Where do PSG rank among Europe’s greatest dynasties?
BBC Sport examines how Paris St-Germain's recent Champions League success compares to football's great European dynasties, as the French champions begin their title defence hoping to become the first side to win the competition three seasons running. The piece traces PSG's transformation from lavish spending under Qatar Sports Investments to a more disciplined approach under Luis Enrique, who arrived in 2023 and built a younger, cohesive squad that delivered back-to-back European Cup triumphs.
The article then ranks past dynasties for comparison, including Helenio Herrera's "Grande Inter" side, which won consecutive European Cups in 1964 and 1965 with a ruthless counter-attacking style, and Bela Guttmann's Benfica, who won successive titles in 1961 and 1962 partly thanks to a young Eusebio, before reportedly being cursed by Guttmann never to win the trophy again. The countdown also moves on to discuss Bayern Munich's rise from a competitive West German scene, though the article text is incomplete beyond this point.
In short
- PSG chase a third straight Champions League title this season.
- BBC ranks PSG among football's great European dynasties.
- Piece also covers Inter Milan, Benfica and Bayern Munich's dominant eras.
Explained simply
Paris St-Germain (PSG) are a French football club whose recent rise in Europe followed a major investment programme by Qatar Sports Investments. Under manager Luis Enrique, who joined in 2023, the club shifted towards a younger squad built to play as a more cohesive team.
The European Cup, now called the Champions League, is the leading competition for clubs across Europe. Winning it in consecutive seasons is rare, so past teams such as Helenio Herrera’s Inter Milan and Bela Guttmann’s Benfica are often used as points of comparison.
A football dynasty usually means a team that wins major honours over several seasons. Comparing such teams involves more than counting trophies: their playing styles, the strength of their rivals and the era they played in also shape how their achievements are judged.