Historic Club Relegations Across Football
Atletico Madrid 2000. Juventus 2005. River Plate 2011. Rangers 2012. Also notable are Corinthians, Deportivo La Coruna, Sampdoria, and Marseille.
From financial mismanagement to scandals, poor decisions to simply terrible form, major football clubs around the world have faced relegation.
Tottenham Hotspur, with its world-class stadium, elite training facilities, roll-away pitch, and innovative beer taps, would represent the Premier League’s most surprising relegation if it were to occur.
As the situation becomes precarious in north London, this article examines the most unexpected clubs to be relegated since the Premier League's inception in 1992.
Champions have fallen, legends have declined, cup winners have faltered, and ever-present teams have become also-rans. Fans are invited to rank the clubs considered "too good to go down."
Nottingham Forest 1992-93
Position: 20, Points: 40
Brian Clough's Nottingham Forest had been league champions and won back-to-back European Cups. Even as the Premier League era began, they remained consistent cup finalists, securing League Cups in 1989 and 1990.
The season started well in August 1992, with Teddy Sheringham scoring the only goal as Forest defeated Liverpool during Sky Sports' first Super Sunday broadcast.
However, Sheringham was sold to Spurs, marking another significant departure following Des Walker's move to Sampdoria.
Forest’s decline was swift, and despite the efforts of tenacious young midfielder Roy Keane, who was named in the PFA Team of the Year, Clough’s 18-year reign at the City Ground ended emotionally.
Queens Park Rangers 2012-13
Position: 20th, Points: 25
QPR's downfall was less about nostalgia and more about a volatile two-season period fueled by big-name signings with high wages.
They narrowly survived their first season back in the Premier League, despite the dramatic final-day "Aguerooo!" moment, and then signed veterans such as Park Ji-Sung from Manchester United, Jose Bosingwa from Chelsea, and former England internationals Rob Green and Jermaine Jenas.
The club also acquired Esteban Granero from Real Madrid, Christopher Samba from Anzhi, and Loic Remy from Marseille. Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar moved from Inter Milan to Loftus Road.
Mark Hughes started the season as manager, but Harry Redknapp took over by the end, with QPR managing only four league wins that campaign.
Wigan Athletic 2012-13
Position: 18, Points: 36
Wigan were relegated the same season but achieved the remarkable feat of winning the FA Cup.
Roberto Martinez’s side experienced a memorable fortnight when Ben Watson scored a 91st-minute header against Manchester City at Wembley, sparking wild celebrations.
Four days later, Wigan ended their eight-year top-flight stay with a defeat at Arsenal.
"I never, ever expected us to get relegated," said Martinez, who later joined the open-top bus parade celebrating the cup win, with a 'Believe in Wigan' banner leading the procession.
Aston Villa 2015-16
Position: 20, Points: 17
In 2015, Tim Sherwood led Aston Villa to the FA Cup final, where they were heavily defeated by Arsenal after a tactical display that "bamboozled" Liverpool en route.
Sherwood also helped Villa avoid relegation that season, but after losing key players Christian Benteke and Fabian Delph in the summer, he was sacked following six consecutive defeats that left the club bottom of the table in October.
Kevin Macdonald, Remi Garde, and Eric Black all attempted to stabilize the team, which had reinvested in young prospects, but ownership issues persisted.
Villa, one of only seven Premier League ever-presents at the time, were relegated for the first time since 1988.
Middlesbrough 1996-97
Position: 19th, Points: 39
Fabrizio Ravanelli’s debut hat-trick against Liverpool, months after scoring in Juventus' Champions League victory, raised hopes among Middlesbrough fans.
Alongside Brazilian stars Juninho, Emerson, and Branco, and with Bryan Robson as manager, the Riverside faithful dreamed of major success.
The club nearly achieved an FA and League Cup double but lost both finals. However, their league form could not match cup runs.
Ravanelli, reportedly the highest-paid player in the league, scored frequently but publicly criticized the club's professionalism in the Italian press, noting Juventus coaches had to fax him fitness plans.
Emerson’s absence and his wife’s critical comments about Teesside added to troubles.
The decisive factor in relegation was Middlesbrough's refusal to play a match against Blackburn due to illness and injury crises, resulting in a three-point deduction by the FA. They finished just two points shy of survival.
Blackburn Rovers 1998-99
Position: 19th, Points: 35
After a goalless draw with Manchester United, Sir Alex Ferguson expressed surprise at Blackburn’s relegation, mistakenly believing they needed only a point to survive.
"They're down? They needed a win tonight? I thought they needed a point," Ferguson said.
Brian Kidd, Ferguson’s former assistant, confirmed Blackburn’s relegation.
David Beckham stated Blackburn did not deserve relegation, while Kenny Dalglish reflected on the sadness of the day. Jack Walker, who had financed Blackburn’s Premier League title four years earlier, was tearful at Ewood Park.
Leicester City 2022-23
Position: 18th, Points: 34
Leicester City joined the exclusive group of Premier League champions to be relegated, having won the title seven years earlier under Claudio Ranieri.
They also secured an FA Cup victory in the interim.
Although key players like N’Golo Kante, Riyad Mahrez, and Danny Drinkwater had departed, relegation remained a shock.
Leicester started the season poorly and, despite brief signs of hope, their fate was sealed on the final day when Sean Dyche’s Everton defeated Bournemouth, making Leicester’s win against West Ham insufficient.
Players including James Maddison, Harvey Barnes, Jamie Vardy, and Youri Tielemans could not prevent the drop.
Newcastle United 2008-09
Position: 18th, Points: 34
In a bid to avoid relegation, Newcastle appointed hometown hero Alan Shearer as manager with eight games remaining.
Shearer, a club legend known for his iconic goal celebrations immortalized in bronze outside St James’ Park, was seen as the man to save the team.
However, the task proved too great. Shearer was the fourth manager that season after Kevin Keegan resigned over transfer disputes. Fan anger targeted owner Mike Ashley and executive director Dennis Wise.
Managers Chris Hughton and Joe Kinnear also failed to reverse fortunes as the team’s star players, including Michael Owen, Alan Smith, Damien Duff, Fabricio Coloccini, Obafemi Martins, and Joey Barton, managed only two wins after Christmas.
Leeds United 2003-04
Position: 19th, Points: 33
In South Korea, a TV show titled "Leeds Era Once Again" helps contestants relive the club’s glory days.
The term "Leeds Days" originated from Elland Road, especially associated with Alan Smith, whose form declined after moving to Manchester United.
The phrase "doing a Leeds" refers to the club’s fall from a Champions League semi-final to relegation within three years.
Heavy spending on players like Rio Ferdinand, Robbie Keane, Mark Viduka, and Robbie Fowler contributed to financial strain and eventual decline to League One.
Failure to return to European competition led to a fire-sale of players, and relegation was confirmed in May 2004 after defeat at Chelsea, with the bottom three all finishing on equal points.
West Ham United 2002-03
Position: 18th, Points: 42
West Ham had enjoyed strong times at Upton Park, finishing seventh the previous season. Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier predicted they could reach the Champions League.
Despite selling Rio Ferdinand to Leeds, the club retained a homegrown core, having won the FA Youth Cup in 1999.
Players such as Joe Cole, Jermain Defoe, Michael Carrick, Glen Johnson, Paolo di Canio, Frederic Kanoute, David James, Trevor Sinclair, Tomas Repka, and Christian Dailly formed a talented squad.
Injuries, suspensions, and a fallout between Di Canio and manager Glenn Roeder contributed to their unexpected slide into the relegation zone.
West Ham lost only one of their final 11 games, taking 25 points from the last 14 matches to finish 16 points above 19th-placed West Bromwich Albion, but two points shy of safety behind Sam Allardyce’s Bolton Wanderers.
They hold the record for the highest points total for a team relegated in a 38-game Premier League season.
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