best clubs of the decade: 2001-2010

in between our detailed description of the top 100 club's best seasons in europe, we will have plenty of rankings and statistical data on the history of european football.

we'll start with a current one: a decade of football has just ended, and here is a quick presentation of the best 30 clubs in these last 10 seasons:

30. Olympiakos Piräus (GRE)

Played all 10 seasons in Europe, had their best result in 2008, when they reached the Round of 16 in the Champions League.

29. Hamburger SV (GER)

Was in Europe seven times, and just has their second semifinal in a row in the UEFA Cup, now Europa League.

28. Olympique Marseille (FRA)

Lost to Valencia in the UEFA Cup final 2004. Had six seasons in Europe.

27. Glasgow Rangers (SCO)

Nine seasons in Europe, finalist in the 2008 UEFA Cup (lost to Zenit).

26. Benfica Lisbon (POR)

Eight seasons in Europe, best one in 2008, when they eliminated Liverpool and Manchester to get into the Champions League quarter final.

25. Sporting Lisbon (POR)

All ten seasons in Europe, one of them in a final: 2004/05 season, a loss to CSKA Moscow in the UEFA Cup.

24. CSKA Moscow (RUS)

Won the 2005 UEFA Cup, were present in eight seasons.

23. Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR)

Won the 2009 UEFA Cup against Werder Bremen, had ten full seasons in Europe.

22. Celtic Glasgow (SCO)

UEFA Cup final loss in 2003 to José Mourinho's FC Porto, nine times in Europe.

21. Villareal CF (SPA)

Semifinalist of the UEFA Champions League in 2006, six seasons in Europe.

20. Bayer Leverkusen (GER)

Lost the 2002 UEFA Champions League final to Real Madrid. Seven seasons in Europe.

19. Deportivo La Coruña (SPA)

Six seasons in Europe, the best in 2003/04, when they got into the semifinal of the Champions League after eliminating Milan miraculously.

18. Panathinaikos Athens (GRE)

Ten seasons in Europe, the best one in 2001/02, when the quarter-finals were reached and even Barcelona was beaten at home.

17. Werder Bremen (GER)

Eight seasons in Europe, one final in 2009: Loss to Donetsk in the UEFA Cup.

16. Sevilla FC (SPA)

Six seasons in Europe, two time champs in the UEFA Cup seasons 2006 and 2007.

15. AS Roma (ITA)

Every season in Europe, greatest success being two quarter-finals in a row (Champions League seasons 2006/07 an 2007/08).

14. Juventus Turin (ITA)

Eight seasons in Europe (missed two due to scandal in Serie A), lost a Champions League final to rivals Milan in 2003.

13. PSV Eindhoven (NED)

UEFA Champions League semifinalist in 2005, eliminated by Milan; all seasons in Europe.

12. Valencia FC (SPA)

Missed one season in Europe, but reached the Champions League final in 2001, and won the UEFA Cup in 2003.

11. Olympique Lyonnaise (FRA)

This last season was the best: semifinal in the Champions League, and full ten seasons in Europe.

10. FC Porto (POR)

UEFA Cup champions in 2003, Champions League champions in 2004 - the José Mourinho era.

9. Chelsea FC (ENG)

Five times semifinalist in the Champions League, one lost final in 2008 (to ManU), but not titles.

8. Internazionale Milan (ITA)

Champions League title holder, one other semifinal.

7. Arsenal FC (ENG)

One lost CL final (to Barcelona, in 2006), one semifinal.

6. Real Madrid (SPA)

One Champions League title in 2002, two semifinals the year before and after... and then not too much since then.

5. Bayern München (GER)

One Champions League title in 2001, a final in 2010. Not bad, two finals.

4. AC Milan (ITA)

Three finals (2003, 2005, 2007) in the Champions League, two titles (2003 and 2007) - but lately poor form (no quarter-finals since 2007 title).

3. Manchester United (ENG)

One Champions League title 2008, another final one year later, plus two semifinals.

2. Liverpool FC (ENG)

Champions League winners 2005, runners-up 2007 (both times against Milan), two other semifinals.

1. FC Barcelona (SPA)

Two titles (2006 and 2009) in the Champions League, three further semifinals. Most consistent team of them all!