So no, this isn’t a nasty deal with on FC Metzwho already has one thing to fret about along with his official descent into Ligue 2 this Saturday night due to his defeat in opposition to Monaco (2-1). It is simply the statistics that talk: Metz is certainly the European champion… going forwards and backwards between the primary and second divisions within the twenty first century.
He owes this coronation to his eight descents within the house of twenty-five years, fairly a journey. Together with its descent to Nationwide in 2012, the Lorraine membership has due to this fact skilled eight relegations and 7 rises – together with six lifts L1/L2. He has by no means managed to remain within the elite for greater than three seasons (from 2003 to 2006 then from 2019 to 2022). Conversely, within the final century, Metz was for a very long time probably the most sturdy golf equipment in D1, the place it performed repeatedly from 1967 to 2002.
But when Metz is European champion, who’re its runners-up?
Elsewhere in Europe:
In England, it’s Norwich Metropolis, right now within the Championship (D2), which comes closest with six promotions (however solely 5 in Premier League) and 7 relegations in 25 seasons.
In Italybecause the 12 months 2000, the nice specialist is Empoli which, final season, was relegated for the fifth time in Serie B in only twenty years (2004, 2008, 2017, 2019 and due to this fact 2025). The Tuscan membership won’t enhance once more this season because it occupies sixteenth place in Serie B after 36 days.
In Spainthe champion on this space is Actual Valladolid, at present in D2, with six descents (2004, 2010, 2014, 2021, 2023 and 2025). Right here too, no comeback this 12 months for the White and Violet, at present fifteenth out of twenty-two in Liga Adelante.
In Germanyit’s FC Cologne which has skilled probably the most declines (6) within the twenty first century, the final being two years in the past… earlier than an instantaneous rise final season. With six factors forward of the primary relegated workforce with three days to go, Cologne has nearly ensured its retention within the elite.
