The Greatest Western European Clubs of All-Time

Definition of Western Europe covers France, Netherlands, Belgium and additional Western European part of Switzerland. The Western European clubs totally won seven European Cup champions and eight runner-ups.

The first division championship of French football was contested as amateur league ran by the Union des Sociétés Françaises de Sports Athlétiques (USFSA), was created in 1893 and continued until 1914 before suspend by World War I. It played more two seasons between 1927 and 1929. Copa De France has been held since 1917 to the present. The professional league was finally formed in 1932. The league was banned between 1939 and 1945 due to World War II.

The Dutch amateur national championship was founded in 1888. It was a tournament competition to compete in knock-out round between champions of regional league. The league was suspended just a season in 1945 due to World War II. In 1954, it was turned to professional status and played the same system until 1956 which is the year Eredevisie was established. KNVB Cup was held in 1898 and there are none seasons the competition was not played.

The Belgian pro league was available since 1895. However, the league system of promotion and relegation was created in 1905. The league was suspended in three period of World War I and II in 1915 to 1919, 1939 to 1941 and 1944 - 1945. Belgian cup was first held in 1911 but it was competed just 8 times before 1964 and then it has been continue doing until the present.

The Swiss amateur national championship was founded in 1897 as a play-off system before it was turned professional as Swiss Super League in 1933. Swiss Cup was first competed in 1926 and has played every years until the present.

20. Royal Antwerp

Nation :   Belgium, Year of Establishment : 1880
Stadium :  Bosilstadion  (16,649 Seats)
Seasons in Belgion Championship : 89 from 104
All-Time Belgion Championship Ranking : 6th
Belgion Championship : Winners (4-P) Runner-Up (11-P)
Belgion Cup : Winners (5) ,Runner-Up (9)
UEFA Cup :  QF (1-A), Cup Winners’ Cup : RN (1)
All-Time Top-Scorer : Francis Severeyns (102 Goals)
The Greatest Player Ever :  Vic Mees
The Greatest Manager Ever : Harry Game

Royal Antwerp Football Club was the oldest football club to register to the Royal Belgian Football Association in 1895 and they consequently received the matricule number one when matricule numbers were introduced in 1926. The club won its first Belgian Pro League in 1929 and won totally won four titles in four consecutively different decades.The club also ever finished runner-up of the league in every decade since the 1920s to the 1970s, confirm their consistency in a long period of history. Royal Antwerp met its successful year in 1993 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup despite the 1990s was its failure era in the league. The club relegated to Belgian second division for the first time since the post-war era in 1998 and fall to be a regular member there since 2004 to date. It holds the record most goal ratio in Belgian league with 3.8 (99 goals in 26 games) achieved in the 1935 - 1936 season.

19. FC Brussels

Nation :   Belgium, Year of Establishment : 1932
Stadium :  Bosilstadion  (16,649 Seats)
Seasons in Belgion Pro League: 91 from 104
All-Time Belgion Pro League Ranking : 5th
Belgion Championship: Winners (4-A,7-P) Runner-Up (3-A,5-P)
Belgion Cup : Winners (2) ,Runner-Up (1)
European Competition :  UEFA Cup SF (1-A)
All-Time Top-Scorer :  Maurice Banyan (150 Goals)
The Greatest Player Ever :  Armand Swartenbroeks
The Greatest Manager Ever : Felix Week

F.C. Molenbeek Brussels Strombeek is created as the superstructure between former famous Belgian clubs. Originally, R. Daring Club de Bruxelles was formed in 1895 and first played in Belgian league in 1903. The club was best at pre-war era and won all trophies in their history consist of five league titles and one Belgian cup. In 1970, the name was changed to R. Daring de Molenbeek. R. RC de Bruxelles was created in 1894 and was one of the founding members in Belgian league in next year. By the end of the 1900s, they won all six league titles in their history and won a Belgian cup once. R. White Star AC (1948)  & R. RC de Bruxelles merged in 1963 to form Racing White and R. Racing White  & R. Daring Club de Molenbeek merged in 1973 to form  Racing White Daring Molenbeek. Under this name, the club won a league title and reach UEFA Cup semi-final once. Eventually, FC Brussels was formed in 2002 after a merger between R.W.D Molenbeek and KFC Strombeek but played in second division for many seasons.

18. Lausanne Sport

Nation :  Switzerland, Year of Establishment : 1896
Stadium :  Stade Olympique  (15,850 Seats)
Seasons in  Swiss League : 102 from 119
All-Time Swiss League Ranking : 6th
League :  Swiss League : Winners (1-A,6-P), Runner-Up (8-P)
Cup   :   Swiss Cup : Winners (9) ,Runner-Up (8)
Swiss Double Champion : 2
UEFA Cup :  SF (1-A)
Cup Winners’ Cup : QF (1)
All-Time Top-Scorer :   Wilhelm Jaggi
The Greatest Player Ever :  Stephan Chapuisat
The Greatest Manager Ever :  Roger Volanthen

Lausanne-Sports was founded in 1896 under the name of Montriond Lausanne. However, the Lausanne Football and Cricket Club was established in 1860, believed to be the oldest football club on the European continent by some historians. In 1913, Lausanne won their only Swiss amateur championship. The club took the name Lausanne-Sports FC in 1920 after the football section merged with the Club Hygiénique de Lausanne, a physical education club. The club won victory Swiss double champion in 1944 which is the only one of their history. Lausanne played in Swiss Super League in ever season since 1932 to 2002 before were relegation because the club did not obtain a first level license and finally relegated to fourth tier due to bankruptcy.

17. AZ Alkmaar

Nation : Netherlands, Year of Establishment : 1967
Stadium :  AZ Stadion  (17,023 Seats)
Seasons in Dutch Championship :  40 from 60
All-Time Dutch Championship Ranking : 10th
Dutch Championship : Winners (2-A), RN (1-A,2-P), 3rd (6-P)
Dutch Cup : Winners (4) ,Runner-Up (1)
Dutch Double Champion : 1
UEFA Cup :  RN (1-A), SF (1-B), QF (3-B), R24 (1-B)
All-Time Top-Scorer :   Kees Kist  (259 Goals)
The Greatest Player Ever : Kristen Nygaard
The Greatest Manager Ever : George Kessler

Alkmaar Zaanstreek was founded in 1967 as AZ '67, the result of a merger of Alkmaar '54 and FC Zaanstreek which was formed in 1964, continuing the professional adventure of the Kooger Football Club. KFC had been founded in 1910,ever finished Dutch vice-champion once, and had been professional since 1955, were successful in the late seventies and early eighties. In 1981, they became Dutch double champions and UEFA Cup finalists. Things went downhill after the Molenaar brothers left the club. In 1988, AZ was relegated from the Eredivisie before returned after ten seasons in the Eerste Divisie. Lious Van Gaal let the team to meet another golden era, won a Dutch champion and reached UEFA Cup semi-final during the 2000s.

16. Lille OSC

Nation :  France, Year of Establishment : 1944
Stadium :  Stade Lille Metropole (18,185 Seats)
Seasons in  Ligue 1 :   63 from 77
All-Time Ligue 1 Ranking : 8th
Ligue 1 : Winners (1-A,4-P), RN (8-P), 3rd (5)
French Cup : Winners (6) ,Runner-Up (3)
French League Cup : Winner (-)
French Double Champion : 2
UEFA Cup : R16 (4-B)
European Cup  : R16(1-B), R24(1-B)
All-Time Top-Scorer :  Jean Baratte (170 Goals)
The Greatest Player Ever : Cor Van de Hart
The Greatest Manager Ever :  Andre Cheuva

“The Mastiffs” Lille Olympique Sporting Club Lille Métropole was founded as a result of a merger between Olympique Lillois and SC Fives. Both clubs were founding members of the French Division 1 and Lillois was the league's inaugural champions and played all seasons before the war-time. After a merger, Lille played the first season of the post-war era after a year of establishment in 1945 and immediately won the champion. The club went on confirming the best era when they reach French Cup final matches four years in row and won three. In the second half 50s, Lille met their great era again and won their last league title include the last two French Cups. Lille achieve their greatest performance in European competition in 2006 -2007 UEFA champion League. They won thier only douible champion in 2011.

   

15. Twente

Nation : Netherlands, Year of Establishment : 1965
Stadium :  De Grolsch Vaste  (24,000 Seats)
Seasons in Dutch Championship :  59 from 60
All-Time Dutch Championship Ranking : 4th
Dutch Championship : WN (1-A,1-P), RN (3-A,2-P), 3rd (2-A,8-P)
Dutch Cup : Winners (3) ,Runner-Up (4)
UEFA Cup  : RN(1-A),SF(1-A), QF(1-A,1-B),R16 (1-A,1-B)
Cup Winners’ Cup : SF (1)
All-Time Top-Scorer :  Blasise Nkufo   (114 Goals)
The Greatest Player Ever : Pieter Schrijvers
The Greatest Manager Ever : Spitz Kohn

FC Twente is an all-time greatest Dutch club after “The Big Three. The club was formed in 1965 as a merger of two professional clubs, Sportclub Enschede and the Enschedese Boys. One of such predecessors, SC Enschede, had also won a single Eredivisie title in 1926 and finished runner-up 3 times. The club’s first golden era was created during the very late 60s to the first half 70s as they finished in top five of Eredivisie in every season. The best of those is second place in 1974 and built the victory to reach UEFA Cup final match in next year. Twente has ever relegated to Eerste Divisie once time in 1983.The club was bankruptcy in 2003 but was survived finally. The late 2000s became the best era of the club after Steve Mcclaren led them to win the only Dutch league title in 2010 after won runner-up in a prior year. It holds the record fewest conceding goal in an Eredivisie season with 13 in the 1971 - 1972.

14. Servette Geneva

Nation :  Switzerland, Year of Establishment : 1890
Stadium :  Stade De Geneve  (30,084 Seats)
Seasons in  Swiss League : 107 from 119
All-Time Swiss League Ranking : 2nd
Swiss League : Winners (5-A,12-P), Runner-Up (4-A,12-P)
Swiss Cup : Winners (7) ,Runner-Up (12)
Swiss League Cup : Winner (3)
Swiss Triple Champion : 1, 
UEFA Cup :  R16 (1-A,1-B), Cup Winners’ Cup : QF (2)
All-Time Top-Scorer : Jacques Fatton  (274 Goals)
The Greatest Player Ever :  Andre Abegglen
The Greatest Manager Ever :  Teddy Duckworh

“The Garnets” Servette FC is the second greatest club in history of Swiss football. The club was founded in 1890 and won its first Swiss amateur national league in 1907. Next year, they won the Torneo Internazionale Stampa Sportiva, one of the very first international football competitions in the world. In history, Servette holds the record won Swiss championship titles in ten different decades between the 1900s and the 1990s. The club became the only club in history of Swiss football to win triple champion in 1979 even they won only league title in the 1970s. On the other hand, they faced bankruptcy in 2005 and have played in Swiss Challenge League since then despite they hold the record longest consecutive seasons in Switzerland for over the Century. It is the only club unbeaten in Swiss league achieved in the 1939 - 1940 season in which is also the greatest seasonal result ever with 19-3-0.

13. Paris Saint Germain

Nation :  France, Year of Establishment : 1970
Stadium :  Parc Des Princess  (48,713 Seats)
Seasons in  Ligue 1 : 45 from 78
All-Time Ligue 1 Ranking : 14th
Ligue 1 : Winners (5-P), Runner-Up (7-P), 3rd (3-P)
French Cup : Winners (8) ,Runner-Up (4)
French League Cup : Winner (5)
French Triple Champion : 1 (2015)
UEFA Cup :  SF (1-A), QF (1-B), R16 (2-B)
Cup Winners’ Cup : WN(1), RN (1), SF (1), QF (1)
European Cup : SF (1-A), QF (3-B), R16 (2-B), R24 (1-B)
All-Time Top-Scorer :  Pedro Pauleta ( 109 Goals)
The Greatest Player Ever :  Safet Susic
The Greatest Manager Ever :  Luis Fernandez

Paris Saint-Germain Football Club is one of the biggest clubs in France. The club was established in 1970 after a merger between Stade Saint-Germain and Paris FC. Top-tier status was attained within four years in 1974 and by the end of the 1970s, "Les Rouge-et-Bleu" were ready to embark upon a historic decade. PSG tasted two French Cup honours in row during the early 80s , before capturing their first league crown in 1986. PSG entered a golden age in the 1990s in which the club was very successful in Europe, reached all their best achievement in three major competitions. PSG won only French league once time during this period but finished second place for three times. The club has not dominated French football as the expectation and not even a top club in France during the 2000s. Nevertheless, PSG is placed in IFFHS all-time club World ranking at 25th and selected as 1994 IFFHS World’s club team of the year. The club achieved the most point and most wins ratio in history of French Ligue in the 2013 – 2014 season with 27-8-3. It is the only club in history to win French triple champion.

12. Saint Etienne

Nation :  France, Year of Establishment : 1919
Stadium :  Stade Geoffroy-Guichard  (35,616 Seats)
Seasons in  Ligue 1 : 63 from 78
All-Time Ligue 1 Ranking : 3rd
Ligue 1 : Winners (10-P), Runner-Up (2-P), 3rd (2)
French Cup  : Winners (6) ,Runner-Up (3)
French Double Champion : 4
UEFA Cup :  QF (2-A), R16 (1-B), Cup Winners’ Cup  : None
European Champion's Cup :  RN (1-A), SF (1-A), QF (1-A)
All-Time Top-Scorer :  Herve Revelli (175 Goals)
The Greatest Player Ever :  Michel Platini
The Greatest Manager Ever :  Robert Herbin

“Stéphanoise” Association Sportive de Saint-Étienne Loire is one of the most successful French clubs of all-time, holds the record most winners in professional Ligue 1 and the most French double champions with three. The club was founded in 1919 by employees of the Saint-Étienne-based grocery store under the name Amicale des Employés de la Société des Magasins Casino. In 1933, St.Etienne turned professional and changed its name to its current version. They first earned promotion to Division 1 in 1938. The club won its first domestic league title in 1957. The golden age was visited during the late 60s to the 1970s, they won seven league titles, three double champions and achieved the best result in the 1976 European cup runner-up as being one of the four French clubs to ever reach European Cup Final. After glory years of successful, the club relegated in 1984 effected by financial problem and have never won any title since 1981. It holds the record most consecutive home game wins in French Ligue with 28 achieved in 1974 - 1975.

11. FC Nantes

Nation :  France, Year of Establishment : 1943
Stadium :  La Beaurujoire  (38,285 Seats)
Seasons in  Ligue 1 : 48 from 78
All-Time Ligue 1 Ranking : 9th
Ligue 1 : Winners (8-P), Runner-Up (6-P), 3rd (2-P)
French Cup  : Winners (3) ,Runner-Up (5)
French League Cup : Winner (-)
UEFA Cup  : QF (1-A), R16 (1-B)
Cup Winners’ Cup : SF (1)
European Cup Performance : SF (1-A), R16 (1-B)
All-Time Top-Scorer :  Bernard Blanchet (140 Goals)
The Greatest Player Ever :  Maxime Bossis
The Greatest Manager Ever : Jose Arribas

“The Canaries” Football Club de Nantes is one of the most successful clubs in history of France football, had been known as FC Nantes Atlantique before changing to its current name in 2007. In 1943, Nantes was created as a merger of five football clubs (Saint-Pierre, Stade Nantais UC, AC Batignolles, ASO Nantaise and Mellinet) and subsequently became a professional team in 1945. In 1963, Nantes was promoted to Ligue 1 for the first time and won its first title in two years later. Between the 1960s and the 1980s, the club won league titles twice a decade. Nantes holds  the prominent record longest unbeaten home record with 92 matches during the second half 70s, the record longest unbeaten record with 32 matches and fewest losses in a season within the 1994–1995 season and a record most consecutive seasons participation in top-flight with 44. Nantes reached the 1996 UEFA champion League Semi-Final which is their best performance in Europe. The club holds the record fewest lose (1) in a single season of French Ligue. 

10. AS Monaco

Nation :  France, Year of Establishment : 1924

Stadium :  Stade Louis II  (18,500 Seats)

Seasons in  Ligue 1 : 57 from 78

All-Time Ligue 1 Ranking : 4th

Ligue 1 : Winners (7-P), Runner-Up (6-P), 3rd (11-P)

French Cup : Winners (5) ,Runner-Up (3)

French League Cup : Winner (1)

French Double Champion : 1

UEFA Cup  : SF (1-A),R16 (1-A)

Cup Winners’ Cup  : RN (1), SF (1)

European Cup : RN(1-B), SF(1-A,1-B), QF(1-A,1-B), R16(1-B), R24(1-B)

All-Time Top-Scorer : Delio Onnis  (223 Goals)

The Greatest Player Ever :  Manuel Amoros

The Greatest Manager Ever : Arsene Wenger

Association Sportive de Monaco Football Club is the second most successful French club in European football. The club was founded in 1924 as an unification of numerous local clubs based in France and the principality. In 1933, Monaco was invited by the French Football Federation to turn professional but failed to amateur in few years. By 1948, Monaco re-acquired its professional status and sustained effort resulting in promotion to the French first division for the first time in 1953. Monaco won its first league title in 1960 and won their only French double champion in 1968. Monaco has never dominated French league in any era and won seven league titles in six different decades. Nevertheless, the club was very successful in Europe during the 1990s and the second half 2000s especially in UEFA Champion league.

9. Olympique Lyonnais

Nation :  France, Year of Establishment : 1899
Stadium :  Stade Gerland  (40,494 Seats)
Seasons in  Ligue 1 : 59 from 78
All-Time Ligue 1 Ranking : 6th
Ligue 1 : Winners (7-P), Runner-Up (3-P), 3rd (7-P)
French Cup  : Winners (5) ,Runner-Up (2)
French League Cup : Winner (1)
French Double Champion : 1
UEFA Cup :  QF (2-B), R16 (1-A,1-B)
Cup Winners’ Cup : SF (1), QF (1)
European Cup : SF(1-B), QF(3-B), R16(4-B), R24(1-B)
All-Time Top-Scorer :  Fleury Di Nallo (182 Goals)
The Greatest Player Ever :  Juninho Pernambucano
The Greatest Manager Ever : Paul Le Guen

Olympique Lyonnais is the most successful French club in the modern era. The club formed under the multisports club Lyon Olympique Universitaire. , according to many supporters and sport historians, but was nationally established as a club in 1950 and they spent only two years to first participate in the top flight. Lyon achieved moderate success during the 1960s and 70s. Lyon won their first-ever national trophy in 1964 Coupe de France. Nevertheless, overall of their history in the second half of the 20th Century was not outstanding as having never won any league title. At the start of the new millennium, Lyon began to achieve unlimited success in French football. The club eventually won the record most consecutive winners in French league with seven after the domination of the league between 2001 and 2008. They became the regular member of UEFA Champion league group stage and even round of 16. Lyon closed their golden era by winning of double champion in 2008.

8. Standard Liege

Nation :   Belgium
Year of Establishment : 1900
Stadium :  Stade Mourice Dufrasne (30,143 Seats)
Seasons in Belgion Pro League : 99 from 104
All-Time Belgion Pro League Ranking : 2nd
Belgion Championship : Winners (11-P) Runner-Up (11-P)
Belgion Cup : Winners (6) ,Runner-Up (9)
UEFA Cup :  QF (1-A,1-B), R16 (4-A,1-B)
Cup Winners’ Cup : RN (1), SF (1), QF (1)
European Cup  : SF (1-A), QF (2-A)
All-Time Top-Scorer :   Jean Capelle (245 Goals)
The Greatest Player Ever :  Wilfried Van Moer
The Greatest Manager Ever : Raymond Goelthals

Royal Standard de Liège is one of the most famous Belgian clubs of all-time, holds the record most number of seasons in History of Belgian league. The club was founded in 1898, under the name of Standard FC, by students at the Saint-Servais High School in Liège. Standard entered its first highest level Belgian league in 1909. In 1923, the club became Royal Standard Club Liégeois. in 1958, Royal Standard Club Liégeois was crowned national champion for the first time. Standard’s highlight in Europe is the reaching of the 1962 European Cup semi-final, confirming of their golden era in the early 1960s. Another one of their most outstanding eras was the winning three consecutive league titles between 1969 and 1971. The club also holds the record most runner-ups in Belgian Cup. In the second half 90s, the club met their most failure era, not even a top club in Belgian at that time.

7. Girondins De Bordeaux

Nation :  France, Year of Establishment : 1910
Stadium :  Stade Chaban Delmas  (34,462 Seats)
Seasons in  Ligue 1 : 64 from 78
All-Time Ligue 1 Ranking : 2nd
League :  Ligue 1 : Winners (6-P), Runner-Up (9-P), 3rd (4-P)
French Cup  : Winners (4) ,Runner-Up (6)
French League Cup : Winner (3)
French Double Champion : 1
UEFA Cup :  RN (1-A), QF (2-B), R16 (4-A,2-B)
Cup Winners’ Cup : SF (1)
European Cup : SF(1-A), QF(1-A,1-B), R16(1-B), R24(2-B)
All-Time Top-Scorer : Alain Giresse  (182 Goals)
The Greatest Player Ever :  Jean Tigana
The Greatest Manager Ever :  Aime Jacquet

Football Club des Girondins de Bordeaux is one of the famous legendary French clubs. Bordeaux was actually established since 1881 but the football department was created in three decades later. Bordeaux achieved professional status in football on 2 July 1936, partly due to the club's merger with fellow Bordelais outfit Girondins Guyenne Sport, which resulted in the club that exists today. The club earned the promotion to Ligue 1 for the first time in 1949 and immediately won the title in the season, is the only club in history of France football to ever do so. The golden period was created in the mid-eighties when Bordeaux won three league titles include a French double champion in 1987 and the 1986 European Cup semi-finalist and the team produced influence players to the successful French national team in the same period. The club relegated to Ligue 2 in 1991 before took a victory finishing second place in the 1996 UEFA Cup. Bordeux holds the record most consecutive wins in French Ligue with 14 between 2008  and 2010. It holds the record longest streak without conceding a goal in French Ligue with 1266 minutes achieved in the 1992 - 1993 season.

6. Olympique Marseille

Nation :  France   , Year of Establishment : 1899
Stadium :  Stade Velodrome  (60,301 Seats)
Seasons in  Ligue 1 : 67 from 78
All-Time Ligue 1 Ranking : 1st
Ligue 1 : Winners (1-A,9-P), Runner-Up (11-P), 3rd (5-P)
French Cup : Winners (11) ,Runner-Up (8)
French Double Champion : 2
UEFA Cup  : RN (2-B), R16 (3-B), Cup Winners’ Cup : SF (1)
European Cup : WN(1-A), RN(1-A), SF(1-A), QF(1-B), R16(2-B))
All-Time Top-Scorer :  Gunnar Andersson (192 Goals)
The Greatest Player Ever :  Jean Pierre Papin
The Greatest Manager Ever : Raymond Goelthals

Olympique de Marseille is the greatest French club of all-time, is the only club from France to win European Cup, holds the record most French Cup winners and placed the first in Ligue 1 all-time table. The club was founded by René Dufaure de Montmirail, a French sport official in 1892 before football department was formed in 1899. In the 1920s, OM won the Coupe de France 3 times and won their only amateur French championship. Hence, Marseille became the only top French club in history to ever win amateur league title. The club won its first French professional league in 1937. Marseille relegated for the first time in 1959 and played in the Second Division almost every season in the first half 1960s. Marseille could win two double champions in their history in 1972 and 1989. Between 1989 and 1992, it is the golden era of the club, Marseille won 4 League titles in a row, reached all major treble finalists in the 1990 - 1991 season in which is the greatest season of the club ever, reached two European Cup final, won just once despite winning in the game twice due to match fixing scandal of 1991 and also being confined the league champion in 1993 in the same problem. Finally, the club was punished to relegate and came back to the top flight in 1996. Marseille holds the record fewest goals conceding ratio in a French Ligue season with 0.55 (21 goals in 38 games) achieved in the 1991 - 1992 season.

5. Club Brugge KV

Nation :   Belgium, Year of Establishment : 1891
Stadium :  Jan Breydel (29,042 Seats)
Seasons in Belgion Pro League : 88 from 104
All-Time Belgion Pro League Ranking : 4th
Belgion Championship:Winners(1-A,12-P), Runner-Up(2-A,20-P)
Belgion Cup : Winners (11) ,Runner-Up (6)
Belgian Double Champion : 2
UEFA Cup : RN (1-A), SF (1-A), QF (1-B), R16 (1-A,1-B)
Cup Winners’ Cup : SF (1), QF (2)
European Champion's Cup : RN(1-A), QF(2-A), R24 (2-B)
All-Time Top-Scorer :  Jan Cuelemans  (191 Goals)
The Greatest Player Ever :  Jan Cuelemans
The Greatest Manager Ever :  Ernst Happel

Club Brugge Koninklijke Voetbalvereniging is one of the most prestigious Belgian clubs of all-time, holds the record most Belgian Cup winners with 10. The club was founded in 1891 as FC Brugeois and is one of the founding members in Belgian first league in 1895. They first won Belgian league title in 1920 under the name “FC Bruges” before change to the current name in 1921. Club Brugge had been a regular member in the first tier until the war-time, they started falling to the second division and met a hard time through the decade of the 1940s and the 1950s before coming back to settle down in the first league. The club finally met their golden age in the 1970s, won six league titles include their only Belgian double champion in history in 1977. Additionally, they reached a UEFA Cup final and became the only one from Belgium to ever reach European Cup final. It holds the European record longest streak without conceding a goal in Belgian League with 1390 minutes achieved in 1990.

4. Feyenoord Rotterdam

Nation : Netherlands, Year of Establishment : 1908

Stadium :  Feijenoord  (51,577 Seats)

Seasons in Dutch Championship : 60 (All)

All-Time Dutch Championship Ranking : 3rd

Dutch Championship: Winners(5-A,9-P),Runner-Up(5-A,16-P)

Dutch Cup : Winners (11) ,Runner-Up (3)

Dutch Double Champion : 3 UEFA Double Champion 1

UEFA Cup : WN (1-A,1-B), QF (1-A), R16 (4-A)

Cup Winners’ Cup : SF (1), QF (2)

European Cup : WN(1-A), SF(1-A), QF(1-A), R16(3-B), R24(1-B)

Intercontinental Cup : Winner (1970)

All-Time Top-Scorer :   Cor Van De Gjip  (171 Goals)

The Greatest Player Ever :  Willem Van Hanegem       

Feyenoord Rotterdam is the only club has never relegated since the amateur era in history of Dutch football. The club was founded in 1908 as Wilhemina before change to SC Feijenoord when they was promoted to National football association. In 1917 Feijenoord were promoted to the highest level of Dutch football and won their first title in 1924. The 1950s is their most failure era as the club didn’t win any trophy. Feyenoord is one of the founding members in Eredivisie and won their first league title in 1961. The mid to late 1960s became the club’s golden age after they won two Dutch double champions from all three in their history and is the first Dutch club to win European trophy in 1970 European Cup. 1974 is one of the best years in history of the club after won league title and UEFA Cup. In the 2000s, Feyenoord met their hardest time in Dutch league, didn’t win even a title but compensated this with a UEFA Cup winner.

3. Anderlecht

Nation : Belgium, Year of Establishment : 1908
Stadium :  Constant Vanden Stock (26,361 Seats)
Seasons in Belgion Pro League : 87 from 104
All-Time Belgion Pro league Ranking : 1st
Belgion Championship : Winners (32-P) Runner-Up (20)
Belgion Cup : Winners (9) ,Runner-Up (4)
Belgian Double Champion : 3
UEFA Cup : WN (1-A), RN (2-A), QF (2-A), R16 (3-A,3-B)
Cup Winners’ Cup : WN (2), RN (2)
European Cup : SF(2-A), QF(7-A), R16(1-A,1-B), R24(3-B)
All-Time Top-Scorer :  Jeff Mermans  (343 Goals)
The Greatest Player Ever :  Paul Van Himst
The Greatest Manager Ever : Pierre Sinibaldi

Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht is the greatest Belgian club of all-time, by far holds the record most Belgian league winners, most double champions with 3 and placed the first in Belgian league all-time table and is the most successful Belgian club in Europe. The club was founded as Sporting Club Anderlechtois in 1908 by a dozen of football lovers at the Concordia café. Anderlecht promoted to the first division for the first time in their history in 1921. In the pre-war era, the club was still a normal-level club in Belgium until they won its first league title in 1947. Between 1963 and 1968, Anderlecht built the record most consecutive Belgian league winners for five times in row and the club totally ever won consecutive three league titles for five occasions. In the second half 70s, it was their only period of none-league champion but still compensated it with two Cup Winners’ Cup champions in which holds the record most consecutive participation in final match with three, respectively. It holds the record highest goal differences ratio and lowest goal conceding ratio in a Belgian league season with 2.2 (75 goals in 34 games) and 0.4 (12 in 30 games)  the 1984 - 1985 and the 1966 - 1967, respectively.

2. PSV Eindhoven

Nation : Netherlands, Year of Establishment : 1913
Stadium :  Phillips  (35,186 Seats)
Seasons in Eredevisie : 60 (All)
All-Time Dutch Championship Ranking : 2nd
Dutch Championship: Winners(3-A,19-P),Runner-Up (1-A,13-P)
Dutch Cup : Winners (9) ,Runner-Up (8)
Dutch Double Champion : 4
UEFA Double Champion :1, European Triple Champion 1
UEFA Cup  :  Winner (1-A), QF (1-A,5-B)), R16 (1-A,1-B)
Cup Winners’ Cup : SF (2)
European Cup : WN(1-A), SF(1-A,1-B), QF(4-A,1-B), R16(1-B), R24(2-B)
All-Time Top-Scorer :   Willy Van De Kuijlen  (311 Goals)
The Greatest Player Ever :  Romario
The Greatest Manager Ever : Guus Hiddink

‘The Peasants” Philips Sport Vereniging is one of the most successful clubs in history of Dutch football. The club was founded in 1913 as started out as a works team for employees of electronics conglomerate Philips to celebrate the centennial defeat of the French in the Napoleonic wars. PSV was promoted to the First Division and since 1926 and won its first Dutch amateur national title in 1929 and was a founding members in Eredivisie in 1956 before won its first champion in 1963. They met their first great period in the mid seventies, won three Dutch titles and A UEFA Cup. In overall history, PSV could dominate Dutch league for two eras and holds the record most consecutive winners in the league with four which were done for two occasions during the second half 1980s and the 2000s. In 1988, it is the victory year of the club when they won the triple champions in major competition. PSV holds the record longest unbeaten home games in Netherlands with 93 between 1983 and 1989 and 1989 and holds the record most consecutive wins in Eredivisie with 22 between 1986 and 1988. It holds the record most goal differences in an Eredivisie season with 89 in the 1987 - 1988. They totally won four Dutch double champs in their history.

1. Ajax Amsterdam

Nation : Netherlands, Year of Establishment : 1933

Stadium :  Amsterdam Arena (52,328 Seats)

Seasons in Eredevisie : 60 (All)

All-Time Eredevisie Ranking : 1st

Dutch Championship: Winners (8-A,25-P) RN (4-A,17-P)

Dutch Cup : Winners (17) ,Runner-Up (6)

Dutch Double Champion : 7
European Double Champion : 2, European Triple Champion : 1972 

UEFA Cup : WN (1-A), SF (1-A), QF (1-A,1-B), R-16 (3-A,3-B)

Cup Winners’ Cup : WN (1), RN (1), QF (1)

European Champion's Cup : WN(4-A), RN(2-A), SF(2-A), 
QF(3-A,1-B), R16(1-B), R24 (6-B)

Intercontinental Cup : Winners (1972, 1995)

All-Time Top-Scorer :   Johan Cruyff  (280 Goals)

The Greatest Player Ever :  Johan Cruyff

The Greatest Manager Ever : Rinus Michels

“The Sons of The God” Amsterdamsche Football Club Ajax is the greatest Dutch club of all-time, holds the record most Eredevisie champions, most Dutch cup winners, most Dutch double champions with six, placed 1st in all-time Eredivisie table, and by far the most successful Dutch club in European football. The club was founded in Amsterdam in 1900 by Floris Stempel, Carel Reeser and Johan Dade. Ajax succeeded in promotion to the highest level of Dutch football in 1911 and won its first amateur Dutch championship in 1918 before dominated the competition through the 1930s. Ajax is one of the founding members in the first Eredivisie season and victory won the title immediately. The club gradually started entering to their golden era in the second half 1960s in which they won four league titles and became the first Dutch club to reach European cup final in 1969. Ajax won the first treble in history of Dutch football in 1972 and won three European cups in two between 1971 and 1973. The club ever dominated Eredivisie between the late 1970s to early 1990s and once again in the mid 1990s. Ajax holds the record longest unbeaten in Eredivisie with 52 games between 1994 - 1996 and holds the record most goal in an Eredivisie season with 122 in the 1966 - 1967. Ajax is one of four clubs to ever win all three major European trophies. It holds the record longest steak without conceding a goal in Eredivisie with 1078 minutes achieved in 1971.

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Honourable Mention

Sochaux
OGC Nice
Beerchot AC
RC Lens
Sparta Rotterdam
Stade De Reims
SK Lierse
KV Mechelen

Honourable Mention In Performance

Bastia (France)  : UEFA Cup Runner-Up (1-A)

Racing Levallois (France) : All-Time Highest Scores in French League one season
KV Mechelen : Cup Winners Up Winner (1-A)
Stade De Rein : European Cup Runner-Up (2-A)

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By Country

France : 8

Belgium : 5

Netherlands : 5

Switzerland : 2

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The Greatest Western European Clubs of Eras

Early 1930s :  Union Saint-Gilloise

Late 1930s :   Feyenoord

Early 1940s :  Suspend due to World War II

Late 1940s :  Anderlecht

Early 1950s :  Reim

Late 1950s :  Reims

Early 1960s : Feyernoord

Late 1960s :  Ajax

Early 1970s : Ajax

Late 1970s :   Club Brugge

Early 1980s :  Anderlecht

Late 1980s :   PSV

Early 1990s :  Marseille

Late 1990s :   Ajax

Early 2000s : Monaco

Late 2000s :  Lyon