Derby next: 7 massive clubs across Europe currently in the third tier

The pyramid system of football across Europe, much to the chagrin of rich club owners, means that any team can theoretically rise or fall down the divisions.

But it still remains a huge surprise when big-name clubs, usually steeped in history and the glories of yesteryear, find themselves playing at small, regional grounds rather than the grand arenas they’re used to.

We’ve investigated the fortunes of seven famous names who’ve played third-tier football this season to see what may lie in store for Derby County.

Sunderland are a proud club, with a large and loyal fanbase, but you had to laugh when their owners ushered in the television cameras in 2017 to capture their return to the Premier League.

Instead, the Netflix series ‘Sunderland ‘Til I Die’ documented the side’s fall into League One and subsequent last-gasp failure against Charlton in the 2019 play-off final.

But surely Sunderland wouldn’t linger in England’s third tier for long? Wrong. The Black Cats failed to gain promotion in the following two seasons and another season of disappointment beckoned when Lee Johnson was sacked in January 2022 after a 6-0 defeat at Bolton.

Instead, Alex Neil has steadied the ship and Sunderland will contest the League One play-off final against Wycombe at the end of May. Perhaps they’re on the way back…

ROBERTS SCORES!!!

Is that the goal that sends Sunderland to Wembley?! pic.twitter.com/hAll7n1qfe

— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) May 9, 2022

Sunderland weren’t the only big side in League One this year; Ipswich Town have won European trophies, Portsmouth lifted the FA Cup in 2008 and it’s not been too long since Bolton were rubbing shoulders with Bayern Munich in the UEFA Cup.

But Sheffield Wednesday are one of England’s