NB: running series in italics.
Tafea FC [Vanuatu] 15 (1994-07,09) [22]
Skonto Riga [Latvia] 14 (1991-04)
Al-Faisaly [Jordan] 13 (1959-66,70-74)
Rosenborg BK [Norway] 13 (1992-04)
Al-Ansar [Lebanon] 11 (1988,90-99)
Loto Ha'apai FC [Tonga] 11 (1998-08)
BFC Dynamo [GDR] 10 (1979-88)
Dinamo Tbilisi [Georgia] 10 (1990-99)
Lincoln [Gibraltar] 10* (2003-12..)
MTK [Hungary] 10 (1914,17-25)
Pyunik Yerevan [Armenia] 10 (2001-10)
Sheriff Tiraspol [Moldova] 10 (2001-10)
Taipower [Taiwan] 10 (1995-04)
Al-Ahly [Egypt] 9 (1949-51,53-54,56-59)
CDNA Sofia [Bulgaria] 9 (1954-62) [now known as CSKA Sofia]
Celtic [Scotland] 9 (1966-74)
Club Franciscain [Martinique] 9 (1999-07)
Dinamo Kyiv [Ukraine] 9 (1993-01)
Hafia FC [Guinea] 9 (1971-79)
Rangers [Scotland] 9 (1989-97)
Saint Louis [Seychelles] 9 (1985-92,94)
Titikaveka FC [Cook Islands] 9 (1971-79)
Central Sport [Tahiti] 8 (1972-79)
CD Elá Nguema [Eq. Guinea] 8 (1984-91)
Dinamo Zagreb [Croatia] 8* (2006-13..)
Muharraq [Bahrain] 8 (1960-67)
SS Saint-Louisienne [Réunion] 8 (1963-70)
Wales [Barbados] 8 (1969-76)
Al-Ahly [Egypt] 7 (1994-00)
Al-Ahly [Egypt] 7* (2005-11..)
ASEC Abidjan [Ivory Coast] 7 (2000-06)
BATE Barysau [Belarus] 7* (2006-12..)
Bohemian Club [Philippines] 7 (1915-18,20-22)
Bullets [Malawi] 7 (1999-05)
Centro Barber [D. Antilles] 7 (2002-08)
Defence Force [Trinidad/T.] 7 (1972-78)
Espérance ST [Tunisia] 7 (1998-04)
Hercúles [El Salvador] 7 (1928-34)
Nauti [Tuvalu] 7* (2007-13..)
Olympique Lyon [France] 7 (2002-08)
Maribor Branik [Slovenia] 7 (1997-03)
Olympiakos [Greece] 7 (1997-03)
Robinhood [Surinam] 7 (1983-89)
Royal Thai Air Force [Thailand] 7 (1957-63)
Seiko [Hong Kong] 7 (1979-85)
Silures [Burkina Faso] 7 (1974-80)
Újpesti Dózsa [Hungary] 7 (1969-75)
SC Villa [Uganda] 7 (1998-04)
ASEC Abidjan [Ivory Coast] 6 (1990-95)
Ba [Fiji] 6 (2001-06)
Belfast Celtic [N. Ireland] 6 (1936-40,48)
Celtic [Scotland] 6 (1905-10)
Central Sport [Tahiti] 6 (1962-67)
Chinezul Timisoara [Romania] 6 (1922-27)
Cotonsport de Garoua [Cameroon] 6 (2003-08)
Deportivo Saprissa [Costa Rica] 6 (1972-77)
Diriangén [Nicaragua] 6 (1940-45)
Dordoy-Dinamo Naryn [Kyrgyzstan] 6 (2004-09)
Empire (Gray's Farm) [Antigua/Bar.] 6 (1969-74)
FNS (1999: FNP) [Djibouti] 6 (1994-99)
Fram Reykjavík [Iceland] 6 (1913-18)
Geylang Intern'l [Singapore] 6 (1988-93)
Hearts of Oak [Ghana] 6 (1997-02)
Hekari United [Papua N.Guin.] 6* (2006-12..)
Al-Ittihad (Tripoli) [Libya] 6* (2005-10..)
FBK Kaunas [Lithuania] 6 (1999-04)
Linfield [N. Ireland] 6 (1982-87)
Nauti [Tuvalu] 6* (2007-12..)
Olimpia Asunción [Paraguay] 6 (1978-83)
Olympiakos [Greece] 6 (1954-59)
Omonoia Nicosia [Cyprus] 6 (1974-79)
Pakhtakor Toshkent [Uzbekistan] 6 (2002-07)
Quequeisque [El Salvador] 6 (1941-46)
Racing Club [Argentina] 6 (1913-18)
Raja Casablanca [Morocco] 6 (1996-01)
Real Estelí [Nicaragua] 6* (2007-12..)
Slavia Praha [Bohemia] 6 (1897-01) [2 championships 1897]
South China [Hong Kong] 6 (1957-62)
Spartak Moskva [Russia] 6 (1996-01)
Stade Dudelange [Luxembourg] 6 (1939-40,45-48)
Steaua Bucuresti [Romania] 6 (1993-98)
Transvaal [Surinam] 6 (1965-70)
Africa Sports [Ivory Coast] 5 (1985-89)
América Cali [Colombia] 5 (1982-86)
Anderlecht [Belgium] 5 (1964-68)
APOEL Nicosia [Cyprus] 5 (1936-40)
Bears [Bahamas] 5* (2009-13..)
Club Colonial [Martinique] 5 (1920-24)
Dinamo Minsk [Belarus] 5 (1992-95/2)
Dinamo Zagreb [Croatia] 5 (1996-00)
Djoliba AC [Mali] 5 (1973-76,79)
Ekranas Panevezys [Lithuania] 5* (2008-12..)
Estonia Tallinn [Estonia] 5 (1934-36,38-39)
Etoile Filante [Burkina Faso] 5 (1990-94)
F91 Dudelange [Luxembourg] 5 (2005-0)
Al-Faisaly [Jordan] 5 (1999-01,03-04)
Ferencváros [Hungary] 5 (1909-13)
Finance and Revenue [Myanmar] 5 (2002-06
Górnik Zabrze [Poland] 5 (1963-67)
Guam Shipyard [Guam] 5 (1999-03)
Hapoel Petah Tiqva [Israel] 5 (1959-63)
Al-Hilal (Omdurman) [Sudan] 5 (2003-07)
US Hollerich [Luxembourg] 5 (1912,14-17)
Horoya AC [Guinea] 5 (1988-92)
Horsed FC [Somalia] 5 (1976-80)
Internazionale [Italy] 5 (2006-10)
Invincible Eleven [Liberia] 5 (1980-81,83-85)
Jeunesse d'Esch [Luxembourg] 5 (1973-77)
Jeunesse d'Esch [Luxembourg] 5 (1995-99)
Juventus [Italy] 5 (1931-35)
KÍ [Faroe Isl.] 5 (1966-70)
Locomotive [North Korea] 5 (1996-00)
Municipal [Guatemala] 5 (2004-06) [Apertura 2004/05-Apertura 2006/07]
Nacional [Uruguay] 5 (1939-43)
Nakivubo Villa SC [Uganda] 5 (1986-90)
Olimpia Asunción [Paraguay] 5 (1956-60)
Olympiakos [Greece] 5 (1933-34,36-38)
Olympiakos [Greece] 5 (2005-09)
Omonoia Nicosia [Cyprus] 5 (1981-85)
Al-Oruba [Qatar] 5 (1967-71)
Partizan Beograd [Serbia] 5* (2008-12..)
Peńarol [Uruguay] 5 (1958-62)
Peńarol [Uruguay] 5 (1993-97)
Petro Atlético [Angola] 5 (1986-90)
AS Police [Mauritania] 5 (1986-88,90-91)
FC Porto [Portugal] 5 (1995-99)
Rangers [Scotland] 5 (1927-31)
R.C.A. [Aruba] 5 (1938-42)
Real Madrid [Spain] 5 (1961-65)
Real Madrid [Spain] 5 (1986-90)
Dep. San Francisco [Cuba] 5 (1951-55)
Deportivo Saprissa [Costa Rica] 5 (2006-08) [2005/06-Apertura 2008/09]
Secteur 6 [Niger] 5 (1966-70)
SC Simba [Tanzania] 5 (1976-80)
Sobou [Pap.N.Guinea] 5 (2001-05)
Sparta Praha [CSSR/CSFR] 5 (1987-91)
Sparta Praha [Czech Rep.] 5 (1997-01)
Steaua Bucuresti [Romania] 5 (1985-89)
Torino [Italy] 5 (1943,46-49)
US Stade Tamponnaise [Réunion] 5 (2003-07)
Young Africans [Tanzania] 5 (1968-72)
Zimbru Chisinau [Moldova] 5 (1992-96)
NB: many teams won 4 domestic championships in a row; below we only
list ongoing series:
APR [Rwanda] 4* (2009-12..)
ASFA-Yennenga [Burkina Faso] 4* (2009-12..)
Espérance Tunis [Tunisia] 4* (2009-12..)
HJK [Finland] 4* (2009-12..)
Islanders [Br. Virgin I.] 4* (2010-13..)
Shahtar Donetsk [Ukraine] 4* (2010-13..)
Toronto FC [Canada] 4* (2009-12..)
Waitakere United [New Zealand] 4* (2010-13..)
NB: teams in bold face are record champions for their country; teams in italics share the record number of championships in their country. Rangers FC [Scotland] 54 Linfield FC [N. Ireland] 51 Peńarol [Uruguay] 48 [1] Celtic FC [Scotland] 44 Nacional [Uruguay] 44 [1] South China [Hong Kong] 42 [13] Olympiakos [Greece] 40 Olimpia (Asunción) [Paraguay] 39 Al-Ahly [Egypt] 36 River Plate [Argentina] 34 [4] SK Rapid (Wien) [Austria/Ger.] 33 [3] Ajax [Netherlands] 32 SL Benfica [Portugal] 32 [12] Al-Faisaly [Jordan] 32 Muharraq [Bahrain] 32 Real Madrid [Spain] 32 AC Sparta Praha [CSSR/CSFR/CR] 32 [2] Anderlecht [Belgium] 31 CSKA Sofia [Bulgaria] 31 Boca Juniors [Argentina] 30 [4] Cerro Porteńo [Paraguay] 29 Colo Colo [Chile] 29 Deportivo Saprissa [Costa Rica] 29 Juventus [Italy] 29 Municipal [Guatemala] 29 R.C.A. [Aruba] 29 LD Alajuelense [Costa Rica] 28 Ferencváros [Hungary] 28 Jeunesse d'Esch [Luxembourg] 28 Al-Hilal [Sudan] 27 Dinamo Kyiv [SU/Ukraine] 26 [6] Grasshopper Club [Switzerland] 26 Levski Sofia [Bulgaria] 26 [5] Olimpia [Honduras] 26 FC Porto [Portugal] 26 [12] Sliema Wanderers [Malta] 26 Comunicaciones [Guatemala] 25 Crvena zvezda [Yugosl/Serb] 25 Diriangén [Nicaragua] 25 Floriana [Malta] 25 HJK [Finland] 25 KR [Iceland] 25 Saint George [Ethiopia] 25 [includes Brewery] Universitario [Peru] 25 ASEC Abidjan [Ivory Coast] 24 Espérance Tunis [Tunisia] 24 Partizan Beograd [Yugosl./SM] 24 Steaua Bucuresti [Romania] 24 SK Tiranë [Albania] 24 FK Austria (Wien) [Austria] 23 Bayern München [(W) Germany] 23 Glentoran [N. Ireland] 23 MTK [Hungary] 23 Robinhood [Surinam] 23 Alianza Lima [Peru] 22 [8] APOEL Nicosia [Cyprus] 22 Asante Kotoko [Ghana] 22 Defence Force [Trinidad/T.] 22 Djoliba AC [Mali] 22 CS Herediano [Costa Rica] 22 Rosenborg BK [Norway] 22 FC Barcelona [Spain] 21 HB [Faroe Isl.] 21 PSV [Netherlands] 21 Spartak Moskva [SU/Russia] 21 Valletta [Malta] 21 Bolívar [Bolivia] 20 Central Sport [Tahiti] 20 Manchester United [England] 20 Mohammedan SC [Bangladesh] 20 [7] Omonoia Nicosia [Cyprus] 20 Panathinaďkos [Greece] 20 Újpesti TE [Hungary] 20 Valur [Iceland] 20 Dinamo Zagreb [Yug./Croatia] 19 [14] Dynamos [Zimbabwe] 19 [includes Rhodesia] Galatasaray [Turkey] 19 Harlem United [Dominica] 19 Hearts of Oak [Ghana] 19 Maccabi Tel-Aviv [Israel] 19 S.U.B.T. [Curaçao] 19 Transvaal [Surinam] 19 Victory [Maldives] 19 Young Africans [Tanzania] 19 Ba [Fiji] 18 Club Colonial [Martinique] 18 Dinamo Bucuresti [Romania] 18 Dinamo Tiranë [Albania] 18 Fenerbahçe [Turkey] 18 Fram [Iceland] 18 ÍA (Akranes) [Iceland] 18 IFK Göteborg [Sweden] 18 Internazionale [Italy] 18 Liverpool [England] 18 Al-Merreikh [Sudan] 18 Milan [Italy] 18 SC Simba [Tanzania] 18 [17] Slovan Bratislava [CSSR/CSFR/SR] 18 [2] Sporting CP [Portugal] 18 [12] Taipower [Taiwan] 18 Vital'ô [Burundi] 18 Africa Sports [Ivory Coast] 17 Deportivo FAS [El Salvador] 17 Loto Ha'apai FC [Tonga] 17 Scholars Int'l [Cayman Isl.] 17 Servette [Switzerland] 17 Shamrock Rovers [Ireland] 17 Al-Arabi [Kuwait] 16 Dinamo Tbilisi [SU/Georgia] 16 Golden Star [Martinique] 16 Hafia FC [Guinea] 16 Independiente [Argentina] 16 [4] Al-Ittihad (Tripoli) [Libya] 16 KÍ [Faroe Isl.] 16 Libertad [Paraguay] 16 Malmö FF [Sweden] 16 Newtown United FC [St.Kitts/N.] 16 Racing Club [Argentina] 16 [4] JS Saint-Pierroise [Réunion] 16 Slavia Praha [CSSR/CSFR/CR] 16 [2] SS Saint-Louisienne [Réunion] 16 Sporting Cristal [Peru] 16 Stade Malien [Mali] 16 Universidad de Chile [Chile] 16 SC Villa [Uganda] 16 [includes Nakivubo Villa SC] Wallidan [Gambia] 16 CD Águila [El Salvador] 15 FC Basel [Switzerland] 15 Çetinkaya TSK [North Cyprus] 15 [18] Dakota [Aruba] 15 Espańa [Mexico] 15 Hajduk Split [Yug./Croatia] 15 [14] KB [Denmark] 15 Partizani Tiranë [Albania] 15 Petro Atlético (L) [Angola] 15 Al-Qadisiya [Kuwait] 15 Tafea FC [Vanuatu] 15 [21] Wales [Barbados] 15 América [Mexico] 14 [10] Barcelona [Ecuador] 14 Belfast Celtic [N. Ireland] 14 CD Elá Nguema [Eq. Guinea] 14 Feyenoord [Netherlands] 14 Club Franciscain [Martinique] 14 Górnik Zabrze [Poland] 14 JS Kabylie [Algeria] 14 Millonarios [Colombia] 14 örgryte IS [Sweden] 14 Ruch Chorzów [Poland] 14 [9] Skonto Riga [Latvia] 14 América (Cali) [Colombia] 13 Anorthosis Famagusta [Cyprus] 13 Al-Ansar [Lebanon] 13 APR [Rwanda] 13 Arsenal [England] 13 FC Brugge [Belgium] 13 FC Dodo [Mauritius] 13 El Nacional [Ecuador] 13 Empire (Gray's Farm) [Antigua/Bar.] 13 Fire Brigade SC [Mauritius] 13 Al-Hilal [Saudi Arabia] 13 Invincible XI [Liberia] 13 Jong Holland [Curaçao] 13 Kispest-Honvéd [Hungary] 13 Maple [Trinidad/T.] 13 Mighty Barolle [Liberia] 13 Royal Thai Air Force [Thailand] 13 [20] Al-Sadd [Qatar] 13 Sahel SC [Niger] 13 [16] Saint Louis [Seychelles] 13 San Lorenzo [Argentina] 13 [4] Shelbourne [Ireland] 13 Sporting CB [Guin.-Bissau] 13 Titikaveka FC [Cook Islands] 13 Wisla Kraków [Poland] 13 AFC Leopards [Kenya] 12 ASFA-Yennenga [Burkina Faso] 12 Bangkok Bank [Thailand] 12 Dragons de l'Ouémé [Benin] 12 Estrella [Aruba] 12 Etoile Filante [Burkina Faso] 12 FAR Rabat [Morocco] 12 GOR Mahia [Kenya] 12 Junior Stars [Saint-Martin] 12 Maccabi Haifa [Israel] 12 Mbabane Highlanders [Swaziland] 12 Motagua [Honduras] 12 DC Motema Pembe [Congo-Kinsh.] 12 IFK Norrköping [Sweden] 12 Olympic FC [Niger] 12 [16] Saunders SC [Sri Lanka] 12 The Strongest [Bolivia] 12 TP Mazembe [Congo-Kinsh.] 12 Villa Clara [Cuba] 12 AS Vita Club [Congo-Kinsh.] 12 WAC Casablanca [Morocco] 12 Al-Wahdat [Jordan] 12 Al-Zawraa [Iraq] 12 FC Zürich [Switzerland] 12 Al-Ain [UAE] 11 Abahani KC [Bangladesh] 11 [7] AEK [Greece] 11 AIK [Sweden] 11 Besiktas [Turkey] 11 Bohemians [Ireland] 11 Bullets [Malawi] 11 Caracas FC [Venezuela] 11 Casual [Trinidad/T.] 11 Cotonsport de Garoua [Cameroon] 11 Diaraf [Senegal] 11 Dinamo Moskva [SU] 11 Djurgĺrdens IF [Sweden] 11 Dukla Praha [CSSR] 11 East End Lions [Sierra Leone] 11 Etoile du Congo [Congo] 11 Geylang United [Singapore] 11 [includes Geylang International] Guadalajara [Mexico] 11 Hapoel Tel-Aviv [Israel] 11 Horoya AC [Guinea] 11 Al-Jaish [Syria] 11 Jong Colombia [D. Antilles] 11 Jong Colombia [Curaçao] 11 Jorge Wilstermann [Bolivia] 11 AS Kaloum Star [Guinea] 11 Al-Kuwait SC [Kuwait] 11 Mechal [Ethiopia] 11 [includes Army] Nkana FC [Zambia] 11 Racing Club Haďtien [Haiti] 11 [15] Real de Banjul [Gambia] 11 Real Estelí [Nicaragua] 11 SAFFC [Singapore] 11 Saint Michel United [Seychelles] 11 Sheriff Tiraspol [Moldova] 11 Spora Luxembourg [Luxembourg] 11 [11] Township Rollers [Botswana] 11 Union Luxembourg [Luxembourg] 11 [includes US Hollerich] Union St. Gilles [Belgium] 11 Young Boys [Switzerland] 11 Zamalek [Egypt] 11 Al-Ahly (Tripoli) [Libya] 10 Alumni [Argentina] 10 [4] Atlético Nacional [Colombia] 10 B 93 [Denmark] 10 Bohemian Club [Philippines] 10 Brřndby IF [Denmark] 10 Canon de Yaoundé [Cameroon] 10 Club Africain [Tunisia] 10 BFC Dynamo [East Germany] 10 Emelec [Ecuador] 10 F91 Dudelange [Luxembourg] 10 FC 105 [Gabon] 10 Guaraní [Paraguay] 10 Hibernians [Malta] 10 Jeanne d'Arc [Senegal] 10 Kaizer Chiefs [South Africa] 10 [19] FC Křbenhavn [Denmark] 10 LDU de Quito [Ecuador] 10 Maribor [Slovenia] 10 Mighty Blackpool [Sierra Leone] 10 Nagdlúnguaq [Greenland] 10 Pyunik Yerevan [Armenia] 10 Raja Casablanca [Morocco] 10 Real Espańa [Honduras] 10 Riffa [Bahrain] 10 AS Saint Etienne [France] 10 Stade Dudelange [Luxembourg] 10 US Stade Tamponnaise [Réunion] 10 Standard (Ličge) [Belgium] 10 FC Tirol Innsbruck [Austria] 10 [includes Wacker] Toluca [Mexico] 10 Tusker FC [Kenya] 10 [includes Kenya Breweries] Universidad Católica [Chile] 10
[1] In 1986, Nacional won the league one point ahead of Peńarol. Because
of a conflict with the Uruguayan FA, Peńarol had lost two points in the
beginning of the championship; Nacional and Peńarol thereupon played a
deciding match for the championship, won by Peńarol on penalties. That
championship is here counted for Peńarol. Around the introduction of
professionalism, Uruguayan football was split into two federations, the
AUF and FUF, for two seasons before the two were unified. As in similar
cases for Argentina (see [4]) we include all relevant championships. The
total for Peńarol includes titles won by C.U.R.C.C..
For more detailed info, check the file on Uruguayan champions.
[2] These totals include Czechoslovak, Czech and Slovak titles since 1925.
Sparta won 19 Czechoslovak and 13 Czech titles; Slavia won 9 Czechoslovak
and 7 Czech titles; Slovan won 8 Czechoslovak and 10 Slovak titles.
[3] This includes Rapid's German title of 1941, along with their 32 Austrian
titles.
[4] Argentine football went through several schisms. From 1912 to 1914 teams
were divided in the Asociación and the Federación; from 1919 to 1926 in the
Asociación Argentina and the Asociación Amateur; and from 1931 to 1934
in the Asociación and the Liga. Moreover, between 1967 and 1984 Argentina
organised 2 championships, contested by more or less the same teams, the
Campeonato Metropolitano and the Campeonato Nacional. The first had the
traditional league structure with promotion and relegation while the Nacional
tended to have a more cuplike format. As usual in Argentina, we include all
these championships in the above list. Alumni's total includes the title won
as English High School.
For more detailed info, check the file on Argentine champions.
[5] Includes the 1984/85 title originally awarded to Trakija (now Botev)
Plovdiv but returned to Levski in 1990.
[6] Dinamo Kyiv won 13 Soviet Union championships and 13 Ukrainian ones.
[7] Bangladesh totals include Dhaka League wins (prior to the existence
of a national championship).
[8] This includes the two titles Alianza won in 1918 and 1919 under their
former name of Sport Alianza in the Liga Peruana.
[9] Includes the 1951 title, which was won by virtue of the win of the
inaugural Polish Cup, and in spite of the fact that Wisla Kraków won
the league, in which Ruch only finished sixth.
[10] Includes Prode 85 title.
[11] Spora is the result of a merger between Sporting Club and Racing Club;
in addition to the 11 championships of the merger club, Sporting won 2
and Racing 1.
[12] Portuguese championship includes the experimental Campeonato de Liga
1934-1938 and the official Campeonato de Liga from 1938/39 onwards but not
the Campeonato de Portugal 1921-1938 which as a knock-out tournament can be
considered a predecessor of the current Taça de Portugal (since 1938).
[13] Note that the Hongkong FA only recognises the 32 titles South China won
after the reconstruction of the FA in 1945; 'our' total includes the
10 pre-war titles, including that of 1938 won by South China 'B'.
[14] Dinamo Zagreb and Hajduk Split now are in the Croatian league after
Yugoslavia broke up. Dinamo Zagreb won 4 Yugoslav and 15 Croatian
championships; the championships of Gradjanski Zagreb (5 in Yugoslavia
before World War II and 1 in Croatia during the war) and HASK Zagreb
(1 in Yugoslavia before World War II) are not added to their record
as the actual connection of either club to the current one (officially
formed in 1945, when both Gradjanski and HASK had already been dissolved)
is debatable. Hajduk Split won 9 Yugoslav and 6 Croatian championships
(not including 2 Croatian championships in 1941 and 1946, which were
won in a regional league serving to qualify clubs for the Yugoslav
championship, which eventually did not take place in either season).
[15] Includes Clôture 2002 as apparently no play-off took place.
[16] Olympic's record includes Secteur 6, Sahel's includes Secteur 7.
[17] Simba's record includes Dar Sunderland; the 18 titles include 13 won in
Tanzania's Union League (between Mainland and Island leagues) and 5 in
the Mainland League since 2003 (as no Union League champions have been
crowned after 2002).
[18] Çetinkaya's record includes one title won in Cyprus before split.
[19] South African records include the NPSL 1971-1984 and the NSL/PSL
since the 1985 season.
[20] This includes their title shared with Bangkok Bank in 1967.
[21] Tafea FC's titles were all won in the Port Vila Lik; in 2008 a
'national' competition called VFF Bred Cup Tournament was introduced to
determine Vanuatu's participants in the OFC Champions Cup but most
teams entering in that competition appear to be regional selections
set up on an ad hoc basis rather than traditional club teams.
In the Swedish Championship of 1998, the champions, AIK scored fewer goals than all other 13 teams: 25 in 26 matches (average 0.962).
While this was, as far as is known, unique up to the 2009/10 season (see the story on Aduana Stars below), it is not the lowest number of goals per game for a championship winning side. In Europe, that 'honour' probably goes to Trabzonspor K, who won the 1979/80 Turkish championship by scoring a mere 25 goals in 30 matches (an average of 0.833; only 3 of the other 16 clubs did worse).
While Trabzonspor may hold the European record, the world record was probably set by Aduana Stars, who won the 2009/10 Ghanaian league by scoring only 19 goals in 30 matches, an average of 0.633 - by far the worst scoring record of any side in the 16-team league (the next lowest scoring club were Bechem Chelsea with 26; relegated side Eleven Wise scored twice as many as the champions). Another curiosity of Aduana's title was that they were a newly promoted club, making their debut season; they were the first such club to win the championship in Ghana.
Trabzonspor's record was marginally worse than that of
2000/01 Senegal
champions Jeanne d'Arc, who
scored 22 goals in 26 matches (an average of 0.846). However,
unlike AIK, Trabzonspor and Aduana Stars,
they were among the most prolific sides in the league; only ASC Ndiambour
scored one more goal (and ASC Diaraf also had 22) in a league in which
all clubs scored less than one goal a match and all clubs
conceded less than one goal per match (the worst defence being that
of relegated Casa Sport who conceded 25 goals in their 26 outings).
With only 221 goals scored in 182 matches, an average of
1.214 goals per match, presumed to be a world record low for
a truly national league,
the 2000/01 edition of the Senegalese
championship set rather unenviable standards in negative football,
although the 1991/92 season (in which
301 goals were scored in 240 matches, an average of 1.254) saw a champion,
ASC Ndiambour, with an even lower number of goals (20, and that in 30
matches, an average of 0.667 which should be a world record low for a
championship winning team - 6 from the 15 other clubs scored more, but only
Diaraf (31 goals) managed an average above one).
However, it should be mentioned that the
1991 Calcutta League,
with 107 goals in 90 matches (an average of
1.189 goals per match) did even better
defensively (seventy percent of the clubs scored less than half a
goal per match and the top-2 teams together conceded only 1 goal in
their 36 matches); as there was no national league championship in
India at the time and the Calcutta league traditionally was considered
to be the strongest of the country, one might discharge the West Africans.
Due to the rather irrational format of the competition, Coritiba FC won the Brazilian championship of 1985 by scoring 25 goals in 29 matches, and conceding 27 - one of only six known cases of a national champion with a negative goal difference. They did win more matches than they lost (12 wins, 7 draws, 10 losses) but the number of goals they scored per match (0.862) was worse than that of all but 5 of the 43 other participating clubs.
Al-Rayyan is another known team to win its national championship with a negative goal difference: in the 1983/84 Qatar league, they managed to win 7 (and draw 2) of their 12 matches by scoring 15 goals - and conceding 18, most of those undoubtedly in their 3 defeats.
Walter Ferreti won the 2000/01 Nicaraguan championship, which was played in three stages. The first was a double round robin between 10 teams, of which the top-5 qualified for the second stage. Walter Ferreti finished 5th with 7 wins, 5 draws, 6 losses and a goal record of 30 scored and 27 conceded. The top-5 then played another double round robin, in which Walter Ferreti only managed 2 wins, 2 draws and 4 losses, scoring 7 goals and conceding 17. However, that gave them 4th place (FC San Marcos doing even worse), which was enough to enter the knock-out semi-finals - in spite of their overall record (by then) of 9 wins, 7 draws, 10 losses, 37 goals scored and 44 conceded. There they eliminated second stage winners Jalapa with a 3-1 home win after drawing 0-0 away, and in the final they managed two 0-0 draws against first stage winners (and second stage runners-up) Diriangén before winning the necessary penalty shoot-out 5-3 and crowning themselves national champions - with a total record of 10 wins, 10 draws, 10 losses, 40 goals scored and 45 conceded!
However, the worst ever national league champions must be POSCO Atoms, champions of South Korea 1986. After winning the first stage with 3 wins, 6 draws and 1 loss from 10 matches (9 goals scored, 5 conceded), they finished 5th from 6 in the second stage with 2 wins, 2 draws and 6 losses (9 goals scored, 18 conceded). They nevertheless had qualified for the championship play-off against second stage winners Lucky Goldstar Hwangso (who had been close runners-up in the first stage), won the first leg 1-0 and drew the second 1-1 to claim the league title with an overall record of 22 matches, 6 wins, 9 draws, 7 losses, 20 goals scored and 24 conceded!
But POSCO were run close by CD Plaza Amador in Panama 2005, where they won the Torneo ANAPROF with an overall season record of 13 wins, 11 draws and 14 losses, 51 goals scored and 55 conceded. Plaza Amador had won the Apertura after finishing fourth in its regular stage (8 wins, 6 draws, 4 losses, 28-19 goals) and then winning their semifinal against Tauro (1-0 on aggregate) and the final against Árabe Unido 3-1. In the Clausura they completely lost the plot, finishing 9th and last with 2 wins, 4 draws and 10 losses (17-35 goals). But Clausura champions San Francisco, who had also been the best team overall, succumbed 0-2 in the Superfinal... (To illustrate their 'negative' season, Plaza Amador received 9 yellow cards (two players receiving two and so a red) and 1 direct red card during the championship final.)
Finally, Taipower won the championship of Taiwan 2007 conceding 11 goals and scoring only 9 in their six matches: they lost only once, but then heavily, 0-5 to Fubon, while all their three wins were by a single goal.
To summarise the 6 'negative' champions:
Outscored Champions Country Season Champions Pd W D L F-A Pts Qatar 1983/84 Al-Rayyan 12 7 2 3 15-18 16 Brazil 1985 Coritiba 29 12 7 10 25-27 31 South Korea 1986 POSCO Atoms 22 6 9 7 20-24 21 Nicaragua 2000/01 Walter Ferreti 30 10 10 10 40-45 40 Panama 2005 Plaza Amador 38 13 11 14 51-55 50 Taiwan 2007 Taipower 6 3 2 1 9-11 11 Outmatched Champions Country Season Champions Pd W D L F-A Pts South Korea 1986 POSCO Atoms 22 6 9 7 20-24 21 Panama 2005 Plaza Amador 38 13 11 14 51-55 50
At the other end of the table, Manchester City managed something remarkably dual to AIK's and Aduana's achievement: while scoring most goals (80) of all 22 teams in the 1937/38 English Championship, they finished 21st and were relegated with a positive goal difference (80-77). What made this even more striking was that they were defending champions when relegated.
See for the best defensive performances in European leagues.
In many countries, the same old teams keep winning championships, often several on a string, as documented above.
It is less often that every year another team wins the title. The longest series of seasons in which no club won the title twice are listed below. Series with the seasons indicated in italics involved no two teams from the same town; series with the country in italics are running.
11 Indonesia 1991/92-2003 (1991/92 Arseto, 1992/93 Arema, 1993/94 Pelita
Jaya, 1994/95 Persib, 1995/96 Mastrans Bandung
Raya, 1996/97 Persebaya, 1997/98 not awarded,
1998/99 PSIS, 1999/00 PSM, 2001 Persija, 2002
Petrokimia Putra, 2003 Persik)
11 Netherlands 1942/43-1953/54 (1942/43 ADO, 1943/44 De Volewijckers, 1944/45
not held, 1945/46 Haarlem, 1946/47 Ajax,
1947/48 BVV, 1948/49 SVV, 1949/50 Limburgia,
1950/51 PSV, 1951/52 Willem II, 1952/53 RCH,
1953/54 Eindhoven)
9 Ethiopia 1973- 1981 (1973 Asmara, 1974 Embassoyra, 1975 St. George,
1976 Mechal, 1977 Medr Babur, 1978 Ogaden
Anbassa, 1979 Omedla, 1980 Tegl Fre, 1981
Ermejachen)
9 Netherlands 1918/19-1926/27 (1918/19 Ajax, 1919/20 Be Quick (Groningen),
1920/21 NAC, 1921/22 Go Ahead, 1922/23 RCH,
1923/24 Feijenoord, 1924/25 HBS, 1925/26
SC Enschede, 1926/27 Heracles)
9 Switzerland 1912/13-1920/21 (1912/13 Montriond Lausanne, 1913/14 FC Aarau,
1914/15 Brühl Sankt Gallen, 1915/16 Cantonal
Neuchâtel, 1916/17 FC Winterthur, 1917/18
Servette FC, 1918/19 Etoile La Chaux-de-Fonds,
1919/20 BSC Young Boys, 1920/21 Grasshoppers)
8 Algeria 1992/93-1999/00 (1992/93 MC Oran, 1993/94 US Chaouia, 1994/95
JS Kabylie, 1995/96 USM Alger, 1996/97 CS
Constantine, 1997/98 USM El Harrach, 1998/99
MC Alger, 1999/00 CR Belouizdad)
8 Argentina 2006 Ap-2010 Cl (2006 Ap Estudiantes, 2007 Cl San Lorenzo, 2007 Ap
Lanús, 2008 Cl River Plate, 2008 Ap Boca Juniors,
2009 Cl Vélez Sarsfield, 2009 Ap Banfield, 2010 Cl
Argentinos Juniors)
8 Argentina 2007 Cl-2010 Ap (2007 Cl San Lorenzo, 2007 Ap Lanús, 2008 Cl River
Plate, 2008 Ap Boca Juniors, 2009 Cl Vélez Sarsfield,
2009 Ap Banfield, 2010 Cl Argentinos Juniors,
2010 Ap Estudiantes)
8 Brazil 1983 -1990 (1983 Flamengo, 1984 Fluminense, 1985 Coritiba,
1986 São Paulo, 1987 Sport Recife [1], 1988
Bahia, 1989 Vasco da Gama, 1990 Corinthians)
8 Colombia 2003 Ap-2006 Fi (2003 Ap Once Caldas, 2003 Fi Tolima, 2004 Ap
Medellín, 2004 Fi Junior, 2005 Ap Nacional,
2005 Fi Cali, 2006 Ap Pasto, 2006 Fi Cúcuta)
8 West Germany 1962/63-1969/70 (1962/63 Borussia Dortmund, 1963/64 1.FC Köln,
1964/65 Werder Bremen, 1965/66 1860 München,
1966/67 Eintracht Braunschweig, 1967/68 1.FC
Nürnberg, 1968/69 Bayern München, 1969/70
Borussia Mönchengladbach)
7 Bolivia 2005 Ap-2008 Cl (2005 Ap Blooming, 2006 Ap Bolívar,
2006 Cl Jorge Wilstermann, 2007 Ap Real Potosí,
2007 Cl San José, 2008 Ap Universitario Sucre,
2008 Cl Aurora)
7 Botswana 2003 -2008/09 (2003 Mogoditshane Fighters, 2003/04 BDF XI,
2004/05 Township Rollers, 2005/06 Police XI;
2006/07 ECCO City Greens, 2007/08 Mochudi Centre
Chiefs, 2008/09 Gaborone United)
7 Brazil 1987 -1993 (1987 Sport Recife [1], 1988 Bahia, 1989 Vasco
da Gama, 1990 Corinthians, 1991 São Paulo,
1992 Flamengo, 1993 Palmeiras)
7 Denmark 1973 -1979 (1973 Hvidovre IF, 1974 KB, 1975 Køge Boldklub,
1976 B 1903, 1977 OB, 1978 Vejle B, 1979
Esbjerg fB)
7 England 1958/59-1964/65 (1958/59 Wolverhampton Wanderers, 1959/60
Burnley, 1960/61 Tottenham Hotspur, 1961/62
Ipswich Town, 1962/63 Everton, 1963/64
Liverpool, 1964/65 Manchester United)
7 England 1966/67-1972/73 (1966/67 Manchester United, 1967/68 Manchester
City, 1968/69 Leeds United, 1969/70 Everton,
1970/71 Arsenal, 1971/72 Derby County,
1972/73 Liverpool)
7 France 1991/92-1998/99 (1991/92 Olympique Marseille, 1992/93 not
awarded, 1993/94 Paris SG, 1994/95 Nantes,
1995/96 Auxerre, 1996/97 Monaco, 1997/98 Lens,
1998/99 Girondins de Bordeaux)
7 Guadeloupe 2002/03-2008/09 (2002/03 Phare, 2003/04 Racing Club, 2004/05
AS Gosier, 2005/06 JSVH, 2006/07 Etoile,
2007/08 Evolucas, 2008/09 CS Moulien)
7 Indonesia 1998/99-2005 (1998/99 PSIS, 1999/00 PSM, 2001 Persija,
2002 Petrokimia Putra, 2003 Persik,
2004 Persebaya, 2005 Persipura)
7 Jamaica 1994/95-2000/01 (1994/95 Reno, 1995/96 Violet Kickers,
1996/97 Seba United, 1997/98 Waterhouse,
1998/99 Tivoli Gardens, 1999/00 Harbour View,
2000/01 Arnett Gardens)
7 Mexico 1988/89-1994/95 (1988/89 América, 1989/90 Puebla, 1990/91 UNAM,
1991/92 León, 1992/93 Atlante, 1993/94 UAG,
1994/95 Necaxa)
7 Morocco 1968/69-1974/75 (1968/69 WAC Casablanca, 1969/70 FAR Rabat,
1970/71 RS Settat, 1971/72 ASM Casablanca,
1972/73 KAC Kénitra, 1973/74 Raja Béni Mellal,
1974/75 MC Oujda)
7 Namibia 1987 -1993 (1987 Benfica, 1988 Blue Waters, 1989 Black
Africans, 1990 Orlando Pirates, 1991 Eleven
Arrows, 1992 Ramblers, 1993 Chief Santos)
7 Nigeria 1991 -1997 (1991 Julius Berger, 1992 Stationery Stores,
1993 Iwuanyanwu, 1994 BCC Lions, 1995 Shooting
Stars, 1996 Udoji United, 1997 Eagle Cement)
7 Sweden 2005 -2011 (2005 Djurgĺrdens IF, 2006 IF Elfsborg,
2007 IFK Göteborg, 2008 Kalmar FF, 2009 AIK,
2010 Malmö FF, 2011 Helsingborgs IF)
7 Turks/Caicos 2005/06-2011/12 (2005/06 Cost Right FC, 2006/07 Beaches FC,
2007/08 PWC Athletic, 2008/09 Digi FC, 2009/10
AFC Academy, 2010/11 Provopool FC, 2011/12
Cheshire Hall) [PWC Athletic won 2004/05 under
their former name KPMG United]
7 Vietnam 1985 -1992 (1985 Cong Nghiep Ham Nam Ninh, 1986 Cang
Saigon, 1987 Cau Lac Bo Quan Doi, 1988 Cong
An Hanoi, 1989 Dong Thap, 1990 not awarded,
1991 Hai Quan Than Po Ho Chi Minh, 1992 Quang
Nam Danang)
[1] Sport Recife were officially declared champions in 1987, though most
Brazilian publications consider Flamengo to be the "actual" champions;
see the file on Brazilian champions.
Prepared and maintained by Karel Stokkermans for the Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation
Author: Karel Stokkermans
Last updated: 10 May 2013
(C) Copyright Karel Stokkermans and RSSSF 1995/2013
You are free to copy this document in whole or part provided that proper
acknowledgement is given to the author. All rights reserved.