The 7 Most Shocking Relegations of All Time

TL;DR

River Plate's 2011 relegation stands as the most shocking in football history, beating out six other stunning falls from giants.

Key Points

• 1.#7 Leeds United (2003-04): Champions in 1992, Champions League semi-finalists in 2001, they collapsed from 5th to relegated after Peter Ridsdale's reckless borrowing against future earnings caused a financial catastrophe; took 17 years to return.
• 2.#6 Cruzeiro (2019): Won back-to-back Brazilian titles, reached the Copa Libertadores Round of 16, and led an unbeaten 21-game run mid-season before a corruption scandal broke them; Ronaldo later bought and revived the club.
• 3.#5 Atlético Madrid (1999-2000): Won a league-and-cup double in 1997-98, yet were relegated 19th despite Hasselbaink scoring 33 goals; a leadership crisis and president suspension caused total collapse over four months without a win.
• 4.#4 Manchester City (1937-38): Scored a record 107 goals to win their first-ever league title in 1937, then were relegated the very next season despite scoring the most goals in the division — 80.
• 5.#3 Corinthians (2007): Brazil's best-supported club with 30+ million fans, relegated for the first time ever just two years after winning the Brasileirão; Ronaldo was signed upon return and they won the Libertadores by 2012.
• 6.#2 FC Nürnberg (1968-69): Won their 9th German title in 1968 with the Bundesliga's highest attendance, then their manager scrapped nearly the entire squad; they were relegated while Bayern Munich — built on youth — won their first Bundesliga title.
• 7.#1 River Plate (2010-11): The world's highest-attended club, with 38 Argentine titles, was relegated for the first time ever after losing a playoff 3-1 to a second-tier side; riots broke out and the shock reverberated globally.