The 10 Best Italian Teams of All Time

[MILANISTA]

10. Foggia 1991-92

For football purists, the Foggia of Zdenek Zeman rank as one of the most entertaining sides in the history of the game. They may have only finished ninth, but their dizzying six and seven goal thrillers against Napoli and Bari remain unforgettable.

9. Perugia 1978-79

The queen of Italy’s provincial clubs had their own unbeaten season and ended up just a couple of points behind the Milan of Gianni Rivera. The Grifoni based their success on an unorthodox no stars policy.

8. Bologna 1935-41

Remembered as the team that shook the world after they slaughtered Chelsea 4-1 in the 1937 Exhibition Trophy, Bologna dominated Italian football in the '30s and their star player, namely Angelo Schiavio, was crucial to Italy’s first World Cup success.

7. Juventus 1994-99

Nine years without a Scudetto and then three came along in the next four years. To say Marcello Lippi rejuvenated La Vecchia Signora is an understatement. He made them world champions and took them to three consecutive Champions League Finals.

6. Napoli 1986-87

If you can find a Scudetto that meant more to a city than the one the Partenopei won in 1987 then I will be damned. Diego Maradona not only put a smile on the faces of Neapolitans, he brought a distinct civic pride to Napoli and some exceptional football of course.

5. Juventus 1971-86

The legend of Juventus was born a long time before but it was perhaps consolidated in the ‘70s and ‘80s when the Bianconeri won nine Serie A titles in 15 years and just about every continental prize on offer under the presidency of Giampiero Boniperti.

4. Milan 1991-96

If 58 games without defeat does not convince you, Milan’s 4-0 victory in the 1994 Champions League Final against Johann Cruijff’s Barcelona – known as the Dream Team – should do the trick. Fabio Capello’s Invincibles were simply insatiable.

3. Inter 1962-66

The current Nerazzurri squad continue to live in the shadow of the Grande Inter of Angelo Moratti, Helenio Herrera and Giacinto Facchetti. Consecutive wins in the European Cup and three Scudetti give Jose Mourinho a lot of work to do.

2. Torino 1942-49

A plane crash on May 4, 1949, robbed Italy of arguably its best ever team. Il Grande Torino won five Scudetti in seven years, but was remarkable for the fact that at one point it supplied the Italian national team with 10 of its 11 players.

1. Milan 1987-90

A former shoe salesman and a trio of Dutch masters transformed Milan and the game football forever with their brand of total football and haul of eight major trophies, including two European Cups and a pair Intercontinental titles.