Top 10 clubs with most relegations in Premier League history

Throughout the English top flight's course, survival hasn't always been easy for some teams.

The Premier League is widely regarded as the toughest league in world football. A strong claim like this has many important reasons supporting it. This is a league where there is a real battle for every position. Relegation battles have been just as important as European football spots in Premier League. 

It hasn't been easy for newly promoted clubs to survive in the Premier League, especially because the pace of play is much faster and more intense. Today we are going to look at the top ten clubs which have faced the most relegations from the Premier League.

10. Hull City (3)

In English football history, Hull City is one of the oldest clubs. The Tigers were founded in 1905, but their first Premier League promotion came in 2008. However, they don't seem to fit the top division intensity. During 2009-10, 2014-15, and 2016-17 seasons, the club was relegated three times. Currently, they are a part of the English second division.

9. Queens Park Rangers (3)

Queens Park Rangers were one of the few sides in the top division when the Premier League era began in 1992. The team survived the Premier League heat in the first four seasons but got beaten in 1996. Since then, they haven't been able to regain their old stature. Moreover, they were relegated to League One as well. In 2011/12, however, they returned to the Premier League. The last time they were relegated was in 2014/15.

8. Nottingham Forest (3)

Following a 23-year wait, Nottingham Forest has been promoted to the Premier League this season. In 1992/93, they became the first team to be relegated from the Premier League. They pulled back strings in the following season, however, and were title contenders in 1994/1995. In 1999, Nottingham Forest suffered their last relegation, which marked the start of a long decline.

7. Birmingham City (3)

Birmingham City's promotion to the Premier League in 2002 is one of the most iconic moments in Premier League history. After coming up from the third tier, they performed exceedingly well in their first season with a mid-table finish. Although they toiled hard in the first division, they never looked a solid side in Premier League after being consistently relegated. The last time they played in the Premier League was in 2010-11.

6. Leicester City (4)

First on the list is Leicester City, which is probably the most surprising on this list. There has been no doubt that the Foxes have been doing well in the Premier League for a long time, with their fairytale 2015-16 Premier League winning season underlined. Despite this, the club's history isn't one of success. They were relegated after their first season in the Premier League in 1994-95. In total, they have been relegated three times, with the last one occurring in 2004. The Foxes were relegated from the Premier League 2022-23 season.

5. Sunderland (4)

The Premier League has a rich history and Sunderland is one of its most important clubs. Though the Black Cats are struggling in the second division right now, they were one of the strongest clubs in the Premier League at one time. Despite their first relegation in 1996-97, they made a strong comeback and their striker Kevin Philips won the European Golden Shoe in 1999/00! Since then, they have established themselves as a mediocre club and were last relegated in 2016/17.

4. Middlesbrough (4)

Middlesbrough are also one of the clubs which got relegated in the Premier League era's first season in 1992-93. After a brief hiatus, they returned in 1995 and showed great resurgence with the signing of goal-scoring machine Fabrizio Ravanelli. In the 2008-09 season, they were held back again after a ten-year run in the top division. They last played in the top flight in the 2016-17 season.

3. Crystal Palace (4)

Over the past few years, Crystal Palace has been one of the most compact Premier League teams. Even against big sides, they have enjoyed success. However, it may surprise you to learn that they are the third-most relegated team in the Premier League. While the Eagles have been in the Premier League since the 2013-14 season, they suffered their first relegation in 1992-93. 

2. West Bromwich Albion (5)

In the Premier League era, West Bromwich Albion is the second-most relegated club. The Baggies last fell into relegation in the 2020/21 season when they finished 19th with just five wins. Boing-Boing Baggies are also the very famous nickname given to West Brom due to their embarrassing streak of promotion and relegation. 

1. Norwich City (6)

At the top of this list is last season's relegated Norwich City, who haven't had a lot of luck in the Premier League. After pulling themselves back into the Premier League in 2015, 2021, and 2019, the club couldn't stay in the top flight. They also finished last the following year. With an embarrassing history in the Premier League, the Canaries will be hoping for some change in the upcoming season.

**This article was last updated on 29 May 2023.