Discover the history and current status of the select group of clubs that never fell to Series B
Remaining among the elite of national football is one of the greatest symbols of consistency and greatness for a club. In Brazil, the Campeonato Brasileiro, played in its unified format since 1971, has a select group of teams that have never been relegated to Series B, a feat that confers enormous prestige. This article details which are the only teams that have never been relegated, explains the historical context of this list and addresses special cases that raise doubts among fans. The once-longer list has shrunk over the years, making the feat even more remarkable for those who remain.
Who are the only teams that have never been relegated?
Currently, after Santos’ relegation in 2023, only two clubs that have played in every edition of the first division of the Brazilian Championship since 1971 have never fallen to Série B.
Flemish: The Rio club is one of the powerhouses of national and South American football. With one of the biggest fans in the world, Flamengo has always featured in Series A, collecting titles and maintaining a regularity that prevents it from having suffered relegation in its history;
São Paulo: The São Paulo tricolor is another giant that has never known the second division. The club is recognized for its structure and history of achievements, including three world titles. The uninterrupted stay in the elite is one of the fans’ great pride;
The history of the group and the recent fall of Santos
For decades, a larger group of clubs boasted the status of never having been relegated. This original “club of five” was formed by Flamengo, Santos, São Paulo, Cruzeiro and Internacional. However, the scenario has changed drastically in recent years, proving the competitiveness and difficulty of the tournament.
The list began to decrease with the falls of giants that shook Brazilian football:
International: The club from Rio Grande do Sul was relegated for the first time in 2016;
Cruise: The Minas Gerais team suffered its first decline in 2019, in the midst of a serious financial and institutional crisis;
Santos: The most recent to leave the list was Santos. The team that revealed Pelé and Neymar was relegated for the first time in its history at the end of the 2023 season, a negative milestone that redefined the select group;
Special cases and curiosities about relegation
In addition to the clubs that actually never fell, there are other situations that deserve to be highlighted for a complete understanding of the topic.
The case of Cuiabá: Cuiabá is often mentioned in discussions on the topic, as, since moving up to Série A in 2021, the club has never been relegated. However, he is not included in the historical list because he did not participate in all elite editions of the championship, unlike Flamengo and São Paulo;
Chapecoense in 2016: After the tragic plane crash in 2016, the CBF and Série A clubs mobilized in solidarity. It was guaranteed that Chapecoense would not be relegated for three seasons, regardless of their placement. The club ended up falling in 2019, after the immunity period ended;
The championship milestone: The count of uninterrupted participation in the elite generally considers the beginning of the Brazilian Championship with the unified name and format from 1971;
Staying in Series A of the Brazilian Championship is a proof of strength, management and sporting regularity. Currently, only Flamengo and São Paulo can boast of never having been relegated, a feat that has become even more exclusive following the falls of other national football giants. Santos’ relegation in 2023 served as a reminder that, in the competitive Brazilian scenario, tradition alone does not guarantee remaining in the elite.
