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List of unrelegated association football clubs

Last updated: 2025-07-30 09:50:27

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

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 league was founded, and Olympiacos, Panathinaikos and PAOK have played in every season of it.[1] However, there was a Panhellenic Championship from 1927 to 1959, a top-tier that connected the city-leagues, and titles won in that are considered valid and equal to the modern league by the Hellenic Football Federation. Beşiktaş, Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray were also in city-leagues before the unified Turkish league was founded in 1959, but there was no clear and undisputed top-flight like the Panhellenic Championship in Greece, and the Turkish Football Federation does not recognise pre-1956 titles, while the recognised Federation Cup from 1956 to 1958 was a knockout competition.[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 135 years,[1] but another five have been present in every season of the NIFL Premiership, which was established in 2008.[17]

In Scotland, Aberdeen[18] and Celtic 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. 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 (though Juventus FC, since its debut in the top-tier league in 1900, only ever spent a single season outside of it due to an administrative decision in 2006). Out of the FIFA World Cup-winning nations, France is the only one that has no unrelegated clubs from the current top-tier league, despite the latter having existed since 1930 (though Paris Saint-Germain, since its creation in 1970, was only ever relegated from Ligue 1 due to an administrative decision in 1972). Similarly, 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

This table lists all clubs that have continuously played at the highest level for 75 years or more. 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 Turkey are listed, as football was played in city-level competitions up until 1959, with national competitions that preceded that time having their champions unrecognised today.

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 2025, 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 clubs in bold have ongoing spells playing in 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 1890–135Football League, Premier League & Premiership (129 seasons)
Northern Ireland Cliftonville Football League, Premier League & NIFL Premiership (125 seasons)
Northern Ireland Glentoran
Northern Ireland Linfield
Scotland Rangers[a] 2012122Football League & Premier League (115 seasons)
Northern Ireland Lisburn Distillery 1995105Football League (94 seasons)
Scotland Heart of Midlothian 197787Football League (80 seasons)
Germany Eintracht Frankfurt 1899199697Kreisliga Nordmain, Bezirksliga Main, Bezirksliga Main-Hessen, Gauliga Südwest/Mainhessen, Oberliga Süd & Bundesliga (95 seasons)
Germany Werder Bremen 198081Verband Bremer Fussballveriene, Bezirk Bremen, Northern German football championship, Gauliga Niedersachsen, Oberliga Nord & Bundesliga
Uruguay Peñarol[b] 1900–125Primera División (122 seasons)
Italy Juventus[c] 2006106Italian Football Championship (101 seasons)[21]
Switzerland Servette 2005105Swiss Serie A, Nationalliga, Nationalliga A & Swiss Super League (105 seasons)
Italy AC Milan[d] 1900198080Italian Football Championship (75 seasons)[21]
Uruguay Nacional 1901–124Primera División (121 seasons)
Hungary Ferencváros 2006105Nemzeti Bajnokság (102 seasons)
Scotland Aberdeen[e] 1905–120Football League, Premier League & Premiership (113 seasons)[18][22]
Paraguay Guaraní 1906–119Primera División (114 seasons)
Paraguay Olimpia
Brazil Botafogo 200296Campeonato Carioca, Taça de Prata & Série A
Paraguay Club Libertad 199892Primera División (87 seasons)
Brazil Fluminense 199791Campeonato Carioca, Taça de Prata & Série A
Brazil Atlético Mineiro 1908200597Campeonato Mineiro, Taça de Prata & Série A
Italy Inter Milan 1909–116Italian Football Championship[21] (110 seasons)
Malta Floriana[f] 198576Premier League
Argentina River Plate 2011102Primera División (102 seasons)
Austria Austria Wien 1911–1141. Klasse, Gauliga Ostmark, Staatsliga, Nationalliga & Bundesliga (114 seasons)
Austria Rapid Wien
Northern Ireland Glenavon 200493Football League & Premier League (82 seasons)
Brazil Flamengo 1912–113Campeonato Carioca, Taça de Prata & Série A
Hungary Újpest Nemzeti Bajnokság (108 seasons)
Argentina Independiente 2013101Primera División (101 seasons)
Argentina Boca Juniors 1913–112Primera División (112 seasons)
Paraguay Cerro Porteño Primera División (112 seasons)
Brazil Corinthians[g] 200794Campeonato Paulista, Taça de Prata & Série A
Brazil Santos[h] 2023110Campeonato Paulista, Taça de Prata & Série A
Hungary Budapest Honvéd 1916200387Nemzeti Bajnokság (84 seasons)
Brazil Palmeiras 200286Campeonato Paulista, Taça de Prata & Série A
Netherlands Ajax 1917–108Eerste Klasse West & Eredivisie (107 seasons)
England Arsenal 1919–106Football League First Division & Premier League (99 seasons)
Germany Hamburger SV 201899Norddeutsche Fußballmeisterschaft, Gauliga Nordmark, Oberliga Nord & Bundesliga (96 seasons)
Belgium Standard Liège 1921–104Pro League (101 seasons)
Costa Rica Alajuelense Liga FPD
Costa Rica Herediano
Republic of Ireland Bohemians[i] League of Ireland
Netherlands Feyenoord Eerste Klasse West & Eredivisie (102 seasons)
Brazil Cruzeiro 201998Campeonato Mineiro, Taça de Prata & Série A
Brazil Vasco da Gama 200887Campeonato Carioca, Taça de Prata & Série A
Egypt Al Ahly 1922–103Cairo League & Egyptian Premier League
Egypt Zamalek
Republic of Ireland Shamrock Rovers 200583League of Ireland
Netherlands Sparta Rotterdam 200280Eerste Klasse West & Eredivisie
Croatia Hajduk Split 1923–102Yugoslav First League & HNL (92 seasons)
Suriname Transvaal SVB Topklasse & Suriname Major League
Iceland Valur 199976Úrvalsdeild
Northern Ireland Ards 199875Football League (69 seasons)
Northern Ireland Portadown 1924200884Football League & Premier League (77 seasons)
Netherlands PSV Eindhoven 1926–99Eerste Klasse Zuid & Eredivisie (98 seasons)
Brazil Internacional 1927201689Campeonato Gaúcho, Taça de Prata & Série A
Peru Universitario 1928–97Primera División
Greece Olympiacos 1929 – 96 Panhellenic Championship, Alpha Ethniki & Super League Greece
Greece Panathinaikos
Spain Athletic Bilbao Primera División (95 seasons)
Spain FC Barcelona
Spain Real Madrid CF
Albania KF Tirana 201788Kategoria Superiore
Greece AEK Athens 2013 84 Panhellenic Championship, Alpha Ethniki & Super League Greece
Brazil São Paulo[j] 1930–95Campeonato Paulista, Taça de Prata & Série A
Indonesia Persija Jakarta Perserikatan, Liga Indonesia Premier Division, & Liga 1
Israel Maccabi Tel Aviv 1931–94Palestine League, Israeli League, Liga Alef, Liga Leumit & Premier League
Malta Hibernians[k] 1932–93Premier League
Chile Colo-Colo 1933–92Campeonato Nacional
Greece PAOK Panhellenic Championship, Alpha Ethniki & Super League Greece
Portugal Benfica 1934–91Primeira Liga (90 seasons)
Portugal Porto
Portugal Sporting CP
Cyprus APOEL FC First Division
Belgium Anderlecht 1935–90Pro League (86 seasons)
Georgia (country) Dinamo Tbilisi 1936–89Soviet Top League & Umaglesi Liga
Ukraine Dynamo Kyiv Soviet Top League & Premier League
Russia Dynamo Moscow 201680Soviet Top League & Football Championship
Bulgaria Levski Sofia 1937–88State Football Championship & A Group
Faroe Islands Havnar Bóltfelag 1942–83Premier League
Guatemala Municipal Liga Nacional (72 seasons)
Mexico América 1943–82Liga MX
Mexico Guadalajara
Malta Valletta 1944202480Premier League
Croatia Dinamo Zagreb 1946–79Yugoslav First League & Prva HNL (80 seasons)
Serbia Partizan Yugoslav First League, First League of Serbia and Montenegro & Serbian SuperLiga (80 seasons)
Serbia Red Star Belgrade
Romania FCSB 1947–78Liga I
Colombia Deportivo Cali 1948–77Primera Division
Colombia Independiente Medellín
Colombia Santa Fe
Colombia Junior
Colombia Millonarios
Colombia Nacional
Colombia Once Caldas
Cyprus Anorthosis First Division
Poland Legia Warsaw Ekstraklasa
  1. ↑ Never relegated based on performance, demoted due to a financial crisis despite finishing second.
  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. ↑ Never relegated based on performance. They were relegated to Serie B due to the Calciopoli scandal despite initially finishing first.
  4. ↑ Withdrew from the 1908 Italian Championship. The relegation of 1980 was for the Totonero scandal despite initially finishing third, though they were relegated from Serie A based on performance in 1982.
  5. ↑ Absent from 1917 to 1919.
  6. ↑ Absent for eleven seasons.
  7. ↑ Corinthians withdrew from the 1979 Brasileirão.
  8. ↑ Santos withdrew from the 1920 Paulistão and from the 1979 Brasileirão.
  9. ↑ 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.
  10. ↑ São Paulo withdrew from the 1935 Paulistão and from the 1979 Brasileirão.
  11. ↑ Absent for four seasons, though there was no relegation at the time.

Never relegated

Unrelegated from a top league

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 in the third column indicates when they began their uninterrupted run. If the club has never been relegated while also having a streak that precedes the formation of their current top league, then it is noted in the observations.

LeagueClubSinceObservations
Algeria Algeria JS Kabylie 1969
Andorra AndorraFC Santa Coloma1994
Argentina Argentina[1][23]Boca Juniors1913
Defensa y Justicia2014
Austria Austria[8]Austria Wien1974Since 1911
Rapid Wien
Sturm GrazRelegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the Bundesliga
Wolfsberger AC2012Relegated at lower divisions but never from a top-tier
Azerbaijan Azerbaijan[1]Neftçi1992Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the Premyer Liqası
Qarabağ
Belgium Belgium Standard Liège 1921
Anderlecht 1935
Belarus Belarus[24]Dynamo Brest1992
Dinamo MinskRelegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the Vysheyshaya Liga
Neman Grodno
BATE1998
Bolivia BoliviaThe Strongest1950
Oriente Petrolero1977
Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and HerzegovinaSarajevo2000Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the Premijer Liga
Široki Brijeg
ŽeljezničarRelegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the Premijer Liga
Zrinjski MostarPlayed 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]Flamengo1971 Since 1912 when considering the Carioca, 1967 when considering official national top-tier
São Paulo Absent but never relegated. Since 1930 when considering the Paulista, 1967 when considering official national top-tier
Bulgaria Bulgaria[1]Levski Sofia1937
Ludogorets Razgrad 2011
Chile Chile[1]Colo-Colo1933
China ChinaBeijing Guoan1991Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the Chinese Super League
Shanghai Shenhua1982
Colombia ColombiaAtlético Nacional1948
Millonarios
Santa Fe
Deportivo Cali Absent but never relegated
Independiente Medellín
Junior
Once Caldas
La Equidad 2007
Águilas Doradas 2011
Costa Rica Costa Rica Alajuelense1921
Herediano
Saprissa1949
Pérez Zeledón1991
Croatia Croatia[1]Dinamo Zagreb1991
Hajduk Split
OsijekRelegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the Prva HNL
Rijeka
Slaven Belupo1997
Lokomotiva2009Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the Prva HNL
Cyprus Cyprus[1]APOEL1934Before 1974, played in the Greek top-level league when they became Cypriot champion
Anorthosis1948Before 1948, withdrew from the top-level league twice but they were never relegated
Omonia1953Before 1974, played in the Greek top-level league when they became Cypriot champion
Apollon1957
Czech Republic Czech Republic[13]Sparta Prague1993Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the First League
Slavia Prague
Slovan Liberec
Jablonec1994
Teplice1996
Mladá Boleslav2004Relegated at lower divisions but never from a top-tier
Denmark Denmark[25]Brøndby1982
Copenhagen1992Successors of clubs that have been relegated from a top-tier league
Midtjylland2000
Nordsjælland2002
Ecuador Ecuador[1]Barcelona1957
Independiente del Valle 2010
Egypt Egypt[1]Al Ahly1948Since 1922 when considering the Cairo League
Zamalek
ENPPI 2002
Tala'ea El Gaish SC 2004
Smouha 2010
England England[3][16]Arsenal1992Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the Premier League
Chelsea
Everton
Liverpool
Manchester United
Tottenham Hotspur
Estonia Estonia[11]Flora1992
Narva Trans
FCI Levadia1999
Tartu Tammeka2005
Nõmme Kalju2008
Paide Linnameeskond2009
Faroe Islands Faroe Islands[1] Havnar Bóltfelag 1942
Víkingur Gøta 2008
Finland Finland[1] HJK1990Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the Veikkausliiga
IFK Mariehamn2005
Georgia (country) Georgia[26]Dinamo Tbilisi1990
Germany Germany[1]Bayern Munich1965Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the Bundesliga
Bayer Leverkusen1979
VfL Wolfsburg1997
TSG 1899 Hoffenheim2008
FC Augsburg2011Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the Bundesliga
RB Leipzig 2016
Ghana Ghana[1]Asante Kotoko1958
Hearts of Oak
Aduana Stars F.C. 2009
Greece Greece[1]Olympiacos2006Since 1929
Panathinaikos
PAOKRelegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the Super League Greece
Asteras Tripolis2007
Guatemala GuatemalaCSD Municipal1942
Comunicaciones F.C.1950
Honduras Honduras[1]Marathón1965
Motagua
Olimpia
Real España
Vida
Hungary Hungary Paksi FC 2006
Indonesia Indonesia[1]Persija Jakarta1951
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]Bohemians1921
St Patrick's Athletic1951
Iran Iran[27] Persepolis 1970
Israel IsraelMaccabi Tel Aviv1931
Italy Italy[16][28]Inter Milan1929Since 1909
Ivory Coast Ivory Coast[1]ASEC Mimosas1960
FC San Pédro 2016
Japan Japan[29]Kashima Antlers1993Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the J1 League
Yokohama F. Marinos
Kazakhstan Kazakhstan[30] Atyrau2001
Kuwait KuwaitAl-Qadsia1961Withdrew from the league in 1996–97, but they never got relegated.
Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan[31]FC Dordoi1999
Abdysh-Ata Kant2003
Libya Libya Al-Madina Tripoli 1963
Luxembourg Luxembourg FC UNA Strassen 2015
Union Titus Pétange 2016
Malaysia MalaysiaSelangor2005Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the Malaysia Super League
Johor Darul Ta'zim2006
Malta Malta[1]Hibernians1932Absent but never got relegated
Mexico Mexico[1][N 1]América1943
Guadalajara
Toluca1953
UNAM1962
Cruz Azul1964
Santos Laguna1988
Club Tijuana2011
Montenegro Montenegro[33]FK Budućnost Podgorica2006Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the 1. CFL
OFK Petrovac
FK Sutjeska NikšićRelegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the 1. CFL
Morocco MoroccoRaja CA1956
Wydad AC
ASFAR1959
Netherlands Netherlands[3]Ajax1956Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the Eredivisie
PSV
Feyenoord
FC Utrecht1970VV DOS played in every season of the Eredivisie before merging into FC Utrecht in 1970
Nigeria Nigeria[34]Enugu Rangers1972
Northern Ireland Northern Ireland[17]Cliftonville2008Since 1890
Glentoran
Linfield
Dungannon SwiftsSince 2002
Ballymena UnitedRelegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the Premiership
Coleraine
Crusaders
Glenavon
North Macedonia North Macedonia[1] FK Rabotnički1998
KF Shkupi 2015
Paraguay ParaguayGuaraní1906
Olimpia
Cerro Porteño1913
Panama PanamaPlaza Amador1988
Tauro
San Francisco1992Formerly Deportivo La Previsora
Árabe Unido1996
Sporting San Miguelito1997
Universitario (Panama)2001Formerly Chorrillo FC
Peru Peru[1]Universitario1928
Sporting Cristal[35]1956Direct successor of Club Sporting Tabaco, which was relegated from
the top-tier league[36]
Sport Huancayo 2009
Portugal Portugal[1]Benfica1934
Porto
Sporting CP
Romania RomaniaFCSB1947
Botoșani2013
Russia Russia[1]CSKA Moscow1992Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the Football Championship
Lokomotiv Moscow
Spartak Moscow
FC Krasnodar 2011
Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia[37]Al-Hilal1975All of these are mostly state-owned via the Public Investment Fund
Al-Ittihad
Al-Nassr
Scotland Scotland[22]Celtic2013Since 1890
AberdeenSince 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
Rangers2016On league position, never relegated since 1890. In 2012, as a result of a financial crisis, membership for the then top tier, the Scottish Premier League, was revoked. The club spent 4 years in the lower leagues before promotion to the new top tier, the Scottish Premiership, which was established in 2013
Serbia Serbia[38]Partizan2006Since 1946
Red Star Belgrade
FK Vojvodina2006Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the SuperLiga
FK Spartak Subotica2009
Slovakia Slovakia[14]MFK Ružomberok1997
MFK Zemplín Michalovce 2015
Slovenia Slovenia[39]NK Celje1991Relegated at lower divisions but never from a top-tier
NK MariborRelegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the PrvaLiga
NK Olimpija Ljubljana2009
South Africa South AfricaKaizer Chiefs1996
Orlando Pirates
Mamelodi SundownsRelegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the South African Premiership
Supersport UnitedRelegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the South African Premiership
South Korea South KoreaPohang Steelers1983
FC Seoul1984
Ulsan HD
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors1995
Suriname SurinameTransvaal1923Current top-tier league founded in 2024
Spain Spain[1]Athletic Bilbao1929
FC Barcelona
Real Madrid CF
Syria Syria[1]Al-Ittihad SC Aleppo1966
Tajikistan Tajikistan[40]CSKA Pamir Dushanbe1992Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the Tajik League
FK Khujand1997
Tunisia Tunisia[1]CS Sfaxien1955
Club Africain
Espérance de TunisDid not participate in 1970–71
Étoile du SahelDid not participate in 1961–62
Turkey Turkey[1]Beşiktaş1959
Fenerbahçe
Galatasaray
Trabzonspor1974
Alanyaspor 2016 Relegated at lower divisions but never from a top-tier
Turkmenistan Turkmenistan[41]Nebitçi FT1992
Merw FK
Şagadam FK1994
Ukraine Ukraine[1]Dynamo Kyiv1992Since 1936
Shakhtar DonetskRelegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the Premier League
United Arab Emirates United Arab EmiratesAl Ain FC1974
Al-Nasr SC
Al-Wasl FC
Al Wahda1985
Al Jazira1988
Uruguay Uruguay[1]Peñarol1900
Nacional1901
Boston River 2016
Uzbekistan Uzbekistan[42]Navbahor Namangan1992
Pakhtakor TashkentRelegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the Uzbek League
Nasaf Qarshi1997
Qizilqum Zarafshon2000
Venezuela VenezuelaDeportivo Táchira1975
Caracas1985
Deportivo La Guaira2009
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 remainder 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] The New Saints1993Formerly 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

  1. ↑ Mexico suspended promotion and relegation for at least 5 years starting in 2020.[32]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 "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. 1 2 3 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. 1 2 "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. 1 2 "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. 1 2 "Czech Republic – List of Champions". RSSSF.com. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  14. 1 2 "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. 1 2 3 4 "Tenacious titans built to last". FIFA.com. FIFA. 7 July 2011. Archived from the original on May 17, 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2013.
  17. 1 2 "Northern Ireland – Champions". RSSSF.com. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  18. 1 2 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. 1 2 3 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).
  22. 1 2 "Scotland – List of Champions". RSSSF.com. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  23. ↑ "Además de Boca, qué otros equipos NUNCA se fueron a la B". Bolavip Argentina (in Spanish). 8 January 2024. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  24. ↑ "Belarus – List of Champions". RSSSF.com. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  25. ↑ "Denmark – List of Champions". RSSSF.com. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  26. ↑ "Georgia – List of Champions". RSSSF.com. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  27. ↑ "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
  28. ↑ "Italy – Championship History 1898-1923". RSSSF.com. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
  29. ↑ "Japan – List of Champions". RSSSF.com. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  30. ↑ "Kazakhstan – List of Champions". RSSSF.com. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  31. ↑ "Kyrgyzstan – List of Champions". RSSSF.com. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  32. ↑ "Mexico's Liga MX suspends promotion-relegation for next five years". ESPN. ESPN. April 17, 2020. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
  33. ↑ "Montenegro - List of Champions". RSSSF.com. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  34. ↑ "Nigeria - List of Champions". RSSSF.com. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  35. ↑ "Cronología". Clubsportingcristal.pe. Club Sporting Cristal S.A. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
  36. ↑ "Sporting Tabaco fuses with Backus". DeChalaca. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
  37. ↑ "Saudi Arabia – List of Champions". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
  38. ↑ "Yugoslavia/Serbia (and Montenegro) – List of Champions". RSSSF.com. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
  39. ↑ Marko Kovačevič (28 December 2019). "Vladavina Maribora in Ljubljane ni več samoumevna". Večer (in Slovenian). Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  40. ↑ "Tajikistan – List of Champions". RSSSF.com. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  41. ↑ "Turkmenistan – List of Champions". RSSSF.com. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  42. ↑ "Uzbekistan – List of Champions". RSSSF.com. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 16 August 2015.

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