Five Greatest Football Clubs ever!

Calling all loyal supporters. Not many clubs can claim to be among the greats but only one can be the greatest. The best of the very best.

A great club is not just made of great players, it is made by the hard work and dedication of the back-room team, the wisdom of the owners and over and above all the support of the fans.

On second thoughts, to be among the greatest, a club needs just one thing – Silverware!

For silverware means that the club has performed well throughout the season, not just on field but off it as well. So the first criteria for selection is certainly, silverware. Another criteria to be among the greatest, is history. Saying that a club is rich in history means that the club has enjoyed fan support since yesteryears and continues to do so.

So, here are ten great clubs of all time! Vote and support your club through comments and votes to make your club the greatest!

Manchester United [polldaddy rating="2645460"]

Manchester United

Records suggest that this club whose footballers are popularly and affectionately called “The Red Devils” is the joint greatest in history of English Football along with arch rivals Liverpool. Situated at Old Trafford since 1910, this club has a rich history with some notable legends.

In 1958, the club lost eight of its priceless homegrown players who were an integral part of the “Busby Babes” (as the team was called popularly) in the Munich Air Disaster. These players had won the league championships in season 1955-56 and 1956-57.

Inspite of such a great loss, Manchester United stood firm and is still at the pinnacle of English Football. The most notable manager after Busby is Sir Alex Ferguson who joined the club as manager in 1986 and still continues as the most successful manager.

Among club legends are Sir Bobby Charlton, Eric Cantona, Ryan Giggs and many others. The list is endless.

Barcelona [polldaddy rating="2645480"]

More than a club

Barcelona has a strong claim in this list of great football clubs. Representative of Catalan culture the club’s motto is rightly, “More than a club”. It is the most successful club in La Liga overall in terms of silverware and has the unique distinction of winning the sextuple in 2009.

The club shares a rivalry with Real Madrid and nor more is to be said on this subject for it is all to our knowledge, how the clubs hate each other.

The ownership of the club is with the supporters and that makes Barcelona truly special.

Among club legends are players like Johan Cryuff, Diego Maradona, Josep Guardiola and many others. The club has had many successful managers such as Johan Cryuff, Louis Van Gaal, Marinus Michels and Frank Rijkaard in the recent past.

Liverpool [polldaddy rating="2645479"]

You will never walk alone!

The joint holders of the maximum number of trophies in English History. Since the club won its first Championship at the turn of the century, the Liverpool fans have “never walked alone”.

The club was in yesteryears merged with Everton, the “other” merseyside club. After a dispute over rent the two separated and an intense rivalry has ensued since. Manchester United are also hated with equal passion if not more.

Liverpool legend Ian Callaghan holds the record for most appearances for the club over 19 seasons! Ian Rush is the highest goalscorer. Steven Gerrard is the current heartthrob at the club along with Jamie Carragher who has now completed 600 appearances for the club. Kenny Dalglish is another major legend at Anfield.

Anfield has been Liverpool’s home evr since the club started out. A new stadium is under construction.

Among great managers are Tom Watson, Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley brough most silverware to Liverpool.

Arsenal [polldaddy rating="2645452"]

The Gunners!

Known as “gunners” for the obvious implication of the club’s name it was founded in 1886 by the name of Dial Square. Arsenal is next only to Manchester United and Liverpool in terms of Silverware. Crowned 13 times as the Champions of league football in England, Arsenal boast of a great achievement in the FA Cup with 10 titles.

Arsenal are known today world over for their creative football, heavily dependent on quality passing. Arsenal have a brilliant reputation for bringing up young talent in their own youth academy and also through scouting. This is attributed to club’s current manager Arsene Wenger who has been in charge since 1996.

Among the legends at the club are names like Dennis Bergkamp, Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira, George Graham and many more. The invincibles were the group of players who won the league in the 2003-04 season without losing a match!

The london club recently shifted to their new stadium emirates and had previously plied their trade at Highbury. Arsenal also has a women’s team known as the Arsenal ladies affiliated with the club. Arsenal Ladies are the most successful club in Women’s football in England.

Real Madrid [polldaddy rating="2645513"]

Los Galacticos

Voted by FIFA as the most successful football club of the twentieth century, Real Madrid or simply el Madrid is Spain’s Powerhouse.

Real Madrid has a record 31 La Liga titles (runners-up 17 times), Copa Del Rey (17 times), 8 Supercopa tiles, and an incredible 9 Champions League titles.

It is impossible to talk about the club legends without the mention of the Galacticos. Looked upon by many as more of a marketing gimmick than a pure footballing decision, Florentino Perez brought to the club the best from all over the club. The likes of Zidane, Ronaldo and Beckham in one team.

Manuel Pellegrini and Luis Carniglia are the most succesful managers at the club. The club is currently being managed by Jose Mourinho.

The club currently plays at Santiago Bernabeu which is named after the President of the club who was the brain behind its creation. Santiago Bernabeu believed that their stadium Estadio Chamartínwas not big enough for a club of their ambitions.

Real Madrid has a bitter rivalry with the Catalan side Barcelona and their matches popularly called El Classico.

to be contd…