The 21 Most Successful Football Clubs in Europe’s Top Five Leagues – Ranked
European football has seen some of the greatest teams dominate their respective leagues and international competitions. Across the Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A, and Ligue 1, certain clubs have set themselves apart with their remarkable trophy collections. This article ranks the 21 most decorated clubs based on their total official trophies won.
21. AS Saint-Étienne (France) – 22 Trophies
AS Saint-Étienne was once the most successful club in French football history, dominating Ligue 1 in the 1960s and 1970s. The club has won ten league titles, making it one of the most decorated teams in France. Their golden era saw them reach the 1976 European Cup final, where they narrowly lost to Bayern Munich. Although they have struggled in recent years, their rivalry with Olympique Lyonnais remains one of the fiercest in French football.
20. Olympique Lyonnais (France) – 22 Trophies
Olympique Lyonnais, or Lyon, became a powerhouse in French football in the early 2000s, winning seven consecutive Ligue 1 titles from 2002 to 2008. Despite not winning the UEFA Champions League, they have consistently performed well in European competitions. Lyon is known for its youth academy, which has produced stars like Karim Benzema and Nabil Fekir. Their domestic success includes several Coupe de France and Trophée des Champions victories.
19. Valencia CF (Spain) – 23 Trophies
Valencia has had moments of brilliance in La Liga, winning six league titles, most recently in 2004 under Rafael Benítez. The club has also lifted eight Copa del Rey trophies and two UEFA Cups, making them one of Spain’s most successful teams. Their historic Mestalla Stadium remains one of the most iconic grounds in European football. While they have struggled financially in recent years, Valencia remains a club with a strong footballing tradition.
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18. Everton FC (England) – 24 Trophies
Everton is one of the oldest and most storied clubs in English football, boasting nine league titles and five FA Cups. Their most successful period came in the 1980s, when they won two First Division titles and a European Cup Winners’ Cup. Despite not winning the Premier League in the modern era, Everton has remained a mainstay in the top flight. Their rivalry with Liverpool in the Merseyside Derby is one of England’s most passionate.
17. Aston Villa FC (England) – 25 Trophies
Aston Villa is one of only six English clubs to have won the UEFA Champions League, achieving this feat in 1982. The club has won seven English league titles and seven FA Cups, making them one of the country’s most successful teams. While they have faced relegation battles in recent years, Villa remains a club with a rich history. Their rivalry with Birmingham City, known as the Second City Derby, is one of England’s fiercest.
16. Tottenham Hotspur FC (England) – 26 Trophies
Tottenham Hotspur, also known as Spurs, has won two English league titles, eight FA Cups, and four League Cups. They became the first English club to win a European trophy when they lifted the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1963. Spurs are known for their attacking style of play and have been a consistent presence in the Champions League in recent years. Despite their success, they have not won the Premier League era title, making their trophy drought a hot topic among fans.
15. Manchester City FC (England) – 26 Trophies
Manchester City has experienced a meteoric rise in recent years, thanks to heavy investment and managerial brilliance. They have won nine league titles, with most of them coming under Pep Guardiola. City’s biggest achievement came in 2023, when they won the UEFA Champions League, completing a historic treble. With their dominance in English football, they continue to break records and establish themselves as one of Europe’s top clubs.
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14. Olympique de Marseille (France) – 27 Trophies
Marseille remains France’s only club to have won the UEFA Champions League, achieving this feat in 1993. The club has won ten Ligue 1 titles, cementing its place as one of the greatest French teams. Their passionate supporters and intense rivalry with Paris Saint-Germain make them a special club in French football. Despite struggles in recent years, they continue to be a major force in Ligue 1.
13. Chelsea FC (England) – 31 Trophies
Chelsea has been one of the dominant clubs in England since 2000, winning six league titles and multiple domestic cups. Their two UEFA Champions League victories in 2012 and 2021 solidified their status as a European powerhouse. The club has also enjoyed FA Cup and Europa League success, making them one of England’s most successful teams. With continued investment, Chelsea remains a top contender in domestic and international football.
12. Atlético Madrid (Spain) – 32 Trophies
Atlético Madrid has always lived in the shadow of Real Madrid, but their intensity and resilience have made them one of Spain’s most decorated clubs. They have won eleven La Liga titles, most recently in 2021 under Diego Simeone. Atlético has also reached three UEFA Champions League finals, though they have yet to win the trophy. Their fierce rivalry with Real Madrid, known as El Derbi Madrileño, is one of Spain’s most heated clashes.
11. Athletic Bilbao (Spain) – 35 Trophies
Athletic Bilbao is unique in world football due to its Basque-only player policy, yet they remain one of Spain’s most successful clubs. The club has won eight La Liga titles and an impressive 23 Copa del Rey trophies. Their intense rivalry with Real Sociedad and their strong connection to Basque identity make them a special club in European football.
10. Inter Milan (Italy) – 42 Trophies
Inter Milan is one of Italy’s most successful clubs, boasting 19 Serie A titles and three UEFA Champions League victories. They won the famous 2009–10 treble under José Mourinho, becoming the first Italian club to achieve this feat. Their intense rivalry with AC Milan, known as Derby della Madonnina, is one of football’s greatest. Inter continues to be a major force in both Italian and European football.
9. Arsenal FC (England) – 48 Trophies
Arsenal is one of England’s most successful clubs, winning 13 league titles and a record 14 FA Cups. Their golden era under Arsène Wenger saw them win three Premier League titles, including the historic Invincibles season in 2003–04, where they went unbeaten. Despite their domestic dominance, Arsenal has yet to w
8. Paris Saint-Germain FC (France) – 51 Trophies
Paris Saint-Germain has dominated French football in recent years, winning 11 Ligue 1 titles and numerous domestic cup competitions. The club’s transformation after Qatari ownership has brought in world-class stars and revolutionized French football. Despite their domestic dominance, PSG is still chasing their first UEFA Champions League title, having reached the final in 2020 but losing to Bayern Munich. Their rivalry with Marseille, known as Le Classique, is one of France’s biggest football clashes.
7. AC Milan (Italy) – 50 Trophies
AC Milan is one of Italy’s most successful clubs, winning 19 Serie A titles and an impressive seven UEFA Champions League trophies, the second-most in Europe. Their golden era came in the late 1980s and early 1990s under Arrigo Sacchi and Fabio Capello. Milan has also won multiple Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana titles, cementing their status as a European powerhouse. Their fierce rivalry with Inter Milan in the Derby della Madonnina remains one of the most intense in football.
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6. Liverpool FC (England) – 63 Trophies
Liverpool is England’s most successful club in international competitions, winning six UEFA Champions League titles, including their famous comeback victory in 2005. Domestically, they have won 19 English league titles, eight FA Cups, and numerous League Cups. Under Jürgen Klopp, the club returned to the top of English football, winning the Premier League in 2020 after a 30-year wait. Their historic rivalry with Manchester United is considered one of the greatest in world football.
5. Manchester United FC (England) – 66 Trophies
Manchester United is one of the most globally recognized clubs, winning 20 English league titles, 12 FA Cups, and three UEFA Champions League trophies. Their dominance under Sir Alex Ferguson saw them win 13 Premier League titles and establish themselves as one of the greatest teams in history. The club remains a powerhouse in English football despite recent struggles. Their long-standing rivalry with Liverpool is the most iconic in English football.
4. Juventus FC (Italy) – 59 Trophies
Juventus is Italy’s most successful club, winning 36 Serie A titles, 14 Coppa Italia trophies, and two UEFA Champions League titles. Their dominance in Italian football peaked during the 2010s when they won nine consecutive league titles. Despite their domestic success, Juventus has struggled in European finals, losing seven UEFA Champions League finals. Their rivalry with Inter Milan, known as the Derby d’Italia, is one of the most heated in Italian football.
3. FC Bayern Munich (Germany) – 83 Trophies
Bayern Munich is Germany’s most successful club, winning 33 Bundesliga titles and six UEFA Champions League trophies. They have dominated German football for decades, often winning league titles by large margins. Their golden era in Europe came in the 1970s, and they won the continental treble in both 2013 and 2020. Their rivalry with Borussia Dortmund, known as Der Klassiker, is the biggest in German football.
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2. FC Barcelona (Spain) – 98 Trophies
Barcelona has been one of the most dominant clubs in European football, winning 27 La Liga titles and five UEFA Champions League trophies. Their most successful era came under Pep Guardiola from 2008 to 2012, when they revolutionized football with their tiki-taka style. They have also won a record 31 Copa del Rey titles and several international trophies. Their rivalry with Real Madrid, El Clásico, is one of the most-watched sporting events in the world.
1. Real Madrid CF (Spain) – 103 Trophies
Real Madrid is the most successful football club in history, winning 36 La Liga titles and a record 15 UEFA Champions League trophies. Their dominance in Europe is unmatched, with multiple continental triumphs, including five consecutive wins in the 1950s. The club has also won 20 Copa del Rey titles and multiple FIFA Club World Cups. Their fierce rivalry with Barcelona in El Clásico is the pinnacle of club football.
