What is a treble in football and how many teams have ever won a treble?

Winning trophies is all coaches, players, and fans want since that is what soccer is all about. Some teams have sealed their names in history books by winning three major trophies in a single season and are called the treble winners. So, what is a treble in football, and how many teams have ever achieved it?

Although there are various trophies that most teams give their all to take home, others mean the world to a team when they win it, such as the World Cup, UEFA Champions League, FA Cup, and the English Premier League.

What is a treble in English football?

In English football, a treble is a title a club achieves when they win three major trophies in a single season. Although there are two divisions, continental and domestic, the former gives the greatest achievement of a lifetime.

To win a genuine and complete treble, a club has to bag the main domestic cup competition, their domestic league title, and the UEFA Champions League all in one season.

How many teams have ever won a treble?

Most legendary clubs have fought to bring home a treble, but only a few have achieved it. Every once in a while, a club with the best form and outstanding players enters the history books by taking home the most lucrative title in European football.

According to various online sources, here are the treble winners in European football arranged from the oldest to the most recent.

8. Celtic

Celtics Football Club was founded in 1887 and was ranked as one of the greatest soccer teams in history. Their greatest achievement ever is winning the three major trophies and landing themselves a treble during the 1966/67 season.

They went down in history as the first club in the European soccer world to win the unthinkable. In the season, the club won their league, followed by the Scottish Cup, the Scottish League Cup, and finally became the first British team to take home the UEFA Champions League.

7. Ajax

Ajax has repeatedly proven that they are among the best teams in European football. Under coach Stefan Kovacs, the team achieved their greatest success when they took home the treble title after winning three major trophies.

Although their boss Rinus Michels left for Barcelona, his successor ensured the club made history by losing only one match in their trivia towards the three trophies.

6. PSV Eindhoven

PSV shocked the soccer arena when they gave their all in the 1987/88 season and took home the title after being nine points clear of their rivals, Ajax. They secured 117 goals in 34 matches on the road to their league title.

However, they won their final match against Benfica in Stuttgart through a penalty shoot-out that ended 6-5.

5. Manchester United

The famous Red Devils dominated the English Premier League in the 90s and the 2000s. They were among the best in European football since their players were world-class and were in their best form.

Manchester United's treble came under the reign of their legendary former coach Sir Alex Ferguson who is currently among the greatest coaches of all time due to his numerous trophies and achievements.

4. Barcelona

With some of the best players at their disposal, such as Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta, and Xavi, Barcelona won three titles in a single season to be crowned the treble record holders in the 2008/09 season.

Additionally, in the 2014/15 season, Barcelona took home a second treble title under coach Luis Enrique who had just transferred from Celta Vigo, and in doing so, they became the first team in history to hold the title twice.

3. Inter Milan

The Italian giants are another soccer powerhouse that has won the highest title in the top-tier European competitions. They won their first treble a year after Barcelona had just claimed theirs to seal their names and prowess in the history books.

Although most credits went to their then-coach, Jose Mourinho, world-class players such as Zlatan Ibrahimović and Eto gave their all to see the trophy land in Italy.

However, in the UCL semi-finals, Inter Milan beat Barca 3-2 in a comeback during the second leg of the competition, and in so doing, they propelled to the finals against Bayern Munich and won.

2. Bayern Munich

The Bavarians are the only team aside from Barcelona who have won the treble twice in the sport's history. In their first campaign, the club was rattled after Borussia Dortmund previously toppled their effort.

Since they were determined to be at the top of the German football league, they returned stronger and thus bagged the three main trophies.

Although to some it may seem like ages ago, the teams' recent record happened a few years back during the 2019/20 season under the leadership of coach Hans-Dieter Flick.

1. Manchester City

The Citizens made history by winning the first-ever domestic treble in England during the 2018/19 season. They did so by bagging the top three trophies: the FA Cup, the Premier League, and League Cup.

As discussed, a club can only claim a true treble title if they win three major trophies, and since they had yet to achieve a true one, they went on and brought it home under Pep Guardiola during the 2022/23 season.

With Manchester City's treble, Pep made history by becoming the first coach to achieve a career-high with two different teams, countries, and leagues.

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How many trebles has Pep Guardiola won?

The renowned coach Pep Guardiola has won the title twice, with Manchester City and Barcelona, cemented his name as one of the greatest and youngest coaches in the soccer arena.

Additionally, he holds the record for the most consecutive games won in Bundesliga, La Liga, and the English Premier League.

Who has won the most trebles in football?

Barcelona and Bayern Munich have both won the title twice. Although Celtics has won it domestically eight times, Bayern and Barca are the leaders of European football and the bar setters since they won it after bagging major trophies.

While others still want to know what is a treble in football, famous legendary clubs, such as Manchester City, are winning it. Most top-tier clubs try their best to win the three trophies to be considered treble winners, European football's greatest achievement. Becoming a treble winner is no walk in the park since a team has to be determined and in its best form throughout all the competitions.

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