# The Greatest Club Sides · Football Level 9: Master

Football · Level 9: Master · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/football/level-9/the-greatest-club-sides/)

The Greatest Club Sides in Football (Level 9: Master) on Insporta: 100 sourced facts behind 10 tests. Covers: real madrid 1956-60; and more.

The sides that defined their eras: Real Madrid's five European Cups, Benfica and Inter, Ajax, Bayern, Liverpool, Sacchi's Milan, the Invincibles, Guardiola's Barcelona, the treble winners and the greats outside Europe.

## Test 1: Real Madrid 1956-60

- Reims led 2-0 early; Real came back and beat them again in the 1959 final. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- Kopa won three European Cups in Madrid and the 1958 Ballon d'Or. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- He scored in 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959 and three times in the 1960 final. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- Gento played in eight finals and won six; Modrić, Kroos, Carvajal and Nacho matched him in 2024. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- Gento scored the winner in extra time at the Heysel. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- Bernabéu, president from 1943 to 1978, built both the stadium and the team; Saporta was his right hand. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- Di Stéfano scored three and Puskás four. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- Reims in 1956 (and again in 1959), Fiorentina in 1957, Milan in 1958 and Frankfurt in 1960. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- Di Stéfano came in 1953, Kopa in 1956 and Puskás in 1958. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- About 127,000 watched the 7-3 win, still counted among the finest matches ever played. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)

## Test 2: Benfica and Inter in the 1960s

- Barcelona had knocked Real out; they then hit the square posts of the Wankdorf several times. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- Real led 3-2 at half-time through a Puskás hat-trick; Eusébio scored twice late on. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- Guttmann left after the second title in a row over money. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- Facchetti scored freely for a defender, a rare freedom in Herrera's cautious system. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- The 1960 Ballon d'Or winner cost a world-record fee and supplied the long passes for Inter's breaks. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- Jair scored the only goal on a waterlogged pitch in Milan. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- Inter won 3-1; Mazzola's father Valentino had captained the Grande Torino. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- 1961, 1962, 1963 and 1965. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- 1960, 1964, 1965 and 1967. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- Born in Lourenço Marques, now Maputo, he arrived in Lisbon in 1960 and scored 41 goals for Portugal. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)

## Test 3: Ajax 1971-73

- Puskás took the Greek club to Wembley, the only final a Greek side has reached. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- Krol played left-back in Ajax's great side and moved into the libero role in the late 1970s. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- The win in Amsterdam is remembered as one of Total Football's finest displays. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- The holders of the European Cup met the Cup Winners' Cup holders, and Ajax won 6-3 on aggregate. UEFA would not sanction the tie while Rangers were serving a ban, so the 1973 edition counts as the first official one. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- Ajax drew 1-1 in Avellaneda and won 3-0 in Amsterdam. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- De Meer was too small, so European matches moved to the 1928 Olympic Stadium. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- Neeskens followed Cruyff to Barcelona in 1974. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- 1969, 1971, March 1973 and summer 1973. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- Cruyff went to Barcelona in 1973, Neeskens in 1974 and Krol in 1980. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- Blankenburg came from 1860 Munich and partnered Hulshoff in the middle of the back four. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)

## Test 4: Bayern Munich 1974-76

- The defender's shot made it 1-1 and forced a replay two days later. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- Each scored two in Brussels against Atlético Madrid. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- Leeds had a goal ruled out and their fans rioted; the club was banned from Europe. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- Cramer replaced Lattek in January 1975. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- Roth, nicknamed 'the Bull', also scored in the 1975 final. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- Maier also won the 1974 World Cup, playing more than 400 league games in a row. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- Bayern won 2-0 in Munich and drew 0-0 in Belo Horizonte. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- 1974, 1975 and 1976. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- Real won five from 1956, Ajax three from 1971 and Bayern three from 1974. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- Saint-Étienne hit the square posts twice; many in France still blame the 'poteaux carrés'. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)

## Test 5: Liverpool 1977-84

- McDermott, Smith and Neal scored; Keegan left for Hamburg straight after. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- Dalglish had arrived from Celtic that summer to replace Kevin Keegan. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- Kennedy ran on to a throw-in and shot in at the near post late on. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- Bruno Conti and Francesco Graziani missed as Grobbelaar clowned on his line. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- Fagan, a Boot Room man, won the league, League Cup and European Cup in his first season. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- Shankly, Paisley, Fagan, Moran and Evans held their meetings among the players' boots. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- It was the highest fee between two British clubs until then. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- 1977, 1978, 1981 and 1984. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- Shankly in 1959, Paisley in 1974, Fagan in 1983 and Dalglish in 1985. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- Both finals were at the Stadio Olimpico; in 1984 Liverpool beat Roma in their own stadium. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)

## Test 6: Sacchi's Milan

- Milan won 3-2 in Naples near the end of the season and finished three points clear. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- Ancelotti, Rijkaard, Gullit, Van Basten and Donadoni scored after a 1-1 in Madrid. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- Red Star led when the fog came down; the replay the next day went to penalties, which Milan won. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- Gullit had won it in 1987; Van Basten won again in 1992. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- Evani's free kick in the last minute of extra time won it in Tokyo; Olimpia were beaten a year later. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- Capello's side went unbeaten through the 1991-92 league season. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- Baresi led the zonal back line from the centre; Maldini later took the armband at Milan. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- 1987, 1988, 1989 and 1991. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- Liedholm was in charge until 1987, Sacchi from 1987 to 1991 and Capello from 1991. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- Rijkaard ran on to Van Basten's pass and scored; Milan were the last club to retain the trophy until 2017. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)

## Test 7: Arsenal's Invincibles

- Twenty-six wins and twelve draws. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- He won the Golden Boot and the players' and writers' awards. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- United won 2-0 at Old Trafford; the match is remembered for the food fight in the tunnel. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- His kick hit the bar in the last minute of a 0-0, and Arsenal players confronted him at the whistle. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- Winning the league at their neighbours' ground added to the celebration. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- Wayne Bridge's late goal at Highbury won the quarter-final for Chelsea. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- Preston went unbeaten in 22 games of the first Football League season and won the FA Cup. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- September 2003, April 2004, May 2004 and October 2004. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- Preston in 1888-89, Arsenal in 2003-04, Juventus in 2011-12 and Leverkusen in 2023-24. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- Arsenal drew 12 and won 26 of their 38 matches, and lost none. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)

## Test 8: Barcelona 2008-11

- Guardiola had won promotion with Barcelona B in his only season as a senior coach. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- Ronaldinho went to Milan and Deco to Chelsea; Eto'o was also meant to leave but stayed. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- League, cup, Champions League, both Super Cups and the Club World Cup. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- Barcelona equalised late through Pedro and Messi won it with his chest in extra time. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- Puyol handed him the captain's armband so he could lift the cup. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- He was the first player to score in six competitions in one calendar year. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- Inter won 3-1 at San Siro and defended with ten men at the Camp Nou. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- Summer 2008, May 2009, May 2009 (after the Clásico) and December 2009. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- Xavi in 1998, Iniesta in 2002, Messi in 2004 and Busquets under Guardiola in 2008. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- Messi laid the ball back and Iniesta's shot from the edge of the box was Barcelona's only shot on target. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)

## Test 9: The treble winners

- The Lisbon Lions were local men to a player, which has never happened again for a European champion. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- Gemmell equalised with a thunderous shot and Chalmers deflected in the winner. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- PSV beat Benfica on penalties in Stuttgart without winning a knockout match in 90 minutes. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- Robben, who had missed chances in earlier finals, scored in the 89th minute. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- Heynckes retired at the end of the season, handing over to Guardiola. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- Coman, who came through at PSG, scored against his first club in a final behind closed doors. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- Flick replaced Kovač in November 2019 and won every competition that season. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- Celtic in 1967, Ajax in 1972, United in 1999 and Bayern in 2013. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- Celtic in 1967, PSV in 1988, Bayern in 2013 and Bayern again in 2020. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- PSV won the Eredivisie, the Dutch cup and the European Cup in the same season. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)

## Test 10: Great sides outside Europe

- Zubeldía's side was built on preparation, set pieces and hard defending; Bilardo was one of his players. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- The two legs were bad-tempered; United had George Best sent off in Manchester. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- Martín Palermo scored twice against Real Madrid in Tokyo in 2000. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- Flamengo had won the Copa Libertadores that year; Nunes scored twice in Tokyo. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- Raí scored twice against Cruyff's Dream Team in Tokyo in 1992. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- The Congolese club beat Internacional in the semi-final and lost the final to Inter. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- Paolo Guerrero headed the winner; no South American club had won the tournament again by 2024. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- 1968, 1981, 1992 and 2000. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- Independiente seven, Boca six and Estudiantes four. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)
- Peñarol and Nacional have met since 1900, one of the oldest club rivalries outside Britain. (Source: UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF competition records; club histories and contemporary match reports)

Sources: FIFA and UEFA official records / club records / contemporary match reports / published histories and biographies / audited club accounts

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