Ranking the 5 best European leagues based on UEFA's 5-year club coefficient points

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French clubs have done well in Europe this season.
French clubs have done well in Europe this season.

The UEFA five-year coefficient is the higher of the sum of a club's coefficients from the previous five seasons or its country's five-season association coefficient.

A club accrues UEFA coefficient points based on its performances in UEFA club competitions in a season. For instance: group-stage wins in the Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League are worth two points apiece. Draws in all three competitions are worth 1.5 points.

Further points are awarded for winning groups (four in Champions League and Europa League, two in Europa Conference League) and finishing runner-up (two in Champions League and Europa League, 1.5 in Europa Conference League). Clubs also receive additional points for appearing in the group stage and for every knockout-round win.

Meanwhile, a country's UEFA season coefficient is calculated by dividing the sum of points accrued by its clubs in UEFA competitions in a season by the number of participating clubs. For more details regarding UEFA club coefficients and a country's UEFA season coefficients, click here.

On that note, here's a look at the five countries with the most UEFA five-season coefficient points at the end of the group stage of the Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League this season:


#5 Spain - 12857 points

Real Madrid vs FC Internazionale: Group D - UEFA Champions League
Real Madrid vs FC Internazionale: Group D - UEFA Champions League

Spanish clubs have performed moderately in UEFA club competitions this season. In the Champions League, five entered the group stage.

However, only three of them reached the Round of 16; Real Madrid won their group, while Atletico Madrid and Villarreal finished second. Sevilla and Barcelona finished third to drop down to the Europa League.

In the Europa League, Spain had two representatives - Real Sociedad and Real Betis. Both qualified for the knockouts, albeit as group runner-ups. Meanwhile, in the inaugural UEFA Europa Conference League, there was no Spanish participation.

In the last five years, Real Madrid won the Champions League twice (2016-17, 2017-18). In the Europa League, Spain have had three triumphs during this period - Atletico Madrid (2018), Sevilla (2020) and Villarreal (2021).


#4 Italy - 14667 points

Venezia FC vs Juventus - Serie A
Venezia FC vs Juventus - Serie A

Italian clubs were steady, if not spectacular, performers in UEFA club competitions this season.

Of the four Italian clubs that entered the Champions League this campaign, Juventus won their group, and Inter Milan finished runner-up. Atalanta finished third to drop to the Europa League, while Serie A leaders AC Milan finished rock-bottom in the 'Group of Death'.

In the Europa League, both Italian clubs - Napoli and Lazio - progressed to the Round of 32 as group runner-ups. Meanwhile, in the Europa Conference League, the lone Italian participant - AS Roma - won their group.

In the last five years, Juventus made the Champions League final in 2017, and have been regulars in the knockout rounds. Inter Milan made the Europa League final last year, where they lost to Sevilla.

#3 Netherlands - 14800 points

FC Twente vs Ajax Amsterdam - Eredivisie
FC Twente vs Ajax Amsterdam - Eredivisie

Ajax made history in the UEFA Champions League this season. The four-time winners won all six group games to become the first club team from the Netherlands to do so.

The only Dutch representative in the Europa League - PSV - finished third in their group. They will go into a playoff for a place in the competition's Round of 32. Meanwhile, in the UEFA Conference League, AZ Alkmaar and Feyenoord won their groups, while Vitesse finished second.

In the last five years, Ajax made a fairy-tale run to the UEFA Champions League semis in 2019, where they lost to Tottenham Hotspur. Two years earlier, the Eredivisie giants finished runner-up to Manchester United in the UEFA Europa League final.


#2 England - 15142 points

Manchester City have led the charge of English clubs in Europe this season.
Manchester City have led the charge of English clubs in Europe this season.

English clubs have performed well in the Champions League this season. Three of them won their groups - Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United. Holders Chelsea almost did so before a late equalizer by Zenit St. Petersburg in a six-goal thriller meant Juventus pipped them to win the group.

In the Europa League, Leicester City finished third to drop to the Round of 32 playoffs, while West Ham United won their group.

Meanwhile, in the UEFA Europa Conference League, the lone English participants - Tottenham Hotspur - need a win against Rennes to reach the Round of 32 playoffs. Their matchday 6 game had been canceled because of a COVID-19 outbreak.

In the last five years, Liverpool (2019) and Chelsea (2021) won the Champions League. Liverpool (2018), Tottenham Hotspur (2019) and Manchester City (2021) reached the final during this period.

Meanwhile, in the Europa League, Manchester United won the competition in 2017 and finished runner-up this year. Chelsea beat Arsenal in an all-English final in 2019.


#1 France - 15417 points

PSG have led the French charge in Europe.
PSG have led the French charge in Europe.

Ligue 1 giants PSG finished second (to Manchester City) in their UEFA Champions League group this year. Meanwhile, reigning Ligue 1 champions Lille won their group to reach the competition's knockouts for the first time since 2007.

In the Europa League, Olympique Lyon and Monaco won their groups, while Marseille finished third to enter a Round of 32 playoffs. Meanwhile, in the UEFA Conference League, Rennes emerged as group winners, even after their last game against Tottenham was canceled due to a COVID-19 outbreak.

In the last five years, PSG and Lyon have fared well. PSG reached the Champions League final last year and the semis in 2021. Meanwhile, Lyon made a surprise run to the semis last year. Marseille lost to Atletico Madrid in the 2018 Europa League final.

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Edited by Rohit Mishra
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