Last time a ‘big six’ club was relegated from the Premier League? Tottenham nearing drop in English top flight

As the richest and most visible domestic football league in the world, participation in the Premier League brings with it financial riches of the highest order.

As such, relegation from the league is a devastating proposal, both from a competitive perspective and a financial one.

Tottenham are facing such a fate, as they sit 16th and just a point above the drop zone as they head into a crunch March 5 clash with Crystal Palace.

For clubs of such a size and stature, listed as the ninth-richest club in the world by Forbes in 2025, relegation is an unfathomable prospect.

But how unthinkable is it really for a club of such size and riches to be facing relegation? The Sporting News explains the last time the biggest clubs in England were dumped from the top flight, and what kind of unwanted history Spurs could be making by suffering such an embarrassing fate.

MORE: Will 5th place in the Premier League earn Champions League football?

Last time a Big Six club in the Premier League was relegated

The last time one of the “big six” English clubs were relegated was in 2001, when Manchester City were sent down after an 18th-placed finish in the Premier League standings.

Before the injection of club-altering money from their state-backed Abu Dhabi takeover in September 2008, City were not the giants of European football they are now. In fact, City were also relegated in 1995/96 and dropped down to England’s third tier two years later before back-to-back promotions returned them to the Premier League.

They bounced back again under former England boss Kevin Keegan in 2001/02, meaning they changed divisions six times in a dizzying seven-season period. Since 2002, City have been a permanent fixture in the Premier League.

They were relegated or promoted in six of the seven seasons between 1995 and 2002, even dropping down to Division Two (then the third tier of English football) in the 1998/99 season before earning successive promotions to the top flight. It was then that they were dumped from the Premier League for the last time, finishing eight points adrift of safety.

Last time each Big Six club was relegated from the English top flight

Five of the six “Big Six” English clubs have never been relegated from the Premier League since the reconfiguration of the English top flight in 1992.

Only Manchester City have suffered relegation (twice) in the Premier League era.

Club	Season (Finish)	Result	Came back up
Arsenal	1912/13 (20th)	Relegated to Division 2	1914/15 (2 seasons)
Liverpool	1953/54 (22nd)	Relegated to Division 2	1961/62 (8 seasons)
Man United	1973/74 (21st)	Relegated to Division 2	1974/75 (1 season)
Tottenham	1976/77 (22nd)	Relegated to Division 2	1977/78 (1 season)
Chelsea	1987/88 (18th*)	Relegated to Division 2	1988/89 (1 season)
Man City	2000/01 (18th)	Relegated to Division 1	2001/02 (1 season)

* Sent down via the relegation play-off

When were Manchester City last relegated?

Man City were last relegated in 2001, finishing 18th that season, eight points adrift of safety, a 2-1 defeat at Ipswich Town on the penultimate matchweek sealing their fate. The top flight was just a step too far after successive promotion campaigns, having been competing in the third tier just two seasons prior.

Manager Joe Royle, who had brought them up from the depths of the English pyramid, was just a bit in over his head, even as he added former Ballon d’Or winner George Weah, Paulo Wanchope, Steve Howey and Alf-Inge Haaland (yes, Erling Haaland’s father) and summer signings.

Their relegation brought about the arrival of Kevin Keegan, who would breathe life into the club and bring them back up just a year later, where they have remained for good since.

When were Chelsea last relegated?

Like Manchester City, Chelsea are relatively new additions to the giants of the English top flight. While the Blues do have one top-flight title well into their club history, coming back in 1954/55, the vast majority of their silverware has come in the last two decades.

Prior to that, Chelsea were far more at risk of the drop; they were last relegated in 1988, the third time they got the boot from the top flight in 14 seasons, having previously been dumped from Division One in 1975 and 1979.

The Blues did not become a perennial top-half finisher until the mid-90’s, winning three domestic cups from 1996 to 2000 and, somewhat fittingly, the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1997/98. From there, they blossomed into a true European force after Roman Abramovich acquired the London club in 2003, building them into the juggernaut they are now.

When were Tottenham last relegated?

The last time Spurs dropped out of the top division was back in 1977, when they were relegated to the second tier under manager Keith Burkinshaw.

They won promotion back to the top table the next season, and they have been ever-present in the highest league since.

Prior to that, Spurs were relegated in 1935 and spent a few decades in the second tier, finally winning promotion to the elite by winning Division Two in 1950.

MORE: A full breakdown of the last time Spurs were relegated and an overview of their history with the drop

When were Manchester United last relegated?

Manchester United have been giants of English football for nearly a century, but even the great and iconic Red Devils have not been immune to an occasional slip.

United were last relegated just over 50 years ago in 1974, dumped from the top flight with a 21st-place finish. It had been coming, as they finished 18th the previous season (then a position safe from relegation with 22 clubs in the league), five points clear of the drop.

They would come right back up, however, winning Division Two the following year and establishing themselves as top flight mainstays in the time since. United would justify their place near the top of the pyramid shortly after, finishing third their first year back in Division One, while reaching the FA Cup final in three of the next four seasons and winning it once (1977).

Since their last slip into the lower leagues, United have only finished below 11th twice, with a 13th-place standing in 1989/90 and a 15th place spot in 2024/25. 

When were Liverpool last relegated?

Over the course of their storied history, Liverpool have positioned themselves as one of the most consistent giants of English football.

Liverpool have won English league titles in nine different decades, remaining one of the most true-blooded clubs throughout the history of the sport in England. The Reds were last relegated in 1954, as the slip from their 1947 title was finally complete after seven years of slow disintegration.

They would spend eight years in Division Two, finishing third on four separate occasions before finally earning their way back into the top flight by winning the second tier in 1962, where they have been a titanic presence ever since.

When were Arsenal last relegated?

None of the biggest English clubs can claim the kind of long-standing presence on which Arsenal hang their hat.

The Gunners are the longest-held club in the English top flight, a firm and annual presence in the highest level of English football for over 100 years.

Arsenal were last relegated in 1913, finishing 20th in the early days of Division One. They would be promoted back to the top flight in 1915 after just two seasons adrift, and have never been dumped from the highest league since.

It puts Arsenal as the club with by far the longest-held standing as unbroken participants in the English top flight, ahead of Everton who have been ever-present since 1954.