Who do CaughtOffside believe to be the 20 biggest football clubs on the continent?
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The argument about who the biggest football club in the world is a popular and, ultimately, very difficult to answer one. So many variables, such as level of support, historical success, current prospects and brand value come into answering it, but we’ve given it a go – considering those across clubs in European football, where most of the major clubs play, and coming to this definitive top 20 ranking:
20) FC Schalke 04 (Germany)
Bundesliga side Schalke attract huge crowds to their Gelsenkirchen home and are historical one of Germany’s most successful clubs, whilst remaining as perennial Champions League qualifiers.
19) Olympique Marseille (France)
Marseille are one of the biggest two clubs in France, along with their bitter rivals PSG, although have been left in the shade somewhat by the latter in recent years – at least until this season under the enigmatic Marcelo Bielsa.
18) Benfica (Portugal)
Just about the biggest club in Portugal, although FC Porto may have something to say about that, Benfica are the toast of Lisbon and have boasted players such as Eusebio.
17) Tottenham Hotspur (England)
Historically one of the biggest clubs in England, Tottenham have been frozen out of the top four in recent season but are still a massive club with a huge following.
16) AS Roma (Italy)
One of the traditional four massive clubs in Serie A, AS Roma are currently enjoying a real renaissance under their evergreen captain Francesco Totti and talented young manager Rudi Garcia.
15) Galatasaray (Turkey)
Notorious for the cauldron-like atmosphere their fans created on European nights, Galatasaray are Turkey’s leading light and have a huge backing both in Istanbul and beyond.
14) Celtic (Scotland)
One of the big two on either side of the Old Firm divide in Glasgow, Celtic represent more than a football club – they are a cultural movement.
13) Ajax (Holland)
Holland’s biggest club have given the world many of its finest ever footballers and continued to dominate the Eredivisie today, whilst also having one of the world’s biggest derbies against Feyenoord.
12) Borussia Dortmund (Germany)
Borussia Dortmund’s incredible levels of support at Signal Iduna Park are well documented – but since the appointment of Jurgen Klopp they have added genuine success to that backing.
11) Inter Milan (Italy)
Inter are one of the most recent winners of the Champions League and, despite a barren spell in Serie A leaving them out of the continental picture, they still have huge worldwide support.
10) Paris Saint Germain (France)
Paris is the only true one-club capital city in Europe – but until Middle Eastern investment recently, Paris Saint Germain were known as perennial underachievers, not making the most of their huge support and potential.
9) Chelsea (England)
There is no doubt that Chelsea have been one of Europe’s most successful clubs over recent years, and one of England’s generally, but they need a few more trophies and probably a new ground to move any higher.
8) Juventus (Italy)
We have them as the second biggest club in Italy, but Juventus fans will argue that they are the biggest. The Old Lady have more trophies than you can shake a stick it and a huge global fanbase.
7) Arsenal (England)
Arsenal have become a true global player during the Arsene Wenger managerial dynasty – but it is hard to put them any higher in this list without that elusive European Cup.
6) Liverpool (England)
The Reds of Liverpool are traditionally England’s most successful club, but are perhaps slightly unfortunate that a relatively barren spell in terms of trophies has aligned with the sport’s major economic and global boom. Still, a massive club.
5) AC Milan (Italy)
The biggest club in Italy and one of the most successful clubs in the Champions League, AC Milan are an institution supported by millions in Italy and across the globe.
4) Bayern Munich (Germany)
Comfortably the biggest and most successful clubs side in Germany, Bayern Munich are also a major global player and one of the few football clubs to mix it with the real big boys in terms of worldwide sporting brands.
3) Manchester United (England)
Manchester United have played the explosion of football clubs into global brands better than perhaps anyone else on the planet, whilst their unbelievable success in the last 20 years hasn’t hurt.
2) Barcelona (Spain)
One of the two football clubs that entirely dominate Spanish footballing culture, Barcelona are not just a wonderful team, but a figurehead for the culture and the people of Catalonia.
1) Real Madrid (Spain)
Just like Barcelona, Real Madrid are a football club that are bigger than the sport, with the fact that so many clubs from South America and Southern Europe dream of playing them being a testament to their huge size.