Longest Unbeaten Runs in European Football =9. Juventus (2011-12) - 49 matches Juventus were the third Italian team to go through an entire campaign unbeaten. In their first season at their new home, Juventus Stadium, built on the site of the Stadio delle Alpi, they were unbeaten in both the league and the cup (excluding the final where they lost to Napoli). It was Juventus first Serie A title since 2003 after their 2005 and 2006 titles had been stripped in the 2006 Italian football scandal. It was also the final season of club captain Alessandro Del Piero. VIDEO =9. Arsenal (2003-04) - 49 matches The Gunners romped to the 2003/04 Premier League title in spectacular fashion, sweeping aside all before them on their way to 49 matches unbeaten. The team boasted players like Sol Campbell, Patrick Vierira and Thierry Henry, who scored 39 goals in all competitions. They finished the 2003/04 season with 26 wins, 12 draws and 0 defeats. They were however eliminated in the semi-final stage of both the League Cup and the FA Cup and in the quarter-finals of the Champions League by London rivals Chelsea. VIDEO 8. Ajax (1994-96) - 52 matches Under current Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal, Ajax won their 25th Dutch league title unbeaten and scored 106 goals in the process. The squad list reads like a whos who of Dutch football with players such as van der Sar, the De Boer twins, Davids, Seedorf, Rijkaard, Kanu, Overmars, Litmanen and Kluivert. Ajax went through both the Eredivisie and the Champions League without losing, eventually defeating AC Milan 1-0 in the final. 7. FC Porto (2010-12) - 55 matches A streak started by manager Jesualdo Ferreira and continued by his successor André Villas-Boas, Porto surpassed their previous record of 53 games unbeaten under Sir Bobby Robson. During their unbeaten run, Porto won the Portuguese league title, the Taca de Portugal and the Europa League. 6. SL Benfica (1976-78) - 56 matches Porto came within one game of equalling the national record set by Benfica under Englishman John Mortimore. The former Chelsea defender led Benfica to Portugals first ever unbeaten season with 28 wins and only two draws. Benfica later managed to replicate this feat, going unbeaten in the 1977/78 season however their record of 21 wins and 9 draws was not enough to stop Porto from winning the title on goal difference. 5. AC Milan (1991-93) - 58 matches This side had one successive European Cups in 1989 and 1990 under Arrigo Sacchi and had earned the label the Immortals. However it was under Fabio Capello that Milan achieved their greatest dominance in Italy. They won three successive titles between 1992 and 1994 as well as the 1993/94 Champions League becoming known as the Invincibles and is recognised as one of the greatest teams in the history of football. The Rossoneri won the 1991/92 Scudetto without losing a game with players such as Paolo Maldini, Baresi, Frank Rijkaard, Rudd Gullit and van Basten. 4. Celtic FC (1915-17) - 62 matches Celtic set the British record for the longest unbeaten run in 1917. The architect of this run was the clubs first manager, Willie Maley, who was hired way back in 1897 along with their star player Alec McNair who still holds the Celtics appearance record with 604 outings for the club. 3. FC Sheriff (2006-08) - 63 matches Based in Tiraspol, Sheriff dominated Moldovan football for a decade, winning ten consecutive championship between 2001 and 2010. In the 2006/07 season they became the first club to claim the national crown without losing a game. Their arch- rivals FC Zimbru Chisinau eventually ended this famous streak in 2008 but Sheriff marched onto yet another title regardless. 2. Chelsea (2004-08) - 86 matches (unbeaten home run) I realise that this is slightly cheating and apologise to any Arsenal fan who feels their team has been hard done by being placed at 9th but you must admit that this is an impressive run. Chelsea, under four different managers, managed to remain unbeaten over four years at home. 1. Steaua Bucharest (1986-89) - 104 matches During the three year stretch from 1986-89, the Romanians won three consecutive league titles, unbeaten all the way. Though the Romanian league was undoubtedly weak at the time, their dominance had a far wider reach. In 1985-86, Steaua won the European Cup, defeating Barcelona in the final on penalties. Steauas record does come under scrutiny however, as this streak occurred whilst Romania was ruled by dictator Nicolae Ceausescu, whose son Valentin was heavily involved with Steaua. Valentin managed to secure the best Romanian players for Steaua, sometimes without the consent of their clubs or even the players themselves. He was also accused of influencing referee decisions. This came to a head in 1989 when Steaua played their arch- rivals Dinamo (who were the favoured team of Romanias feared secret police) in the 1989 Romanian Cup final. With the game poised at 1-1 in the 90th minute, Steaua had a goal disallowed causing them to walk off the field in protest. Initially the Romanian FA gave the trophy to Dinamo, but after pressure from Valentin Ceausescu, it was subsequently handed to Steaua. Though Steauas remarkable 104 matches is a European record for the longest league unbeaten streak, it is not the world record. That honour goes to Ivorian side ASEC Mimosas who, from 1989-94, went 108 matches unbeaten (87 wins, 17 draws). Where does Chelseas unbeaten home run rank amongst these records? Is Arsenals unbeaten season the most impressive? Which is the greatest team?
Posted on: Mon, 08 Dec 2014 22:05:13 +0000
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