The most shocking relegations in football this century as Spurs face potential peril | OneFootball

Tottenham Hotspur have been dragged into a relegation battle in the Premier League, and positive results for West Ham and Nottingham Forest this week have piled on the pressure.

Spurs sit just a point above the drop zone, ahead of their game-in-hand against Crystal Palace this evening.

The North Londoners won the Europa League last season and have beenChampions League regulars in recent campaigns. Should Spurs suffer relegation, it would be arguably the most shocking demotion seen this century.

The most shocking relegations since the turn of the century

Fiorentina - 2001-02

Fiorentina fell out of Italy's top flight in 2001-02, in a shock slump that saw La Viola condemned to Serie B.

Since being promoted back to the top division in the early nineties, Fiorentina had secured seven straight top-half finishes inSerie A and two Coppa Italia titles. One of those Italian Cup wins came in the season prior to relegation.

Departures of big names, including Francesco Toldo and Rui Costa contributed to their demise, as did an ACL injury to leading scorer Enrico Chiesa, and an up-and-coming Adriano was unable to keep the club up.

After relegation was confirmed, Fiorentina filed for bankruptcy and were forced to restart in the fourth tier.

Leeds United - 2003-04

Leeds United's incredible implosion remains one of the Premier League's most prominent tales. Chairman Peter Risdale famously said the club 'lived the dream' after competing in the Champions League, but overspending contributed to their collapse.

Leeds competed in the Champions League semi-finals in 2000-01, but just three seasons later were relegated from the Premier League.

A fire-sale of talent accelerated their decline, before relegation was confirmed in 2004. It took 16 years for the club to regain their Premier League status, a period that included a three-season spell in the third tier.

River Plate - 2010-11

Argentine football's unusual format saw Buenos Aires giantsRiver Plate relegated in 2011.

The nation's most successful side were forced to face a relegation play-off in 2010-11, a fixture determined by a points average over the three previous campaigns.

After two seasons of struggle, River improved in 2010-11, but lost the relegation play-off to Belgrano over two legs. A 3-1 aggregate defeat saw River slip into the second tier for the first time in their 110-year history.

Villarreal - 2011-12

It's not often that a team competes in the Champions League and is relegated in the same season, but that's exactly what happened toVillarreal in 2011-12 - and serves as a warning to Spurs.

The Spanish side secured a place in Europe's elite after finishing fourth inLa Liga the previous season, but collapsed the following year.

Three different managers were unable to stop The Yellow Submarine from sinking, with relegation confirmed in a dramatic conclusion to the campaign.

An 88th-minute goal from Radamel Falcao saw Villarreal lose 1-0 to Atletico Madrid in a costly final-day result.

Schalke - 2020-21

Schalke stumbled towards relegation over several seasons, but it did not make their relegation any less shocking. One of Germany's best supported clubs were relegated in 2020-21, just three seasons on from a runners-up finish in the Bundesliga.

A nightmare start saw Schalke fail to win any of their first 14 games, while the chaos extended off the pitch with a staggering five different managers taking the reins. None could stop the inevitable, as the club's 30-year run as a Bundesliga club came to an end.