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https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61311898
English football has been dominated by two fantastic club sides over the past few seasons - Manchester City and Liverpool.
Both sides fell just short of historic seasons though. With a week to go Liverpool were chasing an unprecedented quadruple but, after their 1-0 Champions League defeat by Real Madrid, they end with just the Carabao Cup and FA Cup.
Although City won their fourth Premier League title in five years - beating Liverpool by a point - that was their only silverware of the season.
That got us thinking about the game's greatest club sides of all time. We have profiled 10 legendary teams - with only one great side from each club - and you can vote for the best at the bottom. If you select 'other', let us know which side you would have picked in the comments.
English football has been dominated by two fantastic club sides over the past few seasons - Manchester City and Liverpool.
Both sides fell just short of historic seasons though. With a week to go Liverpool were chasing an unprecedented quadruple but, after their 1-0 Champions League defeat by Real Madrid, they end with just the Carabao Cup and FA Cup.
Although City won their fourth Premier League title in five years - beating Liverpool by a point - that was their only silverware of the season.
That got us thinking about the game's greatest club sides of all time. We have profiled 10 legendary teams - with only one great side from each club - and you can vote for the best at the bottom. If you select 'other', let us know which side you would have picked in the comments.
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Who are the best club side ever?
Thank you for voting. Here are the current results.
Torino 1947-48
1%
Real Madrid 1959-60 5%
Real Madrid 1959-60
5%
Santos 1962 0%
Santos 1962
0%
Celtic 1966-67 12%
Celtic 1966-67
12%
Ajax 1971-72 4%
Ajax 1971-72
4%
Liverpool 1983-84 13%
Liverpool 1983-84
13%
AC Milan 1988-89 5%
AC Milan 1988-89
5%
Manchester United 1998-99 19%
Manchester United 1998-99
19%
Barcelona 2010-11 33%
Barcelona 2010-11
33%
Bayern Munich 2012-13 1%
Bayern Munich 2012-13
1%
Other 7%
Other
7%
This vote will close at 17:00 BST on Tuesday, 31 May.
Thank you for voting. Here are the current results.
Torino 1947-48
1%
Real Madrid 1959-60 5%
Real Madrid 1959-60
5%
Santos 1962 0%
Santos 1962
0%
Celtic 1966-67 12%
Celtic 1966-67
12%
Ajax 1971-72 4%
Ajax 1971-72
4%
Liverpool 1983-84 13%
Liverpool 1983-84
13%
AC Milan 1988-89 5%
AC Milan 1988-89
5%
Manchester United 1998-99 19%
Manchester United 1998-99
19%
Barcelona 2010-11 33%
Barcelona 2010-11
33%
Bayern Munich 2012-13 1%
Bayern Munich 2012-13
1%
Other 7%
Other
7%
This vote will close at 17:00 BST on Tuesday, 31 May.
The Real Madrid 59/60 team were so much better than the rest at the time,whitch is all you can beat in any era.I would vote for them.
I also voted for the 59/60 Madrid team but perhaps will be not too well known amongst younger people. However, I was far too young to know about the Torino team.
Make that a hat-trick. 3 for Pep. Better than sex (well, at my age it is 
)
)
Real Madrid and by a country mile.
Di Stefano, Puskas and Gento up front and all incredible players.
Di Stefano, Puskas and Gento up front and all incredible players.
Online polls like this are pointless.
Even if people looking at this were following football in 1962, how many of them saw Santos play?
I would agree - from what I've seen - Barcelona 2008-2012, with Milan of late 80s/early 90s next.
Even if people looking at this were following football in 1962, how many of them saw Santos play?
I would agree - from what I've seen - Barcelona 2008-2012, with Milan of late 80s/early 90s next.
tobermory....Its good to read about teams you are not familiar with and even myself in my mid 70s was unaware of the Torino achievements. We all know you can't compare but it still makes interesting reading if nothing else.
Lots of good teams in that list.
Bayern in 2012/13 were pretty tasty too.
Ac Milan were a step up, as were peps barca
Let those 2 play off, for me
Id hope Milan would win, but expect barca would.
Tough to compare with anything pre 1970,as I just
didn't see enough of those teams.
Bayern in 2012/13 were pretty tasty too.
Ac Milan were a step up, as were peps barca
Let those 2 play off, for me
Id hope Milan would win, but expect barca would.
Tough to compare with anything pre 1970,as I just
didn't see enough of those teams.
I think we can all agree Man Utd were the luckiest team out of that bunch.
At risk of attracting some bitter knobhead, always a shame we never saw a tie between Sacchi's Milan of Rijkaard, Gullit and van Basten and Dalglish's Liverpool of Barnes, Beardsley and Aldridge.
Yes storm alert lucky on the night but over the whole competition they deserved the trophy.
My choice would Real Madrid with the likes of di stefano in fact I sometimes think they would have given the 1970 Brazil team a game.
My choice would Real Madrid with the likes of di stefano in fact I sometimes think they would have given the 1970 Brazil team a game.
The team that won the European cup 54 years ago yesterday had two of the greatest players of all time.
Di Stefano was always my choice as the greatest player I had ever seen.
Given that the span of the qualifying teams covers a 66 year period, Allah alone knows who is alive and coherent enough today, to seriously compare them all and reach a sensible balanced judgement.
BTW, the notion that the peerless Ajax side of the early 70s reportedly gets only 4% of the vote helps expose this 'poll' for the laughable nonsense that it really is.
BTW, the notion that the peerless Ajax side of the early 70s reportedly gets only 4% of the vote helps expose this 'poll' for the laughable nonsense that it really is.
Bobby charlton agrees with you sparrow and what I have seen only on old footage he would be in my top 3
alun2005 31 May 22 12:02
BTW, the notion that the peerless Ajax side of the early 70s reportedly gets only 4% of the vote helps expose this 'poll' for the laughable nonsense that it really is.
The poll does not close until 5.30pm today.
BTW, the notion that the peerless Ajax side of the early 70s reportedly gets only 4% of the vote helps expose this 'poll' for the laughable nonsense that it really is.
The poll does not close until 5.30pm today.
The poll posted was an early indication on the first day.
Crujff was some player, and all of a sudden
total football found its way into englands
playgrounds, parks, and pub teams.
Ajax were not champions of Holland when
they qualified for 71/72, but were defending champions
having won in 70/71
Problem was, we didn't see enough of the games.
The manager moved on, Michels, to barca, later
taking crujff to barca, to inspire pep!
total football found its way into englands
playgrounds, parks, and pub teams.
Ajax were not champions of Holland when
they qualified for 71/72, but were defending champions
having won in 70/71
Problem was, we didn't see enough of the games.
The manager moved on, Michels, to barca, later
taking crujff to barca, to inspire pep!
jimnast....Charlton's colleague George Best would be my second choice.
My 2 nd choice also sparrow a full carrier would have been clear .
Celtic taken a huge lead on the BBC poll. 34% with Barcelona second on 25% 
No poll can be taken seriously without the Arsenal invincibles who went 49 games unbeaten across 3 seasons enroute to winning the title undefeated and were only beaten at the end of the run by a United team that tried to kick them off the pitch because they knew they werent good enough to beat them on it, also only knocked out of Europe by a last minute winner by Abramovich's dirty money team. It was Champagne football on tap from start to finish with the greatest team the league's ever seen, and Pascal Cygan.
Didn't that Arsenal actually lose 6 games in that so-called invincible season?
By contrast, Liverpool lost 4 last year. Pretty easy to see why they're not included.
By contrast, Liverpool lost 4 last year. Pretty easy to see why they're not included.
I think it's this Barca team - the team that destroyed ManU in the CL final at Wembley is probably just about as good as it gets. United were outclassed that day
Valdes- Abidal, Pique, Mascherano, Alves- Busquets, Xavi, Iniesta- Pedro, Messi, Villa. Guardiola
no real weaknesses in that team, world class everywhere you look.
Valdes- Abidal, Pique, Mascherano, Alves- Busquets, Xavi, Iniesta- Pedro, Messi, Villa. Guardiola
no real weaknesses in that team, world class everywhere you look.
the 2015 CL final winning Barca could push them close
swap Xavi for Rakitic, Guardiola for Luis Enrique
Messi, Suarez, Neymar
I'd still just aboout fancy the 2011 team.
swap Xavi for Rakitic, Guardiola for Luis Enrique
Messi, Suarez, Neymar
I'd still just aboout fancy the 2011 team.
It's such rare feat to go the whole league season unbeaten, no team had ever done in England in over 100 years, never been done in Spain, only twice in Italy, the top leagues, you can never beat going unbeaten only equal it, and in an era when Chelsea and United were strong. Nowadays it should in theory be easier in the league for teams like City given squads are stronger and rotating one world class player for another is not an issue, and their players cost over a billion. Arsenal never gave a monkeys about the league cup. Liverpool are not in the equation based on last season, didn't score in 3 finals and won 2 on penalties, Arsenal won the cup double in 93, wouldn't include them.
If you like watching paint dry, yes Barca under Pep were the best.
Who are the best club side ever?
This vote is now closed. Here are the final results.
Torino 1947-48 1%
Torino 1947-48
1%
Real Madrid 1959-60 3%
Real Madrid 1959-60
3%
Santos 1962 3%
Santos 1962
3%
Celtic 1966-67 34%
Celtic 1966-67
34%
Ajax 1971-72 3%
Ajax 1971-72
3%
Liverpool 1983-84 9%
Liverpool 1983-84
9%
AC Milan 1988-89 4%
AC Milan 1988-89
4%
Manchester United 1998-99 14%
Manchester United 1998-99
14%
Barcelona 2010-11 24%
Barcelona 2010-11
24%
Bayern Munich 2012-13 0%
Bayern Munich 2012-13
0%
Other 5%
Other
5
This vote is now closed. Here are the final results.
Torino 1947-48 1%
Torino 1947-48
1%
Real Madrid 1959-60 3%
Real Madrid 1959-60
3%
Santos 1962 3%
Santos 1962
3%
Celtic 1966-67 34%
Celtic 1966-67
34%
Ajax 1971-72 3%
Ajax 1971-72
3%
Liverpool 1983-84 9%
Liverpool 1983-84
9%
AC Milan 1988-89 4%
AC Milan 1988-89
4%
Manchester United 1998-99 14%
Manchester United 1998-99
14%
Barcelona 2010-11 24%
Barcelona 2010-11
24%
Bayern Munich 2012-13 0%
Bayern Munich 2012-13
0%
Other 5%
Other
5
milan 4 % ffs nonsense, best team I've seen, no doubt
and why was man utd 68 team excluded before 1999 team,
a load of pish, best, law, and charlton, the gorbals stare paddy
although winners Celtic had 2 world class players in Bobby murdoch and jinky johnstone.
I wouldn't like to be matt busby or jock stein picking select on both they sides in 67,68.
Pointless poll
and why was man utd 68 team excluded before 1999 team,
a load of pish, best, law, and charlton, the gorbals stare paddy
although winners Celtic had 2 world class players in Bobby murdoch and jinky johnstone.
I wouldn't like to be matt busby or jock stein picking select on both they sides in 67,68.
Pointless poll
Pointless in that these polls get hijacked.
Great to read the comments on here and elsewhere about
people's favourites.
Great to read the comments on here and elsewhere about
people's favourites.
no offence mate intended ,i thought i contributed positively, milan best team i seen, but some magnificent players contributed to teams involved or not in vote and glasgow mob won.
Maybe they can add into coronation cup they won too.
maybe celtic will have a parade to celebrate jubilee. i thought that was a frozen cola drink.
Maybe they can add into coronation cup they won too.
maybe celtic will have a parade to celebrate jubilee. i thought that was a frozen cola drink.
You very much have,and no offence taken by me.
I agree these polls end up useless
I agree these polls end up useless
AC milan team that won 1989 european cup. end of discussion.
Some would say that the only team worthy of 'the most successful club in the world' with 55 league titles in 10 years is that new club from Govan, Glasgow......
Can you imagine them arguing with Real Madrid fans about trying to prove they are 'the most successful team in football' (quote from a song!)? Nutters!!
I have much admiration for the lions of Lisbon but the best club ever how ridiculous.
jimnast, you could not take this poll seriously even though I posted it myself. Interesting reading in the article and information even for me in my mid 70s about a team Torino that I didn't know and a bit of fun if nothing else. All in all its a generational thing and impossible to compare sides in different eras.
As a big Celtic fan I find this poll laughable, a great team but best ever...
Course it’s a bit of fun sparrow all these threads be it horse or football or any other sport you can’t beat a trip down memory Lane.
Don’t think there has been a better and more beautifully balanced team than Leeds Utd circa 1970
( if only they had a goalkeeper to rely on )
( if only they had a goalkeeper to rely on )
Somewhere on utube there is footage of them beating Man Utd 5-1 or something like that
Charlton , Best etc running around clueless
It was simply devastating and at least 10 years ahead of it’s time
Charlton , Best etc running around clueless
It was simply devastating and at least 10 years ahead of it’s time
Almost impossible for teams in 60s 70s to compete
with improved fitness of today's teams.
Of course you could back fit fitness into the teams
of yesteryear so they could compete
Leeds played in an era when rules were so different.
Alf Ramsey called the Argentinians animals.
with improved fitness of today's teams.
Of course you could back fit fitness into the teams
of yesteryear so they could compete
Leeds played in an era when rules were so different.
Alf Ramsey called the Argentinians animals.
Gosh what a player Terry Cooper was
Left back and attacking - see what I mean about 10 years
Left back and attacking - see what I mean about 10 years
Everyone in that team was perfectly fitted to the place they happened to be on the grass
And that could be anywhere at a given moment - because they were so perfectly in tune to
where they were initially . Nothing was out of place or ill fitting or ill matched
They were comfortable in their skin and each player was nothing less than superb
And that could be anywhere at a given moment - because they were so perfectly in tune to
where they were initially . Nothing was out of place or ill fitting or ill matched
They were comfortable in their skin and each player was nothing less than superb
Revie never managed to replace the players
he lost. Maybe he was spending the money elsewhere,
allegedly
he lost. Maybe he was spending the money elsewhere,
allegedly
Essentially there wasn’t a weakness in that team ( apart from goalkeeper at times , sometimes crucial )
That’s from the football perspective . There may have been some slight weakness in character or something
maybe even just fortune
But the team itself as a team was the most perfect team I have ever seen
That’s from the football perspective . There may have been some slight weakness in character or something
maybe even just fortune
But the team itself as a team was the most perfect team I have ever seen
* apart from Brazil 1970 of course
That was simply magical
That was simply magical
ah , just answered yhtl
By the way the Leeds players were very beautiful players
By the way the Leeds players were very beautiful players
I remember Leeds v Celtic in 1970ish?
Celtic were by far the better team over
2 legs, but lost to feyernood in final.
Ajax took over from feyernood, so quite
a pivotal moment for Leeds.
They were best in England for a while but
never put enough trophies in the cabinet.
Celtic were by far the better team over
2 legs, but lost to feyernood in final.
Ajax took over from feyernood, so quite
a pivotal moment for Leeds.
They were best in England for a while but
never put enough trophies in the cabinet.
Yes Celtic won that match - if I recall sprake let the ball slide under him for a very soft crucial goal
Player for player Celtic couldn’t match that Leeds team
Player for player Celtic couldn’t match that Leeds team
Leeds should have won the European cup in 74
Beaten by the superb Bayern Munich team
Leeds were past their very best by 1974 - but still should have won that final
Beaten by the superb Bayern Munich team
Leeds were past their very best by 1974 - but still should have won that final
Leeds were a much better team in 1970
than they were in 74
than they were in 74
That Leeds team won 2 titles and the FA cup
and league Cup once each.
2 Fairs cups.
Really struggling to make top 30 in Europe.
and league Cup once each.
2 Fairs cups.
Really struggling to make top 30 in Europe.
In England it was much more difficult to win trophies , including European cups
Other countries teams in Germany and Spain etc had the chance every year and so increased their chances
Other countries teams in Germany and Spain etc had the chance every year and so increased their chances
Celtic
Williams (GK)
Hay
Gemmell
Murdoch
McNeill (C)
Brogan
Johnstone
Connelly
Hughes
Auld
Lennox
Leeds
Sprake (GK)
Madeley
Cooper
Bremner (C)
J. Charlton
Hunter
Lorimer
Clarke
Jones
Giles
Gray
Have to say that's pretty much leeds
best lineup that I remember, and celtic were
comfortable winners. Maybe reany at right back
would be stronger team but madeley way good too.
Williams (GK)
Hay
Gemmell
Murdoch
McNeill (C)
Brogan
Johnstone
Connelly
Hughes
Auld
Lennox
Leeds
Sprake (GK)
Madeley
Cooper
Bremner (C)
J. Charlton
Hunter
Lorimer
Clarke
Jones
Giles
Gray
Have to say that's pretty much leeds
best lineup that I remember, and celtic were
comfortable winners. Maybe reany at right back
would be stronger team but madeley way good too.
Reaney would be right back - Madeley a fine player who could play anywhere I suppose
But no more than that
Sprake
Reaney Carlton Hunter Cooper
Bremner. Giles
Lorimer Clarke Jones Gray
But no more than that
Sprake
Reaney Carlton Hunter Cooper
Bremner. Giles
Lorimer Clarke Jones Gray
You know looking at those players , just 11
It’s amazing how good each were and how they fitted together
to make something greater even than the sum of the parts
Like the Beatles
It’s amazing how good each were and how they fitted together
to make something greater even than the sum of the parts
Like the Beatles
I remember being excited to see them play
at St James park. Saw some hot Liverpool teams too
and man utd of course, in early and mid 70s.
at St James park. Saw some hot Liverpool teams too
and man utd of course, in early and mid 70s.
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