List of unrelegated association football clubs


Several association football clubs succeed in playing at the highest level without being relegated from their domestic league. 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, 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. 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.
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. At that time however, the only organised football was played in the league of Lower Austria, which was then located in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and only teams from Vienna took part. 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. The current Austrian Bundesliga was only established in 1974, and to this point a total of five teams never relegated from that competition.
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. In 1959, a unified Hellenic championship was founded, and Olympiacos, Panathinaikos and PAOK have played in every season of it. However, these teams were already high-flyers in the preceding city-leagues. The same applies to Beşiktaş, Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray in Turkey.
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. 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. 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.
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 and Slovakia, 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 not 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. However, many more teams have never been relegated from their current national championships.
In still many other 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. None of them however had an uninterrupted run in the preceding First Division. Thus, a great number of teams can claim to have never been relegated from these newer competitions. In Scotland, only Celtic, Rangers and Aberdeen have never been relegated though Rangers were liquidated in 2012, with a new club starting in the fourth tier of the Scottish football league system. Similarly, Cliftonville, Glentoran and Linfield have the unique distinction of having played at the top flight in Northern Ireland for 125 years, but five more teams have been present in every season of the NIFL Premiership, which was only established in 2008.
There are however leagues that have been running for a long time. Not surprising, 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.

Unrelegated for three quarters of a century

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.
, 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 before the start of their record spell.
The squads on bold letter have on-going spells playing at their respective top flight divisions.
ClubFirst year of spellLast year of spellDuration Competition
Celtic F.C.1890–130Football League, Premier League & Premiership
Cliftonville F.C.1890–130Football League, Premier League & NIFL Premiership
Glentoran F.C.1890–130Football League, Premier League & NIFL Premiership
Linfield F.C.1890–130Football League, Premier League & NIFL Premiership
Rangers F.C.18902012122Football League & Premier League
Lisburn Distillery F.C.18901995105Football League
Heart of Midlothian F.C.1890197787Football League
Sparta Rotterdam18932002109Eerste Klasse West & Eredivisie
Eintracht Frankfurt1899199697Kreisliga Nordmain, Bezirksliga Main, Bezirksliga Main-Hessen, Gauliga Südwest/Mainhessen, Oberliga Süd & Bundesliga
Peñarol1900–120Primera División
Juventus F.C.19002006106Italian Football Championship
A.C. Milan*1900198080Italian Football Championship
Club Nacional de Football1901–119Primera División
Ferencvárosi TC19012006105Nemzeti Bajnokság
Aberdeen F.C.1905–115Football League, Premier League & Premiership
Club Guaraní1906–114Primera División
Club Olimpia1906–114Primera División
Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas1906200296Campeonato Carioca, Taça de Prata & Série A
Club Libertad1906199892Primera División
Fluminense FC1906199690Campeonato Carioca, Taça de Prata & Série A
Inter Milan1909–111Italian Football Championship
Sport Club Internacional19092016107Campeonato Gaúcho, Taça de Prata & Série A
Club Atlético River Plate19092011102Primera División
FK Austria Wien1911–1091. Klasse, Gauliga Ostmark, Staatsliga, Nationalliga & Bundesliga
SK Rapid Wien1911–1091. Klasse, Gauliga Ostmark, Staatsliga, Nationalliga & Bundesliga
Glenavon F.C.1911200493Football League & Premier League
Deportivo Cali 1912–108Categoría Primera A
Clube de Regatas do Flamengo1912–108Campeonato Carioca, Taça de Prata & Série A
Újpest FC1912–108Nemzeti Bajnokság
Club Atlético Independiente19122013101Primera División
Boca Juniors1913–107Primera División
Cerro Porteño1913–107Primera División
Sport Club Corinthians Paulista****1913200794Campeonato Paulista, Taça de Prata & Série A
Clube Atlético Mineiro1908200597Campeonato Mineiro, Taça de Prata & Série A
Santos FC***1916–104Campeonato Paulista, Taça de Prata & Série A
Budapest Honvéd FC1916200387Nemzeti Bajnokság
Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras1916200286Campeonato Paulista, Taça de Prata & Série A
AFC Ajax1917–103Eerste Klasse West & Eredivisie
Arsenal F.C.1919–101Football League First Division, Premier League
Hamburger SV1919201899Norddeutsche Fußballmeisterschaft, Gauliga Nordmark, Oberliga Nord & Bundesliga
Standard Liège1921–99Pro League
Cruzeiro Esporte Clube1921201998Campeonato Mineiro, Taça de Prata & Série A
Bohemian F.C.**1921–99League of Ireland
Feyenoord1921–99Eerste Klasse West & Eredivisie
CR Vasco da Gama1921200887Campeonato Carioca, Taça de Prata & Série A
Al Ahly SC1922–98Cairo League, Egyptian Premier League
Shamrock Rovers F.C.1922200583League of Ireland
HNK Hajduk Split1923–97Yugoslav First League & Prva HNL
Valur1923199976Úrvalsdeild
Ards F.C.1923199875Football League
Portadown F.C.1924200884Football League & Premier League
PSV Eindhoven1926–94Eerste Klasse Zuid & Eredivisie
Club Universitario de Deportes*****1928–92Primera División
Athletic Bilbao1929–91Primera División
FC Barcelona1929–91Primera División
Real Madrid C.F.1929–91Primera División
KF Tirana1929201788Kategoria Superiore
São Paulo FC***1930–90Campeonato Paulista, Taça de Prata & Série A
Maccabi Tel Aviv F.C.1931–89Palestine League, Israeli League, Liga Alef, Liga Leumit & Premier League
Colo-Colo1933–87Campeonato Nacional
S.L. Benfica1934–86Primeira Liga
FC Porto1934–86Primeira Liga
Sporting CP1934–86Primeira Liga
APOEL FC1934–86First Division
FC Dinamo Tbilisi1936–84Soviet Top League & Umaglesi Liga
FC Dynamo Moscow1936201680Soviet Top League & Football Championship
FC Dynamo Kyiv1936–84Soviet Top League & Premier League
PFC Levski Sofia1937–83State Football Championship & A Group
Hibernians F.C.1937–83Premier League

*AC Milan withdrew from the 1908 Italian Championship.

**Bohemians were relegated in 1911 from the Irish League, but returned in 1912 and stayed there until 1920 to form the Irish Free State League, from which they have never been relegated.

***Santos withdrew from the 1920 Paulistão, São Paulo withdrew from the 1935 Paulistão and both from the 1979 Brasileirão.

****Corinthians and São Paulo withdrew from the 1979 Brasileirão.

*****Universitario from Peru had been relegated in 1947 according to the rules of the league, however the Federación Peruana de Fútbol decided later on to cancel the relegation.

Source: and

Never relegated

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.
LeagueClubSinceObservations
ArgentinaBoca Juniors1913
ArmeniaShirak SC1992
ArmeniaFC Pyunik2001
AustriaFK Austria Wien1974
AustriaSK Rapid Wien1974
AustriaSK Sturm Graz1974Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the Bundesliga
AzerbaijanNeftçi PFK1992Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the Premyer Liqası
AzerbaijanQarabağ FK1992
AzerbaijanKeşla FK1999
AzerbaijanGabala FK2006
BelarusFC Dynamo Brest1992
BelarusFC Dinamo Minsk1992Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the Vysheyshaya Liga
BelarusFC Neman Grodno1992
BelarusFC Shakhtyor Soligorsk1992
BelarusFC BATE Borisov1998
BelgiumS.V. Zulte Waregem2005Is the successor of clubs that have relegated from a top-tier league
BoliviaThe Strongest1950
BoliviaOriente Petrolero1977
Bosnia and HerzegovinaNK Čelik Zenica2000Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the Premijer Liga
Bosnia and HerzegovinaFK Sarajevo2000Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the Premijer Liga
Bosnia and HerzegovinaNK Široki Brijeg2000
Bosnia and HerzegovinaFK Željezničar Sarajevo2000Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the Premijer Liga
Bosnia and HerzegovinaHŠK Zrinjski Mostar2000Played in the wartime league of the Independent State of Croatia. Between 1945
and 1992, they were banned by the Yugoslav communist government
BrazilClube de Regatas do Flamengo1987
BrazilSantos FC1987
BrazilSão Paulo FC1987
BulgariaPFC Levski Sofia1937
ChileColo-Colo1933
ColombiaDeportivo Cali1912Historic, First Club Of Colombia & Only Club to maintain 1st Div Category and build their own stadium in Colombia.
ColombiaAtlético Nacional1948
ColombiaIndependiente Santa Fe1948
ColombiaMillonarios F.C.1948
CroatiaGNK Dinamo Zagreb1991
CroatiaHNK Hajduk Split1991
CroatiaNK Lokomotiva Zagreb2009Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the Prva HNL
CroatiaNK Osijek1991Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the Prva HNL
CroatiaHNK Rijeka1991Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the Prva HNL
CroatiaNK Slaven Belupo1997
CyprusAPOEL FC1934Before 1974, played in the Greek top-level league when they became Cypriot champion
CyprusAnorthosis Famagusta FC1948Before 1948, withdrew from the top-level league twice but they were never relegated
CyprusAC Omonia1953Before 1974, played in the Greek top-level league when they became Cypriot champion
CyprusApollon Limassol FC1957
Czech RepublicAC Sparta Prague1993Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the First League
Czech RepublicSK Slavia Prague1993Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the First League
Czech RepublicFC Slovan Liberec1993
Czech RepublicFK Jablonec1994Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the First League
Czech RepublicFK Teplice1996Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the First League
Czech RepublicFK Mladá Boleslav2004
DenmarkAalborg Boldspilklub1991Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the Superligaen
DenmarkBrøndby IF1991
DenmarkF.C. Copenhagen1992Successors of clubs that have relegated from a top-tier league
DenmarkFC Midtjylland2000Successors of clubs that have relegated from a top-tier league
DenmarkFC Nordsjælland2002
EcuadorBarcelona S.C.1957
EcuadorC.S.D. Independiente del Valle2010
EgyptAl Ahly SC1948
EgyptZamalek SC1948
EnglandArsenal F.C.1919Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the Premier League
EnglandChelsea F.C.1989Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the Premier League
EnglandEverton F.C.1954Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the Premier League
EnglandLiverpool F.C.1962Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the Premier League
EnglandManchester United F.C.1975Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the Premier League
EnglandTottenham Hotspur F.C.1978Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the Premier League
EnglandMorecambe FC1920Never been Relegated
EstoniaFC Flora1992
EstoniaJK Narva Trans1992
EstoniaFCI Levadia Tallinn1999
EstoniaTartu JK Tammeka2005
FinlandIFK Mariehamn2005
GeorgiaFC Dinamo Tbilisi1990
GermanyFC Bayern Munich1965Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the Bundesliga
GermanyBayer 04 Leverkusen1979Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the Bundesliga
GermanyVfL Wolfsburg1997Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the Bundesliga
GermanyTSG 1899 Hoffenheim2008
GhanaAsante Kotoko S.C.1958
GhanaAccra Hearts of Oak S.C.1958
GhanaAshanti Gold S.C.1986
GreeceOlympiacos F.C.1959
GreecePanathinaikos F.C.1959
GreecePAOK FC1959
HondurasC.D. Marathón1965
HondurasF.C. Motagua1965
HondurasC.D. Olimpia1965Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the Liga Nacional
HondurasReal C.D. España1965
HondurasC.D.S. Vida1965
Republic of IrelandBohemian F.C.1921Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the League of Ireland
Republic of IrelandSt Patrick's Athletic F.C.1951
IsraelMaccabi Tel Aviv F.C.1931
ItalyInter Milan1909
Ivory CoastAfrica Sports d'Abidjan1960
Ivory CoastASEC Mimosas1960
JapanKashima Antlers1993Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the J1 League
JapanYokohama F. Marinos1993Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the J1 League
KazakhstanFC Irtysh Pavlodar1992
KazakhstanFC Shakhter Karagandy1992
KazakhstanFC Atyrau2001
KyrgyzstanFC Dordoi Bishkek1999
KyrgyzstanFC Abdysh-Ata Kant2003
LatviaFK Ventspils1997
North MacedoniaFK Vardar1992Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the 1. MFL
North MacedoniaFK Rabotnički1998Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the 1. MFL
North MacedoniaKF Renova2005
MalaysiaPerak FA1982Before 1982, Malaysian football competitions were organized on a knockout basis
and there was no league with promotion or relegation at the time
MaltaHibernians F.C.1946
MaltaValletta F.C.1946
MexicoClub América1943
MexicoC.D. Guadalajara1943
MoldovaFC Zimbru Chișinău1992Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the Divizia Națională
MoldovaFC Sheriff Tiraspol1998
MontenegroFK Budućnost Podgorica2006Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the 1. CFL
MontenegroOFK Petrovac2006
MontenegroFK Rudar Pljevlja2006
MontenegroFK Sutjeska Nikšić2006Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the 1. CFL
MontenegroFK Zeta2006
MoroccoRaja Casablanca1956
MoroccoWydad Casablanca1956
MoroccoAS FAR1959
NetherlandsAFC Ajax1956Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the Eredivisie
NetherlandsPSV Eindhoven1956Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the Eredivisie
NetherlandsFeyenoord1956In 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. 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
NetherlandsFC Utrecht1970VV DOS played in every season of the Eredivisie before merging into FC Utrecht in 1970
NigeriaEnugu Rangers1972
Northern IrelandCliftonville F.C.1890
Northern IrelandGlentoran F.C.1890
Northern IrelandLinfield F.C.1890
Northern IrelandDungannon Swifts F.C.2003
ParaguayClub Guaraní1906
ParaguayClub Olimpia1906
ParaguayCerro Porteño1913
PeruClub Universitario de Deportes1928Universitario from Peru had been relegated in 1947 according to the rules of the league, however the Federación Peruana de Fútbol decided later on to cancel the relegation
PeruSporting Cristal1955Is the direct successor of Club Sporting Tabaco, which was relegated from
the top-tier league
PeruUniversidad de San Martín2004Bought the promotional place from Sport Coopsol in order to play at the top flight division
the same year the club was established
PortugalS.L. Benfica1934
PortugalFC Porto1934
PortugalSporting CP1934
RomaniaFCSB1947
RomaniaFC Dinamo București1948
RussiaPFC CSKA Moscow1992Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the Football Championship
RussiaFC Lokomotiv Moscow1992Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the Football Championship
RussiaFC Spartak Moscow1992Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the Football Championship
RussiaFC Rubin Kazan2003
Saudi ArabiaAl Hilal SFC1976
Saudi ArabiaAl-Ittihad1976
Saudi ArabiaAl-Nassr FC1976
Saudi ArabiaAl-Ahli Saudi FC1976
ScotlandCeltic F.C.1890
ScotlandAberdeen F.C.1905Avoided a relegation play-off in 1999-2000 season due to a techicality relating to stadium size of Falkirk FC
ScotlandMotherwell F.C.1985Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the Premier League
ScotlandKilmarnock F.C.1993Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the Premier League
SerbiaFK Partizan1946These 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
SerbiaRed Star Belgrade1946These 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
SerbiaFK Rad2008Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the SuperLiga
SerbiaFK Spartak Subotica2009Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the SuperLiga
SerbiaFK Vojvodina1987Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the SuperLiga
SlovakiaMFK Ružomberok1997
SloveniaNK Celje1991
SloveniaNK Maribor1991Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the 1. SNL
SloveniaNK Olimpija Ljubljana2009
South KoreaPohang Steelers1983
South KoreaFC Seoul1984
South KoreaUlsan Hyundai FC1984
South KoreaJeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC1985
South KoreaSuwon Samsung Bluewings1996
South KoreaIncheon United FC2004
SurinameS.V. Transvaal1923
SpainAthletic Bilbao1929
SpainFC Barcelona1929
SpainReal Madrid CF1929
TajikistanCSKA Pamir Dushanbe1992Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the Tajik League
TajikistanRegar-TadAZ Tursunzoda1992
TajikistanFC Khatlon1992
TajikistanFK Khujand1997
TunisiaCS Sfaxien1955
TunisiaClub Africain1955
TunisiaEspérance Sportive de Tunis1955Did not participate in 1970–71
TunisiaÉtoile Sportive du Sahel1955Did not participate in 1961–62
TurkeyBeşiktaş J.K.1959
TurkeyFenerbahçe S.K.1959
TurkeyGalatasaray S.K.1959
TurkeyTrabzonspor1974
TurkmenistanNebitçi FT1992
TurkmenistanMerw FK1992
TurkmenistanŞagadam FK1994
UkraineFC Dynamo Kyiv1992
UkraineFC Shakhtar Donetsk1992Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the Premier League
UkraineFC Vorskla Poltava1996
United Arab EmiratesAl Ain FC1974
United Arab EmiratesAl-Nasr Dubai SC1974
United Arab EmiratesAl-Wasl F.C.1974
United Arab EmiratesAl Wahda FC1985
United Arab EmiratesAl Jazira Club1988
UruguayPeñarol1900
UruguayClub Nacional de Football1901
UzbekistanPFC Navbahor Namangan1992
UzbekistanPakhtakor Tashkent FK1992Relegated from a top-tier league prior to the establishment of the Uzbek League
UzbekistanFC Nasaf1997
UzbekistanPFK Metallurg Bekabad1998
UzbekistanFC Qizilqum Zarafshon2000
VenezuelaDeportivo Táchira F.C.1975
VenezuelaCaracas F.C.1985
WalesAberystwyth Town F.C.1992
WalesNewtown A.F.C.1992
WalesThe New Saints F.C.1993
WalesCarmarthen Town A.F.C.1996