5 Comments

I could write this about any of the big-monied teams, but it would be sensational if one of them did get relegated. A never seen before scenario? The only one that really springs to mind is Hamburg falling out of the Bundesliga but I think they were a more historic club than a monied one.

I know United have been relegated before as you point out, but it would be a completely different level if they, Arsenal, Spurs, City, Chelsea achieved it.

In the end.. football, not cash wins.

Expand full comment

Certainly in recent years. Milan were relegated twice in the early 1980s, once a result of Totonero, but then of their own accord after getting promoted back. I can't think of any others that haven't been financially related (ie, Bordeaux, Lyon, Juventus) unless we're counting HSV and maybe Schalke?

Expand full comment

I don’t think any were ‘money is no object’ type teams though were they? Maybe Manchester United aren’t either - and never have been. Perhaps there’s is the longest ‘greater than the sum of their parts’ team run (see Reading FC 05/06) there ever was?

They made hay while Fergie shone and actually, in fact, they’re just a bit rubbish.

Expand full comment

I did run a check on this once and if you take Busby and Ferguson out of the equation I think I found that their historical record most closely resembled Sheffield United.

Expand full comment

This is excellent!

Expand full comment