List of unrelegated association football clubs

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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[update], 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)

|
|
|
|

Celtic | 1890 | – | 134 | Football League, Premier League & Premiership (128 seasons in total)
Cliftonville | Football League, Premier League & NIFL Premiership (124 seasons in total)
Glentoran
Linfield
Rangers | 2012 | 122 | Football League & Premier League (115 seasons in total)
Lisburn Distillery | 1995 | 105 | Football League (94 seasons in total)
Heart of Midlothian | 1977 | 87 | Football League (80 seasons in total)
Eintracht Frankfurt | 1899 | 1996 | 97 | Kreisliga Nordmain, Bezirksliga Main, Bezirksliga Main-Hessen, Gauliga Südwest/Mainhessen, Oberliga Süd & Bundesliga (95 seasons in total)
Werder Bremen | 1980 | 81 | Verband Bremer Fussballveriene, Bezirk Bremen, Northern German football championship, Gauliga Niedersachsen, Oberliga Nord & Bundesliga
Peñarol[a] | 1900 | – | 124 | Primera División (121 seasons in total)
Juventus[21] | 2006 | 106 | Italian Football Championship (101 seasons in total)[22]
AC Milan[b] | 1980 | 80 | Italian Football Championship (75 seasons in total)[22]
Nacional | 1901 | – | 123 | Primera División (120 seasons in total)
Ferencváros | 2006 | 105 | Nemzeti Bajnokság (102 seasons in total)
Aberdeen[c] | 1905 | – | 119 | Football League, Premier League & Premiership (112 seasons in total)[18][23]
Guaraní | 1906 | – | 118 | Primera División (113 seasons in total)
Olimpia
Botafogo | 2002 | 96 | Campeonato Carioca, Taça de Prata & Série A
Club Libertad | 1998 | 92 | Primera División (87 seasons in total)
Fluminense | 1997 | 91 | Campeonato Carioca, Taça de Prata & Série A
Atlético Mineiro | 1908 | 2005 | 97 | Campeonato Mineiro, Taça de Prata & Série A
Inter Milan | 1909 | – | 114 | Italian Football Championship[22] (109 seasons in total)
Floriana[d] | 1985 | 76 | Premier League
River Plate | 2011 | 102 | Primera División (102 seasons in total)
Austria Wien | 1911 | – | 113 | 1\. Klasse, Gauliga Ostmark, Staatsliga, Nationalliga & Bundesliga (113 seasons in total)
Rapid Wien
Glenavon | 2004 | 93 | Football League & Premier League (82 seasons in total)
Flamengo | 1912 | – | 112 | Campeonato Carioca, Taça de Prata & Série A
Újpest | Nemzeti Bajnokság (108 seasons in total)
Independiente | 2013 | 101 | Primera División (101 seasons in total)
Boca Juniors | 1913 | – | 111 | Primera División (111 seasons in total)
Cerro Porteño | Primera División (111 seasons in total)
Corinthians[e] | 2007 | 94 | Campeonato Paulista, Taça de Prata & Série A
Santos[f] | 2023 | 110 | Campeonato Paulista, Taça de Prata & Série A
Budapest Honvéd | 1916 | 2003 | 87 | Nemzeti Bajnokság (84 seasons in total)
Palmeiras | 2002 | 86 | Campeonato Paulista, Taça de Prata & Série A
Ajax | 1917 | – | 107 | Eerste Klasse West & Eredivisie (106 seasons in total)
Arsenal | 1919 | – | 105 | Football League First Division, Premier League (98 seasons in total)
Hamburger SV | 2018 | 99 | Norddeutsche Fußballmeisterschaft, Gauliga Nordmark, Oberliga Nord & Bundesliga (96 seasons in total)
Standard Liège | 1921 | – | 103 | Pro League (100 seasons in total)
Alajuelense | Liga FPD
Herediano
Bohemians[g] | League of Ireland
Feyenoord | Eerste Klasse West & Eredivisie (101 seasons in total)
Cruzeiro | 2019 | 98 | Campeonato Mineiro, Taça de Prata & Série A
Vasco da Gama | 2008 | 87 | Campeonato Carioca, Taça de Prata & Série A
Al Ahly | 1922 | – | 102 | Cairo League, Egyptian Premier League
Zamalek
Shamrock Rovers | 2005 | 83 | League of Ireland
Sparta Rotterdam | 2002 | 80 | Eerste Klasse West & Eredivisie
Hajduk Split | 1923 | – | 101 | Yugoslav First League & Prva HNL (91 seasons in total)
Transvaal | SVB Topklasse & Suriname Major League
Valur | 1999 | 76 | Úrvalsdeild
Ards | 1998 | 75 | Football League (68 seasons in total – only became champions once)
Portadown | 1924 | 2008 | 84 | Football League & Premier League (77 seasons in total)
PSV Eindhoven | 1926 | – | 98 | Eerste Klasse Zuid & Eredivisie (97 seasons in total)
Internacional | 1927 | 2016 | 89 | Campeonato Gaúcho, Taça de Prata & Série A
Universitario | 1928 | – | 96 | Primera División
Athletic Bilbao | 1929 | – | 95 | Primera División (94 seasons in total)
FC Barcelona
Real Madrid CF
KF Tirana | 2017 | 88 | Kategoria Superiore
São Paulo[h] | 1930 | – | 94 | Campeonato Paulista, Taça de Prata & Série A
Persija Jakarta | Perserikatan, Liga Indonesia Premier Division, and Liga 1
Maccabi Tel Aviv | 1931 | – | 93 | Palestine League, Israeli League, Liga Alef, Liga Leumit & Premier League
Hibernians[i] | 1932 | – | 92 | Premier League
Colo-Colo | 1933 | – | 91 | Campeonato Nacional
Benfica | 1934 | – | 90 | Primeira Liga (89 seasons in total)
Porto
Sporting CP
APOEL FC | First Division
Anderlecht | 1935 | – | 89 | Pro League (85 seasons in total)
Dinamo Tbilisi | 1936 | – | 88 | Soviet Top League & Umaglesi Liga
Dynamo Kyiv | Soviet Top League & Premier League
Dynamo Moscow | 2016 | 80 | Soviet Top League & Football Championship
Levski Sofia | 1937 | – | 87 | State Football Championship & A Group
Havnar Bóltfelag | 1942 | – | 82 | Premier League
Municipal | Liga Nacional (71 seasons in total)
América | 1943 | – | 81 | Liga MX
Guadalajara
Valletta | 1944 | 2024 | 80 | Premier League
Dinamo Zagreb | 1946 | – | 78 | Yugoslav First League & Prva HNL (79 seasons in total)
Partizan | Yugoslav First League, First League of Serbia and Montenegro & Serbian SuperLiga (79 seasons in total)
Red Star Belgrade
FCSB | 1947 | – | 77 | Liga I
Deportivo Cali | 1948 | – | 76 | Primera Division
Independiente Medellín
Santa Fe
Junior
Millonarios
Nacional
Once Caldas
Legia Warsaw | Ekstraklasa
Anorthosis | First Division

1. ^ 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]
2. ^ AC Milan withdrew from the 1908 Italian Championship.
3. ^ Absent from 1917 to 1919.
4. ^ Absent for eleven seasons.
5. ^ Corinthians withdrew from the 1979 Brasileirão.
6. ^ Santos withdrew from the 1920 Paulistão and from the 1979 Brasileirão.
7. ^ 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.
8. ^ São Paulo withdrew from the 1935 Paulistão and from the 1979 Brasileirão.
9. ^ Absent for four seasons.

## Never relegated

[edit]

This sports-related list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (February 2023)

|

### 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 | JS Kabylie | 1969  |
Andorra | FC Santa Coloma | 1994 |
Argentina[1][24] | Boca Juniors | 1913 |
Defensa y Justicia | 2014 |
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[1] | Neftçi | 1992 | Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the Premyer Liqası
Qarabağ |
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 | The Strongest | 1950 |
Oriente Petrolero | 1977 |
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[1][16] | Flamengo | 1964  | Absent but never got relegated
São Paulo | 1967
Bulgaria[1] | Levski Sofia | 1937 |
Ludogorets Razgrad | 2011  |
Chile[1] | Colo-Colo | 1933 |
China | Beijing Guoan | 1991 | Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the Chinese Super League
Shanghai Shenhua | 1982
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 | Alajuelense | 1921 |
Herediano |
Saprissa | 1949 |
Pérez Zeledón | 1991 |
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[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[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[26] | Brøndby | 1991 |
Copenhagen | 1992 | Successors of clubs that have relegated from a top-tier league
Midtjylland | 2000
Nordsjælland | 2002 |
Ecuador[1] | Barcelona | 1957 |
Independiente del Valle | 2010  |
Egypt[1] | Al Ahly | 1948 |
Zamalek |
ENPPI | 2002  |
Tala'ea El Gaish SC | 2004  |
Smouha | 2010  |
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[11] | Flora | 1992 |
Narva Trans |
FCI Levadia | 1999 |
Tartu Tammeka | 2005 |
Nõmme Kalju | 2008 |
Paide Linnameeskond | 2009 |
Faroe Islands[1] | Havnar Bóltfelag | 1942  |
Víkingur Gøta | 2008  |
Finland[1] | HJK | 1990 | Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the Veikkausliiga
IFK Mariehamn | 2005 |
Georgia[27] | Dinamo Tbilisi | 1990 |
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[1] | Asante Kotoko | 1958 |
Hearts of Oak |
Ashanti Gold | 1986 |
Aduana Stars F.C. | 2009  |
Greece[1] | Olympiacos | 1959 |
Panathinaikos |
PAOK |
Asteras Tripolis | 2007 |
Guatemala | CSD Municipal | 1942 |
Comunicaciones F.C. | 1950 |
Honduras[1] | Marathón | 1965 |
Motagua |
Olimpia |
Real España |
Vida |
Hungary | Paksi FC | 2006  |
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[1] | Bohemians | 1921 |
St Patrick's Athletic | 1951 |
Iran[28] | Persepolis | 1970  |
Israel | Maccabi Tel Aviv | 1931 |
Italy[16][29] | Inter Milan | 1929 |
Ivory Coast[1] | ASEC Mimosas | 1960 |
Japan[30] | Kashima Antlers | 1993 | Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the J1 League
Yokohama F. Marinos
Kazakhstan[31] | Shakhter Karagandy | 1992 |
Atyrau | 2001 |
Kuwait | Al-Qadsia | 1961 | Withdrew from the league in 1996–97, but they never got relegated.
Kyrgyzstan[32] | FC Dordoi | 1999 |
Abdysh-Ata Kant | 2003 |
Libya | Al-Madina Tripoli | 1963  |
Malaysia | Selangor | 2005 | Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the Malaysia Super League
Johor Darul Ta'zim | 2006
Malta[1] | Hibernians | 1932 | Absent but never got relegated
Mexico[1][N 1] | América | 1943 |
Guadalajara |
Toluca | 1953 |
UNAM | 1962 |
Cruz Azul | 1964 |
Santos Laguna | 1988 |
Club Tijuana | 2011 |
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 | Raja CA | 1956 |
Wydad AC |
ASFAR | 1959 |
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[37] | Enugu Rangers | 1972 |
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[1] | FK Rabotnički | 1998  |
Paraguay | Guaraní | 1906 |
Olimpia |
Cerro Porteño | 1913 |
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[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[1] | Benfica | 1934 |
Porto
Sporting CP
Romania | FCSB | 1947 |
Botoșani | 2013 |
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[40] | Al-Hilal | 1975 | All of these are mostly state-owned via the Public Investment Fund.
Al-Ittihad
Al-Nassr
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[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[14] | MFK Ružomberok | 1997 |
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 | Kaizer Chiefs | 1996 |
Orlando Pirates |
Mamelodi Sundowns | Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the South African Premiership
Supersport United | Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the South African Premiership
South Korea | Pohang Steelers | 1983 |
FC Seoul | 1984
Ulsan HD
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 1995
Suriname | Transvaal | 1923 | Current top-tier league is only in its first season
Spain[1] | Athletic Bilbao | 1929 |
FC Barcelona
Real Madrid CF
Syria[1] | Al-Ittihad SC Aleppo | 1966 |
Tajikistan[43] | CSKA Pamir Dushanbe | 1992 | Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the Tajik League
FK Khujand | 1997 |
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[1] | Beşiktaş | 1959 |
Fenerbahçe |
Galatasaray |
Trabzonspor | 1974 |
Turkmenistan[44] | Nebitçi FT | 1992 |
Merw FK |
Şagadam FK | 1994 |
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 | Al Ain FC | 1974 |
Al-Nasr SC |
Al-Wasl FC |
Al Wahda | 1985 |
Al Jazira | 1988 |
Uruguay[1] | Peñarol | 1900 |
Nacional | 1901 |
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 | Deportivo Táchira | 1975 |
Caracas | 1985 |
Deportivo La Guaira | 2009 |
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[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]

* Promotion and relegation

## 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.
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13. ^ a b "Czech Republic – List of Champions". RSSSF.com. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
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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).
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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.
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36. ^ "Eerste Kampioenschappen (1917-1930)". FR-Fanatic.nl. FR-Fanatic. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
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