Since its inception in 1992, the Premier League has become one of the best football leagues in the world. Since its rebranding from the First Division, the English top flight has gone from strength to strength.
The Premier League is the pinnacle of the English game, and most clubs in the football pyramid dream of making it to the promised land. Some clubs make it and then suffer relegation once again. In fact, some clubs have suffered more relegations than they would have liked.
Here are the clubs that have suffered the most relegations in the history of the Premier League:
Norwich City (Relegated six times)
The Canaries have been the club that has suffered the most relegations from the Premier League, having suffered relegation on six occasions. The club from Norfolk earned promotions to the Premier League in 2015, 2019 and 2021.
However, unfortunately for them, the Canaries have been unable to maintain their top-flight status for long. Norwich’s last relegation from the Premier League came in season 2021/22. The relegation was not a major shock, as they failed to win in their opening nine league matches. City was unable to return to the English top-flight in season 2022/23.
West Bromwich Albion (Relegated five times)
The Baggies have earned the nickname ‘the Boing-Boing Baggies’ courtesy of their habit of winning promotions and then suffering relegation. The club from the Midlands are the ultimate yo-yo club, having suffered five relegations from the Premier League.
The men from the Midlands last featured in the English top flight in season 2020/21 when they finished 19th in the table, having recorded just five victories. They have since finished tenth and ninth place, respectively, in the second tier.
Crystal Palace (Relegated four times)
The Eagles have become a stable Premier League club in recent years. However, the club from the English capital previously had the bad habit of suffering relegation from the English top flight.
Palace suffered relegation in seasons 1992/93, 1994/95, and 1997/98. Their last relegation from the Premier League came in 2005. Since winning promotion in 2013, the Eagles have looked like a far more viable top-flight club, maintaining their top-flight status, with their highest Premier League finish coming in season 2014/15, when they finished tenth place.
Middlesbrough (Relegated four times)
Like Palace, Boro has suffered the ignominy of suffering relegation on four occasions. However, unlike the Eagles, the north east team has struggled to return to the English top flight in recent years.
Middlesbrough has suffered relegation in seasons 1992/93, 1996/1997, 2008/09 and 2016/17. Each time they were relegated, Boro spent seasons recovering from the drop and earning a place back amongst the elite of English football. The team from the north east finished fourth place in the Championship in season 2022/23 but lost out on promotion in the play-off semi-finals.
Sunderland (Relegated four times)
The Black Cats can match their north east compatriot’s record of four Premier League relegations. Sunderland suffered their first Premier League relegation in season 1996/97 while also dropping out of the English top flight in seasons 2002/03, 2005/06 and lastly season 2016/17. Having suffered major financial issues, Sunderland dropped to League One the following season.
However, things have now settled down at the club, as in season 2022/23, they finished sixth place in the Championship, only to suffer a semi-final defeat in the play-offs.
Leicester City (Relegated four times)
Despite being Premier League champions in season 2015/16, the Foxes have habitually dropped out of the English top flight. The men from the Midlands first experienced relegation from the Premier League in season 1994/95, with further demotions following in seasons 2001/02 and 2003/04.
Just seven years after the Foxes were crowned English champions, Leicester City suffered their fourth Premier League relegation in season 2022/23.
Nottingham Forest (Relegated three times)
The former European champions have suffered the drop to the second tier from the Premier League on three occasions. The Tricky Trees’ first relegation from the Premier League was in the competition’s first season since rebranding in season 1992/93 under the great Brian Clough.
Forest suffered further relegations in 1997 and 1999. The relegation in 1999 was particularly painful for the Midlands club, as they took 23 years to return to the Premier League, finally winning promotion back to the top flight in season 2021/22.
Against the odds, Steve Cooper’s team beat the drop in season 2022/23, maintaining their top-flight status by finishing in 16th place.
Birmingham City (Relegated three times)
The Blues first suffered relegation in the competition’s second season in 1993/94, with further relegations in seasons 2007/08 and 2010/11. The latter was the last season in which City featured in the top flight of English football. They have failed to come close to a Premier League return since their previous relegation.