A few weeks ago we wrote an article outlining what we believed to be the best football stadiums in the world. We, apparently, had a bit to learn about football and seemed to disappoint a number of die-hard fans who had hoped to see their favorite stadiums on the list.
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In order to redeem ourselves, we thought we’d shine the spotlight on what we consider to be the thirteen best football teams in the world as opposed to their home stadiums. Our passion is, after all, for the game and the teams themselves – not the stadiums – right? In NO particular order, here are our favorite football teams!
13. Ajax – Holland
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AFC Ajax was founded back in 1900, making it one of the oldest clubs in Europe. After a rocky start in the early part of the century the tables turned and the club has since earned 29 league titles. The original stadium, “De Meer,” closed in 1996 and the club moved to Amsterdam ArenA where they continue to make football history.
12. Olympique Lyon – France
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Founded in 1950, Olympique Lyon (also known as Olympique Lyonnais or simply OL) club has both male and female football teams. The male team currently holds a French record, having won seven Ligue 1 titles in a row, and fans flock to Stade de Gerland, Lyon regularly to watch home matches.
11. Bayern Munich – Germany
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When the then Schwabinger Bayern first formed, spectators identified them on the field by looking for their straw hats. Today, the modern Bayern Munich is an independent football club followed by millions of fans from all over the globe. The current president, Felix Magath, took control of the team in 2004 and implemented a strength, conditioning, and skills program that continues to take the team to league title games.
10. Juventus – Italy
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Juventus, also fondly referred to by fans as Juve, is one of the most successful football teams in Italy’s history. Founded in 1887, the team has won over 51 trophies – 40 in Italy alone and 11 from European and world matches. The club boasts over 170,000,000 fans from around the globe.
9. Liverpool – UK
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The Liverpool Football Club prides itself on excellence despite a rocky start over 100 years ago. When John Houlding took over the club in 1892 there were only three players left, but he eventually grew the team and was able to continue the tradition of football at Anfield – one that has remained ever since. They won their first title in 1901, took their first FA cup in 1965, and took their first European Cup in 1977.
8. Roma – Italy
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A.S. Roma, as the team is formally called, was founded in 1927 and was one of several Italian football teams based out of Rome. The team was actually the result of the merger of two existing teams – Roman F.C and S.S. Lazio – because the government wanted to form a strong team for members of the working class to look up to. Roma took the World Cup in 2007 after successfully defeating France.
7. Valencia – Spain
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Back in the early 1900’s entry to see a Valencia football match at Algiros cost a mere 25 cents. The club was new but spirits were high and the original team was chock full of aggressive players like Arturo Montesinos and Eduardo Cubells. The club has a long history of success and continues to grow in popularity!
6. Arsenal – UK
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Fans flock to Emirates Stadium in droves of thousands to watch the Arsenal Football Club play. The club was founded in 1885 but didn’t play its first match until 1893 (while known as Woolrich). They played at Highbury for 93 years before moving to Emirates in 1996.
5. Inter Milan – Italy
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Inter Milan as formed back in 1908 by a group of rebels that called themselves Football Club Internazionale Milano. Why were they rebels? They wanted, unlike the original Milan Cricket and Football Club, to welcome foreign players on their team. Inter Milan won the Italian League title for the first time in 1910 and has a history littered with successes. The club celebrated its hundredth anniversary in 2008.
4. Chelsea – UK
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The Chelsea Football Club was formed in 1905 and was honored to be able to officially play its first game in the Football League. Giving Liverpool and Manchester United a run for their money, Chelsea won back-to-back championships in 2005 and 2006 – something done by very few teams.
3. Real Madrid – Spain
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Real Madrid sprang into existence back in the year 1900 and was immediately established as one of the most talented football clubs in Spain. The team has done nothing but grow, and over the past 8 years they have attracted top players (including Beckham and Ronaldo), won their ninth European Cup, third Intercontinental Cup, and first European Super Cup.
2. Barcelona – Spain
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Hans Gamper founded the Futbol Club Barcelona (aka Barca) back in November of 1899 and the club has continued to grow ever since. Just like every other team in history, Barca has experience both periods of success and failure. The club has earned 18 Spanish League titles and is also the proud owner of two European Cups, won in 1992 and 2006.
1. Manchester United (old Trafford) – UK
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Manchester United has been in existence since 1878 and continues to grow in both skill and popularity. In the last 8 years the club has signed a number of incredible players, including Fabien Barthez and Rio Ferdinand – both of whom played major roles in the club’s wins in the early part of this century.
So what do you think? Did your favorite team make the list? Do you have a favorite football memory including one of these teams that you’d like to share? We’d love to hear your stories!
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Hmmm… what about the South American teams? Boca Juniors anyone?
“…In the last 8 years the club has signed a number of incredible players, including FABIEN BARTHEZ and Rio Ferdinand.”
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LOL. I agree with Ferdinand.. but Barthez was not an incredible player for us.
Here are a few examples of better signings in the last 8 years:
Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Carlos Tevez, Nemanja Vidic, Edwin Van de Sar, Patrice Evra, Michael Carrick, Ruud Van Nistelrooy and Gabriel Heinze.
This list is biased toward European Clubs. What about the South American teams? Boca Junior, River, Corinthians and Santos?! Although understandable, since this blog is hosted by an Australian company, I suspect that this list was composed by Australians. And I’m pretty sure South American Football is not very well known down under.
Sao Paulo (Brazil) and Boca Juniors (Argentina) are the biggest clubs of the South America and two of the biggest clubs of the world. You can compare them only with Real Madrid, Milan, Manchester United and Barcelona.
This is an awful list! Do you understand football at all? Chelsea have only been competing for the English title since Abramovich took over and ploughed money into the club! they have hardly any success in there history.
Not including Celtic is madness as they have such a great history, 1967 for example! First Scottish, British and none Latin team to win the European Cup with all homegrown players is something to mention! Also winning the Scottish League 9 times in a row a world record, now only matched by Rangers another team worth a mention as they are the most successful team in football history!
As said in another comment, Fabian Barthez! are you joking he was an embarrassment to Man Utd Fans!
Arsenal moved into the Emirates in 2006 not 1996!
Ajax are not one of the oldest teams in Europe the majority where founded in the Mid-Late 1800’s.
Roma are a club team and cannot participate in an international team tournament such as the world cup! that was Italy beating France in 2006 not 2007 as stated!
You will notice i have only mentioned facts! there are a few statements i dont think are true but i will not disagree as i do not know the true facts! something i feel you should do in future!
I must ask are you really a football fan or where you bored one day and decided to make a list of something you clearly know nothing about?
mmmm. it seems like the guy who made the list doenst know too much about football.
My dear it is complety wrong do not include Boca jrs(18 international cups), Independiente (15), and San Paolo.
In another way if you want, just boca have beem won more international
tittles than liverpool, manchester united and Arsenal all of them together!
where’s AC Milan? I would have them instead of either Valencia or Roma. Or Chelsea. BTW, the EPL is boring. Spain will dominate again next year.
barca is the biggest n the best in the earth ,bcoz of its consistency n its history
No AC Milan? What have Chelsea ever achieved outwith a couple of premierships?
Are you kidding me!?!?
Valencia and Roma are fine…but no AC Milan? (and I’m and Inter fan). They are far superior to Roma!
Besides that, there are amazing teams such as Corinthians, Sao Paolo, Boca Juniors etc in South America. I only saw European teams on your list.
And what about Scotland? No Celtic? Rangers are another strong club…
Chelsea are surging now…but they haven’t had the strong history of other EPL teams…
What a disgrace…I’m American and I know more than this list!
i think its fair to say united are the best team in he world, was a litle shocked to see ac milan didn’t get in there. th south american teams are gd, bt they simply cannot be compared to united or inter or any of the other teams up there. that is why they weren’t up there, not because it was “bias”
are u fricken crazy AC milan HAVTA be on this list and im like what liverpool should be higher in the list [and im a chelsea fan] and the best team in football is barcelona….!!!!!! =[
THERE WOULD BE A REASONABLE ARGUMENT TO SUPPORT ARSENAL AS THE NUMBER 1 AS THEY HAVE ENJOYED THE MOST SUCCESS RELEVENT TO NET TRANSFER FEE EXPENDITURE!
fenerbahce is the best FULL STOP
everyone says celtic and rangers and there are a few others that are succesful but you need to look at the league they play in. I mean the scottish, dutch and french league arent very competitive especially the scottish. I mean how many times have they won a european cup, uefa cup or cup winners cup excpt for once. The best teams are the ones that win a competitive league and perform in europe. Such as Manchester United and Barcelona
No AC Milan? The club that has won 5 European cups in the past 25 years? Chelsea on this list? Shoot yourself.
galatasaray is the best football club of the Turkey.?t won uefa cup seven years ago.