5 Most Successful Teams in Serie A History

With a cumulative 48 European club trophies to their name, Italian football teams are the second most successful on the continental stage behind their Spanish counterparts. But what about on a domestic level? Who has tasted glory most frequently within Serie A itself?

A cursory glance at the current Serie A points will immediately inform you who rules the roost at present in Italy’s top division, but discovering which team is the most successful overall requires a little more digging. Fortunately, we’ve done all the hard yards for you, so sit back, relax and enjoy this list of the top five performing Italian teams since the competition’s round robin format began in 1929.

5. Bologna

Given that Bologna haven’t lifted the Scudetti in almost 60 years, it’s very easy to forget that they are still one of the most decorated teams in Italian football. However, four of their five Serie A triumphs came before World War II, in a purple patch that began in 1935 and ended in 1941. Their only other victory happened in 1964 and they have been yo-yoing between Italy’s top three divisions ever since.

4. Torino

Another club which enjoyed its heyday over half a century ago, Torino’s most successful spell in Serie A came in the 1940s, when they won five of their top-flight trophies. Tragically, the team nicknamed Grande Torino and widely acknowledged as one of the strongest outfits in world football at the time were killed in the 1949 Superga disaster, when a plane carrying the entire squad and their manager crashed into a hill. 

3. AC Milan

The club known as Il Rossoneri (The Red and Blacks) have spent the entirety of their history in Italy’s top division, with the notable exceptions of two seasons in the 1980s when they were relegated and promoted as champions of Serie B straight away. Their tally of 18 titles is only bested by three other outfits, though they have now spent an entire decade without lifting the trophy. As early pacesetters in this year’s competition, they will be hoping to right that wrong come the season’s end.

2. Inter Milan

As the bitter rivals of AC Milan – with whom they share the tenancy of the world-renowned San Siro Stadium – Inter Milan were absolutely delighted to pull one ahead of their enemies last year. The reigning champions of Italy wrapped up the title with four games to go, signaling the end of a nine-year period of dominance by Juventus. That was their 19th title of all time and their first in 11 years and they will be hoping to record back-to-back Scudetti come May.

1. Juventus

While the two Milan clubs duke it out for the silver medal position, there’s only one contender when it comes to the top spot on the podium. Juventus are by far the most decorated club in Serie A history, with their 36 trophies almost double that of their nearest rival. Their exploits on the international stage have also seen them labelled among the best clubs in the entire world and although they are suffering a slump this year, it’s certain The Old Lady of Italy will be back among the honors soon.

While Bologna, Torino, AC Milan and Internazionale all have a claim to being among the most successful Serie A clubs of all time, Juventus is the only real candidate for the accolade.