Europe U21 : 2025 (New)

The 2025 edition has concluded and I must say the freedom of younger players is refreshing. For this competition I only start rating from the quarter final matches as so many nations enter. 

First up for the 2025 tournament the last eight teams came together with England, Netherlands, Germany (after extra time) and France progressing. Then England and Germany made it to the final, the two best sides. England led 2-0 before Germany came back to take the match into extra time. England prevailed for the second consecutive time,

Now onto the historical part, going back to 1978 and covering 25 tournaments. It's getting hard to fit all the years in. Some countries have broken into smaller entities and I have shown that below. Pale blue shows the ones that no longer exist and the new countries that then participated.

England got off to a strong start before entering the doldrums but has recently come back strongly. Italy took over and enjoyed a golden spell of five victories in seven years. Spain has won five times but some poor years keep it just behind Italy. Germany has enjoyed success in more recent times.

Argentina: Clubs Ranked - 1961 to 2024 (Updated)

To say that Argentine football is organised in a chaotic way would be an understatement. I hope I managed to sort it out accurately. Success is quite well spread out compared to many countries in Europe.

To the right are the top sides listed. 'Arg' represents points awarded for domestic play and 'Tot' includes South America.

So how do the points work? In Primera División and the Campeonato Metro (and other names used) top four are rewarded with 6, 3, 2 and 1. The Copas (Cup) 4 and 2 points for the finalists only. In South America, the Copa Libertadores (Champions League) gives 8, 4 and 2 points. 

The Primera División - National or Clausura - has River Plate as the top side, ahead of Boca Juniors. Recent winners have been CA Lanús (2016), Boca Juniors (2017,18,20,22), Racing Club (2019), River Plate (2021,23) and Vélez Sársfield (2024).

Another league competition played was the Campeonato Metro - Apertura or Inicial - has also often been held concurrently. 

It first was held from 1967 to 1984 and later reinstalled from 1991 to 2014. The same results have nearly been achieved for the top five at least. 

They haven't been big on cup competitions in Argentina, probably due to two league competitions that left no time to squeeze them in. They are the Copa Argentina and Copa Liga Profesional. 

The Copa Argentina was contested in 1969 and 1970, then from 2012 to today. There was no winner declared in 1970 due to the final being drawn but I shared the points with the finalists. Central Córdoba is the current champion.

The other cup Copa Liga Profesional is probably close to League Cups elsewhere. I'm unsure if it is viewed as important as the Copa Argentina so I awarded the same points for top achievers, unlike what I do for Europe. It commenced in 2020 with Estudiantes LP the present trophy holder.

The Copa Libertadores has been a successful hunting ground for Argentine Clubs. As of now, they have almost taken the same number of points as Brazilian clubs. That's an impressive history.

Argentina was of their arch rival Brazil but have recently been overtaken. The last Argentinian title winner was River Plate in 2018 and before that the same club in 2015. Independiente was very successful in the 1960's and more so during the 70's but its last title was 1984. River Plate was a semi finalist in 2024.

All put together, the clubs are below. The grand total is shown for each club, divided into regions with a ranking number (Rk) which gives their place compared to all the other clubs. Please let me know if you have anything to add. I found a few mistakes in my first edition which I have corrected. 

Most come from Buenas Aires which has 79.8% of all points scored. I called the next region Central, which is a similar latitude to BA and that region took 17.9%. The South and North are not prominent. It is all about the capital city. 

France Women Clubs Ranked - 1992/93 to 2024/25 (New)

France has a long history of women's football with the 1992/93 season being the 19th. The difference was from here it it was a truly national competition rather than being divisional with playoffs as was formally the case. This is where we start. 

Above and to the right we see the top sides. Olympique Lyonnais or OL Lyonnes as they are called now is well ahead. The club was formed in 2004 and was successful immediately as will become apparent. 

Points are earned this way: For the Division 1 Féminine the top four are rewarded with 6, 3, 2 and 1. In the Coupe de France Féminine (FA Cup), 4 and 2 for the finalists, the European Champions League it's 8, 4 and 2 points. 

In OL Lyonnes' first year, it came third. From then it has won the league every year apart from 2020/21 when it inexplicably came second. I cannot recall a more dominant display in any sport.

Paris FC has been a very consistent club, only missing the top four on three occasions in 33 years. The other four on the list to the left have had long streaks of success too.

Long stretches at the top are common in the Division 1 Féminine. The lack of depth seems to be the reason which has season after season with the same teams in the top four. It does make is somewhat predictable. 

The Coupe de France Féminine also has a few prominent teams but not quite as pronounced as in the league as one would expect from a knock out format competition. PSG and Paris FC have been the last two winners.

The European Champions League took off for French clubs in the 2007/08 season. OL Lyonnes has gone on the win its eight trophies in eleven years from 2009/10. No other clubs have won but PSG has lost two finals, one against OL Lyonnes. They must get tired of losing to them. 

All put together, the clubs are below. The grand total is shown for each club, divided into regions with a ranking number (Rk) which gives their place compared to all the other clubs. Any suggestions? Please leave a comment. 

The Central/East is the strongest area with 47.7% of the points I've awarded. Of course whatever region has OL Lyonnes will be on top. The North has two successful clubs and thanks to them 30.9% of the points. South also has two top performing clubs but the West doesn't. 

Six clubs dominate, spread over three regions. I thought with time, more clubs would be more competitive and I wonder if the game is to improve further in France whether more depth is needed.

Spain Women Clubs Ranked - 1988/89 to 2024/25 (New)

A women's national league was established for the 1988/89 season. Some of the clubs that enjoyed early success fell away and more established names replaced them. 

FC Barcelona emerged as a serious challenger in the 2010/11 season and has overpowered the other clubs since then. Real Madrid only started in the 2020/21 season.

Points are earned this way: For the Liga F (Division 1) the top four are rewarded with 6, 3, 2 and 1. In the Copa de la Reina (FA Cup), 4 and 2 for the finalists, the European Champions League it's 8, 4 and 2 points. 

FC Barcelona won its first league title in 2011/12. From that time forward, it has won the league ten times including the last six. There was a four year period it came second so for all that time it has been either first or second.

For those four years there were other winners, they were Athletic Bilbao once and then Atlético Madrid three times. That brief AM dynasty was soon put to the sword. Levante UD was a top side from 1996/97 to 2008/09 but while still competitive hasn't been able to match the afore mentioned clubs in recent times. 

The Copa de la Reina was established five years before Liga F but I haven't counted those seasons. Añorga KKE was initially the most successful, replaced by Levante which in turn gave way to RDC Espanyol. 

Then FC Barcelona took over, winning ten of the cups since 2010/11. It also lost a final in 2016/17 so in that time has only missed four finals. Real Madrid, has made just one final in 2022/23, losing to Atlético Madrid.

For the Champions league, while Spain has had multiple entries only Barcelona has made a semi final or final appearance. They won four consecutive titles until the 2024/25 final when they lost to Arsenal WFC. In all six final appearances and two semi final spots for a tally of 44 points. 

All put together, the clubs are below. The grand total is shown for each club, divided into regions with a ranking number (Rk) which gives their place compared to all the other clubs. Any suggestions? Please leave a comment. 

While Madrid is the strongest area for the men's game, for the women it's the East with 38.7% of the points earned. Madrid is at 23.4% and the Basque region is a high 19.2%. The South does well with 15.1%, the West just 3.4% and the Balearic/Canary combine a low 0.3%.

The Basque region was the most powerful early on but understandably has slipped as more established clubs got their act together. Real Madrid was particularly slow and is still yet to leave much of a mark.

Hungary Clubs Ranked - 1960/61 to 2024/25 (New)

There are three main clubs in Hungary as we can see to the right. The 'Hun' column represents local success and 'Tot' includes European action. The top three are from Budapest and four in the top eight. 

So how do the points work? In the Nemzeti Bajnokság I (Division 1) the top four are rewarded with 6, 3, 2 and 1. The Magyar Kupa (Cup) 4 and 2 points for the finalists only. There was a brief flirting with a League Cup, 3 and 1 for the finalists. In Europe, Champions League 8, 4 and two, the Europa League (UEFA Cup) is given 6, 3 and 1 and the Cup Winner's Cup 4 and 2. 

The Nemzeti Bajnokság I has Ferencvárosi TC the best side since 1960/61. It has won the last seven titles to prove it. 

The second best Újpest FC hasn't won the league since 1997/98. Other recent winners apart from Ferencvárosi are Győri ETO FC 2012/13, Debreceni VSC 2013/14, Fehérvár FC in 2014/15 and 2017/18, plus Budapest Honvéd FC in 2016/17.

The Magyar Kupa started in the 1965 season in this period under consideration and was also missed in 1971. The last three cups have gone to Zalaegerszegi TE in 2022/23 and Paksi FC the last two. 

If you were thinking that Hungary would be absent from Europe, you would be wrong. However, success came some time back and since 1960/61, the 1960's and 70's was the sweet spot. Ferencvárosi TC won the Europa League in 1965. 

All put together, the clubs are below. The grand total is shown for each club, divided into regions with a ranking number (Rk) which gives their place compared to all the other clubs.

I've divided the country into a city and four regions. Budapest accounts for 63.1% of the points. Central surrounds Budapest, therefore is more central northern and it collected 13.7% of the total. The North East 10.0%, West (8.5%) and South 4.7%.