An unbeaten streak is the ultimate level of domination in league football. The very fact that a team went on a run of games without losing a single match is not only a sign of their football ability but also the team’s dedication and perseverance.
European football has a rich history and several teams have been absolutely terrific in their leagues. Such sides have trampled oppositions that have come in their way and delighted their fans with quality football.
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Several clubs have run riot in the league, displaying their superiority over their closest competitors. On that note, let’s take a look at the 10 longest unbeaten league runs in European football:
#10 Skonto – 58
Skonto FC went on a rampage in 1994 and 1995 when they did not lose a single match and displayed their dominance in the Latvian league. The Latvian club was formed in 1991 and won their first league title that year itself. However, this is not their only accomplishment. From 1991 to 2004, the club won the league every single year and only finished second in the 2005 season.
Their boss during that period was Aleksandrs Starkovs and he led the team to glory by not just winning the league title, but winning it in style. The club’s belief and confidence in their ability, coupled with the fact that they hated losing was a big reason behind their success.
"Every point we dropped was a painful blow for us because we were confident we would win every match," long-standing Skonto captain Zeminskis recalled.
#9 Olympiakos – 58
The Greek’s club best period in their long history came under the presidency of shipping magnate, Nikos Goulandris, whose investment in the club made them the strongest team in the league. From 1972 to 1974, the club did not lose a single league game, in a streak that went on for 58 games.
Olympiakos conceded a measly 13 goals in the entire 1972-73 season, which continues to be a Greek record. The next season they showed their quality yet again as they scored 102 goals and conceded just 14 to be crowned the Greek champions.
Olympiakos’ star player was Yves Triantafyllos, who scored 58 goals in 80 games for the team during his 3-year stint.
#8 AC Milan – 58
The Rossoneri have been one of the biggest teams in world football for decades. Milan have had several teams that have etched their names into the record books, however, few come close to the kind of team Fabio Capello built in the early 90s.
The team that had become a dominant force in the world of football was initially assembled by Arrigo Sacchi and Capello continued the former's legacy. AC Milan won the 1991-92 Scudetto without losing a single game. Milan’s core team, consisting of legends like van Basten, Ruud Gullit, and Frank Rijkaard, was in the true sense, the ‘Invincibles’.
The fact that the club achieved this streak when the Serie A was arguably the best league in the world is something that speaks volumes about the feat which was accomplished by them.
#7 Shirak – 59
A club that most of us have never heard of despite the fact that they were unbeaten for a massive 59 games is Armenian club, Shirak. The oldest club in Armenian history, Shirak created history with their phenomenal achievement that spanned across two seasons between 1993-95.
"We had our leaders, but all the players were ready to burst into action and show their strength. We had a good working atmosphere in the team and also that winning spirit. That's why we were unbeatable," said Andranik Adamyan who coached them in the early 90s.
#6 Pyunik – 59
Another club from the Armenian league, Pyunik equalled the record of Shirak by going 59 games unbeaten in the league. The team was promoted to the Armenian Premier League from a lower division and lifted the title in its very first year in 2001.
A strange thing about Pyunik’s successful run is the fact that they were led by three different managers in this period – Oscar López, Mihai Stoichi and Vardan Minasyan.
The club also created history by becoming the first Armenian club to advance to the second round of the UEFA Champions League. The credit for their success is often given to businessman and oligarch, Ruben Hayrapetyan, who invested heavily in the Armenian youth.
#5 Union Saint-Gilloise – 60
Belgian club Union Saint-Gilloise remained unbeaten between 1933 and 1935 and won three straight league titles during this successful run. The club went 60 matches undefeated and this earned them the name ‘Union 60’ to commemorate the great feat. The run concluded in 1935 when they were beaten by Daring Club de Bruxelles.
The Belgian league continues to recognise this amazing feat by awarding the Pappaert Cup, named after Union 60 captain Jules Pappaert, to the club that goes undefeated for the maximum number of league games every year.
#4 Levadia Tallinn – 61
The most recent entrant onto the list is Estonian club Levadia Tallinn who went unbeaten from 2008 to 2009. Levadia also won two league titles in this period. The club, which was funded by local metal firms, were the strongest team by far in the Estonian League but were ultimately beaten by Trans Narva in November 2009 on the last day of the season.
This undefeated streak came under Igor Prins, who is still the manager of the club. After losing to Trans Narva, Prin admitted that while the invincible run was something that will be remembered in history, a lot of it was due to the fact that Levadia never faced strong opponents in the league.
#3 Celtic – 62
The oldest streak on this list belongs to Scottish giants, Celtic, who stunned Scottish football way back in 1915. During World War 1, Celtic truly managed to achieve a spectacular feat as they went unbeaten for 62 matches under their first manager, Willie Maley, and established a record in the United Kingdom which still stands tall today.
On one particular match day, they even played two fixtures against Raith Rovers and Motherwell.
Celtic’s team at that point in time was sensational and the club won four straight league titles. Alec McNair, who was a part of the Celtic squad back then, continues to hold the record for most appearances (604) in Scottish football.
#2 Sheriff Tiraspol – 63
Sheriff has always dominated the football scene in Moldova. After being promoted in 1998, the club went on a rampage two years later and won 10 straight titles from 2000 to 2010, however, the title they won in the 2006-07 was truly special. Under Belarussian coach Leonid Kuchuk, the club won the title without losing a single game.
Unfortunately for them, their run came to an end after losing to arch-rivals Zimbru in March 2008, although this did not deter them from winning the title yet again. Sheriff haven’t really made much of a mark outside Moldova, however, they created history by becoming the first club in Moldovan history to sign players from Brazil and Africa.
#1 Steaua Bucharest – 106
The Romanian club stands head and shoulders above all others when it comes to domination in league football. Steaua Bucharest were unstoppable from 1986 to 1989 and set a record that will, in all probability, never be broken. This was the golden age of the club as it not only won five straight league titles but four national cups as well.
The Steaua Bucharest side consisted of an all-star cast with the likes of Miodrag Belodedici, László Bölöni and Gavril Balint being a part of the team. During their unstoppable run, the Romanian club were led by two managers Emeric Jenei and Anghel Iordanescu, who were both integral parts of the team’s success.
Steaua Bucharest’s record came to an end after they lost to arch-rivals Dinamo Bucharest in the 1989-90 season.
