Relegated with the belt
29 times a holder has left the division with a belt, and who the belt went back to.
Only in soccer can a champion leave the league. When a club holding a belt is relegated, it can't defend it, so the belt reverts to the most recent earlier holder still in the division, the same rule the college belts use when a program drops down. 29 times a holder has left the division with the belt across the European leagues we track (relegation, and in 1915 the league shutting down for the war); the most recent was Newcastle United in the Premier League in 2016.
| Reverted | League | Went down holding it | Belt went back to |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 16, 2016 | Premier League | Newcastle Unitedheld it since Apr 16, 2016 | Swansea City |
| May 15, 2016 | Ligue 1 | Stade Reimsheld it since May 14, 2016 | Olympique Lyon |
| May 18, 2015 | Eredivisie | FC Dordrechtheld it since May 17, 2015 | AFC Ajax |
| May 19, 2014 | Serie A | Calcio Cataniaheld it since May 18, 2014 | Atalanta |
| May 15, 2006 | Serie A | Juventusheld it since Dec 4, 2005 | ACF Fiorentina |
| May 12, 2002 | Premier League | Leicester Cityheld it since May 11, 2002 | Tottenham Hotspur |
| May 20, 2001 | Bundesliga | Eintracht Frankfurtheld it since May 19, 2001 | VfB Stuttgart |
| May 15, 2000 | Premier League | Sheffield Wednesdayheld it since May 14, 2000 | Leicester City |
| May 24, 1999 | Serie A | Sampdoriaheld it since May 9, 1999 | ACF Fiorentina |
| May 16, 1998 | La Liga | SD Compostelaheld it since Apr 26, 1998 | Valencia CF |
| Jun 7, 1993 | Serie A | ACF Fiorentinaheld it since Jun 6, 1993 | US Foggia |
| Jun 2, 1993 | Eredivisie | FC Den Boschheld it since May 23, 1993 | FC Twente |
| May 9, 1993 | Premier League | Middlesbroughheld it since May 1, 1993 | Sheffield Wednesday |
| May 7, 1990 | Eredivisie | BVV Den Boschheld it since May 6, 1990 | FC Twente |
| Jun 18, 1989 | Bundesliga | Stuttgarter Kickersheld it since Jun 17, 1989 | 1. FC Nurnberg |
| Jun 5, 1988 | Ligue 1 | Brest Armorique FCheld it since May 27, 1988 | AS Saint-Étienne |
| May 26, 1986 | Eredivisie | AZ '67 Alkmaarheld it since Apr 27, 1986 | Roda JC Kerkrade |
| Jun 9, 1985 | Bundesliga | Karlsruher SCheld it since Jun 1, 1985 | 1. FC Köln |
| Jun 20, 1976 | Ligue 1 | Association Sportive Avignonaiseheld it since Jun 19, 1976 | Olympique Marseille |
| Jun 15, 1975 | Bundesliga | VfB Stuttgartheld it since Jun 14, 1975 | Rot-Weiss Essen |
| Jul 6, 1968 | Ligue 1 | Angers SCOheld it since Jun 28, 1968 | FC Rouen |
| Apr 22, 1963 | La Liga | Deportivo La Coruñaheld it since Apr 21, 1963 | Real Betis |
| May 20, 1962 | Ligue 1 | FC Sochauxheld it since May 19, 1962 | Angers SCO |
| May 12, 1958 | Ligue 1 | FC Metzheld it since Apr 20, 1958 | US Valenciennes-Anzin |
| May 20, 1957 | Ligue 1 | RC Strasbourgheld it since May 19, 1957 | US Valenciennes-Anzin |
| May 31, 1954 | Serie A | Legnanoheld it since May 2, 1954 | SSC Napoli |
| Apr 27, 1915 | Premier League | Evertonheld it since Apr 25, 1915 | Notts County |
| Apr 25, 1915 | Premier League | Burnleyheld it since Apr 2, 1915 | Everton |
| Apr 20, 1902 | Premier League | Manchester Cityheld it since Apr 5, 1902 | Bury |
A reversion is dated the day after the relegated holder's last match. Clubs that disappeared for other reasons (war years, folded clubs) are listed too when the record shows a holder leaving the league.