EXCLUSIVE: ECFR Website Preview!
I am proud to announce that the ECFR website is now online. Please be patient as the site is still under construction but here is a preview.
I would love to hear your thoughts and suggestions of what you would like the website to contain, and how it should look, so please drop me a line!
The website address is www.europeanclubfootballrankings.com why not pay a visit now!
Thank you for all your support!!!
ECFR 10 Top Ranked Teams and UEFA coefficient comparisons
Finally, I can release the European Club Football Ranking positions for all teams that have taken part in the Champions League or Europa League in the past 5 years (more than 400 clubs in all!)
To answer my biggest question, how my rankings compare to the ‘Official’ UEFA rankings, which include factors beyond pure on-pitch performance, and I am extremely happy to say that the standings are notably different (and I feel a better reflection too!)
Here are the Top 10 Ranked Teams in Europe according to my ECFR calculations, below you will see the UEFA standings for comparison.
Let me know what you think and SPREAD THE WORD!!!
and the ‘official’ UEFA rankings…
Remember there are still 3 days remaining to get your votes in for the Football Blogging Awards, if you would like to vote for ECFR (or anyone else of course) then you can follow the links below
Rankings Update: 2011-12 Season Complete !! – We are 100% up-to-date!!!!
We are finally there!!!!
My rankings are now 100% completely up-to-date! I will post more details on this tomorrow, but Chelsea’s heroics see them rise from 6th to 3rd, whilst Barcelona maintain their stranglehold on the top spot. Maybe the post Guardiola era will see a power shift away from the Catalan giants?
Other major movers include Bayern Munich taking 2nd position and Manchester Utd falling from their firm 2nd position, down to 5th following their very disappointing campaign.
Europa League winners Athletico Madrid, lifting the trophy for a second time in 3 years, means that they rise to their highest position of 6th.
And so would you believe that today in Nyon, Switzerland, the draw for the 1st and 2nd Qualifying Rounds of the 2012-13 season Champions League and the 1st Qualifying Round of the Europa League took place! (Perfect timing for me to complete my ranking updates!)
Again, in the next few days I will post more on this, but if you would like a preview of those draws before that, then you can click the linked images below.
Have a good night all, and thank you for all your support!
Rankings Update: End of season 2010-11
Only one season to update until completely up-to-date ! Getting really excited now!
This was the season that saw Barcelona comfortably beat Manchester United at Wembley in the Champions League Final, whilst the Portuguese dominated the Europa League, with a young AVB coming to prominence leading his Porto side to victory over Braga in Ireland.
Ranking wise, the 2 obvious stories are of Porto’s rise up the ranks to 4th (having started the season ranked 11th) and Barcelona, well, hard for them to improve on the top ranking position, but the difference in class between them and 2nd ranked Manchester United really was highlighted in that final and is truly reflected at this stage having created an enormous 8,729 point advantage! In my opinion, this was Barcelona at their peak under Pep Guardiola.
Anyway, as I mentioned, just this season to go now and with just 9 days to go until the draw for the 1st and 2nd qualifying rounds the race is one to be up-to-date in time!
Talking of deadlines, remember that there are just 13 days to go until the Football Blogging Awards voting closes, so if you haven’t done so already, get in on it! Obviously, you do not have to vote for ECFR but your support is always appreciated! You can click the links below for instructions and more.
Rankings Update – End of Groups 2010-11 Season
As promised here is how the Top 10 stood at the end of the groups in the 2010-11 season. The Top 6 remained unchanged, but below that some sparring for positions resulted in Ukrainians Shakhtar Donetsk making a reappearance in the Top 10 at the expense of Bordeaux.
Will look to have the season complete by the end of the weekend before a final push to complete the 2011-12 season by the following weekend.
Thanks for bearing with me and for all your support – by the way, I got my first independent vote in the Best Statistics and Analysis category for the upcoming Football Blogging Awards!!! Although I will not win anything (this year), its feels great having my blog noticed enough for someone to take the time and effort to vote – thank you ever so much!
If you would like to vote for me then you can follow the linked images below and vote either through Facebook or Twitter
Rankings Update – 2009/10 Season
As promised here are the ranking positions as of the end of the 2009/10 season. In this season, both Barcelona and Manchester Utd managed to hold on to their top 2 positions despite both failing to reach the final!
Indeed it was eventually Inter Milan and Bayern Munich who battled past the early tournament favourites, and after 90 minutes it was Jose Mourinho collecting his second Champions League winners medal with a 2-0 victory over the Bavarians. Inter began the tournament being ranked 27th and Bayern 8th making their achievements all the more impressive.
In the Europa League it was Fulham who came so close to an incredible story. In their first season in Europe, they eventually succumbed to a very classy Athletico Madrid side who needed extra time to finish the job. As we know, Athletico have since gone on to continue their success in this tournament.
So to the top 10…
A short post this time as I continue to rank the 2010/11 season with my aim to be fully up-to-date in time for the coming season.
Remember that you can vote for ECFR in the fast approaching Football Blogging Awards (see my previous blog below for details on how to do this or click the links below) – just 29 days to go and you’re support really would be appreciated!
Chelsea – European Champions!
Congratulations to Chelsea, Champions of Europe for the first time! Yet another resolute performance in a match they were again underdogs in.
Once again it was the man for the big occasion, Didier Drogba who took centre stage. After the Germans had dominated proceedings im sure they felt that they had one hand on the trophy having taken a late lead through Thomas Muller’s 83rd minute header. But Chelsea are made of tough stuff these days as they proved in the Nou Camp in the semi final, and Drogba it was who powered his header in two minutes from the end of time for his 10th goal in 10 finals to take the match into extra time.
Unsurprisingly, it was Bayern again that had the best of the chances in the final 30 minutes, none more so than for ex-Chelsea star Arjen Robben who had his penalty saved in the first period of extra time. Watching the match unfold, I was honestly not surprised to see Cech keep it out, with the match starting to repeat what went before against Barcelona (with Drogba once again being the man responsible for giving away the penalty). I wondered if Messi’s penalty crashing against the bar went through his mind when deciding to blast it low?
So to penalties, and I have to say that I felt very sorry for Bastian Schweinsteiger. I praised him for his cool under pressure against Madrid in the semi-final shoot out, but it was not to be when it mattered on the biggest game of all, his staggered run up did not deceive the impressive Petr Cech, who guessed the right way for all the penalties, and even though he could not reach this one, the post did the work for him.
Of course, it was written in the stars for Drogba…. possibly his last match, bigger than that, the last kick of a ball in a Chelsea shirt…the fact that his red card on their only previous Champions League final appearance meant that John Terry was required to step up (and miss)…. a chance for redemption, glory and to cement his place as an all time Chelsea legend (of he wasn’t already one)…. only going to be one result!
Again, congratulations to Chelsea, I for one hope this means that Di Matteo get’s the job permanently and continues what has been a great story for him so far.
As you will see on the right hand side, we now have just a month to go until the draw for the first and second qualifying rounds for the 2012/13 Champions League and Europa League takes place – I will do everything I can to make sure that the rankings are fully up to date before then, wish me luck!!
Thanks for following
Rankings Update: 2008/09 Season complete
2 seasons down and 3 to go!!
The end of this season saw Barcelona defeat Manchester United 2-0 at the Stadio Olympico to lift the Champions League whilst in the UEFA Cup, it was Ukrainians Shakhtar Donetsk who eventually defeated Werder Bremen 2-1 after extra time.
Below is how things stood at that stage, next up in my quest to find the current number one is the 2009/10 season and the roads to Madrid and Hamburg, and the inaugural season of the Europa League.
Hopefully we will have this completed in the next 7-10 days – wish us luck!!
Rankings Update – First Qualifying Round 2008-09
So 102 qualifying games on the roads to Rome and Istanbul, and as you would expect no changes to the Top 10 (or about the Top 30 for that fact!) However, one fixture in the UEFA Cup caught my eye, EB/Streymur do not usually attract too much attention, but their tie with Manchester City represented the now mega rich club’s first opportunity to register ranking points and take that first step on the ladder. They were in fact only in the competition thanks to their placing in the Fair Play table!
This was Mark Hughes first matches in charge of the side, and goals over the two legs from Petrov (2), Jo and Vassell saw City progress without too much fuss, resulting in Manchester City receiving 150 points for their efforts and leaving them ranked 143rd, overtaking their Faroe Island opposition who fall to 215th (their 30 points carried over from the 2007-08 season keeping them clear of the bottom placed 232nd position).
Amazing to see how their side has since changed, and it will most certainly be interesting to see how far they can climb up the ranks (remember this 2011-12 season was their first in the Champions League so expect it could take a while to crack the top 10). Particularly interesting as in the next season for me to update (09/10) new owner Sheikh Mansour took charge and some serious money started to be spent.
So as I mentioned the Top 10 places did not change, although being the new season the points accumulated in 2007-08 are reduced in value. Here is the table as is stands
I have a sneaky feeling that I will be rattling through the rounds far quicker from now!! Next Rankings Update will be at the end of the qualifying rounds (hopefully around next weekend)
Have a great weekend!
Ranking Update – 2007/08 Season Complete!
Finally my first full season complete! Has been a bit of a mission but I finally made it. I have learnt a lot along the way which should stand me in good stead for completing the next 4 seasons and becoming 100% current (my aim is to be ready for the beginning of next season!
Well as you would expect at this very early stage, the final ranking reflect the progress of the teams, of course the 2007/08 season was that which saw Avram Grant‘s Chelsea come to within a whisker of beating Manchester United to lift the one trophy that Roman Abramovic wants more than any other. Christiano Ronaldo and Frank Lampard goals ensured a stalemate during 120 minutes of play before penalties and Manchester United lifting the trophy for the 3rd time in their illustrious history
This was also the season that saw the UEFA Cup come to Manchester, although purely as hosts to the final between Zenit St. Petersburg and Rangers, who to their credit had knocked out some far ‘bigger’ names along the way (including Bayern Munich). It was a far more straightforward affair at the City of Manchester Stadium (as it was then known) with second half goals from Denisov and Zyryanov to take the trophy east and to Russia.
As a result of the hundreds of games involved across the two competitions, the final rankings for the season 2007/08 are as follows
Tomorrow, is another season! Thank you for all your support!
Rankings Update – Group Stages 2007-08 Season
And so we begin to see the top of the ranking board begin to take shape with some names we more commonly associate with top European football. I’m sure that even some of these teams will find it hard to maintain their top 10 status until the rankings are completely up-to-date, especially given how quickly football can change and given there are 4 more seasons to go!
Take Bayern Munich for instance, the 2007-08 season they were competeing in the UEFA Cup having failed to qualify for the Champions League the previous season, yet 5 years later and they stand the best chance of winning the Champions League since Thomas Linke’s sudden death penalty back in 2001.
Here are the top 10 ranked teams as at the end of the group stages back in 2007-08
End of an era
Well today’s news that Pep Guardiola will not be renewing his contract at Barcelona marks the end of an era, with Barca having lifted no less than 13 trophies since he was given the top job back in 2008, an amazing achievement no matter what tools you are given for the job. To have done this in the amazing style that they have is further testament to the 41-year-old, who will no doubt be in a position to choose whichever club he wants to manage if, but more likely, when he decides to end his ‘time-out’ from football.
The biggest question, will of course be who will step into his shoes next (what a job!) but we also have to ask, will they be able to get the team to continue playing the Barcelona way with the same success, or will Guardiola leave a shadow at the club that any new manager will find too hard to compete with (Mourinho at Chelsea springs to mind!) It is at these transitional times that players who have spent their whole careers at a team may just take a moment to re-evaulate the situation and consider a move too, we will see (but realistically, who would want to leave Barcelona, Guardiola or no Guardiola!)
Very sad that he leaves on such an uncharacteristically poor week, I hope that he is making the right choice for himself and his family.
Best of luck anyway Pep!
Who expected that!!!
It is always tempting to move from your core topic when blogging, particularly when talking about football. I really do not want to simply turn my blog into a series of match reports, we already have 101 of those freely available from professional reporters not to mention the fans!
But still, the 2 matches in Spain in the past 2 days make it very hard not to become embroiled in the excitement of it all!
Tuesday night was fascinating, with many people disappointed to see Barcelona eliminated. This leaves the Champions League as a tournament that has never successfully been defended!
Many people have viewed the 2-2 draw in Spain as a triumph for grit and determination over flair and pure football the way it ‘should’ be played. I understand this point of view, but I would also argue that defending and tactical awareness are just as important to the game as attacking flair and possession, it may be far less glamorous but nonetheless is it not part of football? You would not start with all creative midfielders and strikers would you! So I am celebrating a courageous performance by Chelsea in what was a massively difficult task against the team some consider to be the best of all time, (I personally would give that the 2010/11 season team – this season they appear to have just lost that air of invincibility). Made all the more impressive by coming back from 2 goals down and with 10 men!
I do feel that it is a massive shame that yellow card suspensions carry through to the final, the best and most prestigious club competition in the world and one that very few players have the privilege of playing in but come May, 4 of Chelsea’s heroes of the Camp Nou will be ineligible due to suspension. Players sent off in the semi-finals yes, accepted, but yellow cards I do not agree with and I am sure there would be very little objection should that rule be introduced.
Bayern will also be without a number of players for exactly the same reason (3 I believe in their case), and what a performance it was too by the Bavarians. 2 goals down in 14 minutes and very few teams in the world would have the spirit to be able to see the job through. Once extra-time was completed however, the first thing I thought of was Germany and Spain (whether that be club or country), and their contrasting fortunes when it comes to penalty shoot outs down the years – for me, there was only going to be one winner! So fitting then that it was Mr Bayern, Bastian Schweinsteiger’s penalty that sent them home for the final.
So in the aftermath there are always so many if’s, but’s and what could have been’s. The two players who are generally regarded as the best in the world (Messi and Ronaldo if you need to ask) both missed crucial spot kicks, the possibility of all 4 finalists in Europe’s top 2 competitions all being from Spain, now has a distinct possibility of being just one with Sporting taking a slender lead into the second leg of their Europa League semi-final second leg. At the end of the day we have Bayern Munich vs Chelsea, and I am sure no matter who is playing it will make for a great final.
And so on to the Europa League semi-finals second legs tonight, I for once will be off the fence and routing for a Sporting victory, purely so we can see 4 finalist from 4 different nations.
Finally, I have to say that these stages of the competitions really give me inspiration to progress with my rankings, I still have a very long way to go, but I have given myself a target of the beginning of next season to be completely up-to-date. I hope you continue to follow and support me all the way (and beyond!)
Rankings Update – ECL 3rd Qualifying / UEFA Cup 1st Round 2007-08 Season
Things starting to get exciting (well as exciting as these things can when you still have 5 years of data to wade through!), but with this being the final round before entering the points bonanza that is the group stages for both the Champions League and UEFA Cup, which of course also sees the ‘Big Guns’ joining in, it at least has me excited and motivated to press on!
So as promised, latest rankings, and as expected another new club at the top of the leader board, Congratulations to Rosenborg who conquered Tampere United (previously ranked 2nd) to advance to the Champions League group stages:
As a final sign off I just wanted to say hi and welcome to jwellwin who has a great Chelsea blog going on, Chelsea are not my team of choice (im actually a Nottingham Forest fan) but always great to read all about other teams, particularly given last nights heroics against Barcelona! I’d definitely recommend taking a look at the blog chelseanewsletter.wordpress.com
Until next time…
Will the Spanish step up??
Well Bayern and Chelsea it is with slender leads to take to Spain, do you think they will be able to hold out what will most certainly be an onslaught from both of the Spanish giants? Let me know what you think. In my view, Bayern although having the disadvantage on conceding an away goal have the better opportunity but my money is on a first ever El Classico Champions League Final.
In rankings news, latest ranks from the 07-08 season to be posted this evening (a few big guns starting to head towards the summit!)
Rankings Update – 2nd Qualifying 2007-08 Season
Just a quick update on the rankings, hope to have the ECL 3rd Qualifying and UEFA Cup 1st Round out by the end of the weekend.
The top 5 ranked clubs from the 1st round didnt fair well obviously with just Tampere United progressing and maintaining their status as an early front-runner. The 2nd qualifying rounds for both the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Cup saw a few of the ‘bigger names’ enter the fray, those included Glasgow Rangers, Red Star Belgrade (I still like to think of these as a big name), Galatasaray, Athletico Madrid to mention just a few. Of these it is just Glasgow Rangers who broke into the Top 5.
If you would like to know where your team is placed at this very early stage, drop me a line!
Once step closer…
and so for Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Chelsea and Barcelona, it is just 180 minutes away from the final of the biggest club competition in the World (well, in my opinion anyway). For me the Bayern vs Real Madrid tie really is the one that catches the eye, everything is set for a real classic. I am a big fan of Mourinho, Ronaldo and co but for once I will be routing for Bayern. For me, it is as much to do with the prospect of a final showdown at home against an amazing Barcelona team (of course should Barcelona successfully negotiate their way past Chelsea – always drama there too!).
I am sure for many the prospect of an ‘El Classico’ for the final would be the preference of many, but with recent games between the two Spanish giants being as much about the uglier side of the game, with frequent diving, shocking tackles and misbehaving managers (well that is harsh on Guardiola I know!) I would hate for the showpiece event seen by millions to be overshadowed in this way – but that’s just me thinking of how Real would attempt to subdue a truely amazing Barcelona side – if they do meet I hope they just try and prove their worth by playing their own wonderful brand of football which has led them to the summit of the La Liga. I think Bayern’s home advantage, the amazing form of the likes of Gomez, Ribery, Robben and many more means that they would stand a more than half decent chance.
As for the remaining piece in the semi-final jigsaw, Chelsea, I think it has been a major achievement to reach this stage given their on and off field showing this season and will leave Roman waiting for at least another year (I suspect many more)
The Europa League of course also now has it’s last 4 clubs decided, and with 3 of the remaining 4 sides hailing from Spain, the true strength of the Spanish game right now really is there for all to see. To me this goes some way to putting to bed the theory that Spanish football is just about the ‘Big 2’.
So its down to Athletic Bilbao, who really have made many sit up and pay attention here in England with not just the results over Manchester United but the fashion in that they beat them, this of course followed up by a great display against a very good Schalke side. Athletico Madrid, also beating German opposition in the Quarter-finals in Hannover 96, Valencia who turned around a one goal deficit to beat AZ Alkmaar, whilst it is mega-bucks Manchester City’s tormentors Sporting of Portugal who complete the Semi-final line up.
So Athletico Madrid vs Valencia and Sporting vs Athletic Bilbao. When looking at the respective league positions you would expect a simple enough Valencia vs Sporting final with Athletico in a distinctly moderate 7th position and Bilbao an even more disappointing 11th – possibly the long La Liga season and Europa League campaigns taking their toll – I am going to stick my neck out and say this year will be a Valencia vs Bilbao final with Bilbao winning in extra time – do not put money on it though – im not known for my amazing accuracy with my predictions – in any event I do hope that the final at the National Arena in Bucharest (nice stadium by the way!) is a memorable one for all the right reasons.
Anyway, working on those stats again later and with a bit of luck will have the latest installment soon!
Before I sign off just to say Hi and thank you for following to Lesley Carter (my 3rd follower) always great to hear from you, let me know what you think and any suggestions you may have.
Until next time…..
European Club Football Rankings 