Modern football, as we know it, originated in Europe, specifically in Britain, in the 19th century. The first organised football tournament globally was the English FA Cup in 1872. It took another 16 years before the world’s first league was established – the Football League in England in 1888. However, continental football competitions started 67 years later with the European Champion Clubs’ Cup (now called the UEFA Champions League), the continent’s flagship tournament, in 1955.
The European clubs and leagues are ranked based on the UEFA league coefficients, also known as the UEFA ranking. This ranking is done by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), the governing body of football in Europe. This classification ranks the football leagues in Europe and determines the number of clubs from a league that will participate in the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, and the UEFA Europa Conference League.
The ranking was introduced in 1979 for men’s football tournaments and is calculated based on the results of its clubs in UEFA competitions over the past five seasons. The ranking of European leagues is determined by:
Association coefficient: used to rank the collective performance of the clubs of each member association, for assigning the number of places, and at what stage clubs enter the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, and the UEFA Europa Conference League.
Below is a list of the top 12 football leagues in Europe, as ranked by UEFA for the 2022/2023 season.
12. Eliteserien (Norway)
The Eliteserien (The Elite League) is the flagship club competition in Norway. The league began in 1937 under the name Norgesserien and has undergone frequent changes since then. The league’s current name was adopted in 2017.
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A total of 16 clubs play the league in Norway for 30 match days each season, with home and away fixtures. The season starts in March and lasts until early November, with the two lowest placed teams automatically relegated to the Norwegian First Division and the top two teams from the First Division taking their place. The 14th-placed team in Eliteserien is also in danger of being relegated and must enter play-offs against one team from the First Division to stay in the top flight.
The winners of the previous calendar year’s Eliteserien enter the second qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League, while the second and third-placed teams enter the second qualifying round of the Europa Conference League. The Norway Cup winners enter the second qualifying round of the Europa Conference League.
Rosenborg is the country’s most successful club with 26 league titles.
11. Serbian SuperLiga
The Serbian Super League, referred to as the Mozzart Bet Super League for sponsorship reasons, is the top-flight club football league in Serbia. Before the creation of the SuperLiga, Serbian clubs used to compete in the Yugoslav First League, which was formed in 1923 and lasted until 2003. It was then played as the First League of Federal Republic Yugoslavia/Serbia and Montenegro from 2003 to 2006.
The SuperLiga was formed during the summer of 2005 as the country’s top football league competition in Serbia and Montenegro. However, since Montenegro got its independence in 2006, only Serbian clubs have been participating in the league.
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The SuperLiga began as a league with a play-off system. Although the league format has undergone several changes, including adopting the conventional round-robin format, it has reverted to its play-off system, in which the top eight-placed teams compete in the championship round at the end of the season, while the eight lowest-placed teams play in the relegation play-off round.
The two bottom-placed teams are relegated to the Serbian Prva Liga, while the top two teams in the lower Prva Liga are promoted to the SuperLiga. The third lowest-placed team competes in a relegation play-off against the third-placed team in the second division, and the winner of the game plays in the SuperLiga the following season.
Red Star Belgrade is the dominant team in the country, having won 33 league titles.
10. Belgian First Division A
The Belgian First Division A, officially known as the Jupiler Pro League, for commercial reasons, is the men’s top professional football league in Belgium. The Belgian League began in 1895, making it one of the oldest leagues in Europe and the world. A total of 74 clubs have competed in the first division since its inception.
The Belgian First Division A is competed every season by 18 clubs, with teams playing 34 matches each in the regular season. Upon the conclusion of the regular season, The team that finishes bottom of the table is relegated automatically to First Division B. In contrast, the 17th-placed team will battle for promotion-relegation play-off against the second-placed team in Challenger Pro League.
The remaining teams compete in Play-offs I or Play-offs II depending on their position in the regular season. Play-offs I are contested by the top-four clubs in the regular season, with each club playing the other twice. The winner of the play-off qualifies for the UEFA Champions League, while the second-placed team participates in the Champions League third qualifying round.
Teams contest play-offs II ranked 7th to 16th, and they are joined by six teams from the Belgian First Division B. The clubs are divided into four groups of four teams (excluding the First Division B champion, which gets automatic promotion to First Division A). The winners of each group play one another in a two-legged play-off. The winner of that match then advances to a two-legged play-off against the fourth or fifth-placed team from the championship play-off (Play-off I) for the country’s final UEFA Europa League place for the following season.
Anderlecht is the country’s most successful club, with 34 league titles. The club has also won five titles in European football.
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9. Austrian Football Bundesliga
The Austrian Football Bundesliga, also known as Admiral Bundesliga for sponsorship reasons, is the top football league in Austria. The league originated from the first Austrian football championship established in 1911. From 1924, the league was considered professional and changed its name to I. Liga (First League). However, the current Football Bundesliga was established in 1974 and has been a separately registered association since 1991.
In the Bundesliga, 12 teams play every other club twice at home and twice away during a championship year from July to June of the following year. At the end of the season, the team finishing in last place in the table is relegated to the Sky Go Erste Liga, the champion of which is promoted to the Bundesliga.
The Bundesliga champion and the second placed team qualify for the UEFA Champions League, the Austrian Cup winner enters the play-off round of the UEFA Europa League while the team in 4th position, as well as the winner of the Europa Conference League play-offs, enter the UEFA Europa Conference League. If the Bundesliga champion is also the Austrian Cup winner, the third-placed team enters the UEFA Europa League.
Rapid Wien is the country’s most successful club, with 32 league titles.
8. Scottish Premiership
The Scottish Premiership is the top football league in Scotland. The league was established in July 2013, after the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) was formed by a merger of the Scottish Premier League and Scottish Football League. Sixteen clubs have played in the Scottish Premiership since its creation.
Twelve 12 teams compete against each other every season, playing 38 matches per season. At the end of the season, the bottom-placed Premiership club is relegated and swaps places with the winner of the Scottish Championship, the second-tier league in the country. Also, the club that finishes in 11th place plays the Scottish Championship play-off winners over two legs, with the winner earning the right to play in the Scottish Premiership the following season.
The league winners get automatic qualification to the UEFA Champions League group stage, while the second-placed team enters the third qualifying round of the competition. The fourth and fifth-placed teams get spots for the Europa Conference League in the third and second qualifying rounds, respectively. The Europa League spot is awarded to the winners of the Scottish Cup.
With the combination of the Scottish Premier League and Scottish Football League, Rangers are the biggest Scotland’s top-flight league championship winners, having lifted the title 55 times. Three Scottish teams have lifted at least one European trophy. Celtic won the European Cup in 1967, Rangers won the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1972, and Aberdeen won the Cup Winners’ Cup and Super Cup in 1983.
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7. Primeira Liga (Portugal)
The Primeira Liga, also known as the Liga Portugal 1, is the highest league in Portugal’s professional football structure. Coincidentally named the Primeira Liga, the league began before 1934, and the competition winners were named “League champions.” A reform in Portuguese football led to the league being known as Campeonato Nacional da Primeira Divisão (National Championship of the First Division) from 1938, and was known by that name till 1999. The league’s current name was adopted in 1999 when the Portuguese League for Professional Football took control of the two nationwide leagues.
Eighteen teams contest the Liga Portugal. After a round-robin league format of 34 matchdays, the top two teams on the log qualify directly for the group stage of the UEFA Champions League. The third-placed team enters the play-offs for the group stage of the UEFA Champions League; but if they fail to qualify, they enter the UEFA Europa League. The Taça de Portugal cup winners also qualify for the Europa League.
The fourth team qualifies automatically for the UEFA Europa League, while the fifth and sixth-placed teams zoom into the second and third qualifying rounds of the UEFA Europa League. The three lowest-placed teams are relegated to Liga Portugal 2 and are replaced by the top-three non-reserve teams from Liga Portugal 2.
Benefica has won the majority of title wins in the country, going home with the trophy 37 times. The Primeira Liga has constantly produced clubs that have won some European competitions.
6. Eredivisie (Netherlands)
The Eredivisie (Premier Division) is the top-flight football league in the Netherlands. It was founded in 1956, two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands.
A total of 18 clubs play in the league every season, with each club meeting every other club twice during the season in a home and away format. At the end of each season, the two clubs at the bottom of the table are relegated to the second level of the Dutch league system, the Eerste Divisie (First Division), while the champion and runner-up of the Eerste Divisie are automatically promoted to the Eredivisie. The club that finishes third from the bottom of the Eredivisie goes to separate promotion/relegation play-offs with six high-placed clubs from the Eerste Divisie. Who wins will compete in the poule final for a place in the Eredivisie.
The champion of the Eredivisie qualifies directly for the group stage of the UEFA Champions League, while the second-placed team enters the third qualifying round of the same competition. The team that finishes third qualifies automatically for the UEFA Europa League, while the fourth-placed team enters the third qualifying round of the same tournament.
The clubs that finish in fourth to the eighth position play a mini-series knockout qualifier, with the two winners playing each other to qualify for the Europa Conference League’s second qualifying round. The winner of the Dutch Cup qualifies for the Europa League play-off round.
Ajax have won the most titles, claiming 36 league title victories. The Eredivisie produced clubs that have won some European competitions. It is also renowned for producing talented footballers who have made their mark in other European leagues.
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5. Ligue 1 (France)
The Ligue 1, also known as Le Championnat, is the top club competition in France. The inaugural season of the professional league, called National, began in the 1932–1933 season. The name changed from National to Division 1 in the 1934-1935 season. The current league format was introduced in the 1965-1966 season. The league changed its name from Division 1 to Ligue 1 in 2002.
In Ligue 1 is contested by 20 clubs play each other in a round-robin format for 38 matchdays. At the end of each season, the bottom two teams are automatically relegated to Ligue 2, while the third team from the bottom (18th place) battles in a relegation play-off with the third-placed team in the Ligue 2 in a two-legged affair. The winner of the tie plays in the Ligue 1 the following season.
The top two teams in Ligue 1 qualify automatically for the UEFA Champions League group stage, while the team that finishes third goes for the third qualifying round of the European championship. The fourth-placed team qualifies for the UEFA Europa League, while the two other Europa League places for France are determined through the country’s two domestic cup competitions, the Coupe de France and Coupe de la Ligue.
If both of the cup winners qualify for Europe through their league position, the fifth- and sixth-placed teams in Ligue 1 will qualify for the Europa League. The fifth-placed team qualifies for the play-off qualification round of the Europa Conference League.
Paris Saint-Germain and Saint-Étienne are the most successful clubs in Ligue 1, with 10 league titles each.
4. Serie A (Italy)
The Serie A is the top professional league for clubs in Italy. The league began in 1898, with the clubs playing regional and interregional rounds. However, the current format of the league as a single-tier league started in the 1929–30 season.
Since the 2004–05 season, 20 clubs have competed every season in the Italian top-flight league in a round-robin format of home and away games. The three lowest-placed teams at the end of the season are relegated to Serie B, and three Serie B teams are promoted to replace them for the next season.
The top four teams in Serie A qualify automatically for the UEFA Champions League group stage, while the club that finishes fifth, along with the Coppa Italia winner (if the Coppa Italia winner finishes outside the top five) or the team finishing sixth (if the Coppa Italia winner finishes inside the top five), qualify for the UEFA Europa League group stage. Depending on the Coppa Italia winner’s league performance, the sixth or the seventh-ranked club joins the final play-off qualification round of the UEFA Europa Conference League.
The most successful club in Serie A is Juventus, with 36 championships. Also, Serie A is the only league in which its clubs have won all the major UEFA club competitions (UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Europa Conference League, and the UEFA Super Cup).
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3. Bundesliga (Germany)
The Bundesliga is the top-flight football league in Germany. It was created in the German city of Dortmund on 28 July 1962, and the first season played was the 1963-1964 season. Following the reunification of Germany in 1990, clubs from the East German leagues were merged into the West German league.
The Bundesliga comprises 18 clubs every season, playing against each club home and away for 34 matchdays from August to May. At the end of the season, the bottom two finishers in the Bundesliga are automatically relegated to the 2. Bundesliga, while the top two finishers in the 2. Bundesliga take their places in the Bundesliga. Also, the third-from-bottom club (16th-placed team) in the Bundesliga will play a two-legged tie with the third-place team from the 2. Bundesliga, with the winner taking up the final place in the following season’s Bundesliga.
The top four clubs in the table qualify automatically for the group phase of the UEFA Champions League, while the fifth and sixth-placed teams qualify for the group stage of the UEFA Europa League. The team that finishes in seventh place plays in the Europa Conference League play-off qualification round.
Bayern Munich has won the title 31 times, the most among Bundesliga clubs. Bundesliga clubs have won eight UEFA Champions League, seven UEFA Europa League, four European Cup Winners’ Cup, two UEFA Super Cup, two FIFA Club World Cup, and three Intercontinental Cup titles.
2. LaLiga (Spain)
The Campeonato Nacional de Liga de Primera División, commonly known simply as Primera División or La Liga, is the highest league in Spain’s professional football structure. The first Primera División was established in 1929, following a proposal by José María Acha in April 1928.
La Liga is contested by 20 teams, which play 38 games on a home and away basis. At the end of each season, the three lowest-placed teams are relegated to the Segunda División and replaced by the top two teams and a play-off winner.
The top four teams in La Liga qualify automatically for the subsequent season’s UEFA Champions League. The fifth-placed team and the winner of the Copa del Rey also qualify automatically for the subsequent season’s UEFA Europa League group stage, but if the winner of the Spanish Cup also finished in the top five in La Liga, then this place reverts to the team that finished sixth in La Liga. The sixth-placed team takes its place in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League. The team that finishes in seventh place plays in the Europa Conference League play-off qualification round.
Real Madrid have won the La Liga title a record 35 times. La Liga clubs have won the most UEFA Champions League (19), UEFA Europa League (13), UEFA Super Cup (15), and FIFA Club World Cup (7) titles.
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1. Premier League (England)
The Premier League is the top-flight league in England. It is ranked first in Europe according to UEFA’s five-year ranking for the 2022–23 season. The Premier League is the successor to the Football League First Division, which was the top division in the English football league system from the 1888–89 season until the 1991–92 season. The First Division clubs resigned en masse from the Football League in 1992, and the new Premier League was founded in February 1992.
The league held its first season in 1992–93. It started with 22 clubs each season until it was reduced to 20 clubs in the 1995-1996 season and has remained so since then. Each club plays 38 games on a home and away basis (a double round-robin system) from August to May of the following year. At the end of the season, the three lowest placed teams in the Premier League are relegated to the Championship, and the top two teams from the Championship are promoted to the Premier League. An additional team from the Championship gets a spot in the Premier League after a series of play-offs involving the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth-placed clubs in the second-division league.
The top four Premier League teams automatically qualify for the UEFA Champions League the following season. The Premier League’s fifth-placed team and the FA Cup winner qualify for the UEFA Europa League. The winner of the EFL Cup qualifies for the subsequent season’s UEFA Europa League second qualifying round, but if the winner already qualified for a UEFA competition via their performance in another competition, then this place reverts to the team that finished sixth in the Premier League (as it occurred in the 2021-2022 season), or seventh if the FA Cup result already caused the sixth-placed team to qualify. The seventh-placed team plays in the Europa Conference League play-off qualification round.
The Premier League is the most-watched sports league in the world, as it is broadcast in 212 territories to 643 million homes and a potential TV audience of 4.7 billion people. Manchester United have won the most English titles – a combination of the Football League First Division and Premier League – with 20 titles. The English top-flight league has produced the second-highest number of European Cup titles, with five English clubs having won fourteen European trophies in total.
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