the sixties: Eusebio's Benfica rules Europe!

here is a look back at the 60s, the first full decade in european football. Real Madrid dominated the five seasons in the 50s, but after then, the competitiveness was at a much higher level. have a look at this top 30 countdown of the decade. some great clubs like Arsenal FC (56th) and Bayern München (31st) are not in the list.

30. Partizan Belgrade (YUG) - European Cup finalist 1966

29. Borussia Dortmund (GER) - Cup Winner's Cup champions 1966

28. Liverpool FC (ENG) - 2 semifinals in Champions Cup

27. Ujpesti Dosza (HUN) - finalist in 1969 Inter-Fairs Cup

26. Gornik Zabrze (POL) - runners up in Cup Winner's Cup 1970

25. AS Roma (ITA) - Inter-Fairs Cup 1961 champions

24. Hamburger SV (GER) - Cup Winner's Cup 1967 finalist

23. Tottenham Hotspur (ENG) - Cup Winner's Cup champions 1963

22. Standard Liege (BEL) - European Cup semifinalist 1962

21. Rapid Vienna (AUT) - European Cup semifinalist 1961

20. Ajax Amsterdam (NED) - European Cup runners-up 1969

19. RSC Anderlecht (BEL) - Inter-Fairs Cup 1970 finalist

18. Juventus Turin (ITA) - European Cup semifinalist 1968

17. Real Zaragoza (SPA) - Inter-Fairs Cup champions 1964

16. AC Fiorentina (ITA) - Cup Winners Cup champions 1961

15. Feyenoord Rotterdam (NED) - European Champions 1970

14. Ferencvaros Budapest (HUN) - Inter-Fairs Cup Champions 1965

13. Valencia FC (SPA) - Champions and defending champions of Inter-Fairs Cup 1962 and 1963

12. Dukla Prague (CZE) - European Cup semifinalist 1967

11. Dinamo Zagreb (YUG) - Inter-Fairs Cup champions 1967

and here, the top ten of europe in the 60s:

10. Leeds United (ENG)

great last half of the decade, including an Inter-Fairs Cup win in 1968 and a semifinal in the Champions Cup in 1970

9. Atletico Madrid (SPA)

they won the Cup Winner's Cup in 1962, and almost defended their title in 1963, losing in the final.

8. Glasgow Rangers (SCO)

lost the 1961 Cup Winner's Cup final to Fiorentina, and the same tournament final in 1967 to Bayern München.

7. FC Barcelona (SPA)

European Cup finalist in 1961, Barca won a trophy in 1966: Inter Fairs Cup. they were also runners-up of the 1969 Cup Winner's Cup competition.

6. Manchester United (ENG)

European Champions 1968, semifinalists 1966 and 1969.

5. Celtic Glasgow (SCO)

European Champions 1967 and runners-up in 1970.

4. AC Milan (ITA)

European Champions in 1963 and 1969, they also lifted the trophy in the Cup Winner's Cup 1968 competition.

3. Internazionale Milan (ITA)

two-time champions of europe in 1964 and defending in 1965, Inter reached the semifinal in 1966 and another final in 1967. it was an era!

2. Real Madrid (SPA)

not number one? but still, quite successful: 1966 European champions, finalist in 1962 and 1964.

1. Benfica Lisbon (POR)

Eusebio & Co were the best side in the sixties: European champions in 1960 and 1961, they reached the final three more times: 1963 and 1965, losing to the teams from Milan, and 1968 losing to Manchester's historical side. still, the best in the decade!