Most Successful Teams In UEFA Champions League History

UEFA Champions League is a yearly club competition in Europe which was established back in 1955 and used to be known as European Cup. 22 Teams has won the european cup so far with Real Madrid being the most successful winning 11 overall titles and first five consecutive 1955-56 season to 1959-60.

European Cup Era 1955 to 1991: european cup and the competition involved only knockout (home/away) ties with only league champion teams from european countries participated. Real Madrid won 5 back to back titles in the first 5 seasons and added another in 1966 making them the most dominant team in this era.

Modern Era 1992 to date: It was re-branded as UEFA Champions League and a group stages was added to the competition for the first time where even teams who finished 2nd or 3rd in top leagues could participate. Which brought alot more competition and since 1992 no team has manage to defend the title which goes to show that titles won after 1992 are worth alot more than in the “European Cup Era”. Real Madrid and Barcelona have been the two most dominant since new format was formed winning 5 titles each in modern era.

Overall spanish teams (Real Madrid 11 & Barcelona 5) has been the most successful winning 16 titles, Italian teams has won it 12 times (Milan 7, Inter 3 and Juventus 2) and English clubs also won 12 titles (Liverpool 5, Manchester United 3, Nottingham Forest 2, Aston Villa and Chelsea once). Before we take a look at all historic champions here is the list of most successful teams in both European Cup and Champions League era.

Most Successful Teams In UEFA Champions League History

NO#	CLUB	European Cup Era (1955-91)	Modern Era (1992 to date)
1	Real Madrid	6 (1956,57,58,59,60,66)	5 (1998,2000,02,14,16)
2	AC Milan	4 (1963,69,89,90)	3 (1994,2003,07)
3	FC Bayern Munich	3 (1974,75,76)	2 (2001,2013)
4	Liverpool	4 (1977,78,81,84)	1 (2005)
5	FC Barcelona	0	5 (1992, 2006,09,11,15)
6	Ajax	3 (1971,72,73)	1 (1995)
7	Inter Milan	2 (1964,65)	1 (2010)
8	Manchester United	1 (1968)	2 (1999, 2008)
9	Juventus	1 (1985)	1 (1996)
10	FC Benfica	2 (1961, 62)	0
11	Nottingham Forest	2 (1979,80)	0
12	FC Porto	1 (1987)	1 (2004)
13	Celtic	1 (1967)	0
14	Hamburg	1 (1983)	0
15	Steaua București	1 (1986)	0
16	Marseille	0	1 (1993)
17	Borussia Dortmund	0	1 (1997)
18	Chelsea	0	1 (2012)
19	Feyenoord	1 (1970)	0
20	Aston Villa	1 (1982)	0
21	PSV Eindhoven	1 (1988)	0
22	Red Star Belgrade	1 (1991)	0

European Cup / Champions League Trivia:

Defending the Titles: Since the start of European Cup from 1955-56 season to 1991-92 season 8 teams were able to defend their title and here is the consecutive winning streaks registered by teams.

1. Real Madrid 5 – (1955/56 to 1959/60)
2. Ajax 3 – (1971/72/73)
3. Bayern München 3 – (1974/75/76)
4. Benfica 2 (1961/62)
5. Internazionale 2 – (1964/65)
6. Liverpool 2 – (1977/78)
7. Nottingham Forest 2 – (1979/80)
8. AC Milan 2 – (1989/90)

Since the competition was re-branded (UEFA Champions) and expanded with group stages and more clubs, no team has won the competition back to back.

Runners-Up: Juventus has lost more Champions league finals than any other team, losing on 6 different occassions. While Bayern Munich and FC Benfica has lost 5 each. Milan and FC Barcelona has lost 4 and 3 respectively.