Skip to content 
Football is a game of passion, skill, and often, unexpected triumphs. Some of the most memorable moments in European football history have come from underdog teams that defied the odds and achieved greatness. With this in mind we shall take a look at some of the top ten underdog stories in European football which celebrate the incredible accomplishments and inspirational journeys made by these teams.
Leicester City – Premier League Champions 2015-16
Leicester City’s winning of the Premier league title in 2015/16 season is one great example of an underdog story in football history. They began as 5000-1 outsiders for that campaign but somehow won their first ever top flight title. Managed by Claudio Ranieri with notable contributions from Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez among others, Leicester’s feat took the world by storm.
Greece – Euro 2004 Champions
Greece’s win at the UEFA Euro 2004 will forever remain among the best underdogs’ victories ever told. Coached by Otto Rehhagel, Greece shocked everyone as they defeated France, Czech Republic and hosts Portugal to lift tournament honours. It was an improbable victory that saw them combine their disciplined style of play at the back with occasional goals such as those from Angelos Charisteas.
Nottingham Forest – Back-to-Back European Cups (1979, 1980)
Under Brian Clough’s stewardship who has become a mythical figure since then, Nottingham Forest rose from mediocrity into bagging consecutive European Cup titles between1979 and1980.Forest were promoted to English top flight only two seasons before their initial continental glory making their success even more astounding.
FC Porto – UEFA Champions League 2003-04
In his early stages as a coach José Mourinho masterminded FC Porto’s conquest on UEFA Champions League during 2003/04 edition thus testifying his tactical ingenuity and team unity. Porto vanquished Manchester United, Lyon and Deportivo La Coruña before seeing off AS Monaco 3-0 in the final. With that triumph, Mourinho’s international reputation was established and it guaranteed a place for Porto in football folklore.
Denmark – Euro 1992 Champions
Denmark’s sensational win at UEFA Euro 1992 is a story of strength and surprise. The Danes were not even supposed to have been around; they only replaced Yugoslavia who were absent for the event initially . Guided by Richard Møller Nielsen with outstanding displays from the likes of Peter Schmeichel and Brian Laudrup, Denmark defeated defending champions The Netherlands as well as Germany.
Ajax – UEFA Champions League 1994-95
Ajax youthful side under Louis Van Gaal caught the fancy of soccer buffs with their triumph at Champions’ league tournament during the season of 94/95.The squad played an attractive brand of football featuring players like Patrick Kluivert; Clarence Seedorf; Edwin van der Sar among others. Ajax beat AC Milan 1-0 in finals with the winner being scored by an 18 year old Kluivert.
Red Star Belgrade – European Cup 1990-91
The win of Red star Belgrade in Europe cup tournament in 1990/91 is one popular among underdogs’ legends. Controlled by Ljupko Petrović, the Serbians exhibited both skillfulness and determination .Red Star had such big names as Dejan Savićević and Robert Prosinečki which helped them overcome Olympique Marseille through a tense shoot-out at the end of regular time thereby etching their name into history books.
Celtic – European Cup 1966-67
Celebrated as the Lisbon Lions’ victory, Celtic’s win in the 1966-67 European Cup is one of the most treasured moments in Scottish football. Jock Stein led them to become the first British side that won a European Cup by defeating Inter Milan 2-1 in the final. This team, however, comprised only players who were born within a radius of thirty miles of Glasgow and it became legendary.
Atlético Madrid – La Liga Champions 2013-14
The story of Atletico Madrid’s La Liga title triumph in the 2013-14 season is a modern underdog tale. Under guidance from Diego Simeone, Atletico broke up Real Madrid and Barcelona’s duopoly. These attributes combined helped them achieve their first league title for eighteen years with a strong defense and Koke’s creativity as well as good attacking performances from Diego Costa.
Steaua Bucharest – European Cup 1985-86
The achievement by Steaua Bucharest winning the European Cup in 1985/86 was an underdog story worth telling about. Emerich Jenei managed this Romanian club at that time and faced Barcelona on this day. In fact, they had defeated Barcelona through penalties during which Helmuth Duckadam saved all their four penalties after a goalless draw.
In essence, these are some underdog stories in Europe that remind us about why we love this game so much with its unpredictable nature as they capture our imagination with their beauty too. Still, these victories serve to inspire both fans and players even today, thus proving that anything can happen in soccer when you have courage, talent plus a little bit of luck.
For football enthusiasts looking to engage more deeply with the sport, Laser Book247 offers an exciting platform where you can find out more about it right now! Whether you’re interested in Laser Book247 Sports betting or want to stay updated with the latest matches and player stats, Laser Book247 has you covered providing comprehensive coverage and thrilling fan opportunities.
In fact, these teams are creating new inspirational stories of their own hence the legacy of these great teams will forever be remembered by fans around the globe. In case you are a football enthusiast who wants to keep up with the game, having a Laser Book247 ID can improve your experience as it would get you closer to all those exciting moments in football and its mighty miracles.