Historical data 1955–2026
Every #1 ranked country since 1955
A complete year-by-year record of which UEFA association has held the top spot in the five-year coefficient ranking since 1955/56 — when European club competition began.
Years at rank 1 (all-time)
Only five associations have ever held the top spot in 72 years.
| Country | Years at #1 | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Spain | 26 | 36% |
| England | 22 | 31% |
| Italy | 13 | 18% |
| Germany | 10 | 14% |
| France | 1 | 1% |
Longest consecutive #1 streaks
Consecutive seasons at rank 1 without interruption.
| Country | Length | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Spain | 10 years | 1956–1965 |
| England | 9 years | 1966–1974 |
| Germany | 9 years | 1975–1983 |
| Italy | 9 years | 1990–1998 |
| France | 1 years | 1955–1955 |
Year-by-year timeline (1955–2026)
Each cell shows the #1 ranked UEFA association for that year.
| 1950s |
France
1955
|
Spain
1956
|
Spain
1957
|
Spain
1958
|
Spain
1959
| |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s |
Spain
1960
|
Spain
1961
|
Spain
1962
|
Spain
1963
|
Spain
1964
|
Spain
1965
|
England
1966
|
England
1967
|
England
1968
|
England
1969
|
| 1970s |
England
1970
|
England
1971
|
England
1972
|
England
1973
|
England
1974
|
Germany
1975
|
Germany
1976
|
Germany
1977
|
Germany
1978
|
Germany
1979
|
| 1980s |
Germany
1980
|
Germany
1981
|
Germany
1982
|
Germany
1983
|
England
1984
|
Italy
1985
|
Italy
1986
|
Italy
1987
|
Italy
1988
|
Germany
1989
|
| 1990s |
Italy
1990
|
Italy
1991
|
Italy
1992
|
Italy
1993
|
Italy
1994
|
Italy
1995
|
Italy
1996
|
Italy
1997
|
Italy
1998
|
Spain
1999
|
| 2000s |
Spain
2000
|
Spain
2001
|
Spain
2002
|
Spain
2003
|
Spain
2004
|
Spain
2005
|
Spain
2006
|
England
2007
|
England
2008
|
England
2009
|
| 2010s |
England
2010
|
England
2011
|
Spain
2012
|
Spain
2013
|
Spain
2014
|
Spain
2015
|
Spain
2016
|
Spain
2017
|
Spain
2018
|
Spain
2019
|
| 2020s |
England
2020
|
England
2021
|
England
2022
|
England
2023
|
England
2024
|
England
2025
|
England
2026
|
Key takeaways
- Spain dominated 1956–1965 — Real Madrid's early European Cup dominance established a ten-year run at the top. Real won five consecutive European Cups (1956–60).
- England took over 1966–1974 — English clubs became the strongest continent-wide force, with Liverpool, Manchester United and others competing deep into knockouts.
- Germany's era 1975–1983 — Bayern Munich's three consecutive European Cups (1974–76) anchored Germany's nine-year unbroken streak.
- Italy's peak 1990–1998 — AC Milan, Juventus and Inter made this Italy's most dominant coefficient period ever. Juventus, Milan and Inter dominated final appearances.
- Spain returned 2008–present — The emergence of Guardiola's Barcelona and continued Real Madrid success pushed Spain back to the top, where they held for over a decade.
- England's recent rise — Premier League financial dominance has pushed England to parity with and past Spain in the most recent seasons.