Let me start by stating the obvious. I know very little about South American
football and understand even less about the domestic league and cup
competitions. If anyone can fill in the blanks please do.
Obviously success in the European Cup and Libertadoes should carry
considerably more weight than success at domestic level and in other, lesser,
cup competitions.
1. Real Madrid
Not much wrong with #1 although South American's may argue. The most
successful club in the history of European Football, winning eight European
Cups usually by playing spectacular football. Most famous players -
Di Stefano, Puskas, Gento and from the modern era Roberto Carlos, Raul and
Hierro.
Domestic : 27 League 17 Spanish Cup
International : 8 European Cup 2 UEFA Cup 2 IC Cup
2. Manchester United
If success was measured by merchandise sales Man United would be
number #1. They are long way from being the most successful side in
England both domestically and in Europe. Were the first English team to
win the European Cup. Most famous players - Best, Law, Charlton,
Beckham, Giggs and Keane.
Domestic : 13 League 10 FA Cup 1 League Cup
International : 2 European Cup 1 CWC
1 IC Cup 1 Euro Super Cup
3. Bayern Munich
Won three successive European Cups and a record 16 Bundesliga
championships, unquestionably the most keenly contested league
championship in Europe. Most famous players - Beckenbauer, Muller,
Rummenigge, Matthaus.
Domestic : 16 League 10 German Cup 4 League Cup
International : 3 European Cup 1 UEFA Cup 1 CWC
1 IC Cup
4. Barcelona
The eternal pretenders. Real Madrid's closest challengers domestically but a
trophy cabinet behind in terms of European Cup success. Most famous players -
Cruijff, Koeman, Romario and Rivaldo.
Domestic : 16 League 24 Spanish Cup
International : 1 European Cup 3 UEFA Cup 4 CWC
2 Euro Super Cup
5. Santos
A long way from being the most successful team in South American football.
Pele is their most famous player which explains this false position.
International : 2 Libertadores 2 IC Cup
6. Ajax
Won three successive European Cup in the 70's and produced some of the
greatest players to every set foot on a pitch, Johan Cruijff and Marco Van
Basten being the most famous. Have won 4 European Cups in total, placing
them joint third with Liverpool and are the only team in history (at European
level) to win every competition they entered in the 1971-1972 season i.e. the
Dutch League, Dutch Cup, European Cup, Euro Super Cup and IC Cup.
Introduced 'total football'.
Domestic : 27 League 14 Dutch Cup
International : 4 European Cup 1 UEFA Cup 1 CWC
2 IC Cup 3 Euro Super Cup
7. Juventus
Domestically the most successful team in Italy but like Barcelona trail their
closest rivals by some margin in terms of European success. Needed a penalty
and penalty shoot out to win their two European Cups. The only team to
lose successive finals, how I laughed! Most famous players -
Platini, Rossi, Zoff, Zidane.
Domestic : 25 League 9 Italian Cup
International : 2 European Cup 3 UEFA Cup 1 CWC
2 IC Cup 2 Euro Super Cup
8. Penarol
Have won 5 Libertadores Championships, second only to Independiente and 3
IC Champions, a joint World record. As far as South American clubs are
concerned should be ranked 2nd but certainly merit a top 10 place ahead
of Man United, Barcelona and Juventus.
International : 5 Libertadores 3 IC Cup
9. River Plate
Recent successes have probably earned them this inflated ranking. Trail
Independiente as the most successful club in Argentina.
International : 3 Libertadores 1 IC Cup
10. Flamengo
Maybe one of the most popular clubs in Brazil but not the most successful.
Completely undeserving of a place in the top 10.
International : 1 Libertadores 1 IC Cup
11. Milan
Second only to Real Madrid in number of European Cup victories. Are the only
team to win the European Cup by a four goal margin twice and the only team
to win the Grandslam (European Cup, Euro Super Cup and IC Cup) in
successive seasons, 1989 and 1990. Most famous players include Nordahl,
Rivera, Baresi, Maldini, Van Basten, Gullit and Rijkaard. Tactically the most
influential team of the past two decades.
Domestic : 16 League 4 Italian Cup
International : 5 European Cup 2 CWC
3 IC Cup 3 Euro Super Cup
12. Liverpool
Despite Man United's recent dominance still remain the most successful club
side in English football. Won four European Cups in a ten year period and
retained their dominance of domestic and European football despite loosing
star players and changing coaches. Most famous players - Dalglish, Keegan,
Souness, Rush.
Domestic : 18 League 5 FA Cup 5 League Cup
International : 4 European Cup 2 UEFA Cup
1 Euro Super Cup
12. Botofago
Don't know what they've won domestically but they've never won a
Libertadores so they are ranked ahead of Cruzeiro, Gremio or Sao Paulo
for example is a mystery.
13. Benfica
Ended Real Madrid's dominance of the European Cup, ironically defeating
Barcelona in their first final and Real Madrid 5-3 the following season.
Eusebio is their most famous player. Have lost more finals than any other
club, four.
Domestic : 30 League 23 Portuguese Cup
International : 2 European Cup 2 UEFA Cup
1 Euro Super Cup
14. Independiente
The most successful club side in the history of South American football. Won
seven Libertadores Championships but have faded into relative obscurity over
the past decade.
Domestic : 13 League
International : 7 Libertadores 2 IC Cup
15. Boca Juniors
Recently won their third Libertadores and second IC Cup.
Domestic : 18 League
International : 3 Libertadores 2 IC Cup
16. Inter
Became the first side to win successive European Cups and IC Cups. Infamous
for introducing Catenaccio 'the bolt' to football. Most famous players -
Facchetti, Mazzola, Rummenigge, Ronaldo.
Domestic : 13 League 3 Italian Cup
International : 2 European Cup 3 UEFA Cup
2 IC Cup 2 Euro Super Cup
17. Arsenal
Trail Liverpool and Man United domestically and have yet to win a European
Cup. Certainly don't merit a place ahead of Nottingham Forest or Aston
Villa who are England's other, forgotten, European Cup winners
Domestic : 11 League 7 FA Cup 2 League Cup
International : 1 UEFA Cup 1 CWC
IC = Intercontinental Cup
CWC = Cup Winners Cup
Based on European Cup/Libertadoes wins :
Top Five European Clubs of the Century
1. Real Madrid
2. Milan
3. Liverpool
4. Ajax
5. Bayern Munich
Top Five South American Clubs of the Century
1. Independiente
2. Penarol
3. Boca Juniors
-. Estuidantes
-. Nacional
Pele And Maradona Receive Awards
During Monday's awards ceremony Pele was voted player of the century
based on the votes of a FIFA jury and Maradona was voted player of the
century based on Internet votes.
12 DECEMBER 2000
Zidane - FIFA Player of the Year
Zinedine Zidane has been voted FIFA World Player of the year. Zidane finished
with 370 points, Figo 2nd with 329 and Rivaldo (what did he do to deserve
this?) third. Lucas Radebe (Leeds & South Africa) won the fair play award.
I personally think the fair play award should have gone to the player who
shielded the ref from a fan during Spain's incredible Euro 2000 match against
Yugoslavia. I think it was Alfonso.
The FIFA player awards are based on the votes of national teams coaches
which is puzzling given national team coaches tend to spend most of their
time following their own players. Real Madrid were voted Team of the Century.
From a European perspective it's hard to argue against that but I'm surprised
Brazil didn't win it. Holland were voted national team of the year!?!!??!
New Red Card Record -40 minutes!
Real Betis' reserve goalkeeper Joaquin Valerio was sent off on Sunday 40
minutes before kicking for calling the ref a twat or something!
France Round-up by Paul Bailey
Saint-Etienne in Passport Fraud?
After their Round 19 loss to Saint-Etienne, Toulouse placed a complaint with
the FFF that Brazilian Alex and Ukrainian Maxym Levytsky were playing with
false passports.
In order to increase the number of non-EU players available to the club, Alex
is registered with a Portugese passport and Levytsky under a Greek passport.
What makes matters more interesting is that the current coach of Toulouse -
Robert Nouzaret - was formerly coach of les Verts and might have knowledge
that would indicate his former employers of passport fraud.
Alsatian Regionalization?
RC Strasbourg President Patrick Proisy hinted that there might be as many as
11 players leaving his side during the upcoming winter break. Included among
the list of possible departures are Pegguy Luyindula, Habib Beye, Mario Haas,
Gonzalo Belloso, Pierre Njanka, and Joseph Ndo.
Caretaker coach Yvon Pouliquen has indicated that he's interested in building
his team around Alsatian players, and has expressed interest in Marc Keller
(West Ham), Valérien Ismaël (Lens), Frédéric Brando (Marseille), Cyrille
Magnier (Auxerre), and Mickaël Madar (out of contract). Another possible
transfer is Kaiserslautern's Czech forward, Vratislav Lokvenc, who
Strasbourg have been interested in for the past year.
Paul Bailey
8 DECEMBER 2000
Figo World Soccer Player of the Year
Luis Figo has been voted World Soccer player of the year by readers of the
magazine. World fraud of the year Zinedine Zidane finished second while
World's best striker Andri Shevchenko finished third.
7 DECEMBER 2000
Serie A, Premiership & Champions League goals & assists data will be
on-line by the weekend.
6 DECEMBER 2000
Jones Cleared
Former Southampton coach Dave Jones has been cleared of fourteen cases
of child abuse while serving as a care worker in Liverpool several years ago.
Jones was accused of physically (not sexually as the media have reported)
abusing several boys by employing a technique called pin-down i.e.
physically holding down children.
Casualty N° 5 in France by Paul Bailey
Paris Saint-Germain have finally decided to do without the services of
Philippe Bergeroo, who was fired after the 5-1 loss to Sedan. In his
place comes Luis Fernandez, who, in a France Information interview,
said: "I am a happy man today, to have rediscovered this club, which
I like and appreciate. It is here that I've lived my best moments as
a player and a coach. Deep in my heart, there's always the attachment
to PSG and to the capital.".
Fernandez's honors include winning the Cup Winner's Cup as PSG coach
in 1996, as well as being a member of the "magic square" of Michel
Platini, Alain Giresse and Jean Tigana during France's semi-final
successes in the 1982 and 1986 World Cups.
Paul Bailey
5 DECEMBER 2000
Quote Of The Day
This is a quote from an interview conducted with Albertini by the Italian
Championship Manager football site. Go here for the full interview :
http://panoz.cmita.it/intervdemeE.htm
Here's the quote :
When asked if he had every kicked his computer after loosing a Champions
League final against Inter due to a dodgy penalty in the 90th minute he
replied :
No because Inter never reach that kind of final in Championship Manager
or in reality ;-)
No Escape For Montero
Paolo Montero has been banned for three matches after video replays showed
him punching Luigi Di Biagio in the face during yesterdays match against
Inter.
4 DECEMBER 2000
French league reviews & stats and Brazil Championship Quarter-Finals will
be on-line later today.
Venables Answers Boro SOS
Former England coach Terry Venables will join Middlesbrough until the end
of the season. Venables will be responsible for team selection while Bryan
Robson will remain as 'first team coach'. Basically Venables will do the work
while Robson stays to keep his 'reputation' intact.
Middlesbrough are expected to sell striker Alun Armstrong to Ipswich for
£0.8 million.
3 DECEMBER 2000
EU Climb Down On Transfers
European Union commissioner Viviane Reading told an English newspaper
that the new transfer system would only effect transfers between clubs from
different European Union countries and the current domestic transfer systems
would remain unchanged. Basically it may be possible for a player in Italy to
be transferred to a Spanish or English club for no fee as long as the club
wishing to sign him buy out his contract i.e. pay the remainder of his wages.
African Player Of The Year
Parma's Cameroon striker Patrick Mboma has won the African footballer of
the year award. Lauren (Cameroon & Arsenal) and Kanu (Nigeria & Arsenal)
were second and third.
2 DECEMBER 2000
Keane To Chelsea?
Chelsea have been linked with a move for Inter Milan's Irish striker Robbie
Keane. Keane has had a frustrating time at the Milan club and seems out of
favour with new coach Marco Tardelli.
Venables Turns Down Boro
Former England coach Terry Venables has rejected a move to Middlesbrough
as first team coach due to conflicts with his TV commitments. Venables is
currently a guest analyst for ITV's Champions League and England
International matches.
Shevchenko Granted EU Status
Milan's Andriy Shevchenko, arguably the best striker in the World, has been
granted European Union status. Italian clubs are only allowed to field three
players outside the European Union. The ruling should speed up the arrival
of Shevchenko's former Dynamo Kyiv team-mate, Kakha Kaladze who was
signed by Milan in September but remained in the Ukraine while the Italian
club tried to free up another non European Union place.
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