KyoPityus
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Europe's Club of the Century
For some years now, the IFFHS has been asked by clubs, sports journalists and fans to determine the clubs of the century for the individual continents but on a realistic basis without imaginary values and subjective influences. The rankings published so far have been based on the number of the titles won or placings or marathon tables in competitions and which reveal an advertage of the own (national) clubs. Because the Club World Ranking (by IFFHS) has been determined monthly only since January 1991, it cannot be used as the basis for determining the club of the century. The IFFHS has decided these continental clubs of the century (1901-2000 each) and the with it including continental rankings of century to determine exclusively on the base of individual match results of the continental club competitions. The national competitions are merely a prerequisite to qualify for the continental club competitions. Intercontinental club competitions were not taken into consideration.
The Mitropa Cup, played from 1927-1940, was the precusor of the Eurpean Cup competitions. The Mitropa Cup was dominated by the professional teams from Hungary, Austria and the Czechoslovakia as well as from Italy (with always more South Americans players). The teams from Yugoslavia, Romania and the Switzerland were involved as well. But the top clubs from Germany, France and Spain did not accept invitations to participate in Mitropa Cup or because they were forbidden to take part by their own respective national football associations. In any case, these clubs had had little chance against the professionals. And in Great Britain there was a policy of isolation from the wider world of football from 1920 onwards. So, a club like Arsenal FC of London could not have the opportunity to demonstrate its strength in a competition. After World War II and until the start of the European Cup competitions (1955), the Mitropa Cup was played only once (with only four teams). It had lost its importance and therefore is not taken into consideration. The Copa Latina, played from 1949-1957 annually of the champions (or a top team) from France, Italy, Portugal and Spain, can be looked at and rated analogous.
The European Champions Cup became the European Champions League and the Fairs Cup became the UEFA Cup. The European Cup Winners Cup was played for the last time in 1999 but the European Super Cup was not played from the start of the European Cup competitions, and, later, was not played annually. For all these competitions only the individual results of the quarter-finals to the finals were taken into consideration (because of regional arrangement of matches in the first rounds and also to largely to exclude luck), and classified according to a corresponding number of points. The score of the European Super Cup was between the two top competitions. In the three seasons (1992-1994) – in which directly before the champions final was played a group phase - only 50 % of the yield of points were taken into consideration from all these group matches. That was necessary, so as not to favour those clubs involved during these three seasons.
Looking at the ranking over the decades shows up some interesting detials. Ferencváros TC Budapest led the European ranking for 1950, ahead of AC Sparta Prague, SK Slavia Prague, Juventus FC of Turin, First Vienna, FK Austria Wien, SK Rapid Vienna, Újpest Dózsa, FC Internazionale of Milan and Bologna. Thereafter Real Madrid catapulted to the top and by 1970 led, ahead of FC Barcelona, "Inter", Ferencváros TC Budapest, Benfica, Milan AC, Manchester United FC, AC Sparta Prague, Juventus of Turin and Újpesti Dózsa.
Real Madrid had extended its lead up to 1980 and the "Reds" from Liverpool, Ajax and Bayern were three new clubs who achieved a place among the "Top 10": Real Madrid CF was ahead of FC Barcelona, Milan AC, FC Internazionale Milano, Ferencváros TC Budapest, Juventus FC Torino, AFC Ajax of Amsterdam, Sport Lisboa e Benfica, Liverpool FC and FC Bayern München. Also 1990 was lead the European ranking again of two Spanish clubs, while "Juve", Liverpool, and Munich had improved their positions but with only RSC Anderlecht reached the "Top 10", replacing the Ferencváros Torna Club. 1990 saw Real Madrid with a gigantic lead of 136 points over "Barça".
The last decade of the 20th century saw "Juve", "Barça", Ajax and Bayern gain the most points of all the European clubs, while Liverpool, Anderlecht and Benfica achieved the fewest points. Last not least, no new club managed a place among the "Top 10", the only changes were among the clubs swapping positions in places 2 to 9. The "Royals" from Madrid took the honours with an unexpectedly large lead to become "Europe's Club of the Century". "Juve", "Barça", Milan and Bayern follow and are placed ahead of "Inter". Amsterdam and Brussels are represented among the "Top 10" while "ManU" is only in the 11th place. The latest "All-Time Club World Ranking" (1991-2008) shows how dominant Manchester United was in the new millennium, and as large was Real‘s lead ahead of "Barça" in 1990, as well the upturn of two teams from London - Arsenal & Chelsea - in the last years.
1. Real Madrid CF España 563,50
2. Juventus FC Torino Italia 466,00
3. FC Barcelona España 458,00
4. Milan AC Italia 399,75
5. FC Bayern München Deutschland 399,00
6. FC Internazionale Milano Italia 362,00
7. AFC Ajax Amsterdam Nederland 332,75
8. Liverpool FC England 300,25
9. Sport Lisboa e Benfica Portugal 299,00
10. RSC Anderlecht Belgique 231,00
11. Manchester United FC England 220,00
12. Club Atlético de Madrid España 196,00
13. Ferencvárosi TC Budapest Hungary 190,00
14. Leeds United AFC England 154,50
15. AC Sparta Praha Česká Republika 149,50
16. FC Dinamo Kyiv Ukraina 144,50
17. AS Roma Italia 141,50
18. Hamburger SV Deutschland 140,50
19. VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach Deutschland 136,50
20. Tottenham Hotspur FC England 136,00
....
31. Arsenal FC London England 110,25
35. Chelsea FC London England 100,50
39. Nottingham Forest FC England 87,25
43. Birmingham City FC England 75,00
69. West Ham United FC England 45,00
70. Aston Villa England 44,50
75. Ipswich Town FC England 41,00
87. Newcastle United FC England 33,00
88. Everton FC England 30,50
....
176. Sheffield Wednesday FC England 6,00
For some years now, the IFFHS has been asked by clubs, sports journalists and fans to determine the clubs of the century for the individual continents but on a realistic basis without imaginary values and subjective influences. The rankings published so far have been based on the number of the titles won or placings or marathon tables in competitions and which reveal an advertage of the own (national) clubs. Because the Club World Ranking (by IFFHS) has been determined monthly only since January 1991, it cannot be used as the basis for determining the club of the century. The IFFHS has decided these continental clubs of the century (1901-2000 each) and the with it including continental rankings of century to determine exclusively on the base of individual match results of the continental club competitions. The national competitions are merely a prerequisite to qualify for the continental club competitions. Intercontinental club competitions were not taken into consideration.
The Mitropa Cup, played from 1927-1940, was the precusor of the Eurpean Cup competitions. The Mitropa Cup was dominated by the professional teams from Hungary, Austria and the Czechoslovakia as well as from Italy (with always more South Americans players). The teams from Yugoslavia, Romania and the Switzerland were involved as well. But the top clubs from Germany, France and Spain did not accept invitations to participate in Mitropa Cup or because they were forbidden to take part by their own respective national football associations. In any case, these clubs had had little chance against the professionals. And in Great Britain there was a policy of isolation from the wider world of football from 1920 onwards. So, a club like Arsenal FC of London could not have the opportunity to demonstrate its strength in a competition. After World War II and until the start of the European Cup competitions (1955), the Mitropa Cup was played only once (with only four teams). It had lost its importance and therefore is not taken into consideration. The Copa Latina, played from 1949-1957 annually of the champions (or a top team) from France, Italy, Portugal and Spain, can be looked at and rated analogous.
The European Champions Cup became the European Champions League and the Fairs Cup became the UEFA Cup. The European Cup Winners Cup was played for the last time in 1999 but the European Super Cup was not played from the start of the European Cup competitions, and, later, was not played annually. For all these competitions only the individual results of the quarter-finals to the finals were taken into consideration (because of regional arrangement of matches in the first rounds and also to largely to exclude luck), and classified according to a corresponding number of points. The score of the European Super Cup was between the two top competitions. In the three seasons (1992-1994) – in which directly before the champions final was played a group phase - only 50 % of the yield of points were taken into consideration from all these group matches. That was necessary, so as not to favour those clubs involved during these three seasons.
Looking at the ranking over the decades shows up some interesting detials. Ferencváros TC Budapest led the European ranking for 1950, ahead of AC Sparta Prague, SK Slavia Prague, Juventus FC of Turin, First Vienna, FK Austria Wien, SK Rapid Vienna, Újpest Dózsa, FC Internazionale of Milan and Bologna. Thereafter Real Madrid catapulted to the top and by 1970 led, ahead of FC Barcelona, "Inter", Ferencváros TC Budapest, Benfica, Milan AC, Manchester United FC, AC Sparta Prague, Juventus of Turin and Újpesti Dózsa.
Real Madrid had extended its lead up to 1980 and the "Reds" from Liverpool, Ajax and Bayern were three new clubs who achieved a place among the "Top 10": Real Madrid CF was ahead of FC Barcelona, Milan AC, FC Internazionale Milano, Ferencváros TC Budapest, Juventus FC Torino, AFC Ajax of Amsterdam, Sport Lisboa e Benfica, Liverpool FC and FC Bayern München. Also 1990 was lead the European ranking again of two Spanish clubs, while "Juve", Liverpool, and Munich had improved their positions but with only RSC Anderlecht reached the "Top 10", replacing the Ferencváros Torna Club. 1990 saw Real Madrid with a gigantic lead of 136 points over "Barça".
The last decade of the 20th century saw "Juve", "Barça", Ajax and Bayern gain the most points of all the European clubs, while Liverpool, Anderlecht and Benfica achieved the fewest points. Last not least, no new club managed a place among the "Top 10", the only changes were among the clubs swapping positions in places 2 to 9. The "Royals" from Madrid took the honours with an unexpectedly large lead to become "Europe's Club of the Century". "Juve", "Barça", Milan and Bayern follow and are placed ahead of "Inter". Amsterdam and Brussels are represented among the "Top 10" while "ManU" is only in the 11th place. The latest "All-Time Club World Ranking" (1991-2008) shows how dominant Manchester United was in the new millennium, and as large was Real‘s lead ahead of "Barça" in 1990, as well the upturn of two teams from London - Arsenal & Chelsea - in the last years.
The top clubs
1. Real Madrid CF España 563,50
2. Juventus FC Torino Italia 466,00
3. FC Barcelona España 458,00
4. Milan AC Italia 399,75
5. FC Bayern München Deutschland 399,00
6. FC Internazionale Milano Italia 362,00
7. AFC Ajax Amsterdam Nederland 332,75
8. Liverpool FC England 300,25
9. Sport Lisboa e Benfica Portugal 299,00
10. RSC Anderlecht Belgique 231,00
11. Manchester United FC England 220,00
12. Club Atlético de Madrid España 196,00
13. Ferencvárosi TC Budapest Hungary 190,00
14. Leeds United AFC England 154,50
15. AC Sparta Praha Česká Republika 149,50
16. FC Dinamo Kyiv Ukraina 144,50
17. AS Roma Italia 141,50
18. Hamburger SV Deutschland 140,50
19. VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach Deutschland 136,50
20. Tottenham Hotspur FC England 136,00
....
31. Arsenal FC London England 110,25
35. Chelsea FC London England 100,50
39. Nottingham Forest FC England 87,25
43. Birmingham City FC England 75,00
69. West Ham United FC England 45,00
70. Aston Villa England 44,50
75. Ipswich Town FC England 41,00
87. Newcastle United FC England 33,00
88. Everton FC England 30,50
....
176. Sheffield Wednesday FC England 6,00
