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Following AC Milan's victory over Liverpool in the Champions League final last year and their victory over Boca Juniors and the FIFA World Club today, a few things ran around in this hyperactive head.
First among them - I don't think people want to read about how to make Milanese risotto - is the case for AC Milan as possibly the most successful European side in history. Now before all you Real Madrid fans begin to pull out your slick hair, hear me out. I'm talking strictly in the major tournaments here. Let's leave the domestic aspect out of this shall we?
Champions League table since 1989 for top European sides (minimum one victory):
AC Milan (Italy) 5-3
Real Madrid (Spain) 3-0
Barcelona (Spain) 2-1
Juventus (Italy) 1-3
Liverpool (England) 1-1
Ajax (Netherlands) 1-1
Bayern Munich (Germany) 1-1
Porto (Portugal) 1-0
Manchester United (England) 1-0
All-time (minimum four appearances)
Real Madrid (Spain) 9-3
AC Milan (Italy) 7-4
Liverpool (England) 5-2
Bayern Munich (Germany) 4-3
Ajax (Netherlands) 4-2
Juventus (Italy) 2-5
Benfica (Portugal) 2-4
Barcelona (Spain) 2-3
Internazionale Milano (Italy) 2-2
Very few people can dispute the storied glory and aura of Real Madrid.
From 1955 to 1960 Real Madrid won five straight Champions League finals - a feat not likely to be replicated. Since then, Bayern Munich has come closest with three successive titles between 1974 and 1976. Not even the magnificent Milanese clubs of the late 80s and 90s were able to accomplish this. Though they did win back-to-back tiles in 1989 and 1990 and reached the finals five times (winning three) in seven years between 1989 and 1995.
Taken as a whole, historically Real Madrid is the most successful club thanks to the Champions League. They beat out the traditional European powers of Barcelona, Ajax, Juventus, Inter Milan, Liverpool, Porto, Benfica, Manchester United, Bayern Munich, and AC Milan.
However, AC Milan is not without history too. It is this club, among the many great sides aforementioned, that can present a case to challenge Real Madrid. If not in the totality of soccer history, then we can definitely start from 1989. Generally the beginning of the legendary Milanese teams following its decadent faltering during the 1980s.
There is no side in Europe that equals Milan's string of majestic successes on the continent. Milan has done it with dominating and exquisite style, they have done it with stingy anticipatory, defensive capabilities, and they have done it with pure classical interpretations that included brilliant displays of practical and pragmatic soccer.
I will consider the following tournaments: Champions League, UEFA, Super Cup (which pits the winners of Champions League and the UEFA), World Club (where the South American champions of Copa Libertadores take on the winner of the Champions League - a tourney for bragging rights if you will) and the now defunct Cup Winners' Cup. Taken as a whole, these are generally regarded as the top tournaments in Europe and the world.
Milan now has more trophies (18) in its trophy case than any club in history. Consider that since 1989, Milan has made it to the finals a combined 19 times; winning 11 titles (of which five were Champions League triumphs) in the process. By comparison, Real Madrid reached the finals nine times winning six (three in the Champions League). Juventus and Barcelona are close behind. For their part, Liverpool made it to the finals on five occasions and won four (one in Champions League) of those. By any normal standards, Real's and Liverpool's record is very good. It just looks merely mortal next to the marvel of Milan.
Perhaps making Milan the mightiest of the soccer teams is bound to elicit a debate. Just be glad I didn't try and argue they are the world's greatest club. I can just hear the fans of the legendary South American sides from Argentina's Boca Juniors and River Plate, Brazil's Santos and Penarol of Uruguay - possibly the greatest grand daddy of the South American sides - plead their passionate cases for their teams.
Hmm. Should be fun. Okay, I'll bite. AC Milan is the greatest soccer team in history. Let the debate - and arguing - begin.
Statistics:
All-time trophies:
AC Milan 18
Real Madrid 15
Liverpool 11
Ajax 11
Barcelona 11
Juventus 10
Bayern Munich 8
Internazionale Milano 7
FC Porto 6
Manchester United 5
Readers have left 2 comments. 1. AC Milan currently the best
Ho Really, Registered I agree. They are currently the best club side on the international scene. Time will tell whether they'll keep the mantle. The money and club infrastructure are there for continued success. If they only could translate this success domestically they would rank even higher (if there is any higher) .
Cheers 2. Milan's domestic woes
Alessandro Nicolo, Super Administrator Well put. It's a mystery why Milan doesn't perform well domestically. I thought league titles mattered most! It's a bit like Liverpool isn't it? They have performed better than any English team in tournament play but never come close to winning the EPL. |