10 Teams That Went a Whole League Season Unbeaten
Going through an entire league season without tasting defeat is one of football’s greatest achievements. These rare teams earn the title of “Invincibles,” forever etched into the sport’s history. From the 19th century pioneers to modern giants, here are 10 clubs who achieved the impossible.
Preston North End (1888/89 – Football League)
The English game’s first true Invincibles came in the very first season of professional league football. Preston North End stormed through the 1888/89 campaign, winning 18 and drawing four of their 22 matches.
They finished 12 points clear of Aston Villa, scored 74 goals, and conceded just 15. To top it off, they won the FA Cup, completing football’s first-ever league and cup double. Under William Sudell, the “Lilywhites” set the gold standard for dominance.
Rangers (1898/99 – Scottish Division One)
A decade later, Rangers went one better than Preston by not only avoiding defeat, but winning every single game. William Wilton’s side delivered a perfect season — 18 wins from 18 matches.
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This remains unique in European football history. The Glasgow giants finished 10 points ahead of Hearts, cementing themselves as the only men’s team ever to complete a flawless domestic league season.
Athletic Bilbao (1929/30 – La Liga)
When Spain’s La Liga was still in its infancy, Athletic Bilbao were already making history. Guided by Englishman Fred Pentland, the Basque side won 12 and drew six of their 18 games.
Their dominance was complete: they scored freely, defended superbly, and finished 10 points clear of Barcelona. Athletic’s unbeaten triumph remains one of the cornerstones of their proud tradition as one of Spain’s great clubs.
Benfica (1977/78 – Primeira Divisão)
This is the most bittersweet entry on the list. Benfica went unbeaten across 30 matches, winning 21 and drawing nine, yet still didn’t lift the title.
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Porto matched them on points but won the league thanks to a superior goal difference — 81 goals scored to Benfica’s 56. Despite the heartbreak, John Mortimore’s team remain the only Invincibles in history not to finish as champions.
AC Milan (1991/92 – Serie A)
With legends like Van Basten, Gullit, Rijkaard, Baresi, and Maldini, AC Milan’s early ’90s squad is often called one of the greatest ever. Fabio Capello’s first season in charge ended with a remarkable unbeaten run.
Milan won 22 and drew 12 of their 34 games, finishing eight points ahead of Juventus. It sparked a golden spell under Capello, with three more league titles following in the next four years.
Ajax (1994/95 – Eredivisie)
Ajax’s 1994/95 team combined homegrown brilliance with ruthless efficiency. Featuring Van der Sar, Seedorf, Davids, Litmanen, Overmars, and Kluivert, Louis van Gaal’s side went undefeated in both the Dutch league and the Champions League.
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They scored 106 league goals, winning 27 of their 34 games, and capped off the year by lifting Europe’s biggest prize after beating AC Milan in the Champions League final.
Arsenal (2003/04 – Premier League)
Perhaps the most famous modern-day Invincibles, Arsène Wenger’s Arsenal made history in 2003/04 by going unbeaten across all 38 Premier League matches.
Led by Thierry Henry’s 30 league goals, the Gunners won 26 and drew 12. Their title was clinched at the home of rivals Tottenham, and their unbeaten league run stretched to 49 matches before finally ending at Manchester United.
Porto (2010/11 – Primeira Liga)
André Villas-Boas turned Porto into an unstoppable machine in 2010/11. They won 27 and drew three of their 30 league games, finishing 21 points ahead of Benfica.
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That season, Porto also claimed the Europa League and Portuguese Cup, completing a treble. The highlight was a 5–0 demolition of Benfica, one of the most iconic derby victories in Portuguese football history.
Juventus (2011/12 – Serie A)
After years of decline post-Calciopoli, Juventus roared back under Antonio Conte. The 2011/12 side became the first Italian team to go unbeaten in a 38-game season.
They won 23 and drew 15, finishing four points ahead of AC Milan. While their Coppa Italia dream was ended by Napoli, Juve’s revival was complete, and this unbeaten run set the tone for a decade of dominance.
Bayer Leverkusen (2023/24 – Bundesliga)
Long mocked as “Neverkusen” for their near-misses, Bayer Leverkusen rewrote history under Xabi Alonso. His young, dynamic side went unbeaten through 34 Bundesliga matches, winning 28 and drawing six.
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Leverkusen didn’t just conquer Germany, they also set the longest unbeaten run in European football history across all competitions, with over 50 games unbeaten. The “Neverlosen” proved unstoppable, redefining what once seemed impossible.
