Sevilla FC has long stood as one of La Liga’s most storied institutions. But beneath the glamour of Europa League triumphs and flamboyant derbies lies a chapter many fans would rather forget. So: has Sevilla ever been relegated? The answer is yes — and the story is as complex and emotionally charged as the club itself.
In this article, AnnuGoal will accompany you through Sevilla’s most turbulent seasons, reveal when and how those relegations occurred, and analyze what they meant for the club’s identity and resurgence. Let’s dive in.
The Early Years: Fluctuation Before Stability
Sevilla’s origin story is anchored in the early days of Spanish football. The club was founded in 1890, making it one of Spain’s oldest football institutions, and participated in early regional and national competitions well before the official national league system was established.
When La Liga was formalized in 1929, Sevilla did not immediately enter the First Division — in fact, they lost a qualification tie to Racing de Santander and started, second-tier, and first-tier football.
Once promoted to the Primera División in the mid-1930s, the club began a long stretch of first-tier stability, but the specter of relegation still loomed. In fact:
- Sevilla first dropped to the Segunda División in 1968, ending a 31-year continuous spell in La Liga.
The club bounced back quickly but would face further relegations in the 1970s.
- -, Sevilla had already endured multiple relegations and promotions, though few fans today remember those early jolts.
Thus, by the mid- to late-20th century, Sevilla had already tasted relegation more than once — but they were also forging a reputation for resilience.
The Darkest Moments: Relegation in 1996–97 and 1999–2000
If Sevilla had survived before, their near-beloved status was shaken in the late 1990s. These were years of institutional instability, shifting management, financial struggles, and extraordinary league dynamics. Let’s break down the two most infamous relegations in modern consciousness.
1996–97: The “League of Stars” Nightmare
The 1996–97 season is perhaps the most traumatic chapter in Sevilla history. That year, La Liga expanded to 22 teams and underwent major restructuring — including a decision to relegate five clubs to trim the league back to 20 teams for the following season.
Sevilla, after 22 consecutive years in La Liga, couldn’t survive the chaotic season. They ended the campaign in 20th place, with a record of 12 wins, 7 draws, and 23 losses — and were relegated to Segunda División.
This relegation was particularly brutal because:
- It ended a long spell in the top flight.
- The league’s structure changes exacerbated Sevilla’s vulnerability.
- Fans would remember the painful scenes at matchday 42, when a late goal sealed their fate.
Sevilla spent the next two seasons in the Segunda División, clawing their way back up under heavy pressurend scrutiny.
1999–2000: The Last Relegation in Top-Flight Memory
After regaining promotion, Sevilla survived for a couple of years in La Liga. But their reprieve was short-lived. In 1999–2000, Sevilla were relegated again, finishing last in the table.
This marked the last time Sevilla dropped out of the top division. Since that descent, they’ve never looked back — rising again after just one season and reestablishing themselves among Spain’s elite.
In total, Sevilla have suffered four relegations (across their whole history), though most are distant and seldom referenced in modern coverage. Their modern identity has been built more on comebacks and European glory than on the trauma of demotion.
Why Relegation Was So Rare in Recent Decades
Given those setbacks, one might think Sevilla would oscillate frequently between divisions. Yet in the new millenniumch downfalls became anomalies. How did Sevilla build stability?
Strategic Leadership & Monchi’s Influence
In the early 2000s, Sevilla benefited, and profitable sales — serving as both a sporting and financial enabler. That stability at the top filtered downward onto the pitch, reducing volatility.
Sporting Success and European Ambitions
Sevilla emerged as a powerhouse in continental competition, winning the UEFA Cup / Europa League multiple times (seven titles to date). While domestic consistency wasn’t always stellar, the club now had institutional momentum and financial incentive to stay in the top flight.
Learning from Mistakes
The trauma of 1996–97 deeply reshaped Sevilla’s approach to squad depth, managerial appointments, financial management, and strategic planning. The lessons learned during those crises helped avoid repeats. The club’s resolve to never again be caught unprepared became part of its modern ethos.
As of today, Sevilla has played more than 82 seasons in La Liga and only 13 in Segunda División. And since relegation in 2000, they’ve never dropped again.
Key Impacts of Those Relegations
Relegation isn’t just a statistic — it alters trajectories, tests fans’ loyalty, and forces introspection. For Sevilla, the consequences were profound.
- Financial stress and reorganization: Revenue drops and debts forced sales of prized players, budget cuts, and restructuring.
- Identity crisis: For a club with European ambitions, being in the lower division felt existentially dangerous.
- Rise through adversity: Some of Sevilla’s most culturally defining figures (e.g. Monchi) emerged in the rebuilding era.
- Fan resilience: Those dark seasons tattooed themselves into Sevilla folklore, inspiring narratives of redemption and defiance.
In many ways, the scars of relegation became a foundation for the club’s later European success and consistent top-flight presence.
Looking Ahead: Can Sevilla Ever Be Relegated Again?
While the club hasn’t been relegated since 2000, recent seasons have seen turbulence. The growth of financial disparity in La Liga, structural instability, and dips in form create periods of real danger. For instance:
- As of recent campaigns, Sevilla has flirted with relegation threatened zones, prompting panic and managerial changes.
- A 2025 managerial shakeup and alarm in the league table reflect how little breathing space top clubs actually have. e top clubs actually have.
So while relegation seems like a historical relic for this club, the specter still lingers — if performance dips and mismanagement combine.
Conclusion
Yes, Sevilla has been relegated — most memorably in 1996and again in 1999–2000 — but those events now belong to a chapter the club has overcome and largely moved beyond. In the two decades following their last descent, Sevilla matured into a European heavyweight, built structural stability, and ingrained a culture of resilience.
For fans, knowing that has Sevilla ever been relegated often becomes a point of pride: such events are rare, painful, and turned into fuel for resurgence. If you want dee, or how Sevilla’s return was engineered, just tell me — AnnuGoal is here to dig further together.
