Two English clubs stand on the verge of history having reached major European finals in 2023. Manchester City are contesting their second Champions League final, while West Ham United have made it to their first Europa Conference League showdown.
Both finals take place this week and there is a chance for England as a nation to add two more continental gongs to its collection since European competition began 68 years ago. The two teams both come up against Italian opposition, with Man City facing Inter Milan and West Ham taking on Fiorentina.
Italy as a nation also boasts an impressive record in European competition, but who reigns supreme among the biggest European nations?
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Spain: 75 (46 winners and 29 runners up) - 61.33%
European Cup/Champions League
Real Madrid - 14
Barcelona - 5
UEFA Cup/Europa League
Sevilla - 7
Atletico Madrid - 3
Real Madrid - 2
Valencia - 1
Villarreal - 1
UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup
Barcelona - 4
Atletico Madrid - 1
Valencia - 1
Real Zaragoza - 1
Inter-Cities Fairs Cup
Barcelona - 3
Valencia - 2
Real Zaragoza - 1
With Real Madrid’s incredible record of 14 European Cup/Champions League titles, and Sevilla’s recent infatuation with the Europa League with seven triumphs, it is clear to see why Spanish clubs are the best of the best. Combined, Madrid and Sevilla have won half of the titles won by Spanish sides in Europe.
England: 65 (35 winners and 28 runners up) - 55.55%
European Cup/Champions League
Liverpool - 6
Manchester United - 3
Chelsea - 2
Nottingham Forest - 2
Aston Villa - 1
UEFA Cup/Europa League
Liverpool - 3
Tottenham Hotspur - 2
Chelsea - 2
Manchester United - 1
Ipswich Town - 1
UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup
Chelsea - 2
Arsenal - 1
West Ham United - 1
Tottenham Hotspur - 1
Manchester City - 1
Everton - 1
Manchester United - 1
Inter-Cities Fairs Cup
Leeds United - 2
Newcastle United - 1
Arsenal - 1
England has a rich history when it comes to European football, with Liverpool the country’s most successful club with nine major titles. No other team comes close, with Chelsea next on six.
Italy: 59 (29 winners and 30 runners up) - 49.15%
European Cup/Champions League
AC Milan - 7
Inter Milan - 3
Juventus - 2
UEFA Cup/Europa League
Inter Milan - 3
Juventus - 3
Parma - 2
Napoli - 1
UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup
AC Milan - 2
Fiorentina - 1
Sampdoria - 1
Parma - 1
Juventus - 1
Lazio - 1
Inter-Cities Fairs Cup
Roma - 1
AC Milan are only second to Real Madrid in the list for the most Champions League titles and are one of the most decorated clubs in across European competition. Italy has seen nine different clubs taste victory on the continental stage.
Germany: 44 (20 winners and 24 runners up) - 45.45 %
European Cup/Champions League
Bayern Munich - 6
Hamburg - 1
Borussia Dortmund - 1
UEFA Cup/Europa League
Borussia Monchengladbach - 2
Eintracht Frankfurt - 2
Bayer Leverkusen - 1
Bayern Munich - 1
Schalke - 1
UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup
Hamburg - 1
Borussia Dortmund - 1
Bayern Munich - 1
FC Magdeburg - 1
Werder Bremen - 1
Bayern Munich have an incredible pedigree when it comes to playing at the highest level of European competition with a joint-third best tally of six titles in the European Cup/Champions League. They are one of seven German clubs to have lifted a European trophy since 1955.