Best European Football Clubs of the Decade
Football moves in eras and nothing lasts forever. A team and club may be top of the pile for five years and then find themselves struggling to keep up for the next five. This cyclical movement is apparent and important because it means no one club or team can dominate the sport. That said, some teams are able to reach a high-level for a consistent period.
And it is those teams we will celebrate today as we look back at the best club sides of the last decade (2010-2020). It’s the kind of debate football fans love and we’re here to stoke that debate and get the ball rolling. Looking ahead to the rest of 2021, fans will be betting big on the next team to emerge dominant in Europe. To help you get started, try out a Paddy Power promo code when making your next pre-match or in-game wagers.
Our following list is bound to raise some eyebrows because of notable omissions. There’s no room for some undoubted massive success stories over the last decade, so here are the notable omissions:
Liverpool (2018-2020)
Despite a second-place finish in 2019, winning the Champions League that same year, and then winning the Premier League in 2020 off two near 100-point seasons, the current Liverpool team does not make our list. The European success was epic, and the title win huge, but the best teams win leagues back-to-back, something Liverpool failed to do.
Manchester United (2008-2013)
If this list were the best teams between 2005 and 2010, Manchester United would be near the top. However, Alex Ferguson’s last great team was in its final stages after 2010, despite winning two more Premier League’s and reaching the 2011 Champions League final.
Inter Milan (2010)
Jose Mourinho guided Inter Milan to three Serie A titles, including a league, cup, and Champions League treble in 2010. Sadly, one year of continental success if not enough for a list of the best teams of a whole decade… amazing achievement, though.
Manchester City (2010-2020)
Manchester City, buoyed by billionaire investment, were the most successful Premier League team of the last decade, winning the championship four times. However, the club has faltered in Europe and domestic success is simply not enough for this list.
Best Club Teams 2010-2020
- Real Madrid (2010-2020)
Real Madrid’s domestic success has been decent over the last 10 years, with three La Liga titles and two Cope Del Rey’s, but often the club has played second fiddle to Barcelona. Not so in Europe, where Los Blancos won four Champions League’s between 2013-2018, including three in a row. Driven by Cristiano Ronaldo, this was arguably the most dominant European team ever.
- Barcelona (2010-2020)
A list between 2005 and 2015 would have Barcelona at the top by a distance. Pep Guardiola built arguably the best club team of all-time during that decade and the success sustained between 2010 and 2020. Two more Champions League’s (2011 and 2015), seven La Liga crowns, and five cup wins, alongside the greatest players of all-time… Leo Messi.
- Bayern Munich
The current Champions League holders, Bayern Munich have consistently been a club to disrupt Real Madrid’s and Barcelona’s hold on European football. Nine Bundesliga titles, six German cups, and two European crowns cap a remarkable decade. Even more astonishing is both those Champions League wins came as part of a league, cup, European cup treble.