IFFHS continental Clubs of the 20th Century
Encyclopedia
In 2009 the International Federation of Football History & Statistics
(IFFHS), an organization recognized by FIFA
, released the results of a statistical study which determined the best continent
al clubs of the 20th century. That ranking has not considered the performance of the teams in national football tournaments (except in the Oceania's club ranking due to limited editions held under OFC club competitions), the performance in the intercontinental or worldwide club competitions or those submitted in the IFFHS Club World Ranking, available since 1991.
an teams throughout their participation in international club competitions (from the quarter-finals to final
in all the cases) from 1901 to 2000. The IFFHS have considered the clubs' results in the two most prestigious international club competitions held in the continent
prior the foundation of the Union of European Football Associations
in 1954: the Central European Cup
, since it was launched until it cancellation due to the World War II
, and the Latin Cup
. Clubs' performance in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup
, a predecessor competition of the UEFA Cup
but not recognized as UEFA club competition by the government body of European football, have been also considered. The match results of teams in UEFA Intertoto Cup
(period 1995-2000) have not been considered in the ranking.
The points are given by the following criteria:
Top Ten Europe's clubs of the 20th Century:
Full list published by IFFHS on 10 September 2009
Nationality is indicated by the corresponding FIFA country code(s).
n teams throughout their participation in international club competitions (from the quarter-finals to final
in all the cases with the only exception of Copa Merconorte
, which the clubs' results were calculated since semifinals) from 1901 to 2000. Decisions by penalty shoot-out were not considered in the ranking.
The points are given by the following criteria:
Top Ten South America's clubs of the 20th Century:
Full list published by IFFHS on 17 September 2009
Nationality is indicated by the corresponding FIFA country code(s).
n teams throughout their participation in international club competitions (from the quarter-finals to final
) from 1901 to 2000). Regional competitions organizated by football associations members to the Confederation of African Football has not been considered. Decisions by penalty shoot-outs were not taken into consideration, in such cases each team received the half of points. Clubs' match results from the group stage of the Champions League
, international competition run by CAF
since 1997, have been included.
The points are given by the following criteria:
Top Ten Africa's clubs of the 20th Century:
Full list published by IFFHS on 23 September 2009
Nationality is indicated by the corresponding FIFA country code(s).
n teams throughout their participation in international club competitions (from the quarter-finals to final
with the only exception of the Asian Champion Club Tournament, international competition run by AFC
, in the period from 1967 to 1971—held annually in a host country—, which the clubs' results in semifinals, final
s and the third place playoff
were calculated) from 1901 to 2000. Regional competitions organizated by football associations members to the Asian Football Confederation has not been considered. Decisions by penalty shoot-outs were not taken into consideration, in such cases each team received the half of points. Clubs' match results from the group stage directly before of the AFC Club Championship semifinals from 1986 to 1994 and from the group stage directly before the semifinals played in East
and West Asia, respectively, since 1995 to 2000, have been included.
The points are given by the following criteria:
Top Ten Asian's clubs of the 20th Century:
Full list published by IFFHS on 29 September 2009
Nationality is indicated by the corresponding FIFA country code(s).
(CONCACAF) throughout their participation in international club competitions (from the quarter-finals to final
with the only exception of the Champions' Cup
, international competition run by CONCACAF
, in the periods from 1962 to 1963 and from 1967 to 1986, which the clubs' match results since the last round before the semifinals or final
were calculated, while from 1987 to 2000 only were calculated the teams' results since the semifinals in the North
and Central region
and only the finals in the Caribbean region
) from 1901 to 2000. Decisions by penalty shoot-outs were not taken into consideration, in such cases each team received the half of points. Regional competitions organizated by football associations members to CONCACAF has not been considered, with the only exception of the Copa Fraternidad Centroamericana
, international competition held in Central America
and organizated by Central American Football Union (UNCAF). In that tournament, the clubs' match results from the second round in the period from 1980 to 1984, have been included.
The points are given by the following criteria:
Top Ten North America, Central and Caribbean's clubs of the 20th Century:
Full list published by IFFHS on 8 October 2009
Nationality is indicated by the corresponding FIFA country code(s).
(OFC) throughout their participation in international club competitions (from the quarter-finals to final
) from 1901 to 2000. All decisions by penalty shoot-outs in statal, regional, national and international competitions were not taken into consideration, in such cases each team received the half of points.
Due to few international competition issues disputed in Oceania
(three from 1987 to 2000), the International Federation of Football History & Statistics have been considered in the ranking the clubs' performance at the end of the primary's football national championship and the primary cup competition in the cases of Australia
(country member of OFC
until 31 December 2005) and New Zealand
, the two strongest footballing nations in the continent during the 20th century.
The clubs' results in each major regional competitions organizated by associations members to Football Federation Australia (FFA) and held from the institution of the Australian Soccer Association
, the governing body in the country, in 1920 to the inception of the league system and the National Soccer League
(the Australia's National Football Championship) in 1977 have been considered.
The IFFHS have also considered the performance by teams at the end of the New South Wales
' football tournaments —at the time the dominant football state in Australian football—, held in Sydney
and Newcastle
, also have been considered in the ranking. The clubs' performance at the end of the Metropolitan Sydney Championship (established in 1920), the state
's championship prior the introduction of the state league (or New South Wales Championship) in 1928, and in the Sydney Federation Championship, established in 1957 as consequence of the incept of the New South Wales Federation of Soccer Clubs after the dissolution of the New South Wales State League in that same year until the formation of the national league in 1977.
The points are given by the following criteria:
International competitions:
National competitions:
Australia's regional competitions:
New South Wales' statal competitions:
Top Ten Oceania's clubs of the 20th Century:
Full list published by IFFHS on 13 October 2009
Nationality is indicated by the corresponding FIFA country code(s).
Based on this statistical study series, Spain
's Real Madrid
, Uruguay
's Peñarol
, Ghana
's Asante Kotoko, Saudi Arabia
's Al-Hilal, Costa Rica
's Saprissa
and Australia
's South Melbourne
were named as "continental clubs of the century" by the IFFHS between 10 September and 13 October 2009. These clubs were awarded with a golden trophy and a certificate during the World Football Gala celebrated at Fulham
, London
(England
) on 11 May 2010.
International Federation of Football History & Statistics
The International Federation of Football History & Statistics is an organization that chronicles the history and records of Association football. It was founded on 27 March 1984 at Leipzig by Dr. Alfredo Pöge with the blessings of general secretary of the FIFA at the time, Dr. Helmut Käser...
(IFFHS), an organization recognized by FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
, released the results of a statistical study which determined the best continent
Continent
A continent is one of several very large landmasses on Earth. They are generally identified by convention rather than any strict criteria, with seven regions commonly regarded as continents—they are : Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, and Australia.Plate tectonics is...
al clubs of the 20th century. That ranking has not considered the performance of the teams in national football tournaments (except in the Oceania's club ranking due to limited editions held under OFC club competitions), the performance in the intercontinental or worldwide club competitions or those submitted in the IFFHS Club World Ranking, available since 1991.
Europe
The ranking was calculated by the IFFHS exclusively on the basis of individual match performance by EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an teams throughout their participation in international club competitions (from the quarter-finals to final
Final (competition)
The final of a competition is the match or round in which the winner of the entire event is decided.In sports competitions following a knockout system, where only two individuals or teams compete in each match, the final is usually played between the winners of two semi-finals...
in all the cases) from 1901 to 2000. The IFFHS have considered the clubs' results in the two most prestigious international club competitions held in the continent
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
prior the foundation of the Union of European Football Associations
UEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
in 1954: the Central European Cup
Mitropa Cup
The Mitropa Cup, officially called the La Coupe de l'Europe Centrale was one of the first really international major European football cups for club sides...
, since it was launched until it cancellation due to the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and the Latin Cup
Latin Cup
The Latin Cup was an international football tournament for club sides from the Latin European nations of France, Italy, Spain and Portugal. In 1949 the football federations came together and launched their own club competition...
. Clubs' performance in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup
Inter-Cities Fairs Cup
The Inter-Cities Fairs Cup was a European football competition played between 1955 and 1971. The competition was the idea of Swiss pools supremo Ernst Thommen, Ottorino Barassi from Italy, and the English Football Association general secretary Stanley Rous, all of whom later became senior officials...
, a predecessor competition of the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
but not recognized as UEFA club competition by the government body of European football, have been also considered. The match results of teams in UEFA Intertoto Cup
UEFA Intertoto Cup
The UEFA Intertoto Cup, also abbreviated as UI Cup and originally called the International Football Cup, was a summer football competition for European clubs that had not qualified for one of the two major UEFA competitions, the Champions League and the UEFA Cup. The competition was discontinued...
(period 1995-2000) have not been considered in the ranking.
The points are given by the following criteria:
| Competition | Points for a win | Points for a draw |
|---|---|---|
| European Champions Clubs' Cup-UEFA Champions League UEFA Champions League The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It... (1955–2000) |
8 | 4 |
| Groups stage before the UEFA Champions League final (1992–1994) | 4 | 2 |
| UEFA Cup UEFA Cup The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League... (1971–2000) |
6 | 3 |
| UEFA Cup Winner's Cup (1960–1999) | 5 | 2,50 |
| UEFA Super Cup (1973–2000) | 6,50 | 3,25 |
| Inter-Cities Fairs Cup Inter-Cities Fairs Cup The Inter-Cities Fairs Cup was a European football competition played between 1955 and 1971. The competition was the idea of Swiss pools supremo Ernst Thommen, Ottorino Barassi from Italy, and the English Football Association general secretary Stanley Rous, all of whom later became senior officials... (1955–1971) |
6 | 3 |
| Central European Cup Mitropa Cup The Mitropa Cup, officially called the La Coupe de l'Europe Centrale was one of the first really international major European football cups for club sides... (1927–1940) |
4 | 2 |
| Latin Cup Latin Cup The Latin Cup was an international football tournament for club sides from the Latin European nations of France, Italy, Spain and Portugal. In 1949 the football federations came together and launched their own club competition... (1949–1957) |
4 | 2 |
Top Ten Europe's clubs of the 20th Century:
| Position | Team | Country | Pts. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Real Madrid Real Madrid Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la... |
563,50 | |
| 2 | Juventus Juventus F.C. Juventus Football Club S.p.A. , commonly referred to as Juventus and colloquially as Juve , are a professional Italian association football club based in Turin, Piedmont... |
466,00 | |
| 3 | Barcelona FC Barcelona Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.... |
458,00 | |
| 4 | Milan A.C. Milan Associazione Calcio Milan, commonly referred to as A.C. Milan or simply Milan , is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Lombardy, that plays in the Serie A. Milan was founded in 1899 by English lace-maker Herbert Kilpin and businessman Alfred Edwards among others... |
399,75 | |
| 5 | Bayern Munich FC Bayern Munich FC Bayern Munich , is a German sports club based in Munich, Bavaria. It is best known for its professional football team, which is the most successful football club in Germany, having won 22 national titles and 15 cups.... |
399,00 | |
| 6 | Internazionale F.C. Internazionale Milano Football Club Internazionale Milano, often referred to as Internazionale or simply Inter, is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Italy. Outside Italy, the club is often called Inter Milan. They are the reigning FIFA Club World champions and Coppa Italia holders.Inter have always... |
362,00 | |
| 7 | Ajax | 332,75 | |
| 8 | Liverpool Liverpool F.C. Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups... |
300,25 | |
| 9 | Benfica | 299,00 | |
| 10 | Anderlecht R.S.C. Anderlecht Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht, usually known as Anderlecht or RSCA , is a Belgian professional football club based in Anderlecht in the Brussels Capital Region. Anderlecht plays in the Belgian Pro League and is the most successful Belgian football team in European competitions as well as in the... |
231,00 |
Full list published by IFFHS on 10 September 2009
Nationality is indicated by the corresponding FIFA country code(s).
South America
The ranking was calculated by the IFFHS exclusively on the basis of individual match performance by South AmericaSouth America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
n teams throughout their participation in international club competitions (from the quarter-finals to final
Final (competition)
The final of a competition is the match or round in which the winner of the entire event is decided.In sports competitions following a knockout system, where only two individuals or teams compete in each match, the final is usually played between the winners of two semi-finals...
in all the cases with the only exception of Copa Merconorte
Copa Merconorte
The Copa Merconorte was an international football competition played from 1998 to 2001 by clubs from Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and later the United States, Costa Rica and Mexico...
, which the clubs' results were calculated since semifinals) from 1901 to 2000. Decisions by penalty shoot-out were not considered in the ranking.
The points are given by the following criteria:
| Competition | Points for a win | Points for a draw |
|---|---|---|
| Copa Libertadores (1960–2000) | 8 | 4 |
| First stage / second stage directly before the Copa Libertadores semi-finals (1962–1970) | 4 | 2 |
| Recopa Sudamericana Recopa Sudamericana The Recopa Sudamericana is an annual football match-up between the reigning champions of the previous year's Copa Libertadores and the Copa Sudamericana, South America's premier club competitions.... (1988–1997) |
6 | 4 |
| Copa Mercosur Copa Mercosur The Copa Mercosur was a football competition played from 1998 to 2001 by the traditional top clubs from Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Chile. The competition was created by CONMEBOL to generate TV money to the participating teams, but it went beyond and ended up as a natural replacement... (1998–2000) |
5 | 2,50 |
| Copa Merconorte Copa Merconorte The Copa Merconorte was an international football competition played from 1998 to 2001 by clubs from Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and later the United States, Costa Rica and Mexico... (1998–2000) |
5 | 2,50 |
| Copa CONMEBOL Copa CONMEBOL The Copa CONMEBOL was an annual football cup competition organized by CONMEBOL between 1992 and 1999 for eligible South American football clubs. During its time of existence, it was the third most prestigious South American club football contest after the Copa Libertadores and Supercopa... (1992–1999) |
4 | 2 |
| Copa Master de la Copa CONMEBOL Copa Masters Conmebol -Final:-Scorers:5 goals Almir3 goals Túlio Valdir1 goal Edmílson Ailton-External links:* at RSSSF... (1996) |
4 | 2 |
| Supercopa Sudamericana Supercopa Sudamericana The Supercopa Sudamericana , also known as the Supercopa Libertadores João Havelange, Supercopa Libertadores, Supercopa João Havelange or simply Supercopa, was a football club competition contested annually by the past winners of the Copa Libertadores... (1988–1997) |
6 | 4 |
| Copa Master de la Supercopa Sudamericana Supercopa Masters The Supercopa Masters, also known as Copa Master de Supercopa, was a football tournament for clubs that had previously won the Supercopa Sudamericana. It was only played in 1992 and 1995.-1992 Supercopa Masters:... (1992–1995) |
4 | 2 |
| Copa de Oro Nicolás Leoz Copa Oro The Copa de Oro , or Copa de Oro Nicolás Leoz, was a football club competition contested annually by the winners of the Copa Libertadores de América, the Supercopa Sudamericana, the Copa CONMEBOL, and the Supercopa Masters... (1993–1995) |
4 | 2 |
| South American Club Championship South American Club Championship (football) The South American Championship of Champions was a football competition played in 1948 and the first continental-wide tournament in the history of the sport. It was played between February 11 and March 17. Vasco da Gama won the competition after earning the most points in the round-robin tournament... (1948) |
6,50 | 3,25 |
| Recopa Sudamericana de Clubes Copa Ganadores de Copa The Copa Ganadores de Copa, also known as Recopa Sudamericana de Clubes, was a now defunct official South American football tournament organized by CONMEBOL. Its first edition was held in 1970 and was won by Bolivian club Mariscal Santa Cruz... (1970–1971) |
4 | 2 |
| Supercup of Intercontinental Champions Recopa Intercontinental The Intercontinental Champions' Supercup, commonly referred to as the Intercontinental Supercup or Recopa Intercontinental, was a football competition endorsed by UEFA and CONMEBOL, contested by the past winners of the Intercontinental Cup and played only in 1968 and 1969.-History:The idea for the... (1968–1969) |
4 | 2 |
| Copa del Atlántico de Clubes (1956) | 4 | 2 |
| Copa Dr. Ricardo Aldao Copa Aldao The Copa Ricardo Aldao , but popularily called the Campeonato Rioplatense and Copa Río de La Plata, was a football club competition contested annually, albeit irregularly, between the national champions of Argentina and Uruguay. The cup is one of the many inter-South American club competitions that... (1916–1947) |
4 | 2 |
Top Ten South America's clubs of the 20th Century:
| Position | Team | Country | Pts. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Peñarol C.A. Peñarol Club Atlético Peñarol also known as Carboneros, Aurinegros and familiarly as Manya, is an Uruguayan sports club based in the Peñarol barrio, Montevideo, best known for its professional football team. The team plays their home matches in Estadio Centenario, the largest stadium in the country, but... |
531,00 | |
| 2 | Independiente Club Atlético Independiente Club Atlético Independiente is an Argentine athletic, sports and social club, which has its headquarters and stadium in the city of Avellaneda, Buenos Aires Province. The club is best known for its football team, that plays in the Argentine Primera División.... |
426,50 | |
| 3 | Nacional Club Nacional de Football Club Nacional de Football is a Uruguayan sports club based in Montevideo. It is best known for its professional football team, which plays in the Uruguayan Primera División.... |
414,00 | |
| 4 | River Plate Club Atlético River Plate Club Atlético River Plate is an Argentine sports club based in the Nuñez neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently competes in Nacional B, the second tier of Argentine football.... |
404,25 | |
| 5 | Olimpia | 337,00 | |
| 6 | Boca Juniors Boca Juniors Club Atlético Boca Juniors is an Argentine sports club based in La Boca neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently plays in the Primera División.... |
312,00 | |
| 7 | Cruzeiro Cruzeiro Esporte Clube Cruzeiro Esporte Clube is a Brazilian football team, from Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, and are one of the only five clubs to have never been relegated, along with Santos, São Paulo, Flamengo and Internacional. Founded on January 2, 1921, they are only one of three clubs to have participated in... |
295,50 | |
| 8 | São Paulo | 242,00 | |
| 9 | América de Cali América de Cali Corporación Deportiva América, commonly known as América de Cali or simply América is a Colombian football club based in Cali. They currently play in the Categoría Primera A, the top-flight professional league in the country.... |
220,00 | |
| 10 | Palmeiras Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras is a Brazilian football club from São Paulo. The club was founded on August 26, 1914, as Palestra Italia but changed to the current name on September 14, 1942... |
213,00 |
Full list published by IFFHS on 17 September 2009
Nationality is indicated by the corresponding FIFA country code(s).
Africa
The ranking was calculated by the IFFHS exclusively on the basis of individual match performance by AfricaAfrica
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
n teams throughout their participation in international club competitions (from the quarter-finals to final
Final (competition)
The final of a competition is the match or round in which the winner of the entire event is decided.In sports competitions following a knockout system, where only two individuals or teams compete in each match, the final is usually played between the winners of two semi-finals...
) from 1901 to 2000). Regional competitions organizated by football associations members to the Confederation of African Football has not been considered. Decisions by penalty shoot-outs were not taken into consideration, in such cases each team received the half of points. Clubs' match results from the group stage of the Champions League
CAF Champions League
The CAF Champions League is an annual international club football competition run by the Confederation of African Football . The top club sides from Africa's football leagues are invited to participate in this competition, which is the premier club football competition on the continent and the...
, international competition run by CAF
Confederation of African Football
The Confederation of African Football is the administrative and controlling body for African association football.CAF represents the national football associations of Africa, runs continental, national, and club competitions, and controls the prize money, regulations and media rights to those...
since 1997, have been included.
The points are given by the following criteria:
| Competition | Points for a win | Points for a draw |
|---|---|---|
| African Champions Clubs' Cup-CAF Champions League CAF Champions League The CAF Champions League is an annual international club football competition run by the Confederation of African Football . The top club sides from Africa's football leagues are invited to participate in this competition, which is the premier club football competition on the continent and the... (1964–2000) |
4 | 2 |
| CAF Cup Winners' Cup African Cup Winners' Cup The African Cup Winners' Cup was a football competition that started in 1975 and merged with the CAF Cup in 2004 to form the CAF Confederations Cup... (1975–2000) |
3 | 1,50 |
| CAF Cup CAF Cup The CAF Cup was an annual competition organised by the CAF for domestic leagues runner-ups of member associations who haven't qualified to one of the two pre-existing CAF international club competitions the African Cup of Champions Clubs or the African Cup Winners' Cup.-Format:Only runner-ups of... (1992–2000) |
2 | 1 |
| CAF Super Cup CAF Super Cup The CAF Super Cup is an annual African association football competition contested between the winners of the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup. The competition was first held in 1993 and is organised by the Confederation of African Football... (1992–2000) |
3,50 | 1,75 |
Top Ten Africa's clubs of the 20th Century:
| Position | Team | Country | Pts. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Asante Kotoko | 149,00 | |
| 2 | Al-Ahly | 131,50 | |
| 3 | El-Zamalek | 126,75 | |
| 4 | Canon Yaoundé | 125,50 | |
| 5 | ASEC Mimosas ASEC Mimosas The Académie Sportive des Employés de Commerce Mimosas is an Ivorian football club based in Abidjan. The club is also known as ASEC Mimosas Abidjan and ASEC Abidjan, especially in international club competitions. Founded in 1948, they are the most successful side in Ivorian football, having won... |
111,50 | |
| 6 | Hearts of Oak Accra Hearts of Oak Sporting Club Accra Hearts of Oak Sporting Club, commonly referred to as Hearts of Oak or just Hearts, is an association football club based in Accra, Ghana.- History :... |
104,00 | |
| 7 | Espérance Tunis | 98,00 | |
| 8 | Hafia Hafia FC Hafia Football Club is a football club based in Conakry, Guinea. In the 1960s the team was known as Conacry II, and won three titles under that name... |
96,00 | |
| 9 | Africa Sports | 88,25 | |
| 10 | Mazembe | 77,50 |
Full list published by IFFHS on 23 September 2009
Nationality is indicated by the corresponding FIFA country code(s).
Asia
The ranking was calculated by the IFFHS exclusively on the basis of individual match performance by AsiaAsia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
n teams throughout their participation in international club competitions (from the quarter-finals to final
Final (competition)
The final of a competition is the match or round in which the winner of the entire event is decided.In sports competitions following a knockout system, where only two individuals or teams compete in each match, the final is usually played between the winners of two semi-finals...
with the only exception of the Asian Champion Club Tournament, international competition run by AFC
Asian Football Confederation
The Asian Football Confederation is the governing body of association football in Asia. It has 46 member countries, mostly located on the Asian continent. However, due to the disputed boundary of Europe and Asia, nations such as Russia and Turkey which are located mostly in geographic Asia are...
, in the period from 1967 to 1971—held annually in a host country—, which the clubs' results in semifinals, final
Final (competition)
The final of a competition is the match or round in which the winner of the entire event is decided.In sports competitions following a knockout system, where only two individuals or teams compete in each match, the final is usually played between the winners of two semi-finals...
s and the third place playoff
Third place playoff
The third place playoff is a single match that is included in many sporting knockout tournaments to decide which competitor or team will be credited with finishing third and fourth. The teams that compete in the third place playoffs are usually the two losing semi-finalists in a particular...
were calculated) from 1901 to 2000. Regional competitions organizated by football associations members to the Asian Football Confederation has not been considered. Decisions by penalty shoot-outs were not taken into consideration, in such cases each team received the half of points. Clubs' match results from the group stage directly before of the AFC Club Championship semifinals from 1986 to 1994 and from the group stage directly before the semifinals played in East
East Asia
East Asia or Eastern Asia is a subregion of Asia that can be defined in either geographical or cultural terms...
and West Asia, respectively, since 1995 to 2000, have been included.
The points are given by the following criteria:
| Competition | Points for a win | Points for a draw |
|---|---|---|
| Asian Champion Club Tournament-Asian Club Championship AFC Champions League The AFC Champions League is the premier Asian club football competition hosted annually by Asian Football Confederation . The tournament is contested among the top thirty-two clubs from the top 10 Asian leagues, two of which must qualify through the playoffs... (1967-1971 & 1986-2000) |
4 | 2 |
| AFC Cup Winners' Cup (1991–2000) | 3 | 1,50 |
| AFC Super Cup Asian Super Cup The Asian Super Cup was an annual competition between the winners of the Asian Champions Cup and the Asian Cup Winners Cup.The competition started in 1995, but came to an end in 2002 after both major AFC tournaments were merged into the Asian Champions League... (1995–2000) |
3,50 | 1,75 |
Top Ten Asian's clubs of the 20th Century:
| Position | Team | Country | Pts. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Al-Hilal | 93,50 | |
| 2 | Yokohama F. Marinos Yokohama F. Marinos is a Japanese association football team that participates in the fully professional J. League Division 1; the top Japanese professional football league. Having won the J-League title three times and finished second twice, they are one of the most successful J-League clubs. The team are based in... |
66,25 | |
| 3 | Esteghlal Tehran | 56,00 | |
| 4 | Persepolis | 55,00 | |
| 5 | Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma is a South Korean professional football club, based in Seongnam, South Korea, that plays in the K-League... |
51,00 | |
| 6 | Al-Nasr Al-Nasr Al Nassr FC is a Saudi Arabian football club based in Riyadh. Formed in 1955 the club plays its home games at King Fahd Stadium and Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium. Its home colours are yellow and blue.-History:... |
47,50 | |
| 7 | Pohang Steelers | 45,25 | |
| 8 | Tokyo Verdy | 42,00 | |
| 9 | Liaoning Hongyun | 38,00 | |
| 10 | Thai Farmers Bank Thai Farmers Bank FC Thai Farmers Bank Football Club is a defunct Thai football club from Kasikorn Bank . They have won two AFC Champions League in 1994 and 1995.... |
33,75 |
Full list published by IFFHS on 29 September 2009
Nationality is indicated by the corresponding FIFA country code(s).
North America, Central America and Caribbean
The ranking was calculated by the IFFHS exclusively on the basis of individual match performance by teams of member nations of the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association FootballCONCACAF
The Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football is the continental governing body for association football in North America, Central America and the Caribbean...
(CONCACAF) throughout their participation in international club competitions (from the quarter-finals to final
Final (competition)
The final of a competition is the match or round in which the winner of the entire event is decided.In sports competitions following a knockout system, where only two individuals or teams compete in each match, the final is usually played between the winners of two semi-finals...
with the only exception of the Champions' Cup
CONCACAF Champions League
The CONCACAF Champions League is the annual international club football championship for teams from the CONCACAF region ....
, international competition run by CONCACAF
CONCACAF
The Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football is the continental governing body for association football in North America, Central America and the Caribbean...
, in the periods from 1962 to 1963 and from 1967 to 1986, which the clubs' match results since the last round before the semifinals or final
Final (competition)
The final of a competition is the match or round in which the winner of the entire event is decided.In sports competitions following a knockout system, where only two individuals or teams compete in each match, the final is usually played between the winners of two semi-finals...
were calculated, while from 1987 to 2000 only were calculated the teams' results since the semifinals in the North
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
and Central region
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
and only the finals in the Caribbean region
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
) from 1901 to 2000. Decisions by penalty shoot-outs were not taken into consideration, in such cases each team received the half of points. Regional competitions organizated by football associations members to CONCACAF has not been considered, with the only exception of the Copa Fraternidad Centroamericana
Copa Interclubes UNCAF
The UNCAF Club Tournament was an annual international football competition held in the UNCAF region . The competition was open to the leading domestic club teams in the region. The winners of each national league qualified automatically. It also provided qualification places for the CONCACAF...
, international competition held in Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
and organizated by Central American Football Union (UNCAF). In that tournament, the clubs' match results from the second round in the period from 1980 to 1984, have been included.
The points are given by the following criteria:
| Competition | Points for a win | Points for a draw |
|---|---|---|
| CONCACAF Champions' Cup CONCACAF Champions League The CONCACAF Champions League is the annual international club football championship for teams from the CONCACAF region .... (1962-1963 & 1967-2000) |
6 | 3 |
| CONCACAF Cup Winners' Cup CONCACAF Cup Winners Cup The CONCACAF Cup Winners Cup was an international football club competition held from 1991 to 1998.The cup was between the winners of their nations domestic cup competitions, which posed a problem as some participating countries did not have a cup competition. The last three competitions were... (1994–1998) |
4 | 2 |
| Copa Fraternidad Centroamericana-Torneo Grandes de Centroamérica-Copa Interclubes de la UNCAF Copa Interclubes UNCAF The UNCAF Club Tournament was an annual international football competition held in the UNCAF region . The competition was open to the leading domestic club teams in the region. The winners of each national league qualified automatically. It also provided qualification places for the CONCACAF... (1970–1984; 1996-1998 & 1999-2000) |
2 | 1 |
| Copa Fraternidad Centroamericana-Torneo Grandes de Centroamérica-Copa Interclubes de la UNCAF (league system League system A league system is a hierarchy of leagues in a sport, usually with a system of promotion and relegation between consecutive levels of the hierarchy. They are often called pyramids due to their tendency to split into an increasing number of regional divisions the further down the pyramid one descends... of one group) |
1 | 0,50 |
| Copa Fraternidad Centroamericana Copa Interclubes UNCAF The UNCAF Club Tournament was an annual international football competition held in the UNCAF region . The competition was open to the leading domestic club teams in the region. The winners of each national league qualified automatically. It also provided qualification places for the CONCACAF... (league system of two groups on 1971-72 season & 1979) |
0,50 | 0,25 |
Top Ten North America, Central and Caribbean's clubs of the 20th Century:
| Position | Team | Country | Pts. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saprissa C.D. Saprissa Deportivo Saprissa S.A.D. is a Costa Rican sports club, mostly known for its football team. The club is located in San Juan de Tibás, San José, and plays their home games at the Estadio Ricardo Saprissa Aymá.... |
187,00 | |
| 2 | Olimpia | 129,25 | |
| Comunicaciones | 129,25 | ||
| 4 | Municipal | 123,75 | |
| 5 | Transvaal | 108,00 | |
| 6 | Alajuelense | 98,75 | |
| 7 | Necaxa | 91,00 | |
| 8 | Cruz Azul | 87,00 | |
| 9 | Alianza Alianza F.C. Alianza Fútbol Club, also known simply as Alianza, is a football club based in San Salvador, El Salvador. Alianza is one of the most popular and successful clubs in El Salvador... |
83,00 | |
| 10 | América Club América Club América is a Mexican Professional football club based in Mexico City. It competes in the Primera División, the top professional league in the country. The team's nickname is Las Águilas .... |
81,00 |
Full list published by IFFHS on 8 October 2009
Nationality is indicated by the corresponding FIFA country code(s).
Oceania
The ranking was calculated by the IFFHS on the basis of individual match performance by teams of member nations of the Oceania Football ConfederationOceania Football Confederation
The Oceania Football Confederation is one of the six continental confederations of international association football, consisting of Papua New Guinea, New Zealand and island nations such as Tonga, Fiji and other Pacific Island countries...
(OFC) throughout their participation in international club competitions (from the quarter-finals to final
Final (competition)
The final of a competition is the match or round in which the winner of the entire event is decided.In sports competitions following a knockout system, where only two individuals or teams compete in each match, the final is usually played between the winners of two semi-finals...
) from 1901 to 2000. All decisions by penalty shoot-outs in statal, regional, national and international competitions were not taken into consideration, in such cases each team received the half of points.
Due to few international competition issues disputed in Oceania
Oceania
Oceania is a region centered on the islands of the tropical Pacific Ocean. Conceptions of what constitutes Oceania range from the coral atolls and volcanic islands of the South Pacific to the entire insular region between Asia and the Americas, including Australasia and the Malay Archipelago...
(three from 1987 to 2000), the International Federation of Football History & Statistics have been considered in the ranking the clubs' performance at the end of the primary's football national championship and the primary cup competition in the cases of Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
(country member of OFC
Oceania Football Confederation
The Oceania Football Confederation is one of the six continental confederations of international association football, consisting of Papua New Guinea, New Zealand and island nations such as Tonga, Fiji and other Pacific Island countries...
until 31 December 2005) and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, the two strongest footballing nations in the continent during the 20th century.
The clubs' results in each major regional competitions organizated by associations members to Football Federation Australia (FFA) and held from the institution of the Australian Soccer Association
Football Federation Australia
Football Federation Australia is the governing body for the sport of football in Australia. Before 1 January 2005, it was known as the Australian Soccer Association , which succeeded Soccer Australia in this role in 2003...
, the governing body in the country, in 1920 to the inception of the league system and the National Soccer League
National Soccer League
The National Soccer League is the former national association football competition in Australasia, overseen by Soccer Australia and later the Australian Soccer Association. The NSL spanned 28 seasons from its inception in 1977, until its demise in 2004...
(the Australia's National Football Championship) in 1977 have been considered.
The IFFHS have also considered the performance by teams at the end of the New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
' football tournaments —at the time the dominant football state in Australian football—, held in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
and Newcastle
Newcastle, New South Wales
The Newcastle metropolitan area is the second most populated area in the Australian state of New South Wales and includes most of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Local Government Areas...
, also have been considered in the ranking. The clubs' performance at the end of the Metropolitan Sydney Championship (established in 1920), the state
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
's championship prior the introduction of the state league (or New South Wales Championship) in 1928, and in the Sydney Federation Championship, established in 1957 as consequence of the incept of the New South Wales Federation of Soccer Clubs after the dissolution of the New South Wales State League in that same year until the formation of the national league in 1977.
The points are given by the following criteria:
International competitions:
| Competition | Points for a win | Points for a draw |
|---|---|---|
| Oceania Club Championship OFC Champions League The Oceania Champions League 2007 was held in January 2007 with six clubs from five member associations of the Oceania Football Confederation: New Zealand, New Caledonia, Tahiti, Fiji and the Solomon Islands. The six clubs were split into two groups of three for home and away matches.Auckland City... (1987 & 1999) |
6 | 3 |
| OFC Cup Winners' Cup Oceania Cup Winners Cup Oceania Cup Winners Cup was one of the two main Oceania tournaments for clubs, the other one is Oceania Champions League, but was only played in 1987 and Sydney City emerged as winners in a single match against North Shore United .-Results:8 March 1987, attendance: 1000-North... (1987) |
4 | 2 |
National competitions:
| Competition | Points for a champion | Points for a runner-up | Points for a third place |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australian League Championship National Soccer League The National Soccer League is the former national association football competition in Australasia, overseen by Soccer Australia and later the Australian Soccer Association. The NSL spanned 28 seasons from its inception in 1977, until its demise in 2004... (1977–2000) |
6 | 4 | 2 |
| Australian League Championship (two groups system) | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Australian National Cup (1977–1997) | 3 | 1,50 | - |
| New Zealand League Championship New Zealand National Soccer League The National Soccer League is a name given to competitions in which New Zealand's top soccer clubs play each other, at least two times, on a home and away basis . At the completion of the competition, the best-performed team is declared as the New Zealand champion... (1970–2000) |
3 | 1 | - |
| New Zealand National Cup Chatham Cup The Chatham Cup, currently known as the ASB Chatham Cup for sponsorship purposes, is New Zealand's premier knockout tournament in men's football... (1923–2000) |
1 | 0,50 | - |
Australia's regional competitions:
| Competition | Points for a champion | Points for a runner-up |
|---|---|---|
| New South Wales Championship (1928–1956) | 2 | 1 |
| Victoria Championship (1920–1976) | 1 | - |
| Queensland Championship (1920–1976) | 1 | - |
| South Australia Championship (1920–1976) | 1 | - |
| Western Australia Championship (1946–1976) | 1 | - |
| Tasmania Championship (1920–1976) | 0,50 | - |
New South Wales' statal competitions:
| Competition | Points for a champion | Points for a runner-up |
|---|---|---|
| Newcastle & District Championship (1920–1976) | 1 | - |
| Metropolitan Sydney Championship (1920–1928) | 1,50 | - |
| Sydney Federation Championship (1957–1976) | 1,50 | - |
Top Ten Oceania's clubs of the 20th Century:
| Position | Team | Country | Pts. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Melbourne | 106,50 | |
| 2 | Sydney City Sydney City Soccer Club Sydney City Soccer Club is a football club from Sydney, Australia.The club was formed in 1939 as Sydney Hakoah by members of the Sydney Jewish community. They played between 1977 and 1986 in the National Soccer League as Eastern Suburbs and Sydney City... |
53,00 | |
| 3 | Marconi Stallions | 48,25 | |
| 4 | Wollongong Wolves | 46,00 | |
| 5 | University-Mount Wellington | 41,25 | |
| 6 | Melbourne Knights | 39,50 | |
| 7 | Adelaide City Adelaide City Adelaide City is a football club in Adelaide, South Australia. They are also known as The Zebras. They played in the National Soccer League for 27 Seasons but withdrew just prior to the 2003/2004 season. They now play in the South Australian Super League. City won the inaugural Super League... |
36,50 | |
| 8 | Napier City Rovers Napier City Rovers Napier City Rovers are an association football team based in Napier, New Zealand. They are currently competing in the Central Premier League.-Club history:The team was founded in 1973 via a merger of Napier Rovers and Napier City.... |
34,00 | |
| 9 | Tafea | 33,00 | |
| 10 | Sydney United | 29,50 |
Full list published by IFFHS on 13 October 2009
Nationality is indicated by the corresponding FIFA country code(s).
Based on this statistical study series, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
's Real Madrid
Real Madrid C.F.
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
, Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
's Peñarol
C.A. Peñarol
Club Atlético Peñarol also known as Carboneros, Aurinegros and familiarly as Manya, is an Uruguayan sports club based in the Peñarol barrio, Montevideo, best known for its professional football team. The team plays their home matches in Estadio Centenario, the largest stadium in the country, but...
, Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
's Asante Kotoko, Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
's Al-Hilal, Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
's Saprissa
C.D. Saprissa
Deportivo Saprissa S.A.D. is a Costa Rican sports club, mostly known for its football team. The club is located in San Juan de Tibás, San José, and plays their home games at the Estadio Ricardo Saprissa Aymá....
and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
's South Melbourne
South Melbourne FC
South Melbourne FC is a football club based in South Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.Considered the most successful association football club in Australia, they have won four national championships, a string of Victorian State League titles, and represented Oceania in the 2000 FIFA Club World...
were named as "continental clubs of the century" by the IFFHS between 10 September and 13 October 2009. These clubs were awarded with a golden trophy and a certificate during the World Football Gala celebrated at Fulham
Fulham
Fulham is an area of southwest London in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, SW6 located south west of Charing Cross. It lies on the left bank of the Thames, between Putney and Chelsea. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
(England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
) on 11 May 2010.
See also
- International Federation of Football History & StatisticsInternational Federation of Football History & StatisticsThe International Federation of Football History & Statistics is an organization that chronicles the history and records of Association football. It was founded on 27 March 1984 at Leipzig by Dr. Alfredo Pöge with the blessings of general secretary of the FIFA at the time, Dr. Helmut Käser...
- FIFA Clubs of the 20th Century