From Netflix Relegations to 34-Year Comebacks: Meet Europe’s Newest Top-Flight Teams

The world of sports is a rollercoaster—sometimes you’re up, sometimes you’re down. Each season, teams get relegated, and others rise to take their place. Nine new teams have earned promotion to the top leagues in England, Italy, and Spain. One of them has a knack for getting relegated every time a documentary series is made about them, while two others are back after decades away. Meet the newly promoted teams.

Newly Promoted Teams in England:

Leeds United: The War of the Roses

- Last appearance in the top flight: 2022/23

- Major honors: Three English championships, one FA Cup, two UEFA Cups, appearance in the European Cup final

- Nickname: The Peacocks

Leeds United is a household name for English sports fans. Boasting one of the best fanbases in England, the team returns after winning the Championship with 100 points, led by the brilliance of Manor Solomon. Their fierce rivalry with Manchester United, dubbed the War of the Roses after the 16th-century conflict between the counties of Manchester and Leeds, adds extra spice to their return.

Burnley: Born as a Rugby Club

- Last appearance in the top flight: 2023/24

- Major honors: Two English championships, one FA Cup, quarter-finals of the European Cup

- Nickname: The Clarets

Originally founded as a rugby club, Burnley won two championships in their distant past (1920/21, 1959/60). They’re back in the Premier League in style after a sensational season, finishing second in the Championship with 100 points. Their recent peak was a seventh-place finish in the Premier League in 2017/18.

Sunderland: Stop Making Documentaries!

- Last appearance in the top flight: 2016/17

- Major honors: Six English championships, two FA Cups

- Nickname: The Black Cats

Sunderland, the first non-founding member to join the English league, is featured in the oldest known football-related painting. Unfortunately, they’re also known for two documentary series—both of which saw them relegated during filming. The second series, Sunderland ‘Til I Die, filmed eight years ago, was meant to chronicle their swift return to the Premier League. Instead, it documented their drop to the third tier. Have they learned their lesson this time?

Newly Promoted Teams in Spain:

Levante:

- Last appearance in the top flight: 2021/22

- Major honors: One Copa del Rey, Europa League round of 16

- Nickname: The Frogs

The less famous crosstown rival of Valencia, Levante is tied to the city’s working-class roots. During the Spanish Civil War in the late 1930s, their stadium was destroyed, but the club survived. In their debut La Liga season (1962/63), they won both derbies, thrashed Barcelona 5-1, yet still got relegated. Dutch legend Johan Cruyff, a Barcelona icon, played for Levante in the early 1980s. In 2011/12, they finished sixth in La Liga, earning their first-ever European qualification, and reached the Europa League round of 16 the following season.

Elche:

- Last appearance in the top flight: 2022/23

- Major honors: Fifth place in La Liga

- Nickname: The Green Stripes

Founded 100 years ago through a merger of all the city’s clubs, Elche has spent limited time in the top flight, bouncing between divisions. This will be their 26th season in La Liga. Barcelona legend César Rodríguez Álvarez, who scored 294 goals for the Catalans, ended his playing career at the modest club and began his coaching career there.

Real Oviedo: I Remember Your Youthful Grace

- Last appearance in the top flight: 2000/01

- Major honors: Third place in La Liga, UEFA Cup qualification

- Nickname: The Blues

A club whose glory days were nearly a century ago, Real Oviedo was once called “The Electric Pioneers.” Their striker Isidro Lángara won the Pichichi Trophy three years in a row, and the team scored 174 goals in 62 league matches. During the Spanish Civil War, Franco used their stadium as an ammunition dump. The club enjoyed some top-tier years but hit rock bottom in recent decades, going bankrupt and dropping to the fourth division. A crowdfunding campaign saved them, and Carlos Slim, the world’s richest man, bought shares to stabilize the club. Former Arsenal player Santi Cazorla, a product of their academy, returned to help his boyhood club and led them back to La Liga after 24 years. Can this romantic tale keep them in the top flight?

Newly Promoted Teams in Italy:

Sassuolo:

- Last appearance in the top flight: 2023/24

- Major honors: Europa League group stage

- Nickname: The Black-and-Greens

Sassuolo is a familiar name to Italian football fans in recent years. Founded in 1920, they reached Serie A for the first time in 2013. In 2015/16, they finished sixth in the league, beating Napoli, Juventus, and Inter along the way. The following season, they made history by reaching the Europa League group stage. After 11 seasons in Serie A, mostly mid-table, they were relegated in 2023/24 but bounced back after winning the Serie B title. How long will they stay this time?

Pisa: A Swift Recovery

- Last appearance in the top flight: 1990/91

- Major honors: Italian league runners-up

- Nickname: The Towers

Hailing from the city famous for its Leaning Tower, Pisa’s club has been dissolved and reformed multiple times. Reestablished in 2009, they were still in Serie C as recently as 2019. After 34 years, their loyal fans finally see their team back in Serie A, thanks to a second-place finish in Serie B last summer. Can they make history and cement their place in the top flight?

Cremonese:

- Last appearance in the top flight: 2022/23

- Major honors: Tenth place in Serie A

- Nickname: The Tigers

The Tigers returned to Serie A four years ago for the first time since 1996. During that campaign, they reached the Coppa Italia semi-finals, knocking out Roma and Napoli, the eventual champions. Despite the cup success, they couldn’t stay up in the league and were relegated to Serie B. Now they’re back. Can they finally establish themselves in the top tier?