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Relegation History of the Big Clubs

Of Argentina's five big clubs, only Boca has never been relegated. The other four went down once each: here is when, how and how many seasons they spent in the second division.

The five big clubs, debut to today

  • Boca Juniors
  • Independiente2nd div. 2013/14
  • Racing Club2nd div. 1984–1985
  • River Plate2nd div. 2011/12
  • San Lorenzo2nd div. 1982

First divisionSecond division

Every relegation, in order

Never relegated1913 – 2026

Boca Juniors

In the first division without a break since its debut in 1913: every season of the professional era.

Wikipedia: Cinco grandes del fútbol argentino

Seasons as Wikipedia writes them (the article on the five big clubs and the article of each season), read on Nov 1, 2026.

Who goes down this season →The average table, today →Titles of each club →

Illustration: Relegation History of the Big Clubs

Three ways down

  1. Bottom of the tableSan Lorenzo went down in 1981 for finishing in the last two places of the table, with Colón.
  2. AveragesIn 1983 relegation by averages came back: points of the last three seasons over games played. Racing went down that year; Independiente fell the same way in 2012/13.
  3. Play-offIn 2010/11 the two worst averages went straight down, and the next two played a home-and-away play-off against second-division sides. River lost theirs to Belgrano.

How long each one lasted

ClubDownSecond divisionBack for
San Lorenzo198119821983
Racing Club19831984 and 19851986/87
River Plate2010/112011/122012/13
Independiente2012/132013/142014

Seasons as Wikipedia writes them. With the tournaments being reorganised, Racing also missed the 1985 Nacional.

Keep going

This year's relegationWho goes down this season, and how likely it is.How the average worksThe sum that sends clubs down, step by step.Titles of every clubThe other end of history: the champions.

Questions

When was River relegated?

On Jun 26, 2011, drawing the second leg of the play-off with Belgrano after losing the first. River played 2011/12 in the second division and came back for 2012/13.

Has Boca ever been relegated?

No. Boca has been in the first division without a break since its debut in 1913.

When was Independiente relegated?

On Jun 15, 2013, on the averages, after losing to San Lorenzo. It had spent 101 years in a row in the first division.

Did Racing go down?

Yes, in 1983, after 73 seasons in a row in the first division. It played 1984 and 1985 in the second division.

And San Lorenzo?

It was the first of the big clubs to go down, in 1981. It played 1982 in the second division and came back for 1983.