Treble (association football)

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Treble is used in association football to refer to a team winning three trophies in a single season. Honours usually considered to contribute to a treble are the top-tier domestic league competition, domestic cup competitions and continental tournaments; although this depends to some extent on the structure of the football pyramid in a country. Trophy competitions which consist of a single match or a two-leg match (e.g. the FA Community Shield, the Recopa Sudamericana, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup) are generally not counted as part of a treble.

Two phrases sometimes used are a 'continental treble',[1] which involves winning at least one continental trophy, and a 'domestic treble' - usually the domestic league and two secondary tournaments.[2][3]

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Continental Treble [edit]

This kind of treble consists of a club winning their country's top tier league and a major secondary competition (The Double), in addition to the continental championship, all within a single season.[citation needed] This was first achieved in 1962 by Santos, winning the Campeonato Paulista (state league), Taça Brasil (national league) and Copa Libertadores (continental tournament). Santos remain the only South American club to have achieved this treble. Most countries in the region do not have a domestic cup to enable a domestic double.[citation needed]

Since then, six European teams, six African clubs, two oceanian clubs, one Asian club and two North American clubs have equalled the feat. Raja Casablanca's 1999 season has also been called a "continental treble", as they won the CAF Champions League, the CAF Super Cup and the Afro-Asian Club Championship.[4] Egyptian club Al-Ahly are the only side to have won this kind of treble more than once, and they did so in consecutive seasons (2005 and 2006). Among European sides, AFC Ajax have come the closest to defending all three titles, retaining the Dutch Eredivisie and European Cup in 1973, but failing to win the KNVB Cup.

After winning the 2010 Champions League final, Internazionale became the sixth club in Europe, and first Italian club, to win a European treble, having already won the Serie A title and Coppa Italia in the same season.[5] This achievement gave José Mourinho the unique distinction of being the first manager to win two European trebles (one being with the UEFA Cup). It was the second consecutive season that a European treble was achieved. Samuel Eto'o played in the third Champions League final of his career, and with Internazionale's triumph over Bayern Munich became the first player to win two European trebles in consecutive seasons.

Club Country Confederation Year(s) Titles won
Santos Brazil Brazil CONMEBOL 1962[a] Campeonato Paulista, Taça Brasil, Copa Libertadores
Celtic Scotland Scotland UEFA 1966–67[b] Scottish Football League, Scottish Cup, European Cup
Ajax Netherlands Netherlands 1971–72 Eredivisie, KNVB Cup, European Cup
PSV Eindhoven Netherlands Netherlands 1987–88 Eredivisie, KNVB Cup, European Cup
Manchester United England England 1998–99 Premier League, FA Cup, UEFA Champions League
Barcelona Spain Spain 2008–09 La Liga, Copa del Rey, UEFA Champions League
Internazionale Italy Italy 2009–10 Serie A, Coppa Italia, UEFA Champions League
Cruz Azul Mexico Mexico CONCACAF 1969 Primera División de México, Copa México, CONCACAF Champions Cup
Defence Force Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago 1985 TT Pro League, Trinidad and Tobago Cup, CONCACAF Champions Cup
Thai Farmers Bank Thailand Thailand AFC 1995 Thai League, Queen's Cup, Asian Club Championship
Englebert Democratic Republic of the Congo Democratic Republic of the Congo CAF 1967 Linafoot, Coupe du Congo, African Cup of Champions
Vita Club Zaire Zaire 1973 Linafoot, Coupe du Congo, African Cup of Champions
MC Algiers Algeria Algeria 1976 Algerian Championnat National, Algerian Cup, African Cup of Champions
Hearts of Oak Ghana Ghana 2000 Ghana Premier League, Ghanaian FA Cup, CAF Champions League
Al-Ahly Egypt Egypt 2006 Egyptian League, Egyptian Soccer Cup, CAF Champions League
Espérance Tunisia Tunisia 2011 Tunisian League, Tunisian President Cup, CAF Champions League
Auckland City New Zealand New Zealand OFC 2006 NZFC Championship, NZFC Premiership, OFC Champions League
Waitakere United New Zealand New Zealand 2008 NZFC Championship, NZFC Premiership, OFC Champions League

Continental Treble with an alternative cup [edit]

The existence of other competitions in some countries offers a club the chance to win its league, its top continental trophy and another honour. An achievement of similar magnitude to a continental treble, though generally not as coveted. In European football, there are three such examples:

Club Country Year Titles won
Real Madrid Spain Spain 1957 La Liga, European Cup, Latin Cup
Liverpool England England 1984 Division One, European Cup, League Cup
Bayern Munich Germany Germany 2001 Bundesliga, UEFA Champions League, DFB-Ligapokal

Whilst the Latin Cup only consisted of two semi-finals, a final and a third place play-off; it was considered the most prestigious club prize prior to the introduction of the European Cup (which subsequently superseded it) as it pitched Champions against Champions. Liverpool's treble win in 1984 is more similar to a standard Continental Treble, as winning the Football League Cup involved playing a similar number of fixtures as winning the FA Cup.

World Treble [edit]

The World Treble, is where a team has won the World Championship (or its equivalent), along with its domestic title and continental cup in one calendar year.

Club Country Domestic Title Continental Title World Championship title Number Year(s)
FC Barcelona  Spain La Liga UEFA Champions League FIFA Club World Cup 2 2009, 2011
Manchester United  England Premier League UEFA Champions League Intercontinental Cup/FIFA Club World Cup 2 1999, 2008
F.C. Porto  Portugal Primeira Liga UEFA Champions League Intercontinental Cup 2 1987, 2004
Internazionale Italy Italy Serie A UEFA Champions League FIFA Club World Cup 1 2010
Bayern Munich  Germany Bundesliga UEFA Champions League Intercontinental Cup 1 2001
AFC Ajax  Netherlands Eredivisie UEFA Champions League Intercontinental Cup 1 1995
Club Olimpia  Paraguay Paraguayan Primera División Copa Libertadores Intercontinental Cup 1 1979

Trebles with the Europa League [edit]

A lesser, but nevertheless impressive achievement is to win the continent's secondary club competition and two domestic honours. In Europe's case, that competition is the UEFA Europa League (formerly the UEFA Cup). Any equivalent treble is yet to be achieved in South America. No club won the now defunct UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup as part of a recognised treble. Since the latter competition was disbanded, winners of the Europa League qualify for the UEFA Super Cup (applicable to all but Göteborg), thus giving them the opportunity to defeat the Champions League winner and add an additional trophy. This treble has been achieved on six separate occasions:

Club Country Domestic Titles won Year(s) Domestic Super Cup UEFA Super Cup
Göteborg Sweden Sweden Allsvenskan & Svenska Cupen 1982 N/A N/A
Galatasaray Turkey Turkey Süper Lig & Türkiye Kupası 2000 N/A Won
Liverpool England England FA Cup & League Cup 2001 Won Won
Porto Portugal Portugal Primeira Liga & Taça de Portugal 2003 Won Lost
2011 Won Lost
CSKA Moscow Russia Russia Russian Premier League & Russian Cup 2005 Won (held in 2006) Lost

Domestic Treble [edit]

This type of treble consists of a club winning their country's top-tier league as well as the two most highly regarded secondary competitions, all during one season. Many countries do not have a second domestic (league cup) competition, so achieving a domestic treble is impossible. Brazil has an unofficial "Triple Crown", a name given to a team that wins the national league, the national cup, and their state league. In England the domestic Treble has never been achieved.

Club Country Number
won
Year(s) won Titles won
Rangers Scotland Scotland 7 1948–49, 1963–64, 1975–76, 1977–78, 1992–93, 1998–99, 2002–03[6] Scottish League, Scottish Cup, Scottish League Cup
South China Hong Kong Hong Kong 4 1987, 1988, 1991, 2007 Hong Kong League, Hong Kong Senior Shield, Hong Kong FA Cup
Shamrock Rovers Republic of Ireland Republic of Ireland 3 1925, 1932, 1964[7] League of Ireland, FAI Cup, League of Ireland Shield[b]
Celtic Scotland Scotland 3 1966–67, 1968–69, 2000–01[8] Scottish League, Scottish Cup, Scottish League Cup
Bayern Munich Germany Germany 3 1999–2000, 2004–05, 2007–08[9] Bundesliga, DFB Pokal, DFB Ligapokal
Linfield Northern Ireland Northern Ireland 3 1994, 2006,[c] 2008[citation needed] Irish Premier League, Irish Cup, Irish League Cup
Nissan Motors F.C. Japan Japan 2 1988, 1989 Japan Soccer League, Emperor's Cup, JSL Cup
Kedah Malaysia Malaysia 2 2007, 2008[10] Malaysian Super League, Malaysia Cup, Malaysian FA Cup
Kelantan Malaysia Malaysia 1 2012[11] Malaysian Super League, Malaysia Cup, Malaysian FA Cup
Bohemians Republic of Ireland Republic of Ireland 1 1928[12] League of Ireland, FAI Cup, League of Ireland Shield[b]
Fall River Marksmen United States USA 1 1930[13] American Soccer League, National Challenge Cup, Lewis Cup
Brookhattan United States USA 1 1945[citation needed] American Soccer League, National Challenge Cup, Lewis Cup
Toronto Croatia Canada Canada 1 1971[14] NSL Cup, NSL Regular Season Champion, NSL Playoff Champion
Mitsubishi Motors F.C. Japan Japan 1 1978 Japan Soccer League, Emperor's Cup, JSL Cup
Servette FC Switzerland Switzerland 1 1978–79 Nationalliga A, Swiss Cup, Swiss League Cup
Levski Sofia Bulgaria Bulgaria 1 1984[15] A PFG, Bulgarian Cup, Cup of the Soviet Army
CSKA Sofia Bulgaria Bulgaria 1 1989[15] A PFG, Bulgarian Cup, Cup of the Soviet Army
Derry City Republic of Ireland Republic of Ireland 1 1989[16] League of Ireland, FAI Cup, League of Ireland Cup
Orlando Pirates FC South Africa South Africa 4 1973, 1975,2011,2012 NPSL champions, Bob Save Super Bowl, BP Top Eight Cup
Legia Warsaw Poland Poland 1 1993–94[17] Ekstraklasa, Polish Cup, Polish SuperCup
Melbourne Knights Australia Australia 1 1994–95[18] NSL Cup, NSL Minor Premiership, NSL Grand Final
Melbourne Victory Australia Australia 1 2008-09 A-league Pre-Season Challenge Cup, A-league Premiership, A-league Championship
Barry Town Wales Wales 1 1996–97 League of Wales, Welsh Cup, Welsh League Cup
Kashima Antlers Japan Japan 1 2000 J. League, Emperor's Cup, J. League Cup
Cruzeiro Brazil Brazil 1 2003[19] Campeonato Mineiro, Copa do Brasil, Campeonato Brasileiro Série A
Rhyl Wales Wales 1 2003–04[20] Welsh Premier League, Welsh Cup, Welsh League Cup
Al-Hilal  Saudi Arabia 1 2005 Saudi Premier League, Crown Prince Cup, Federation Cup
Brøndby IF Denmark Denmark 1 2005 Danish Superliga, Danish Cup, Danish League Cup
Sun Hei Hong Kong Hong Kong 1 2005[citation needed][d] Hong Kong League, Hong Kong Senior Shield, Hong Kong FA Cup
Al-Sadd Qatar Qatar 1 2007[21] Qatari League, Emir of Qatar Cup, Qatar Crown Prince Cup
Debreceni VSC Hungary Hungary 1 2009–10 Nemzeti Bajnokság I, Magyar Kupa, Ligakupa
Orlando Pirates FC South Africa South Africa 1 2010-11 Premier Soccer League, MTN 8, Nedbank Cup
Buriram PEA Thailand Thailand 1 2011 Thai Premier League, Thai FA Cup, Thai League Cup
Helsingborgs IF Sweden Sweden 1 2011 Allsvenskan, Svenska Cupen, Supercupen
Kitchee Hong Kong Hong Kong 1 2012 Hong Kong League, Hong Kong League Cup, Hong Kong FA Cup

See also [edit]

References [edit]

  1. ^ Raja aiming high once more. FIFA (2008-06-04). Retrieved on 2009-06-23 - 'continental treble' mentioned in this article.
  2. ^ Spiers, Graham (2008-01-30). http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/scotland/article3274019.ece Walter Smith demands final push as Rangers target domestic treble. The Times. Retrieved on 2009-03-28.
  3. ^ Ralston, Gary (2008-09-26). Domestic treble for Rangers will make up for failure in Europe, says Pedro Mendes. Daily Record. Retrieved on 2009-03-28.
  4. ^ FIFA.com - Raja aiming high once more
  5. ^ "Inter join exclusive treble club". uefa.com. Retrieved 9 August 2012. 
  6. ^ Records and Honours. Rangers Official club website. Retrieved on 2009-03-31.
  7. ^ Roll of Honour. Shamrock Rovers FC. Retrieved on 2009-03-31.
  8. ^ Celtic Honours. Celtic Official club website. Retrieved on 2009-05-18.
  9. ^ Germany Enter Euro 2008 Campaign With Confidence. Deutsche Welle (2008-08-06). Retrieved on 2009-03-31.
  10. ^ [1]
  11. ^ [2]
  12. ^ Role of Honour. Bohemian Football Club. Retrieved on 2009-03-31.
  13. ^ Litterer, Dave (2008-02-17). The Year in American Soccer - 1930. The USA Soccer History Archives. Retrieved on 2009-03-31.
  14. ^ Croatian National Sports Club history at a glance
  15. ^ a b "Treble in association football – theory and history", 24 Chasa newspaper, Retrieved on 2010-02-15
  16. ^ Derry City FC - A Concise History. Derry City Football Club Website (2009-02-08). Retrieved on 2009-03-31.
  17. ^ Legia.info – Historia
  18. ^ The Dynasty Begins
  19. ^ Relação Dos Títulos Oficiais Do Cruzeiro (Portuguese)
  20. ^ - Rhyl FC - Honours
  21. ^ Al-Sadd Trophies and awards

External links [edit]