A treble in football is achieved when a club wins three major trophies in a single season. While any three trophies can loosely be called a treble, the genuine or continental treble specifically requires winning the domestic league, the primary domestic cup, and the UEFA Champions League (or former European Cup). This elite feat has been accomplished only 10 times in European football history by eight clubs. Celtic were the first in 1966–67, and Manchester City became the most recent in 2022–23. Barcelona and Bayern Munich are the only clubs to have done it twice.
History of the Football Treble
The concept of the football treble has roots tracing back to the mid-20th century. Celtic FC set the historical benchmark with their European treble in the 1966–67 season — winning their domestic league, the national cup, and the European Cup. Ajax followed in 1971–72, capturing the imagination of fans with their total football philosophy and three crowns. The treble soon became the ultimate measure of a club’s all-round dominance and remains a benchmark of greatness today.
Teams like Manchester United (1998–99), Inter Milan (2009–10), Barcelona (2008–09 and 2014–15), and Bayern Munich (2012–13 and 2019–20) have all gone on to achieve this rare milestone, further enhancing the prestige attached to treble victories. Manchester City’s 2022–23 season is particularly notable for being the club’s first modern treble, marking a new era of English football supremacy.
The term “treble” itself has grown to symbolise excellence, acting as a measure of clubs that have mastered both domestic and continental competition in the same year.
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Types of Trebles in Football
Football recognises several flavours of the “treble,” with differing levels of prestige.
Continental Treble
The continental treble is the most prestigious of all. This requires a club to win:
- The top domestic league competition (e.g. Premier League, La Liga)
- The main domestic cup (e.g. FA Cup, Copa del Rey)
- The primary continental title (e.g. UEFA Champions League)
Why is this version most celebrated? It demands consistent excellence against both local rivals and Europe’s elite, making success almost mythical. Clubs such as Barcelona (twice), Bayern Munich (twice), and Manchester United have all achieved the continental treble, cementing their status among the sport’s legends.
Domestic Treble
So, what is the domestic treble in football? This treble involves winning:
- Domestic league title (e.g. English Premier League)
- Primary national cup (e.g. FA Cup)
- Secondary national cup (e.g. League Cup)
Most notably, Celtic have won the Scottish domestic treble multiple times, often sweeping their league, the Scottish Cup, and the Scottish League Cup. In England, Manchester City stand out as recent record holders, claiming the domestic treble with their Premier League, FA Cup, and League Cup victories.
Other Types of Trebles and Trophy Combinations
Some football cultures recognise additional forms:
- The “minor treble” (domestic league + two minor cups)
- The quadruple (four major trophies in one season)
However, the genuine continental treble must include the top-tier continental competition. Winning the UEFA Europa League with other trophies (for instance, Porto’s treble in 2003 and 2011) is impressive but isn’t universally considered equally prestigious.
List of Genuine Continental Treble Winners
Below is a table of the eight clubs that have won the continental treble (the top-tier domestic league, the main domestic cup, and the UEFA Champions League/European Cup) in Europe. Notably, Pep Guardiola is the only manager to have won two trebles — Barcelona (2008–09) and Manchester City (2022–23).
| Season | Club | Country | Trophies Won |
| 1966–67 | Celtic | Scotland | Scottish League, Scottish Cup, European Cup |
| 1971–72 | Ajax | Netherlands | Eredivisie, KNVB Cup, European Cup |
| 1987–88 | PSV Eindhoven | Netherlands | Eredivisie, KNVB Cup, European Cup |
| 1998–99 | Manchester United | England | Premier League, FA Cup, UEFA Champions League |
| 2008–09 | Barcelona | Spain | La Liga, Copa del Rey, UEFA Champions League |
| 2009–10 | Inter Milan | Italy | Serie A, Coppa Italia, UEFA Champions League |
| 2012–13 | Bayern Munich | Germany | Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal, UEFA Champions League |
| 2014–15 | Barcelona | Spain | La Liga, Copa del Rey, UEFA Champions League |
| 2019–20 | Bayern Munich | Germany | Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal, UEFA Champions League |
| 2022–23 | Manchester City | England | Premier League, FA Cup, UEFA Champions League |
What Makes a Treble Special and Difficult to Achieve?
Achieving a football treble is both a historic and Herculean accomplishment. Its prestige comes from the unique blend of domestic and international success, reflecting all-around team superiority. Key factors include:
- Fixture congestion: Competing in multiple tournaments means relentless schedules, increasing fatigue and injury risks.
- Squad depth: Only clubs with deep, high-quality squads can manage the demands of three simultaneous trophy hunts.
- Pressure: Every game is do-or-die, with no margin for error across leagues and cups.
- Competitiveness: Winning titles at both domestic and continental levels is exponentially challenging due to different playing styles, travel, and climatic conditions.
- Legacy and financial impact: Treble-winning seasons often reshape clubs’ global brand and financial power, boosting sponsorships, merchandising, and fan bases worldwide.
In essence, a treble is football’s ultimate all-round test, combining tactical adaptability, player resilience, and strategic brilliance, traits marking historic clubs and managers.
Conclusion
Winning a treble in football isn’t just about silverware, but it’s about writing history. It demands brilliance across nine gruelling months, resilience against fatigue and pressure, and the kind of squad harmony few teams ever achieve. Only eight clubs have accomplished this in European football history across ten instances. With Pep Guardiola now the only manager to win two European trebles, the bar has been raised. In an era of tighter margins and fiercer competition, the next treble won’t just be rare, it’ll be legendary. So, which club will rise next to join this elite list of treble winners?
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Frequently Asked Questions
Eight clubs in Europe have won the continental treble: Celtic, Ajax, PSV, Manchester United, Barcelona (twice), Inter Milan, Bayern Munich (twice), and Manchester City.
Yes. Lionel Messi was a key player during Barcelona’s 2008–09 and 2014–15 treble-winning campaigns.
A club must secure three major trophies in one season: typically the domestic league title, the primary domestic cup, and the top-tier continental championship.
The treble marks club achievement, while the FIFA World Cup is an international honour. Both carry immense prestige, but the treble demonstrates consistency and excellence over an entire season, whereas the World Cup is attained through a short tournament.
Many players and analysts cite the UEFA Champions League as the toughest due to the quality of teams across Europe, followed closely by national leagues like the Premier League.
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