Dropping out of the top flight of professional football is already painful enough for fans to deal with, but facing back to back relegations is something that can define, and sometimes even destroy a football clubs. Here are five sides who know this feeling all too well.
Leicester City have officially been relegated to League One just a few years after their miraculous Premier League title win in 2016. Leicester were relegated from the top flight in 2023 and, despite an immediate return to the top flight, went straight back down. After a 2-2 draw to Hull, Leicester’s place in League One was confirmed for the 2026/27 season.
Sunderland, who were once a Premier League regular faced back to back relegation in 2017 and 2018 falling all the way from the top to League One. The club spent previous years in relegation battles, before finally getting relegated, and facing financial crisis. However, in 2025, they achieved promotion back to the Premier League, and have secured their spot in the league for another season.
Wolverhampton Wanderers dropped out of the Premier League in 2012 and finished 23rd in the Championship the next season, leading to their back to back relegation. However, they made ways back up to the Premier League and even made European spots in the 2019/20 season.
Notts County, one of footballs oldest clubs spent most of the 1950’s in the second division of the football pyramid, however, they faced back to back relegation taking them from the second division all the way down to the fourth division in 1958 and 1959.
Luton town faced relegation from the Premier League in 2024, and then again to League One the next season. Many fans expected Luton to bounce right back up, having a strong squad for the Championship, however after Rob Edwards departure, Luton couldn’t keep up and faced relegation to League One.
