In every Champions League season, sides like Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Bayern Munich easily count among the favorites to lift the trophy. Top bookies regularly favor these teams to win given their fat history of success in the eminent tournament.
Indeed, punters are particularly quick to stake on Real Madrid getting to the finals after a sportingbet sa login.
But aside from these clubs, there are still other clubs who have enjoyed “modest” success in the Champions League–sides that we don’t readily count among favorites every season.
This article discusses these teams that are relatively underdogs in Europe’s elite tournaments.
Inter Milan – 3 titles
Yes, most football enthusiasts don’t fancy Inter winning the Champions League every season. But the Italians have enjoyed a fair slice of success in this competition.
With a roster that had some of the best stars in the game at the time, Inter Milan won the Champions League trophy for the first time in 1964 and 1965.
Sandro Mazzola and Luis Suarez, among others, helped Inter Milan win the championship and had an enduring effect on the football world.
Inter Milan then repeated the feat in 2010, winning the Champions League for a record-tying third time. This time, the team was captained by Jose Mourinho, who orchestrated a tactical masterwork against Bayern Munich in the championship game. Wesley Sneijder, Diego Milito, and Samuel Eto’o all contributed significantly to helping Inter Milan win the trophy.
Inter Milan still has a dedicated following and storied history, despite the fact that it has been a while since their previous victory in the competition. Who knows when a new generation of players leading the way? Inter Milan may soon increase their collection of Champions League trophies.
Manchester United – 3 titles
It hurts to mention Manchester United among the underdogs in the Champions League. But that is how far the Reds have fallen from grace since the glorious days of Alex Ferguson.
While outsiders in the competition more recently (compared to their raging blue Manchester neighbors), Manchester United have been fairly successful in the Champions League before now.
This English team has a lengthy history in the league and three Champions League titles to its credit.
With a lineup that included players like Bobby Charlton and George Best, Manchester United won the trophy for the first time in 1968.
Manchester United duplicated the feat in 1999, outlasting Bayern Munich in the title match thanks to an incredible comeback. In the club’s history, the team from that year, which included players like Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, and David Beckham, is still regarded as one of the best.
Then, in 2008, Manchester United succeeded a third time by defeating Chelsea in the championship game. That year, Cristiano Ronaldo stole the show with an incredible eight goals in the competition, giving Manchester United another championship.
Ajax – 4 titles
It would arguably take a miracle for Ajax to get to the finals of the Champions League in modern football. But the dutch giants were not this far away from their European peers.
Before now, they were among the finest sides to play the tournament.
With four European Cup/Champions League victories under their belt, Ajax has solidified its place in the annals of the sport. They won their first championship in 1971 and three more in the decade that followed (1972, 1973, and 1995).
The fact that Ajax achieved success with a team largely composed of gifted domestic players is noteworthy. Johan Cruyff, Marco van Basten, Dennis Bergkamp, and Wesley Sneijder are just a few of the best athletes in sports history that came from their famed youth program, De Toekomst (The Future).
Ajax has obviously not always been successful in the Champions League. They had encountered certain challenges, including a stretch in the early 2000s when they repeatedly failed to get past the group stages. Yet, they have always bounced back, and their most recent performances have been exceptionally breathtaking.
These are teams that have conquered Europe–although they don’t have such grandeur anymore. These teams have repeatedly demonstrated what it takes to triumph on the grandest stage in European club football. We are hopeful Man United’s resurrection under Erik Ten Hag takes them back to the pinnacle of European football again!