One major trophy is not a small feat, to say the least: it is enough to drive fans into frenzied hysteria and managers into retirement way ahead of their time, considering the sheer competition and number of teams that are competing.
But a treble in one season? That is just champion stuff.
First, let’s define what a treble is. In relation to football, a treble describes when a team wins three particular trophies in one season. Normally, these will be a domestic league title, a main national cup competition, and a top-flight continental tournament.
However, it’s not just about any three wins; the particular competitions count in this regard. The domestic treble would feature the Premier League, FA Cup, and Carabao Cup, commonly referred to as the League Cup in England.
In Spain, the parallel would be La Liga, Copa del Rey, and the Supercopa de Espana, though some would argue that the Supercopa de Espana is no part of the treble because it has been relatively new.
A continental treble, on the other hand, requires a side to win the major elements of their league, national cup, and continental competition-finish atop the Champions League.
Therein lies some gray areas. Some fans would consider a second-tier continental tournament, such as the Europa League, an adequate enough substitute, but others will not.
In fact, only a few teams have achieved these dizzying heights since the European Cup started back in 1955.
Let’s go back in history from the 1960s to 2023 to meet those clubs who pulled off that feat.
1. Celtic – 1966/67
- Trophies: Scottish League, Scottish Cup, European Cup
The Hoops, as in common with most nicknames, Celtic became the first-ever football club to win the treble. In 1966/67, the “Lisbon Lions,” managed by Jock Stein, not only won the Scottish League, Scottish Cup, and European Cup but completed a domestic clean sweep with the Scottish League Cup and Glasgow Cup too. It is still an astonishing feat in the history books.
Celtic dominated their route to the treble, with a team recording a world-record 196 goals in all competitions that season. The crowning glory was in Lisbon as the Hoops took on the Italian powerhouse of Inter Milan in the final of the European Cup.
A goal down after just seven minutes, Celtic rallied with second-half goals from Tommy Gemmell and Stevie Chalmers sealing the historic 2-1 victory that indeed made them the first British side to lift the European Cup.
Jock Stein’s Celtic set the benchmark for all future treble-winning sides, showing that a club can be excellent both domestically and in Europe.
Celtic is one of the most successful clubs in Scotland.
2. Ajax – 1971/72
- Trophies: Eredivisie, KNVB Cup, European Cup
The foundation of Ajax’s treble win in the 1971/72 season was the brilliance of one of the greatest talents to have ever stepped onto a football pitch: Johan Cruyff.
Still coming into their own as one of the European powers, the Dutch club had begun to establish themselves, and under the tutelage of manager Ștefan Kovács, they added the treble to the list.
In all competitions through the entire season, Ajax lost just one match – a factor that proved their strength in both domestic and European competitions.
One of their most memorable performances that season was the 12-1 thumping of Vitesse, which was the largest victory in Eredivisie history for 48 years until Ajax broke their own record with a 13-0 win in 2020.
Ajax won 2-0 against Inter Milan in the European Cup final, and Cruyff played an important role in that season.
The treble-winning campaign confirmed Ajax as one of the major footballing dynasties, and this particular team is remembered as being one of the finest club sides ever assembled.
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3. PSV Eindhoven – 1987/88
- Trophies: Eredivisie, KNVB Cup, European Cup
PSV Eindhoven emulated their Dutch rivals Ajax in 1988 by completing the treble. This PSV team, under the guidance of Guus Hiddink, had its foundation in keeping solid defense and tactical discipline.
They were marshaled at the back by none other than the Dutch legend Ronald Koeman. The fact that they had to sell their star player Ruud Gullit to AC Milan before the season for a then-record fee makes this success even more remarkable.
The final was tight against Portuguese giants Benfica, with no winner decided after the match had finished goalless. A thrilling penalty shootout ended 6-5 in favor of PSV to secure their first and only European Cup to this day.
That treble-winning season is still very fondly remembered in the Netherlands, and for the fact that it won despite losing its key players was a testament to the resilience and quality of the team.
4. Manchester United – 1998/99
- Trophies: Premier League, FA Cup, Champions League
Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United from the 1998/99 season remains one of the most iconic sides in football history. Renowned for their thrilling style of play, this United side could come back from the dead, especially at the end of their famous treble-winning season.
United won the league on the last day of the season, finishing a single point ahead of Arsenal. That was followed by a 2-0 win over Newcastle United in the FA Cup final.
However, it was their Champions League win that is most fondly remembered. It was one of the most dramatic finals in the competition’s history as United came from behind against Bayern Munich, 1-0 down in stoppage time, to win 2-1 thanks to two late goals from Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at the Camp Nou.
The 1999 treble confirmed Manchester United as one of the great clubs of world football and Sir Alex Ferguson as one of the most successful managers in history.
5. Barcelona – 2008/09 & 2014/15
- Trophies -both seasons: La Liga, Copa del Rey, Champions League
Barcelona is one of the two clubs who have achieved the treble twice, in both 2008/09 and 2014/15. The first triumph was under Pep Guardiola, who had taken over as manager of the club, while the second was under Luis Enrique.
And the 2008/09 treble-winning team is often assessed as one of the best club sides to have played the beautiful game, containing the awesome attacking trio in Lionel Messi, Samuel Eto’o, and Thierry Henry.
Barcelona won La Liga, then beat Athletic Club in the Copa del Rey final to seal a domestic double before dispatching Manchester United 2-0 in the Champions League final.
Joining Messi in 2014/15 were Neymar and Luis Suárez, an “MSN” attack that was one of the deadliest forward lines the world has ever seen. Barcelona again won the treble by defeating Juventus 3-1 in the Champions League final at the end of another dominant domestic campaign.
These two consecutive treble-winning seasons sealed Barcelona as probably one of the most successful and entertaining clubs in modern football.
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6. Inter Milan – 2009/10
- Trophies: Serie A, Coppa Italia, Champions League
Inter Milan, managed by the great José Mourinho, was the first and only Italian team to win the treble in the 2009/10 season. Mourinho is a great tactician who motivates his players to give their best every time in any top-pressure situation.
This was led by the prolific Diego Milito, whose clutch goals in the latter stages of all three competitions saw Inter dominate Serie A, pip AS Roma for the Coppa Italia final, and then meet Bayern Munich in the Champions League final.
He again stole the show in that match, scoring a brace to give Inter a 2-0 win and their first European Cup since 1965.
The treble by Inter under Mourinho remains one of the biggest achievements in Italian football history and, in large measures, underlined Mourinho’s reputation as one of the most successful and tactically savvy managers of his generation.
7. Bayern Munich – 2012/13 & 2019/20
- Trophies [both seasons]: Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal, Champions League
Bayern Munich is the second club in history to win the treble twice after achieving the feat in the 2012/13 and 2019/20 seasons. In the 2012/13 season, under the leadership of Jupp Heynckes, Bayern commanded attention in German and European soccer.
They defeated their domestic rivals, Borussia Dortmund, in the Wembley Champions League final and beat all challengers to their title as the best club in Europe.
Bayern, under Hansi Flick, were equally dominant in 2019/20. The COVID-19 pandemic caused chaos with the season schedule, but they completed the treble with a pulsating 1-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final, sealed by Kingsley Coman.
Bayern’s two seasons of treble victories underlined their amazing consistency and the fact that they have remained competitive at the pinnacle of European football.
8. Manchester City – 2022/23
- Trophies: Premier League, FA Cup, Champions League
The newest member on the treble winners list is definitely Manchester City, a feat achieved during the 2022/23 season under the tutelage of Pep Guardiola.
With its dominance of English football much of the previous decade, City finally added the missing piece in their cabinet by winning the Champions League after defeating Inter Milan 1-0 in the final.
This was a season for City defined by their breathtaking attacking play, flexibility in the systems, and brilliance like Kevin De Bruyne, Erling Haaland, and Rodri.
The victory has confirmed Guardiola not only among the best managers in the history of football but obviously has placed Manchester City among the leading clubs in Europe.
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