European football has an international appeal with millions of fans spread across the globe. This list features some of the most followed European football club. Can you guess the top club in Europe at the moment? (PS: It isn’t Manchester United!)
Recently, the UEFA, Europe’s premier football governing body went on to release the UEFA Club Coefficient Ranking. While the ranking does not shed light on the impact the club has had in recent times, the impact European football clubs have had on football worldwide has been immense.
Despite clubs not having fans in the stadium, the dominance of the top clubs in Europe has been profound. Of course, the proposed European Super League has come in the way of their dominance, they still remain the biggest clubs in Europe and the world.
That said, let us take a look at the top 10 European football clubs today.
Juventus
The black and white of Juventus is synonymous with Italian football. ‘The Old Lady’, as the club is known to, have continued their dominance in Serie A by winning the last nine league titles from 2011 onwards. In all, they hold the record with 36 league titles, a country mile ahead of the likes of AC Milan, Inter Milan, and Napoli.
As of April 2021, Juventus are fourth on the UEFA Club Coefficient Ranking with 120,000 points, something that has gone on to increase the status and profile of the club. Andrea Pirlo, a club and Italian football legend is the current manager of the club. The club also boasts of players such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Leonardo Bonucci, and Paulo Dybala.
Chelsea FC
Despite not being as prolific as their Premier League counterparts, Chelsea FC has managed to become one of the best clubs in the league. Since the takeover by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, the club has moved from strength to strength with a significant number of trophies accumulated in the last 10 years.
The appointment of Jose Mourinho ensured that the club was set on the path of success with the likes of Guus Hiddink, Roberto di Matteo, and Rafael Benitez winning trophies with the club. As things stand, Thomas Tuchel, the current manager could lead the club to European glory in the UEFA Champions League with the club currently playing Real Madrid in the semifinal.
Borussia Dortmund
In recent years Borussia Dortmund, as a club, have begun to re-ignite the glory years with some terrific performances that have captured the imagination of fans from around the world. Despite the dominance of FC Bayern Munich in the last decade, Dortmund has proved to be worthy of competition. The club began to rediscover their former glory under former manager Jurgen Klopp who set them on a path to success.
In recent years, the club has also focused on bringing in younger players in a bid to sustain the club over a longer period of time. The likes of Jadon Sancho and Jude Bellingham have dazzled in the league and are tipped to become legends of the club.
Manchester United
Despite losing some steam in recent seasons, the Red Devils remain to be the biggest club in the world with the biggest fan base as well. The last couple of seasons have seen the club get back on track with former club legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at the wheel.
Manchester United has been among the top clubs in Europe courtesy of the managers that have served the club in the past. With Matt Busby leading the way, Sir Alex Ferguson led the club to glory by winning 13 Premier League titles and building world-class teams, a record that stands to this day. Most recently, the club has won the EFL Cup, the FA Cup, and the UEFA Europa League.
Paris Saint-German
While PSG has always been a force to reckon with, the club turned a corner at the start of the 2012-13 season. In fact, it was the investment from the Qatar Investment Group that has ensured the club’s success in recent times. Since the takeover, the club has won 7 Ligue 1 titles in a row and found itself in the 2020-21 UEFA Champions League semifinal.
The club also boasts of having some of the best players in the world. The likes of Neymar and Kylian Mbappe are a testament to the phenomenal work the management staff of the club is doing. Edinson Cavani and Zlatan Ibrahimovic are among the several stars to have played for the club in the recent past.’
Manchester City
Before the takeover, Manchester City was best known for their rivalry in the Premier League with Manchester United. The fierceness of the rivalry dates back to the years preceding the Second World War. But, following the formation of the City Sports Group, Manchester City has emerged as a sought-after destination for some of the best footballers in the world.
Since the influx of investment, the club has seen new heights, claiming the Premier League title on 3 occasions. The fourth League title is also on its way to the club trophy case at the close of the 2021 season.
Pep Guardiola, considered to be the best coach in the world, has been serving as manager since 2016. Sergio Aguero, Kevin de Bruyne, and Raheem Sterling form a significant part of the squad alongside several other world-class players. The Manchester City academy is among the best in the world having produced players such as Denis Suarez, Brahim Diaz, and Phil Foden.
Bayern Munich
Any list compiling the top football clubs in Europe would be incomplete without a Bayern Munich mention. The Bavarians, as they are known, have been the best in the German leagues by a country mile.
Such has been their dominance in the recent past that they have won eight Bundesliga titles in a row since the start of the 2012 season. They also seem to be on course to secure their ninth at the close of the current season.
Some of the best players in the world currently feature in the starting XI. The likes of Kingsley Coman, Benjamin Pavard, Manuel Neuer, and Thomas Muller are among those who have won the FIFA World Cup in the recent past. Club legends include Arjen Robben, Franck Ribery, and Philipp Lahm.
Liverpool FC
The 2019-20 season saw Liverpool FC end the wait for a League title by claiming the top spot by 18 points. This was the club’s first league title since the 1989-90 season and their first-ever EPL title. Jurgen Klopp and owners – Fenway Sports seem to have found a formula that ensures titles as they have claimed the 2018-19 UEFA Champions League title.
Klopp has set about building the club in his image by adding some of the best players to the squad. Among the new additions are Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah, both of whom have already etched their names into Premier League and European history.
Although the current season isn’t going as well as the fans would have hoped, Jurgen Klopp has begun building a squad for the future by tapping into the youth system. The likes of Curtis Jones, Neco Williams, and Trent Alexander-Arnold have already begun making waves in elite competitions in Europe.
Barcelona FC
Few clubs in Europe have a history as prolific as Barcelona in football history. This history dates back to the time Johan Cruyff played for the club, a time after which the style of football in the club changed. Since then, the club’s stature in world football has managed to attract some of the best players in the world hungry for glory and silverware.
At the center of the club’s big names is Lionel Messi, who has been a part of the club since he was a boy. The Catalans also have a reputation of churning out great players from the youth system known as ‘La Masia’ or ‘Masia 360’. Their quest for silverware and glory has seen the club achieve a massive fan following across the world.
Real Madrid
A quick look at the accolades Real Madrid has accumulated over the years ranks them among the best not in Europe, but around the world. Having been awarded the FIFA Club of the century award in the year 2000, the club’s image and profile have risen quite. Playing for Real Madrid remains a dream for several top footballers in the world today.
Having taken over in the year 2000, the club’s influential president Florentino Perez has led the club into unprecedented new heights. This coincided with the formation of the Galácticos – the assembly of some of the world’s best footballers at the time.
The club also holds several records when it comes to winning trophies, most of their 34 La Liga titles and 13 UEFA Champions League titles. Before the Coronavirus pandemic, the Santiago Bernabeu attracted around 74,000 fans per match. It also became the first club to reach 100 million followers on Facebook in 2017.
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