Ranking the 11 Most Unexpected Title Winners in History

At the start of each new league season, there are always frontrunners expected to lead the pack and clinch the title by the end. Yet, occasionally, a dark horse emerges, defying expectations and securing the championship against all odds.

Under the leadership of Xabi Alonso, Bayer Leverkusen has achieved the unimaginable, ending Bayern Munich's 11-year Bundesliga reign. Their commanding 5-0 victory over Werder Bremen sealed the title, marking one of the most remarkable seasons in football history. However, they're not the first to achieve such a feat.

Across Europe, numerous leagues have witnessed unexpected title triumphs, shattering the dominance of established powerhouses. In homage to Bayer Leverkusen's extraordinary campaign, let's explore 11 of the most surprising championship winners of all time.

Ranking factors

The teams featured in this ranking have been meticulously evaluated based on several criteria:

• Past Success: Their historical performance and track record in previous seasons.
• League Competition: The overall quality and strength of the top teams in their respective leagues.
• Dramatic Impact: The level of surprise and drama associated with their title victory.
• Upset Factor: Whether they managed to clinch their first-ever league title and dethrone dominant rivals in their division.

Remarkably, many of these teams secured their maiden league title during the highlighted season, defying the odds and overcoming formidable opponents. This ranking encompasses clubs from the top five European leagues, each contributing to the narrative of unexpected triumph in football history.

11. Atletico Madrid

2013/14 season

Atletico Madrid experienced a remarkable season in 2013/14, propelled by Diego Simeone's masterful defensive strategy. Their defensive prowess was on full display as they conceded a mere 26 goals throughout the La Liga campaign, compensating for Barcelona's superior goal-scoring record, who netted 23 more goals than them.

The title showdown on the final matchday against Barcelona was the epitome of tension, with Atletico requiring just a draw to clinch the championship from Gerardo Martino's side. In a nail-biting encounter, they held firm to secure a crucial 0-0 draw, marking the first time in a decade that a team other than Barcelona or Real Madrid claimed the La Liga crown. Notably, Simeone's squad, featuring stars like Diego Costa and Thibaut Courtois, also reached the Champions League final, albeit falling short to their city rivals in a closely contested match.

10. FC Twente

2009/10 season

FC Twente, a relatively young club in the Eredivisie, established in 1965, experienced a remarkable rise in the mid-2000s under Fred Rutten's leadership. However, Rutten's departure to Schalke in 2008 brought an unexpected turn of events as Steve McClaren, infamous for his stint as England manager, took over the reins.

Against the odds, McClaren, supported by Erik ten Hag, not only maintained the club's position in the Champions League spots in his debut season but also achieved the extraordinary feat of securing Twente's maiden league title the following year. They clinched the title by a narrow margin of just one point over Ajax, with future Fulham standout Bryan Ruiz delivering an impressive 24 league goals from midfield.

9. Deportivo La Coruna

1999/00 season

As of December 2023, Deportivo found themselves in the third tier of Spanish football, a stark contrast to their glory days when they were regarded as one of the top teams in the country. In 2000, under the guidance of manager Javier Irureta, the club achieved a historic milestone by winning their first-ever top-flight title.

The triumph came in a season where the level of competition in La Liga was surprisingly low. Deportivo needed only 69 points to secure the title, finishing five points ahead of Barcelona and Valencia in second and third place, respectively. The team was propelled by the talents of players such as Roy Makaay, Djalminha, and Pauleta. This achievement also distinguished A Coruna as the second-smallest city to ever boast a La Liga-winning team, following in the footsteps of Real Sociedad from San Sebastian.

8. Wolfsburg

2008/09 season

Wolfsburg, initially founded for Volkswagen employees, ascended through the tiers of German football before making their Bundesliga debut in 1997. Establishing themselves as a competitive top-flight outfit, they began vying for European qualification. However, the 2008/09 season brought unforeseen success.

Managed by Felix Magath, Wolfsburg clinched their maiden Bundesliga title, amassing 69 points, edging past Bayern Munich by two points. A pivotal moment came in early April when they routed Bayern 5-1. The striking duo of Grafite and Edin Dzeko emerged as the stars of the historic campaign, collectively netting 54 league goals, solidifying their place as one of the most prolific strike partnerships in Bundesliga history.

7. Nottingham Forest

1977/78 season

Brian Clough is a legendary figure in football management, and his tenure at Nottingham Forest is the stuff of legend. Taking the reins in 1975 when the club languished in the second tier of English football, he was soon reunited with his trusted assistant Peter Taylor, with whom he had previously achieved success at Derby County.

Their partnership bore fruit swiftly, propelling Forest to promotion in 1977. Upon their return to the top flight, they wasted no time in securing the club's first, and to date only, top-flight title. Finishing seven points ahead of a formidable Liverpool side and suffering just three defeats, Forest's triumph was nothing short of remarkable. But Clough and Taylor weren't content with domestic success alone; they went on to guide Forest to consecutive European Cup titles in the following seasons, cementing their place in history as only the second English club to achieve such a feat.

6. Montpellier

2011/12 season