The Big Downfall: Clubs Who Spiraled Out of Control | OneFootball

The beautiful game can sometimes be an awful place. The highs of promotion are balanced by the lows of relegation. We explored in a previous article some feel-good stories of teams that experienced swift ascents, but in this story we look at the opposite side of that coin.

Once hailed for their on-field triumphs and iconic moments, storied clubs Sunderland, Parma, Kaiserslautern, and Deportivo La Coruña also endured dramatic downfalls plunging from top-flight glory into the depths of their domestic leagues. Plagued by financial ruin, boardroom instability, and a string of poor decisions, their collapses were as swift as they were shocking. Yet amid the heartbreak, their passionate fanbases remained steadfast, embodying the enduring spirit of the game. These cautionary tales reveal not just the fragility of success, but also the resilience required to rise again in a game where fortunes can change overnight.

Luton Town: The Latest Victim

After yesterday’s 5 – 3 to West Bromwich Albion, Luton Town were confirmed as the third side relegated out of the Champions League. You’ll recall that only two years ago they defied all odds and earned promotion to the Premier League. This capped a remarkable rise for a club that in 2013 were battling in the non-league tiers, but also shows how quickly the dream can unravel.

Struggling to compete with the financial might and depth of England’s elite, Luton finished bottom of the Premier League in the 2023–24 season and were relegated after just one year. Hoping to regroup in the Championship, things went from bad to worse. Injuries, squad limitations, and off-pitch instability cursed their 2024–25 campaign. Despite moments of promise, the Hatters couldn’t stop the slide.

Their fall reflects the harsh realities of soccer where promotion often exposes deep financial gaps rather than closes them. Luton’s fairytale rise was celebrated, but their back-to-back relegations serve as a reminder that staying up can be even harder than going up. For now, the Premier League dream feels painfully distant once again.

Sunderland: The Dreaded Double Drop

Once a proud Premier League mainstay, Sunderland AFC’s descent was swift and painful. Relegated from the Premier League in 2017, hopes of a quick return were dashed when they suffered a second consecutive relegation in 2018, dropping into League One. The club’s crisis was captured in the Netflix documentary Sunderland ‘Til I Die, which chronicled the 2017–18 season, highlighting the challenges faced by the team and its passionate supporters .

Financial mismanagement, frequent managerial changes, and poor player recruitment contributed to the club’s decline. The documentary showcased the deep connection between the team and its community, emphasizing the emotional toll of the club’s struggles on its loyal fanbase .

Despite the setbacks, Sunderland’s story is one of resilience. The club has been working towards rebuilding, aiming to restore its former glory and reestablish itself in the higher tiers of soccer.

Kaiserslautern: From Bundesliga Champions to Third Division

FC Kaiserslautern’s history is marked by remarkable highs and devastating lows. In 1998, they achieved the extraordinary feat of winning the Bundesliga as a newly promoted team. However, two decades later, in 2018, the club was relegated to the 3. Liga for the first time in its history . The decline was attributed to financial difficulties, mismanagement, and inconsistent performances on the pitch. The relegation not only impacted the club’s sporting status but also had significant financial implications, leading to a projected €24 million reduction in turnover.

Despite these challenges, Kaiserslautern’s rich history and passionate fanbase remain integral to its identity. The club’s journey serves as a cautionary tale of the consequences of poor management but also highlights the enduring spirit of its supporters.

Deportivo La Coruña: From Champions League to Third Tier

In the early 2000s, Deportivo La Coruña was a powerhouse in Spanish soccer, clinching the La Liga title in the 1999–2000 season and making regular appearances in the Champions League. However, the subsequent years saw a steady decline, culminating in the club’s relegation to Spain’s third tier in the 2020s. Financial mismanagement, administrative instability, and a series of poor decisions led to the club’s downfall. Once home to stars like Roy Makaay and Diego Tristán, Deportivo struggled to maintain its competitive edge, both on and off the field.

The club’s descent serves as a stark reminder of how quickly fortunes can change in soccer. Yet, the spirit of Deportivo’s supporters endures, with hopes that the club can navigate its challenges and embark on a path back to prominence.

Parma: From European Contender to Financial Ruin

Once a giant of Italian soccer, Parma’s descent was as swift as it was shocking. In the 1990s, they were a dominant force, lifting European trophies and fielding world-class talents like Buffon, Thuram, and Crespo. But beneath the success lay dangerous financial instability, heavily tied to the fraudulent practices of their main sponsor, Parmalat. When Parmalat collapsed in 2003 amid a massive accounting scandal, it sent shockwaves through the club’s finances.

Stripped of their financial backing, Parma spiraled into debt. Years of poor management, unpaid wages, and chaotic ownership changes followed. By 2015, the club was in complete chaos. Players were doing laundry at home, staff went unpaid, and matchday meals were sometimes canceled due to lack of funds. The inevitable happened: Parma was declared bankrupt and relegated to Serie D, the fourth tier of Italian soccer league. From hosting Champions League nights to playing amateur sides, the fall was dramatic and humiliating.

Parma’s collapse remains one of the darkest moments in Italian soccer industry which left a cautionary tale of unchecked spending, dependency on a single sponsor, and administrative failure. It underscored how quickly even the proudest clubs can crumble when off-field chaos outweighs on field performance.