So this is a list that will lay out the 10 most successful football clubs to grace Europe, based on trophies won (not including any minor/regional trophies).
10. Bayern Munich – 62 trophies
Bottom of this list is no other than Bayern Munich. I was extremely surprised to see Germany’s most successful club bottom of this list, I would have expected them to be further up, but considering the dominance of Borussia Dortmund/Borussia Monchengladbach/Hamburg at various points throughout German footballing history, it doesn’t seem to surprise me THAT much. However, I digress. Bayern still hold the record for German League titles (24). They have also won the German Cup 17 times, German League Cup 6 times and German Super Cup 4 times. Add that to their impressive array of European honours (5 European Cups/Champions Leagues, 1 UEFA Cup, 1 European Cup Winners Cup, 1 UEFA Super Cup), their trophy cabinet begins to look pretty impressive. They have also won 2 Intercontinental Cups and 1 FIFA World Club Cup.
9. Liverpool – 63 trophies
Any English football fan can tell you that Liverpool were the dominant force throughout the 70s and 80s. When Bill Shankly took over a struggling Second Division side, he transformed them into one of the deadliest sides in Europe, where his 3 immediate successors, Bob Paisley, Joe Fagan and Kenny Dalglish, emulated his success. Overall Liverpool have won 18 English League titles, 7 FA Cups, 8 League Cups & 15 Community Shields, in addition to 4 Second Division titles. They are also the most successful English (and British) club in Europe, having won the European Cup/Champions League 5 times and both the UEFA Cup and UEFA Super Cup 3 times.
8. Manchester United – 64 trophies
Manchester United, the Marmite of the footballing world. You either love them or you hate them (in my case hate, but that’s a different story). Manchester United’s success is split into two distinct eras. The first era, the club was managed by ex-Manchester City and Liverpool player Matt Busby. Busby brought through a group of youngsters into the United team of the 50s, where they won the FA Cup and several league titles before disaster struck in 1958. The Munich Air Disaster occurred, leaving several players and coaching staff dead and forcing two others to retire prematurely. This caused the teams performances to suffer as Busby was forced to rebuild his squad over the coming years. However, he managed to do so, and several more league titles and success in the European Cup followed. The next period came in the 90s through to the early 2010s, led by Alex Ferguson. The club won league titles, domestic cups, and European honours in his 27 year reign as manager. Overall, United have 20 league titles, 11 FA Cups, 4 League Cups, 20 Community Shields, 3 European Cups/Champions Leagues, 1 UEFA Cup Winners Cup, 1 UEFA Super Cup, 1 Intercontinental Cup, 1 FIFA World Club Cup and 2 Second division titles.
7. Ajax Amsterdam – 70 trophies
Quite a surprising addition if I’m honest. However, the one thing that Ajax have always been famous for is their academy, and for good reason. The likes of Johan Cruijff, Marco van Basten, Ruud Gullit, Frank de Boer, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Klaas Jan Huntelaar etc have come through the academy over the years. Add this to their total football philosophy they adopted in the 70s through to the 90s, and its easy to see why they have been so successful. They are also one of a few elite teams in Europe to have won at least 4 Champions League titles. They have also won the Dutch League 33 times, the Dutch Cup 18 times, the Johan Cruijff Shield 8 times, the European Cup Winners Cup and UEFA Cup once, the UEFA Super Cup 3 times and the Intercontinental Cup twice.
6. S.L. Benfica – 73 trophies
I was quite surprised by this entry as well. At number 6 is Portuguese club Benfica. Whilst I knew they were a big club in the 60s with one of the worlds best players, Eusebio, playing for them, I never anticipated them being this high. Speaking of the 60s, they were the first club besides Real Madrid to win the European Cup, and even beat Madrid in the final in 1962. They also won it in 1961, beating Barcelona in the final, and reached the final three more times by the end of the decade. They have also won a record 33 Portuguese League titles, 25 Portuguese Cups, 5 Portuguese League Cups, 5 Portuguese Super Cups and 3 Campeonato de Portugal trophies (the forerunner to both the Portuguese League and the Portuguese Cup).
5. FC Porto – 74 trophies
Another slightly surprising addition to the list. FC Porto are the most successful club hailing from Portugal, where they have won 27 league titles, 16 Portuguese Cups and 20 Portuguese Super Cups, along with 4 Campeonato de Portugal trophies. They have also won several European honours, including the Champions League twice, the UEFA Cup/Europa League twice, and the UEFA Super Cup once, along with 2 Intercontinental Cups.
4. Real Madrid – 79 trophies
Real Madrid are, without doubt, probably the most recognisable team on the planet. They have been a force in European football since the 1950s, where they won the first 5 European Cups consecutively. Many well-known players have played for this great club, such as Alfredo Di Stefano, Hugo Sanchez, Raul, Cristiano Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane etc. Madrid, for most of their history, have had to battle it out with fierce rivals Barcelona for domestic honours, yet have still managed to win 32 league titles, 19 Spanish Cups, the Champions League a staggering 10 times, the UEFA cup twice, as well as several Spanish and European Super Cups and World Club Cups.
3. FC Barcelona – 81 trophies
I was actually surprised to find out that Barcelona edged out Real Madrid in terms of total trophies won. What surprised me even more was finding out that Barcelona are the only European team to never fail to qualify for a European competition since the onset of European completion in 1955. Barcelona are quite far behind Real Madrid in terms of league titles having won 22, however they hold the records for most Spanish Cups (26), most Spanish Super Cups (11), most UEFA Cup Winners Cups (4), most Inter-Cities Fairs Cups (3), most UEFA Super Cups (4) and most FIFA World Club Cups (2).
2. Celtic Glasgow – 96 trophies
In 2nd place is, this club from Scotland. I knew Celtic had won a lot of titles, but I was still surprised to see them so high on this list. Whilst Celtic fall behind Rangers in terms of league titles and overall honours, they have managed to win the European cup on one occasion, being the first British club to win the most prestigious award in Europe in 1967. Overall, Celtic have won 45 league titles, a record 36 Scottish cups, and 14 Scottish league cups.
1. Glasgow Rangers – 117 trophies
Surprisingly enough, the most successful European club is another from Scotland. And not just another from Scotland, but another from Glasgow. Coincidence? Not really, as Rangers & Celtic have both utterly dominated Scottish football albeit for a brief spell in the 80s where Aberdeen came into force when they were managed by the then little-known Alex Ferguson. Having won an incredible 54 top division titles, along with 33 Scottish Cups & 27 Scottish League Cups, as well as a European Cup Winners Cup (and 2 lower division titles), Rangers lead the way with 117 major honours.
Great stuff Daniel. Nice to see Rangers at the top of the list
“….(and 2 lower division titles)”
What?
The Rangers Football Club have won 2 lower division titles.
Rangers Football Club have won 115 trophies and were liquidated in 2012.
They no longer exist.
Don’t cry
I’d guess the writers of this are probably taking the word of UEFA,The SFA,SPFL,Advertising Standards Authority,European Club Assoc.,BBC Trust,Lord Nimmo Smith who all disagree with you..i’m afraid they take precedent over “gogzy” on a comment section. Why not check yourself.
http://spfl.co.uk/clubs/rangers/
Nimmo Smith said it was a new club dumbo. Read his report. UEFA have made no statement on the subject and even if they did football authorities mean fck all when it comes to the law of the land. Ask Jean Marc Bosman!!
Pacific in 94 ring a bell . And the records are still rangers watp. Use have a better secret lurking?
The 54 replica league flags in our trophy room all say The Rangers Football Club, our next top tier title will go down in the record books as number 55
Hahahah shut up ya knob fifa said other wise go read it
fifa’s wrong n ur right fs . wots the fuss use changed first fact
actually I think you’ll find The Glasgow Rangers were founded in 1872 and still remain to this day.
Listen Timmy, You don’t have a leg to stand on in this, UEFA have clarified that Glasgow Rangers are still the same club, look it up!, hitting almost 50,000 in ibrox every home match also states my point, 54 titles x
The old rangers? The ones who died?
Still the same rangers, we will be back dominating football soon, as we always have done!
Here is Rangers’ magnificent trophy record, in full, courtesy of the official website of the Scottish Professional Football League…
http://spfl.co.uk/clubs/rangers/#honours
I’m sure the likes of Barca and Madrid are oh so envious. Most succesfull club but never won the biggest prize in club football??? Keep dreaming!!
typical Celtic fans always cheated never defeated 54 and counting you bheasts
the tages will apoplectic with rage LOL
The Mhanks are bealin.
Disgusting bheasts
Hahahaha, “the tages” what a tit. Pick up a book some time you thick cunt
The only show in town now back to ure bogs ya shmelly mhanky tramps
Rangers died Sevco lives on but not for long
Just because rangers are better than Celtic u wee fenian
Your username says it all you dirty piece of Filth, why don’t you crawl back under the stone you came from and die.
I presume some of the posters above “missed” head of the SPFL confirm Rangers Football Club 1872 continue intact with an unbroken history. Just look up Neil Doncaster Rangers same club…then log onto SPFL Rangers..websites like this go on facts you see,not stuff from Celtic forums on the internet.
Rangers are the same club that existed before liquidation, says SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster.
THE governing body chief says that the Ibrox club is the same club, even though it is a different business.
NEIL DONCASTER has today insisted Rangers is the same club now as the one that existed pre-liquidation.
The SPFL chief executive has attempted to end the argument that has raged ever since the insolvency event of 2012.
He was emphatic in a Q&A session done with the BBC.
Doncaster said: “In terms of the question about old club, new club, that was settled very much by the Lord Nimmo Smith commission that was put together by the SPL to look at EBT payments at that time.
“The decision, very clearly from the commission, was that the club is the same, the club continues, albeit it is owned by a new company, but the club is the same.
“It’s the same club, absolutely.
“The member club is the entity that participates in our league and we have 42 member clubs.
“Those clubs may be owned by a company, sometimes it’s a Private Limited Company, sometimes it’s a PLC, but ultimately, the company is a legal entity in its own right, which owns a member club that participates in the league.
“It was put to bed by the Lord Nimmo Smith commission some while ago – it’s the same club.”
So quit crying bhoys..and deal with facts,your STILL second best.
I have to admit I’m secretly an admirer of Rangers. What a club. Congratulations Bears.
Blue is the colour rangers is the name.
We are the people! As for the disghusting bheasts on here, big Jock knew!!
Poor desperate orclets clinging to a fairytale spun by Green and Whyte ,,, Old club died and the new pretenders sinking fast ,… tick tock. Glorious history indeed, Every fan outside of your corrupt dead zombie followers laughing at you.
Which of the two clubs voted on the SPL licence again ….
No wonder you are in the mess you are in … Swallow swallow any old bull you are fed …
How does it feel to have the whole world laughing at you behind your backs?
Reduced to counting titles against posties and electricians whilst pretending your the same club …. Marvelous !!
Liquidated, incorporation, synonymous, indistinguishable …. DEID,
Aye your clubs got some history mate Glasgow Celtic founded by immigrants ran by pedophiles and supported by terrorists how proud you must be WATP
Actually, Belfast Linfield are by miles the most successful team in Europe with well over 200 trophies. Nuff said
I’m a linfield and rangers fan and your completely wrong 118 of our cups is not official competitions by uefa/fifa but more charitable tournaments. Rangers are still the most successful team
Where did the debts go?
Celtic died in. 1996 when they changed their name from Celtic football and athletic club to Celtic fc. Fact!!!
I just hate celt*c!
Celtic football and athletic club won the European cup and a few league trophies a few years later Fergus mcann dismantled them put them into a filing cabinet with a 34 million pound debt.pacific shelf 754 was born then from that came celtic football club was started who now service the 34 million pound debt.if you know your history …
Shame The rangers can’t seem to grasp the fact that the old rangers where LIQUIDATED. Glasgow Celtic where never liquidated in any way shape or form. Therefore the NEW club who play at Ibrox started from the bottom of the Scottish league. Celtic f.c. have NEVER been out of the top tier having never having gone bust like the old Glasgow rangers f.c. DIED. Most successful club? Maybe, until they DIED. My daughter took her Grannies name and even if she stayed in her house, it doesnt make it her. Why? Because her Granny……. DIED.
Hee hee
Typical those clatty little bead rattling b—-s cannot stand that the mighty Gers are WAY ahead of there shitty little team NS
Don’t worry mate, Rangers dont exist anymore, so UEFA wont tally any more titles to them. They’ll tally them to The Rangers, who’ve won, what? 2 Shitty league titles, and are currently being beaten by Hearts to the Championship trophy? Haha!
Is that why Uefa gave us coefficient points that matches the same club as before. Away and read the facts….. Oh wait. You don’t do facts. Look up Pacific shelf if you want to know YOUR history
Thought Linfield Rangers were number 2 😉 WATP
Yip Linfield hold the record for the most trophies
the article does state not including minor/regional trophies, so i assume they would therefore appear 2nd, rather than 1st (due to not counting the county antrim shield – but i could be wrong?).
My granddad died in 2012, we didn’t throw out his clothes though or clear out his furniture. We rented his house out to another old man and we let the other old man wear his clothes. We made sure he had the same name. So we now have an old man living in my dead granddads house, wearing his old clothes, sitting in his favourite chair and has the same name….. Can I call him granddad though?
Rangers never died. There’s a difference between a club and a human being. Bit of a daft comparison on your part. Rangers entered the process of liquidation, but weren’t liquidated due to Charles Green’s company buying over the SFA membership in 2012. Fifa has recently admitted Rangers to be the same football club. Look that up.
Top Ten is wrong, Linfield – League titles 51, Irish Cup 42, Legue Cup 29, ALL Ireland Cup 4, County Antrim Shield 42 Gold Cup 31, Ulster Cup 15 Budweiser Cup 1 and Coca Cola Cup 3 making a Grand Total and World record never mind European Record of 218
Daniel here, who wrote the article. I may have forgot to mention, but the club has to have qualified for a European competition (as in for the group stages) for it to count, Linfield never have, therefore they are not included on this list 🙂
Where’s Sheffield Wednesday
Just to let everyone know that this is wrong a club from Northern Ireland (linfield fc) have 110 trophies so that makes them second in the list
If you read my previous comment, you’d have seen that the club has to have qualified for the group stage of a European competition in order to count. I mean come one, it’s the Northern Ireland League, bet Accrington Stanley could win that league!
rangers and celtic are successful in their micky mouse league. how do they do in europe?? oh yeah they dont
Never known a bunch of supporters to be so paranoid and taken with another club ( new or not) can’t they say something about their own ?
#obsessed #onlyshowintown
Glasgow Celtic the ONLY team to get kicked out the CL 3 times in one season pmsl. the only record use will break. WATP. Same club different company. Read club rules all club’s cricket, football , baseball exc .. if the club has stood for more than 10 years its history remains in tact . any club can change its name and hold its history FACT . celtic are living proof lol pacific shelf 595 .
We all know rangers are the most successful club in European football history so I do not even hesitate in believing this poll it’s only celtic fans who discount this FACT!!!!
I’m sick of the shit that they spout red white and blue all the way ??????
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