Sport nation15 Best British Teams in Champions League History
The UEFA Champions League has been a platform for British clubs to showcase their talent and compete against the best teams in Europe. With 16 titles won by British teams, the nation has made a significant impact on the competition. Here, we rank the top 15 British teams in Champions League history based on points accumulated.
Ranking Factors
All-time points (including when it was European Cup)
Three points for any win in normal time
One point for any game that went to extra-time
15th – 11th: Aberdeen, Derby County, Linfield FC, Newcastle United, Aston Villa
Aberdeen, under Sir Alex Ferguson, enjoyed relative success in the European Cup, reaching the Quarter-Finals in 1986. Linfield FC, from Northern Ireland, was a regular in the European Cup in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. Derby County reached the Semi-Final of the 1972/73 European Cup, while Aston Villa won the 1982 European Cup. Newcastle United has participated in the competition but has not surpassed the second group stage.
10th – 6th: Nottingham Forest, Leeds United, Tottenham Hotspur, Rangers, Celtic
Nottingham Forest, two-time winners, boasts a 60% win rate in the competition. Leeds United reached the Semi-Finals twice and was denied European glory by Bayern Munich in 1975. Tottenham has consistently participated in the competition, reaching the final in 2019. Rangers and Celtic, Scotland’s most successful clubs, have both reached the Semi-Finals and won the European Cup.
5th – 1st: Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United
The top five consists of teams regularly competing at the latter stages of the competition. Manchester City won its first Champions League title in 2023. Arsenal remains the only team in this cohort without a Champions League title. Chelsea won the competition in 2012 and 2021. Liverpool has won six titles, while Manchester United tops the table with 528 points.
British Champions League All-Time Table
| Rank | Team | Matches | Wins | Draws | Losses | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | Aberdeen | 12 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 19 |
| 14 | Derby County | 12 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 20 |
| 13 | Linfield FC | 42 | 5 | 12 | 25 | 27 |
| 12 | Newcastle | 24 | 8 | 4 | 12 | 28 |
| 11 | Aston Villa | 18 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 39 |
| 10 | Nottingham Forest | 20 | 12 | 4 | 4 | 40 |
| 9 | Leeds | 38 | 20 | 6 | 12 | 66 |
| 8 | Tottenham | 61 | 27 | 13 | 21 | 94 |
| 7 | Rangers | 131 | 43 | 31 | 57 | 160 |
| 6 | Celtic | 159 | 62 | 29 | 68 | 215 |
| 5 | Manchester City | 130 | 74 | 27 | 29 | 249 |
| 4 | Arsenal | 200 | 95 | 45 | 60 | 330 |
| 3 | Chelsea | 197 | 101 | 52 | 44 | 355 |
| 2 | Liverpool | 233 | 131 | 48 | 54 | 441 |
| 1 | Manchester United | 289 | 153 | 69 | 67 | 528 |
The rankings provide insight into the performance of British teams in the Champions League. Manchester United’s consistent participation and success earn them the top spot, while Liverpool’s efficiency in winning titles secures their second-place position.
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