tier, including Feyenoord. However, this league was considered inferior to the other regional top-tier competitions.[35] After only two years, the Eerste klasse West B was abolished and replaced by the Overgangsklasse, an intermediate level between the first and second tier. In 1921, Feyenoord finally entered the top flight[36]
FC Utrecht 1970 VV DOS played in every season of the Eredivisie before merging into FC Utrecht in 1970
Nigeria Nigeria[37] Enugu Rangers 1972
Northern Ireland Northern Ireland[17] Cliftonville 2008 Never relegated since 1890
Glentoran
Linfield
Dungannon Swifts Never relegated since 2002
Ballymena United Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the Premiership
Coleraine
Crusaders
Glenavon
North Macedonia North Macedonia[1] FK Rabotnički 1998
Paraguay Paraguay Guaraní 1906
Olimpia
Cerro Porteño 1913
Panama Panama Plaza Amador 1988
Tauro
San Francisco 1992 Formerly Deportivo La Previsora
Árabe Unido 1996
Sporting San Miguelito 1997
Universitario (Panama) 2001 Formerly Chorrillo FC
Peru Peru[1] Universitario 1928
Sporting Cristal[38] 1956 the direct successor of Club Sporting Tabaco, which was relegated from
the top-tier league[39]
Sport Huancayo 2009
Portugal Portugal[1] Benfica 1934
Porto
Sporting CP
Romania Romania FCSB 1947
Botoșani 2013
Russia Russia[1] CSKA Moscow 1992 Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the Football Championship
Lokomotiv Moscow
Spartak Moscow
FC Krasnodar 2011
Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia[40] Al Hilal SFC 1976 All of these are mostly state-owned via the Public Investment Fund.
Al Ittihad Club
Al Nassr
Scotland Scotland[23] Celtic 2013 Never relegated since 1890
Aberdeen Never relegated since 1905, absent for two though relegation was suspended at the time and league membership was maintained
Motherwell Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the Scottish Premiership
St. Johnstone
Serbia Serbia[41] Partizan 2006 These teams were never relegated since their creation in 1945. Before 2006, they played in the predecessor leagues of the SuperLiga, the Yugoslav First League and the First League of Serbia and Montenegro. At their creation, the two teams replaced the pre-1945, also unrelegated teams, of OFK Beograd and SK Jugoslavija. Their matches against each other are called Eternal Derbies.
Red Star Belgrade
FK Vojvodina 2006 Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the SuperLiga
FK Spartak Subotica 2009
Slovakia Slovakia[14] MFK Ružomberok 1997
Slovenia Slovenia[42] NK Celje 1991
NK Maribor Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the PrvaLiga
NK Olimpija Ljubljana 2009
South Africa South Africa Kaizer Chiefs 1996
Orlando Pirates
Mamelodi Sundowns Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the South African Premier Division
SuperSport United Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the South African Premier Division
South Korea South Korea Pohang Steelers 1983
FC Seoul 1984
Ulsan HD
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 1995
Incheon United 2004
Suriname Suriname Transvaal 1923 Current top-tier league is only in its first season
Spain Spain[1] Athletic Bilbao 1929
FC Barcelona
Real Madrid CF
Syria Syria[1] Al-Ittihad SC Aleppo 1966
Tajikistan Tajikistan[43] CSKA Pamir Dushanbe 1992 Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the Tajik League
FK Khujand 1997
Tunisia Tunisia[1] CS Sfaxien 1955
Club Africain
Espérance de Tunis Did not participate in 1970–71
Étoile du Sahel Did not participate in 1961–62
Turkey Turkey[1] Beşiktaş 1959
Fenerbahçe
Galatasaray
Trabzonspor 1974
Turkmenistan Turkmenistan[44] Nebitçi FT 1992
Merw FK
Şagadam FK 1994
Ukraine Ukraine[1] Dynamo Kyiv 1992
Shakhtar Donetsk Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the Premier League
Vorskla 1996
United Arab Emirates United Arab Emirates Al Ain FC 1974
Al-Nasr SC
Al-Wasl FC
Al Wahda 1985
Al Jazira 1988
Uruguay Uruguay[1] Peñarol 1900
Nacional 1901
Uzbekistan Uzbekistan[45] Navbahor Namangan 1992
Pakhtakor Tashkent Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the Uzbek League
Nasaf Qarshi 1997
PFK Metallurg Bekabad 1998
Qizilqum Zarafshon 2000
Venezuela Venezuela Deportivo Táchira 1975
Caracas 1985
Deportivo La Guaira 2009
Vietnam Vietnam Song Lam Nghe An 2000 Formerly Song Lam Nghe Tinh

Ranked 14th in the 2021 season but did not relegate due to the remaining of the season getting cancelled

Hoang Anh Gia Lai 2003 Formerly Gia Lai - Kon Tum
Becamex Binh Duong 2004 Formerly Song Be and Cao Su Binh Long

Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the V.League 1

Dong A Thanh Hoa 2007 Formerly FLC Thanh Hoa, Lam Son Thanh Hoa and Thanh Hoa FC

Originally finished 14th in the 2009 season, they merged into Viettel - Thanh Hoa FC (formerly The Cong FC), then finished 9th, and re-established as Lam Son Thanh Hoa FC, therefore escaped relegation.

Hanoi FC 2009 Formerly Ha Noi T&T and T&T Ha Noi
Wales Wales[1] Aberystwyth Town 1992
Newtown
The New Saints 1993 Former Llansantffraid F.C. and Total Network Solutions
Bala Town F.C. 2009

The United States and Canada have a franchise system and therefore do not have relegation and promotion in that system.

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Mexico suspended promotion and relegation for at least 5 years starting in 2020.[33]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an "Coventric!". RSSSF.com. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  2. ^ Fahey, Ciaran (12 May 2018). "Hamburger SV relegated from Bundesliga for first time amid chaotic scenes". Chicago Tribune. Associated Press. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  3. ^ a b c Nardelli, Alberto (2 June 2015). "Which European football clubs have never been relegated?". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
  4. ^ "Jahresüberblick 1911-2015". Bundesliga.at. Österreichische Fußball-Bundesliga. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
  5. ^ "Österreich 1 (1.Klasse) NÖ Fußballverband 1911/12". Austria Soccer. Ambrosius Kutschera. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
  6. ^ "Finale der deutschen Meisterschaft 1941". Skrapid.at. SK Rapid Wien. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
  7. ^ "Geschichte". Bundesliga.at. Österreichische Fußball-Bundesliga. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
  8. ^ a b "Meisterschaft Österreich I". Austriasoccer.at. Ambrosius Kutschera. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  9. ^ "Greece – Final Tables 1906-1959". RSSSF.com. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 2 September 2011. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
  10. ^ "Before the Turkish Leagues". Turkish Soccer. Erdinç Sivritepe. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
  11. ^ a b "Estonia – List of Champions". RSSSF. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  12. ^ "USSR Championships 1936-1991 All-Time Table". RSSSF.com. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
  13. ^ a b "Czech Republic – List of Champions". RSSSF.com. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  14. ^ a b "Slovakia – List of Champions". RSSSF.com. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  15. ^ "History of the Premier League". Premierleague.com. Football Association Premier League. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
  16. ^ a b c d "Tenacious titans built to last". FIFA.com. FIFA. 7 July 2011. Archived from the original on May 17, 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2013.
  17. ^ a b "Northern Ireland – Champions". RSSSF.com. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  18. ^ a b Aberdeen (along with other clubs) voluntarily withdrew from the league for two seasons during wartime due to travel difficulties: 1917–18 and 1918–19. They were not relegated and returned to the top division when the war conditions ended.
  19. ^ RSSSF and RSSSF Brasil
  20. ^ Discusiones por el decanato on Fútbol.uy, 29 Sep 2009
  21. ^ Technically never relegated as Juventus were demoted to Serie B due to Calciopoli scanadal despite finishing first. This is not like a typical relegation based on performances on the field.
  22. ^ a b c Includes Campionato Federale (1898-1904), Prima Categoria (1904-1922), Prima Divisione (1921-1926) and 1921–22 Prima Divisione (C.C.I.), Divisione Nazionale (1926-1929), Serie A (1929-1945 and 1946-present) and, for the second time, the Divisione Nazionale (1945-1946).
  23. ^ a b "Scotland – List of Champions". RSSSF.com. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  24. ^ "Además de Boca, qué otros equipos NUNCA se fueron a la B". Bolavip Argentina (in Spanish). 8 January 2024. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  25. ^ "Belarus – List of Champions". RSSSF.com. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  26. ^ "Denmark – List of Champions". RSSSF.com. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  27. ^ "Georgia – List of Champions". RSSSF.com. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  28. ^ "List of Figures and Plates", Persepolis, Berlin, Boston: DE GRUYTER, pp. xi–xviii, 2012, doi:10.1515/9781614510338.xi, ISBN 9781614510338, S2CID 185912823, retrieved 2021-09-20
  29. ^ "Italy – Championship History 1898-1923". RSSSF.com. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
  30. ^ "Japan – List of Champions". RSSSF.com. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  31. ^ "Kazakhstan – List of Champions". RSSSF.com. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  32. ^ "Kyrgyzstan – List of Champions". RSSSF.com. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  33. ^ "Mexico's Liga MX suspends promotion-relegation for next five years". ESPN. ESPN. April 17, 2020. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
  34. ^ "Montenegro - List of Champions". RSSSF.com. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  35. ^ "Netherlands Eerste Klasse West Final League Tables 1890-1950". RSSSF.com. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
  36. ^ "Eerste Kampioenschappen (1917-1930)". FR-Fanatic.nl. FR-Fanatic. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
  37. ^ "Nigeria - List of Champions". RSSSF.com. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  38. ^ "Cronología". Clubsportingcristal.pe. Club Sporting Cristal S.A. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
  39. ^ "Sporting Tabaco fuses with Backus". DeChalaca. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
  40. ^ "Saudi Arabia – List of Champions". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
  41. ^ "Yugoslavia/Serbia (and Montenegro) – List of Champions". RSSSF.com. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
  42. ^ Marko Kovačevič (28 December 2019). "Vladavina Maribora in Ljubljane ni več samoumevna". Večer (in Slovenian). Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  43. ^ "Tajikistan – List of Champions". RSSSF.com. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  44. ^ "Turkmenistan – List of Champions". RSSSF.com. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  45. ^ "Uzbekistan – List of Champions". RSSSF.com. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
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