Top football stars who faced relegation in their careers
Some of the world’s most celebrated footballers have experienced the disappointment of relegation during their careers. Despite winning trophies and individual awards, even elite players like Zlatan Ibrahimović, Roy Keane, and Michael Owen could not always save their teams from dropping out of the top flight. For some, relegation became a turning point, while others went on to achieve greater success elsewhere. Here are notable examples of football legends who suffered relegation.
Match highlights
- Michael Owen was relegated with Newcastle United but later won the Premier League with Manchester United.
- Roy Keane experienced relegation with Nottingham Forest before becoming a decorated captain at Manchester United.
- Zlatan Ibrahimović faced relegation with Malmö FF early in his career before moving to Ajax.
- Wilfred Ndidi was part of the Leicester City squad that went down after a difficult season.
- Andy Robertson impressed during Hull City’s relegation and later became a key player for Liverpool.
