IFFHS continental Clubs of the 20th Century

On 2009 the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS), an organization recognized by FIFA, has released the results of a statistical study which determined the best continental clubs of the twentieth century. That ranking has not considered the performance of the teams in national football tournaments (except in the Oceania's club ranking due to limited editions held under OFC club competitions), the performance in the intercontinental or worldwide club competitions or those submitted in the IFFHS Club World Ranking, available since 1991.

Europe

The ranking was calculated by the IFFHS exclusively on the basis of individual match performance by European teams throughout their participation in international club competitions (from the quarter-finals to final in all the cases) from 1901 to 2000. The IFFHS have considered the clubs' results in the two most prestigious international club competitions held in the continent prior the foundation of the Union of European Football Associations in 1954: the Central European Cup, since it was launched until it cancellation due to the World War II, and the Latin Cup. Clubs' performance in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, a predecessor competition of the UEFA Cup but not recognized as UEFA club competition by the government body of European football, have been also considered. The match results of teams in UEFA Intertoto Cup (period 1995-2000) have not been considered in the ranking.

The points are given by the following criteria:

Top Ten Europe's clubs of the 20th Century:

Full list published by IFFHS on 10 September 2009

Nationality is indicated by the corresponding FIFA country code(s).

South America

The ranking was calculated by the IFFHS exclusively on the basis of individual match performance by South American teams throughout their participation in international club competitions (from the quarter-finals to final in all the cases with the only exception of Copa Merconorte, which the clubs' results were calculated since semifinals) from 1901 to 2000. Decisions by penalty shoot-out were not considered in the ranking.

The points are given by the following criteria:

Top Ten South America's clubs of the 20th Century:

Full list published by IFFHS on 17 September 2009

Nationality is indicated by the corresponding FIFA country code(s).

Africa

The ranking was calculated by the IFFHS exclusively on the basis of individual match performance by African teams throughout their participation in international club competitions (from the quarter-finals to final) from 1901 to 2000). Regional competitions organizated by football associations members to the Confederation of African Football has not been considered. Decisions by penalty shoot-outs were not taken into consideration, in such cases each team received the half of points. Clubs' match results from the group stage of the Champions League, international competition run by CAF since 1997, have been included.

The points are given by the following criteria:

Top Ten Africa's clubs of the 20th Century:

Full list published by IFFHS on 23 September 2009

Nationality is indicated by the corresponding FIFA country code(s).

Asia

The ranking was calculated by the IFFHS exclusively on the basis of individual match performance by Asian teams throughout their participation in international club competitions (from the quarter-finals to final with the only exception of the Asian Champion Club Tournament, international competition run by AFC, in the period from 1967 to 1971—held annually in a host country—, which the clubs' results in semifinals, finals and the third place playoff were calculated) from 1901 to 2000. Regional competitions organizated by football associations members to the Asian Football Confederation has not been considered. Decisions by penalty shoot-outs were not taken into consideration, in such cases each team received the half of points. Clubs' match results from the group stage directly before of the AFC Club Championship semifinals from 1986 to 1994 and from the group stage directly before the semifinals played in East and West Asia, respectively, since 1995 to 2000, have been included.

The points are given by the following criteria:

Top Ten Asian's clubs of the 20th Century:

Full list published by IFFHS on 29 September 2009

Nationality is indicated by the corresponding FIFA country code(s).

Central and North America

The ranking was calculated by the IFFHS exclusively on the basis of individual match performance by teams of member nations of the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) throughout their participation in international club competitions (from the quarter-finals to final with the only exception of the Champions' Cup, international competition run by CONCACAF, in the periods from 1962 to 1963 and from 1967 to 1986, which the clubs' match results since the last round before the semifinals or final were calculated, while from 1987 to 2000 only were calculated the teams' results since the semifinals in the North and Central region and only the finals in the Caribbean region) from 1901 to 2000. Decisions by penalty shoot-outs were not taken into consideration, in such cases each team received the half of points. Regional competitions organizated by football associations members to CONCACAF has not been considered, with the only exception of the Copa Fraternidad Centroamericana, international competition held in Central America and organizated by Central American Football Union (UNCAF). In that tournament, the clubs' match results from the second round in the period from 1980 to 1984, have been included.

The points are given by the following criteria:

Top Ten Central and North America's clubs of the 20th Century:

Full list published by IFFHS on 8 October 2009

Nationality is indicated by the corresponding FIFA country code(s).

Oceania

The ranking was calculated by the IFFHS on the basis of individual match performance by teams of member nations of the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) throughout their participation in international club competitions (from the quarter-finals to final) from 1901 to 2000. All decisions by penalty shoot-outs in statal, regional, national and international competitions were not taken into consideration, in such cases each team received the half of points.

Due to few international competition issues disputed in Oceania (three from 1987 to 2000), the International Federation of Football History & Statistics have been considered in the ranking the clubs' performance at the end of the primary's football national championship and the primary cup competition in the cases of Australia (country member of OFC until 31 December 2005) and New Zealand, the two strongest footballing nations in the continent during the 20th century.

The clubs' results in each major regional competitions organizated by associations members to Football Federation Australia (FFA) and held from the institution of the Australian Soccer Association, the governing body in the country, in 1920 to the inception of the league system and the National Soccer League (the Australia's National Football Championship) in 1977 have been considered.

The IFFHS have also considered the performance by teams at the end of the New South Wales' football tournaments —at the time the dominant football state in Australian football—, held in Sydney and Newcastle, also have been considered in the ranking. The clubs' performance at the end of the Metropolitan Sydney Championship (established in 1920), the state's championship prior the introduction of the state league (or New South Wales Championship) in 1928, and in the Sydney Federation Championship, established in 1957 as consequence of the incept of the New South Wales Federation of Soccer Clubs after the dissolution of the New South Wales State League in that same year until the formation of the national league in 1977.

The points are given by the following criteria:

International competitions:

National competitions:

Australia's regional competitions:

New South Wales' statal competitions:

Top Ten Oceania's clubs of the 20th Century:

Full list published by IFFHS on 13 October 2009

Nationality is indicated by the corresponding FIFA country code(s).

See also

• International Federation of Football History & Statistics
• FIFA Clubs of the 20th Century

External links

• IFFHS continental Clubs of the 20th Century (official website)

fr:Clubs de football du XXe siècle (IFFHS) it:Lista dei migliori club del XX secolo per ogni continente IFFHS