The 12 biggest clubs to be relegated from the EFL Championship into League One | OneFootball

FLW rank the 12 biggest clubs to be relegated out of the Championship and into League One following Leicester City's disastrous 2025/26 season...

Leicester City have had over a week to digest their relegation from the Championship to League One, with the Foxes joining Sheffield Wednesday and both joined by Oxford United in the third tier.

Relegation from the Championship to League One is never taken lightly, but for some clubs, it carries far greater weight than others. Leicester City have to be considered in that sense, given they were playing Premier League football just a season ago and join the likes of Wolverhampton Wanderers and Luton Town in suffering consecutive relegations from the top flight.

Since the 2004 rebrand of the EFL, the second tier has truly become one of the most competitive divisions in Europe. That's no excuse for Leicester but it is packed with former Premier League sides, historic institutions, and clubs with ambitions far beyond merely surviving. As a result, when certain teams drop into the third tier, it sends shockwaves across the EFL.

Like with the Foxes this season, it's come as a real shock. Financial mismanagement, poor recruitment, instability off the pitch, or simply a loss of identity on it have all contributed to other clubs also suffering the same fate. We have had a look at some of the biggest clubs to suffer the same fate.

The most shocking relegations from the Championship to League One

Here are 12 of the biggest names in English football finding themselves in League One since its inception. It includes former top-flight champions, FA Cup winners, and serious European competitors. It means the list is stacked with clubs that, on paper, should never have found themselves at that level.

The clubs in this ranking highlight the sheer scale and unpredictability of the Championship. No matter the history, fanbase, or expectation, the threat of relegation looms large. Here are 12 of the biggest clubs to suffer that fate since 2004 — and why their relegations felt so significant.

Birmingham City

Birmingham City’s relegation in 2024 felt like a long time coming, but that did not make it any less significant. A club with Premier League experience and a League Cup triumph in 2011, Birmingham had spent years battling near the bottom of the Championship. Despite significant investment and ambition, they failed to arrest their slide. Their drop into League One was a stark reminder that history alone is not enough to guarantee safety in such a competitive division, albeit they went up in style at the first time of asking in 2025.

Bolton Wanderers

Bolton Wanderers’ relegation in 2016 marked the end of a long decline from their Premier League heyday under Sam Allardyce. Once regulars in the top flight and European competition, Bolton’s fall was certainly significant, even if many had seen it coming after circling the drain as long as they had. Financial difficulties and poor performances contributed to their drop. For a club of Bolton’s stature, League One represented a major step down; and, perhaps more shockingly, they remain outside of the second tier even now.

In truly spectacular fashion, Portsmouth’s fall to League One in 2012 came just four years after lifting the FA Cup. Financial turmoil and administration sent the club into freefall, making their relegation one of the most dramatic in EFL history. Pompey’s recent success made their drop particularly striking. It served as a stark reminder of how quickly fortunes can change in football after relegation from the Premier League just two years prior as well.

Derby County

It's fair to say Derby County’s relegation in 2022 was heavily influenced by financial issues and a points deduction, but their size ensured it was still one of the biggest stories of the season. A founding member of the Football League and a former top-flight champion, Derby are a club steeped in history. Their drop into League One highlighted the impact of off-field problems, as much as on-field struggles. They are on the right path again now but their two years in the third tier perhaps could have taught other clubs a lesson or two.

Wolverhampton Wanderers

As previously stated, Wolves’ relegation to League One in 2013 came during a dramatic double drop from the Premier League. It was a period of instability and poor decision-making that saw them tumble through the divisions. For a club with Wolves’ history and resources, being in the third tier felt completely out of place. Their eventual resurgence under new ownership only emphasised how far they had fallen during that difficult spell.

Sheffield United

Sheffield United’s relegation in 2011 was another case of a major club slipping through the cracks. The Blades had been in the Premier League just a few years earlier and were expected to remain competitive in the Championship. Instead, a poor season saw them drop into League One, showcasing the volatility of the division. Given their stature and support, it was a surprising fall — though one they eventually recovered well from under Chris Wilder.

Sheffield Wednesday

Fittingly, the Sheffield clubs sit side-by-side, but Sheffield Wednesday’s relegation in 2021 was compounded by a points deduction. However, it certainly did not mask the deeper issues at the club. With one of the biggest fanbases in the country and a rich history, their fall was a significant moment. They had spent much of the previous decade flirting with promotion to the Premier League, making the drop all the more dramatic. It was a clear example of how quickly fortunes can change and the same this year is another reminder of that.

Soccer Football - Championship - Norwich City v Ipswich Town - Carrow Road, Norwich, Britain - February 10, 2019 Ipswich Town's Luke Chambers and manager Paul Lambert clash with members of Norwich City's coaching staff Action Images/Tony O'Brien EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emu

In 2019, Ipswich Town’s relegation ended a 17-year stay in the Championship, highlighting their slow but steady decline. A club with a proud history, including a UEFA Cup triumph, Ipswich had long been seen as a sleeping giant. Their drop into League One reflected years of underinvestment and stagnation. For supporters, it was a sobering moment, but the journey from the third tier to the Premier League shortly after was certainly worth the pain of falling as far as they did.

Southampton

Southampton’s drop into League One in 2009 came amid severe financial issues, including administration and a points deduction. For a club renowned for its academy and consistent top flight presence in previous decades, it was a major fall. However, their time in the third tier proved to be a turning point. With a clear structure and long-term vision, Southampton rebuilt impressively and flew through to the Premier League. Still, their relegation remains one of the most notable of the modern era, given their stature at the time.

Nottingham Forest

A two-time European Cup winner, Nottingham Forest’s relegation to League One in 2005 was almost unthinkable. Few clubs in world football can boast such pedigree, which made their presence in the third tier feel particularly jarring and why they take third place here. Forest’s issues stemmed from years of decline following their Premier League exit. Poor decisions and lack of direction saw them drift, culminating in relegation. They found it far from easy to bounce back, underlining just how unforgiving League One can be.

Leicester City

If Leicester's relegation in 2008 was a shock which came during a turbulent period before their remarkable rise to Premier League champions in 2016, then 2026 is even more shocking. Even with the points deduction, it is a catastrophic underachievement for a club that has done so much in the last 10 years. Leicester were expected to challenge at the top end of the Championship, not fall out of it. Their drop shows how instability and inconsistency can derail giants of the game. It's one of the most significant ever and rightly takes second spot.

Leeds United

It could not be anyone else, with Leeds United’s relegation to League One in 2007 remaining as one of the most high-profile falls in modern football. Just a few years earlier, they had been competing in the Champions League semi-finals, making their drop into the third tier all the more staggering. Financial collapse played a major role, with administration and a points deduction sealing their fate. For a club with Leeds’ size, support, and history, League One always felt like a temporary stop. Even in the third tier, they carried Premier League-level expectations, which only added to the pressure. Despite Leicester this season, Leeds remain the most shocking.