Newly promoted teams winning the national championship are a well-known phenomenon in England: the city of Liverpool alone boasts two such cases, and three other teams managed to do the trick as well. Norway also counts five cases, two alone in the town of Larvik. Other countries where newbies were similarly refreshing are Finland and Oman, with four cases each, and Bolivia, Bulgaria, China, El Salvador, Ethiopia, France, Malaysia, Morocco, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Qatar and Senegal, which all had three such cases. Senegal in three consecutive seasons! In addition to the three cases in the Netherlands itself, there were also two in Surinam at the time it was a Dutch colony as well as one each in the Dutch Antilles and Aruba.
Larvik and Liverpool share the honour of having had two local clubs winning the title after their promotion season with Amsterdam, København, La Paz, Paramaribo and Yerevan. Santo Domingo boasts one local club, Deportivo Pantoja, doing this twice - a unique feat until it was emulated by Al-Rayyan from Qatar.
Countries where a promoted team never won the title include: Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Colombia, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Portugal, Romania, Scotland, the Soviet Union, Spain and Turkey.
The following clubs won their national championship immediately after having won promotion to the top flight:
Afghanistan (1):
Attack Energy FC (Herat) (promoted 2021, champions 2022)
Algeria (1):
USM Alger (promoted 1995, champions 1996)
American Samoa (2):
FC SKBC (promoted 2012, champions 2013)
Pago Youth (promoted 2015, champions 2016)
Antigua and Barbuda (2):
Liberta FC (promoted 1984, champions 1985)
Liberta Blackhawks SC (promoted 2018, champions 2019)
Argentina (2):
Sporting Dock Sud (promoted 1932, champions 1933)
[this was for the championship of the amateur association, which existed
from 1931 until 1934, while all the stronger teams played in the Liga
(which was professional); after the 1934 season all the amateur teams
were included in the second division of the professional structure]
Rosario Central (promoted 1986, champions 1987) [0]
Armenia (2):
Armenikum/Pyunik Yerevan (promoted 2000, champions 2001)
[Armenikum, promoted in 2000, changed name to Pyunik before the start of
the 2001 season]
Ararat-Armenia Yerevan (promoted 2018, champions 2019) [0c]
Aruba (1):
Riverplate (promoted 1992, champions 1993)
Bangladesh (2):
Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi (admitted 2010, champions 2011)
Bashundara Kings (promoted 2018, champions 2019)
Barbados (1):
Brittons Hill (promoted 1989, champions 1990)
Belize (1):
Ilagulei (admitted 2007, champions 2008) [1]
Bermuda (1):
PHC Zebras (promoted 1999, champions 2000) [0]
Bhutan (1):
Transport United (promoted 2016, champions 2017)
Bolivia (3):
Always Ready (promoted 1956, champions 1957)
Bolívar (promoted 1965, champions 1966) [0]
Independiente Petrolero (promoted 2020, champions 2021)
Botswana (2):
Botswana Defence Force (promoted 1980, champions 1981)
Township Rollers (promoted 2004, champions 2005) [3]
Bulgaria (3):
Lokomotiv Sofia (promoted 1939, champions 1940)
Litex Lovetch (promoted 1997, champions 1998) [0]
Ludogorets Razgrad (promoted 2011, champions 2012) [3, 4, 0c]
Cambodia (1):
Boeung Ket Rubber Field (promoted 2011, champions 2012) [0c]
Cameroon (1):
Victoria United (promoted 2023, champions 2024)
Chile (1):
Unión San Felipe (promoted 1970, champions 1971)
China (3):
Jilin (promoted 1964, champions 1965) [0]
Guangzhou Evergrande (promoted 2010, champions 2011) [0]
Wuhan Three Towns (promoted 2021, champions 2022) [0c]
Czechoslovakia (1):
Spartak Hradec Kralové (promoted 1958, champions 1959) [0]
Denmark (2):
KB (promoted 1952, champions 1953) [0]
B 1903 (promoted 1968, champions 1969) [0]
Dominican Republic (2):
Deportivo Pantoja (promoted 1999, champions 2001) [no competition 2000]
Deportivo Pantoja (promoted 2003, champions 2005) [0, no competition 2004]
Don Bosco (Moca) (admitted 2009, champions 2010) [0]
Dutch Antilles (1):
Victory Boys (promoted 1985, champions 1986)
East Timor (1):
Lalenok United (promoted 2018, champions 2019) [0c, 3]
Ecuador (1):
LDU (Quito) (promoted 1973, champions 1974) [0]
El Salvador (3):
CD Águila (promoted 1958, champions 1959)
Platense (promoted 1973, champions 1974) [0c]
Vista Hermosa (promoted 2005, champions 2005) [winners Apertura 2005/06] [0c]
England (5):
Liverpool (promoted 1905, champions 1906) [0]
Everton (promoted 1931, champions 1932) [0]
Tottenham Hotspur (promoted 1950, champions 1951)
Ipswich Town (promoted 1961, champions 1962) [0c]
Nottingham Forest (promoted 1977, champions 1978)
Equatorial Guinea (1):
Cano Sport Academy (promoted 2018, champions 2019)
Estonia (1):
Levadia Maardu (promoted 1998, champions 1999) [2, 3]
Ethiopia (3):
Saint George (promoted 1998, champions 1999) [3]
Jimma Aba Jifar (promoted 2017, champions 2018)
CBE ("Banks") (promoted 2023, champions 2024)
Faroe Islands (2):
TB (Tvřroyri) (promoted 1948, champions 1949)
B71 (Sandur) (promoted 1988, champions 1989)
Finland (4):
Sudet Viipuri (promoted 1939, champions 1940) [0]
HJK (Helsinki) (promoted 1963, champions 1964) [0]
Kuusysi Lahti (promoted 1981, champions 1982)
Haka Valkeakoski (promoted 1997, champions 1998) [0]
France (3):
Girondins de Bordeaux (promoted 1949, champions 1950)
AS Saint-Etienne (promoted 1963, champions 1964) [0]
AS Monaco (promoted 1977, champions 1978) [0]
French Guyana (1):
Olympique de Cayenne (promoted 2019, champions 2020)
Gambia (2):
Armed Forces (promoted 2002, champions 2003) [1]
Gambia Ports Authority (promoted 2009, champions 2010) [0]
Germany (1):
1.FC Kaiserslautern (promoted 1997, champions 1998) [0]
Ghana (1):
Aduana Stars (promoted 2009, champions 2010) [0c]
Guadeloupe (1):
JS Vieux-Habitants (promoted 2005, champions 2006)
Guam (1):
Rovers FC (promoted 2013, champions 2014)
Guinea Bissau (1):
Nuno Tristăo FC (promoted 2013, champions 2014)
Haiti (1):
AS Mirebalais (promoted 2003, champions 2005) [no competition 2004]
Hongkong (1):
Seiko (promoted 1972, champions 1973) [0c]
Iceland (1):
ÍA (promoted 1991, champions 1992) [0]
India (1):
Bengaluru (admitted 2013, champions 2014)
Indonesia (2):
Persik (promoted 2002, champions 2003) [0c]
Persebaya (promoted 2003, champions 2004)
Iraq (2):
Al-Zawra (promoted 1975, champions 1976) [3, 0c]
Nafit Al-Wasat (promoted 2014, champions 2015) [0c]
Ireland (2):
Shamrock Rovers (admitted 1922, champions 1923) [0c]
Saint Patrick's Athletic (admitted 1951, champions 1952) [0c]
Israel (2):
Hapoel Ramat-Gan (promoted 1963, champions 1964)
Beitar Jerusalem (promoted 1992, champions 1993)
Japan (2):
Kashiwa Reysol (promoted 2010, champions 2011) [0]
Gamba Osaka (promoted 2013, champions 2014) [0, 3]
Kenya (1):
Sofapaka (promoted 2008, champions 2009) [0c]
Kyrgyzstan (-):
Neftchi Kochkor-Ata (admitted 2009, champions 2010) [0]
Laos (1):
SHB Champasack (promoted 2012, champions 2013)
Lebanon (1):
Olympic Beirut (promoted 2002, champions 2003) [3]
Liberia (1):
Invincible Eleven (promoted 2006, champions 2007) [0]
Luxembourg (1):
CA Spora (promoted 1955, champions 1956) [0]
Madagascar (1):
CFFA (Antananarivo) (promoted 2021, champions 2022)
Malaysia (3):
Selangor (promoted 1999, champions 2000)
Negeri Sembilan (promoted 2005, champions 2006)
Kedah (promoted 2006, champions 2007)
Malta (1):
Hamrun Spartans (promoted 1946, champions 1947)
Martinique (2):
Aigle Sportif (promoted 1945, champions 1946)
Samaritaine (promoted 1974, champions 1975)
Mauritania (1):
FC Nouadhibou (promoted 2000, champions 2001) [0c]
Mayotte (2):
AS Rosador (Passamainty) (promoted 1992, champions 1993)
FC Koropa (promoted 2011, champions 2012)
Mongolia (1):
FC Ulaanbaatar (admitted 2010, champions 2011)
Morocco (3):
EJS Casablanca (promoted 1958, champions 1959) [0c]
FAR Rabat (admitted 1966, champions 1967) [17]
COD Meknčs (promoted 1994, champions 1995)
Mozambique (1):
Black Bulls (promoted 2019, champions 2021) [no league 2020]
Nepal (2):
Manang Marsyangdi Club (promoted 1985, champions 1986) [4, 0c]
Church Boys United (promoted 2022, champions 2023) [4, 0c]
Netherlands (3):
Ajax (promoted 1917, champions 1918)
SVV (promoted 1948, champions 1949)
DWS (promoted 1963, champions 1964) [0]
New Zealand (1):
Wellington Diamond United (promoted 1975, champions 1976)
Nicaragua (1):
América (promoted 1984, champions 1985)
Nigeria (3):
Leventis United (promoted 1985, champions 1986) [3, 0c]
Lobi Stars (promoted 1998, champions 1999) [0c]
Ocean Boys (promoted 2005, champions 2006) [0c]
(North) Macedonia (1):
Shkëndija GB (Tetovo) (promoted 2010, champions 2011)
NB: Vardar (Skopje) were relegated in 2011 but won the championship in 2012;
they had remained at the top level by buying the place of promoted Miravci
(through a complicated merger procedure)
Northern Cyprus (2):
Yenicami (promoted 1983, champions 1984)
Dogan Türk Birligi (promoted 2009, champions 2010)
Norway (5):
Fram (Larvik) (promoted 1949, champions 1950)
Larvik Turn (promoted 1952, champions 1953)
SK Brann (promoted 1961, champions 1962) [0, 1]
Rosenborg BK (promoted 1966, champions 1967)
Moss FK (promoted 1986, champions 1987) [0]
Oman (4):
Rowi (promoted 2002, champions 2003) [0, 3]
Suwaiq (promoted 2009, champions 2010)
Fanja (promoted 2011, champions 2012)
Seeb (promoted 2019, champions 2020)
Poland (2):
Cracovia Kraków (promoted 1936, champions 1937) [0, 1]
Ruch Chorzów (promoted 1988, champions 1989) [0]
Qatar (3):
Al-Rayyan (promoted 1989, champions 1990) [0]
Lekhwiya (promoted 2010, champions 2011)
Al-Rayyan (promoted 2015, champions 2016) [0]
Saint Lucia (2):
B1 FC (promoted 2021, champions 2022) [0c]
BAYS FC (promoted 2022, champions 2023)
Samoa (1):
Moataa (promoted 1998, champions 1999)
San Marino (1):
Libertas (promoted 1996, champions 1996) [5!]
Senegal (3):
AS Douanes (promoted 2014, champions 2015) [0]
US Gorée (promoted 2015, champions 2016)
Génération Foot (promoted 2016, champions 2017) [0c]
Singapore (1):
Etoile FC (admitted 2009, champions 2010) [0c]
Slovakia (1):
OAP (Bratislava) (promoted 1942, champions 1943) [0c]
Somalia (1):
Wagad (promoted 1981, champions 1982)
Surinam (2):
Transvaal (promoted 1924, champions 1925) [0c]
Cicerone (promoted 1931, champions 1932) [0c]
Sweden (2):
IF Elfsborg Borĺs (promoted 1960, champions 1961)
Östers IF Växjö (promoted 1967, champions 1968) [0c]
Switzerland (2):
Lausanne-Sports (promoted 1932, champions 1932) [5!]
Grasshopper Club (promoted 1951, champions 1952) [3]
Tanzania (2):
Mseto Sports (Morogoro) (promoted 1974, champions 1975)
Tukuyu Stars (promoted 1985, champions 1986 (mainland))
African Sports (Tanga) (promoted 1987, champions 1988)
Thailand (2):
Muang Thong United (promoted 2008, champions 2009) [4, 0c]
BG Pathum United (promoted 2019, champions 2021) [0]
Togo (2):
Etoile Filante (promoted 1990, champions 1992) [no competition 1991]
Anges FC (Notsč) (promoted 2012, champions 2013)
Trinidad and Tobago (1):
Joe Public (promoted 2005, champions 2006)
Tunisia (2):
CA Bizertin (promoted 1948, champions 1949)
CS Hammam-Lif (promoted 1950, champions 1951)
Turkmenistan (1):
Arkadag FK (admitted 2022, champions 2023) [3]
Uruguay (1):
Central Espańol (promoted 1983, champions 1984)
USA (1):
Chicago Fire (admitted 1997, champions 1998) [3, 0c]
Venezuela (1):
Atlético San Cristóbal (promoted 1981, champions 1982) [0c]
Vietnam (2):
Hoang Anh Gia Lai (promoted 2002, champions 2003) [1, 0c]
Cong an Ha Noi (promoted 2022, champions 2023)
Yugoslavia (1):
FK Obilic (promoted 1997, champions 1998) [0c]
Zanzibar (1):
Mafunzo (promoted 2008, champions 2009)
Ocean View (promoted 2009, champions 2010)
Zimbabwe (2):
Black Rhinos (promoted 1983, champions 1984) [3]
Black Aces (promoted 1991, champions 1992)
[2] Levadia merged with Tallinna Sadam, already in the first division,
following their promotion in 1998.
Many of these clubs had suffered relegation the season before winning promotion and two seasons before winning the championship; this includes at least: Rosario Central (1984; promoted 1985/86, champions 1986/87), PHC Zebras (1998), Bolívar (1964), Litex Lovetch (1996), Jilin (1963), Guangzhou Yiyao (2009; were demoted because of match fixing, not because of finishing on a relegation place), Spartak Hradec Kralové (1957), KB (1951), B 1903 (1967), Deportivo Pantoja (2002), Moca (2007; were not actually relegated but simply did not enter in the intermediate season), LDU (Quito) (1972), Liverpool (1904), Everton (1930), Sudet Viipuri (1938), HJK (1962), Haka (1996), Saint-Etienne (1962), Monaco (1976), Gambia Ports Authority (2008), 1.FC Kaiserslautern (1996), ÍA (1990), Persebaya (2002), Kashiwa Reysol (2009), Gamba Osaka (2012), Neftchi Kochkor-Ata (2008; were not actually relegated but simply did not enter in the intermediate season), Invincible Eleven (2005), Spora (1954), Aigle Sportif (1944), DWS (1962), Brann (1960), Moss (1985), Rowi (2001), Cracovia (1935), Ruch (1987), Al-Rayyan (both 1988 and 2014), Douanes (2013) and BG Pathum United (relegated 2018 as Bangkok Glass).
In contrast, Ipswich Town's win in 1962 came in their first ever season in the top flight - nearly 3 quarters of a century after it was established. The same holds for Östers IF's title in 1968: that was the inaugural top level season for the club founded in 1930. Other clubs that won the title in their maiden season at the top level (not considering the first ever season of the relevant league itself) include Shamrock Rovers (Ireland, 1923), Transvaal (Surinam, 1925), Cicerone (Surinam, 1932), OAP Bratislava (Slovakia, 1943), SVV (Netherlands, 1949), Saint Patrick's Athletic (Ireland, 1952), Etoile Jeunesse Sportive Casablanca (Morocco, 1959), Seiko (Hongkong, 1973), Platense (El Salvador, 1974), Al-Zawra (Iraq, 1976), Atlético San Cristóbal (Venezuela, 1982), Leventis United (Nigeria, 1986), Manang Marsyangdi Club (Nepal, 1986), B 71 (Faroe Islands, 1989), Chicago Fire (USA, 1998), Obilic (Yugoslavia, 1998), Lobi Stars (Nigeria, 1999), FC Nouadhibou (Mauritania, 2001), Hoang Anh Gia Lai (Vietnam, 2003), Persik (Indonesia, 2003), Vista Hermosa (El Salvador, Apertura 2005), Ocean Boys (Nigeria, 2006), Muang Thong United (Thailand, 2009), Sofapaka (Kenya, 2009), Aduana Stars (Ghana, 2010), Etoile FC (Singapore, 2010), Ludogorets Razgrad (Bulgaria, 2012), Boeung Ket Rubber Field (Cambodia, 2012), Nafit Al-Wasat (Iraq, 2015), Génération Foot (Senegal, 2017), Ararat-Armenia Yerevan (Armenia, 2019), Lalenok United (East Timor, 2019), B1 FC (Saint Lucia, 2022), Wuhan Three Towns (China, 2022) and Church Boys United (Nepal, 2023).
Indonesia (in 2003 and 2004), Malaysia (in 2006 and 2007), Zanzibar (in 2009 and 2010) and Saint Lucia (in 2022 and 2023) had promoted clubs crowned champions in consecutive years; Senegal went one better by having promoted clubs winning the league in three consecutive seasons (2015, 2016 and 2017).
Note how DWS, HJK and Saint-Etienne mirrored each other's fate: relegation in 1962, promotion in 1963, and championship in 1964. In addition, Hapoel Ramat-Gan won the title in 1964 after promotion in 1963.
Also in 1997/98 three European teams won the championship immediately after promotion: 1.FC Kaiserslautern, Litex Lovetch, and FK Obilic; additionally, Haka did it in the 1998 season. Apart from Obilic, all three suffered relegation in 1996 before getting promoted in 1997. Furthermore, in the USA Chicago Fire won the MLS title in their first season after being admitted.
In the 2002/03 season, three Asian clubs won their championship immediately after promotion: Olympic Beirut in Lebanon, Rowi in Oman and Hoang Anh Gia Lai in Vietnam. Moreover, Persik did the same in the 2003 season in Indonesia.
These clubs not only won the league but also the domestic national cup in the season following their promotion to the top flight: FK Arkadag, Black Rhinos, Chicago Fire, Gamba Osaka, Grasshoppers, Lalenok United, Levadia Maardu, Leventis United, Ludogorets Razgrad, Olympic Beirut, Rowi, Saint George, Township Rollers and Al-Zawra.
Manang Marsyangdi Club won the 4th level "D" Division in Nepal in 1982, the
3rd level "C" Division two years later in 1984, and then collected titles
in the 2nd level "B" Division in 1985 and the championship in the
"A" Division in 1986 – rising in two years from being a third level club to
national champions.
Thirty-seven years later, that performance was mirrored by Church Boys
United, who qualified for the 3rd level "C" Division in 2019, won it in
their first season there, in 2021, and then collected titles in the 2nd
level "B" division in 2022 and the "A" Division in 2023.
Muang Thong United similary secured three successive championships in Thailand: of the third level Division 2 in 2007, of the second level Division 1 in 2008 and of the Premier League in 2009, also rising in two years from being a third level club to national champions.
In Europe, the fastest rise from the third level to the national title was performed by Ludogorets Razgrad: as Razgrad 2000, they finished second behind Dorostol Silistra in the northeastern group of the the third level "V" AFG in 2009/10 but were nonetheless promoted to the second level following the bankruptcy of Minyor Radnevo, changed name to Ludogorets for the 2010/11 season in which they won promotion again as winners of the eastern group of the "B" PFG in 2010/11, and managed a league-and-cup double in 2011/12, their first ever season in the top flight. They have not relinquished the league title since, managing to win it in each of their first twelve seasons at the top level.
Nottingham Forest followed up on their "promotion-championship" sequence with 2 straight European Champions Cup victories in 1979 and 1980; all the more remarkable considering the fact that their 1978 English title is their only one to date.
ÍA did not satisfy themselves with just the championship in the year following their promotion, but won it in no less than five consecutive seasons following their promotion in 1991! They thus improved on an old record set by Cicerone in Surinam, champions in four successive seasons between 1932 and 1935 after their promotion in 1931. Haka failed to better this when contenting themselves with 3 consecutive titles 1998-2000 after being promoted in 1997. Later, Pyunik Yerevan improved on ÍA's record by winning ten consecutive Armenian championships from 2001 to 2010 after gaining promotion in 2000 under the name of Armenikum. However, their 'genealogical tree' is controversial; a club called Pyunik had previously played at the Armenian top level up to 1998 (winning two championships) before changing name to Kilikia for the 1999 season and playing under that name in 2000 as well; this club was expelled after one match in the 2001 season and reappeared as Kilikia in the 2002 second division. The current Pyunik claim the history of the nineties side with that name and therefore do not consider themselves successors of the Armenikum side 2000. Disregarding Pyunik's achievement, Guangzhou Evergrande managed a record run of seven titles (won 2011-2017) since their promotion in 2010. They had been relegated in 2009 (when known as Guangzhou Pharmaceutical) in connection with a match fixing scandal. Their accomplishment was soon bettered by Ludogorets Razgrad, who have collected twelve consecutive titles (2012-2023, series still running) since their promotion in 2011, bettering Pyunik's run.
In the Polish league of 1937, both promoted teams did very well: Cracovia won the title, and AKS Chorzów finished second.
In the Norwegian league of 1961/62, the first two places were also occupied by promoted teams: SK Brann were followed by Steinkjer I&FK; however, the team that finished third, defending champions Frederikstad FK, were inscribed for the European Champions' Cup, having led after 21 (of 30) rounds. There were two more newly promoted teams that season in Norway: Frigg finished right behind the top-3 in fourth place, while FK Ørn finished 14th and were relegated (along with 7 other teams!).
Similarly, in the Vietnamese V-League 2002/03, the first two places were for promoted teams, champions Hoang Anh Gia Lai preceding Gach Dong Tam Long An; the other two promoted teams were Dong Thap (who finished 7th) and LG-ACB Ha Noi who finished 12th and last.
In the same season, the GFA League Division 1 in Gambia contained two promoted teams (of 10 in total) and these two finished champions (Armed Forces) and runners-up (Sait Matty).
In 2008, the final of the Belize championship was played between Ilagulei and Nizhee Corozal, the former winning on away goals. Both clubs had been admitted as new franchises at the start of the season.
All the above were of course tremendous achievements for the clubs involved, but two teams did even better: thanks to quirky league set-ups, Lausanne-Sports and Libertas managed to win their domestic titles having started the season as a second division club!
And while it was not a national championship, the 1953 Manila League in the Philippines was won by IL-FGU ahead of Lightning - both had started the season as a second division club; third were Chong Sheng, promoted in 1952.
Getting the champions relegated in the next season seems a Scandinavian specialty. It happened 4 times in Norway and Sweden, and 3 times in Denmark and Finland. The Faroes also boast two cases...
Algeria (2):
EP Sétif (champions 1987, relegated 1988)
USM El Harrach (champions 1998, relegated 1999)
Andorra (1):
Constel-lació Esportiva (champions 2000, relegated 2000) [ 1]
Aruba (1):
San Luis Deportivo (champions 1984, relegated 1985)
Austria (1):
FC Tirol Innsbruck (champions 2002, relegated 2002) [ 2]
Benin (1):
JA Plateau (champions 2013, demoted 2014) [15]
Bolivia (2):
Universitario (La Paz) (champions 1969, relegated 1970)
Jorge Wilstermann (champions Apertura 2010, relegated Clausura 2010)
Brazil (0):
Fluminense (champions 2012, not relegated 2013)
NB: Fluminense finished the season on a relegation place, but escaped one week
later after both Portuguesa and Flamengo had 4 points deducted for fielding
ineligible players in their last match; Portuguesa were relegated instead in
spite of having been mathematically safe before their final match
Burkina Faso (1):
Rahimo FC (champions 2019, relegated 2021)
NB: the 2019/20 season was abandoned after 24 of 30 rounds with no champions
declared; Rahimo were third at the time of abandonment.
Cameroon (2):
Aigle Nkongsamba (champions 1994, relegated 1995)
Unisport de Bafang (champions 1996, relegated 1997)
Chile (1):
Universidad Católica (champions 1954, relegated 1955)
China (1):
Jiangsu Suning (champions 2020, dissolved 2021) [19]
Congo-Brazzaville (1):
Saint Michel de Ouenzé (champions 2010, relegated 2011)
Costa Rica (1):
El Carmen FC (champions 1961, relegated 1961) [ 9]
Denmark (3):
KB (champions 1950, relegated 1951)
Hvidovre (champions 1973, relegated 1974)
Herfřlge BK (champions 2000, relegated 2001)
Dominican Republic (2):
Deportivo Pantoja (champions 2001, relegated 2002)
Baninter/Jarabacoa (champions 2003, relegated 2005) [no competition 2004]
Ecuador (1):
LDU (Quito) (champions 1999, relegated 2000)
England (1):
Manchester City (champions 1937, relegated 1938)
Equatorial Guinea (0):
Dragón FC (champions 2023, relegated 2024 but later reprieved)
Faroe Islands (2):
TB (Tvřroyri) (champions 1987, relegated 1988)
B71 (Sandur) (champions 1989, relegated 1990)
Finland (3):
Ilves-Kissat (champions 1950, relegated 1951)
TPV (champions 1994, relegated 1995)
Haka Valkeakoski (champions 1995, relegated 1996)
France (1):
Olympique Marseille (champions 1992, relegated 1994) [ 3]
Gambia (2):
Steve Biko (champions 2013, relegated 2014)
Hawks (champions 2022, relegated 2023)
Germany (1):
1.FC Nürnberg (champions 1968, relegated 1969)
Gozo (1):
Zebbug Rovers (champions 2004, relegated 2005)
Guinea (1):
AS Kaloum Star (champions 2007, relegated 2008) [11]
Guinea Bissau (2):
UDIB (champions 2003, relegated 2004) [ 4]
Atlético Bissoră (champions 2011, relegated 2013) [no competition 2012]
Indonesia (3):
PSIS (Semarang) (champions 1999, relegated 2000)
Petrokimia Putra (Gresik) (champions 2002, relegated 2003)
Persebaya (champions 2004, relegated 2005) [ 8]
Ireland (1):
Shelbourne (champions 2006, relegated 2006) [10]
Israel (2):
Hapoel Kfar-Saba (champions 1982, relegated 1983)
Hapoel Tel-Aviv (champions 1988, relegated 1989)
Italy (1):
Milan AC (champions 1979, relegated 1980) [ 5]
NB: does not include Juventus who were stripped of their two
championships in 2005 and 2006 before their forced relegation
in 2006 in the wake of a corruption scandal
Jamaica (1):
Violet Kickers (champions 1996, relegated 1997)
Luxembourg (1):
Union Luxembourg (champions 1927, relegated 1928)
Macao (1):
Monte Carlo (champions 2008, excluded 2009) [12]
Malta (1):
Rabat Ajax (champions 1986, relegated 1987)
Mexico (1):
Marte (champions 1954, relegated 1955)
Morocco (3):
FAR Rabat (champions 1964, relegated 1965) [17]
ADM Casablanca (champions 1972, relegated 1973)
Kénitra AC (champions 1973, relegated 1974)
Namibia (1):
Black Africa (champions 2019, relegated 2023) [no competition 2020-22]
Netherlands (1):
RCH (champions 1953, relegated 1954)
Nigeria (3):
Stationery Stores (champions 1992, relegated 1993) [ 6]
Shooting Stars (champions 1998, relegated 1999)
Bayelsa United (champions 2009, relegated 2010)
(North) Macedonia (1):
Makedonija GP Skopje (champions 2009, excluded 2010) [18]
Norway (4):
Freidig (Trondheim) (champions 1948, relegated 1949)
Fram (Larvik) (champions 1950, relegated 1951)
SK Brann (champions 1963, relegated 1964)
Lyn (champions 1968, relegated 1969)
Poland (2):
Ogniwo Bytom (champions 1954, relegated 1955) [ 7]
Zaglebie Lubin (champions 2007, relegated 2008) [16]
Saint Lucia (3):
Roots Alley Ballers (champions 2009, relegated 2010)
Survivals (champions 2016, withdrew 2017)
B1 FC (champions 2022, relegated 2023)
San Marino (1):
La Fiorita (champions 1990, relegated 1991)
Senegal (2):
AS Pikine (champions 2014, relegated 2015)
US Gorée (champions 2016, relegated 2017)
Singapore (1):
Darul Afiah (champions 1959, relegated 1960)
Soviet Union (1):
CDSA Moskva (champions 1951, disbanded 1952) [14]
Sweden (4):
Helsingborgs IF (champions 1934, relegated 1935)
GAIS (champions 1954, relegated 1955)
Djurgĺrdens IF (champions 1959, relegated 1960)
IFK Göteborg (champions 1969, relegated 1970)
Uzbekistan (1):
MHSK Tashkent (champions 1997, relegated 1998)
Vietnam (1):
Cang Saigon (champions 2002, relegated 2003)
Wales (2):
Barry Town (champions 2003, relegated 2004)
Rhyl (champions 2009, relegated 2010) [13]
[ 1] Constel-lació were relegated (and suspended for seven years) for
alleged bribe attempts and financial irregularities, not because
they finished on a relegation spot.
[ 2] FC Tirol Innsbruck were refused a professional license and
relegated two levels because of financial problems and not because
they finished on a relegation spot; at the moment of their relegation
they had won the Austrian league championship three times in succession.
[ 3] Marseille were stripped of the 1992/93 championship following a bribery
scandal (the title was not awarded at all) and were relegated as a
punishment in 1993/94 at a time they were the last team to have won
the championship (legally) in 1991/92.
[ 4] UDIB were relegated after failing to show for their first two matches
in the 2004 season.
[ 5] Milan were relegated because of a bribery scandal involving their
championship season and not because they finished on a relegation
spot.
[ 6] Stationery Stores were relegated because of failing to complete
their fixtures, not because they finished on a relegation spot.
[ 7] Ogniwo was the temporary name of Polonia Bytom, who later merged
with Szombierki Bytom.
[ 8] Persebaya were relegated for refusing to play the last match in
the championship playoff, not because they finished on a relegation spot.
[ 9] El Carmen won the championship of the three clubs which had remained
loyal to the federation in 1961; five other clubs (including the strongest
three) had set up a rival championship and when the two organisations
formed a common league in 1962, the 'loyal' clubs had to play off for
one spot in the new championship (with three second level teams); El
Carmen failed to win that 6-way playoff and played at the second level
in 1962. Their 1961 championship was only officially recognised in 1999.
[10] Shelbourne were refused a first level license and relegated to the
second level because of financial problems and not because they finished
on a relegation spot.
[11] AS Kaloum Star were relegated after a sponsor dispute leading to
their no show for two matches, and not because they finished on a
relegation spot.
[12] Monte Carlo were excluded for the season immediately following
their championship due to a dispute with the Macao FA.
[13] Rhyl finished sixth in 2009/10 but were refused a licence for the
newly created Super 12 league.
[14] CDSA had started the 1952 season with 3 wins but were forced to
withdraw from the league as punishment for a disappointing showing
of the Soviet Union football team at the Helsinki Olympics.
[15] JA Plateau were excluded and demoted to the third level halfway
the season after refusing to play a match.
[16] Zaglebie Lubin were relegated because of corruption charges and not
because they finished on a relegation spot.
[17] FAR Rabat were relegated because of violence against a referee and
not because they finished on a relegation spot. They were readmitted
after sitting out one season and won the league on their return.
[18] Makedonija were disqualified because of failing to honour two
consecutive fixtures.
[19] Jiangsu Suning were dissolved before the start of the 2021 season.
EP Sétif's relegation was all the more shocking because they went on to win the African Champions' Cup (for which they had qualified as Algerian champions 1986/87) at the end of 1988, becoming continental champions as a second division club!
KB were Danish champions in 1948, 1949 and 1950, were relegated in 1951, won promotion in 1952, and won the championship again in 1953 - six eventful seasons...
Haka had an equally eventful six-year sequence in Finland: champions 1995, relegated 1996, promoted 1997 (and winning the cup as a second division team!), and champions 1998, 1999 and 2000, but they failed to emulate ÍA's feat of five consecutive titles after promotion.
SK Brann were Norwegian champions twice before going down in 1964: they won the Norwegian league both in 1961/62 and 1963 - and since they were relegated in 1959/60 and promoted in 1960/61, they had a series of 5 very eventful seasons. They also had a remarkable 8-season series from 1979 to 1986: going down, going up, going down...
Another team who had been champions twice before getting relegated is Helsingborgs IF: Swedish champions in 1932/33 and 1933/34, they went down in 1934/35 and needed two seasons to bounce back.
Moreover, LDU from Quito were champions of Ecuador in 1998 and 1999 before suffering relegation on the final day of the Clausura 2000.
Finally, Jarabacoa had been champions of the Dominican Republic (as Baninter) in 2001 and 2002/03 (the first two editions of the Liga Mayor) before being relegated in 2004/05 (the third edition).
Five clubs were crowned champions immediately following promotion and then relegated as champions in the next season: Fram (Larvik) (1949-1951), B71 (Sandur) (1988-1990), Persebaya (2003-2005; relegated for disciplinary reasons), US Gorée (2015-2017) and B1 FC (2021-2023).
Whereas 1964, 1998 and 2003 saw 4 promoted teams winning their domestic league, in 1951 three Nordic champions went down (KB, Ilves-Kissat and Fram (Larvik)), while 1955 (Marte, Universidad Católica, Polonia Bytom and GAIS) saw four reigning champions relegated.
Finland and Morocco both had reigning champions relegated in consecutive years.
Nigeria had both its champions relegated and a newly promoted team crowned champions in 1999! The same happened in Vietnam and in Indonesia in 2003 and the Dominican Republic joined their company in 2005. Senegal topped all of them by having a newly promoted team crowned champions and the reigning champions relegated in both 2015 and 2017. Finally, Saint Lucia made the same experience in 2023.
Manchester City's relegation was all the weirder because they scored more goals in 1937/38 than any other English first division club and had a positive goal difference.
Thanks to Lars Alexandersson, José Batalha, Yaniv Bleicher, Antoine Busuttil, Igor Kramarsic, Rune Landquist, Douglas Martínez, Pawel Mogielnicki, Henry Ong Heong Yong, Frédéric Pauron, Heikki Pietarinen and James Ross for additions and corrections.
Prepared and maintained by Karel Stokkermans for the Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation
Author: Karel Stokkermans
Last updated: 4 Dec 2024
(C) Copyright Karel Stokkermans and RSSSF 1996/2024
You are free to copy this document in whole or part provided that proper
acknowledgement is given to the author. All rights reserved.