Athletic Club leads our ranking of the top 5 clubs chasing a first ever European trophy, with two lost finals and a history that stretches back to 1898. Monaco, Fenerbahçe, Real Betis and SC Freiburg complete a list of proud, well supported teams that have reached the doorstep of continental glory without lifting a single piece of European silverware.
Why this list matters
European silverware separates big clubs from historic ones. Since 2024, several teams have ended their own droughts, from Atalanta in the Europa League to Crystal Palace in the 2026 Conference League final.
Those breakthroughs raise the pressure on everyone still waiting. Our ranking weighs club size, near misses in finals and the length of the wait. We count the Champions League, Europa League (formerly the UEFA Cup), Conference League and the old Cup Winners’ Cup.
5. SC Freiburg
Freiburg is the freshest heartbreak on this list. The club from the Black Forest reached its first European final in May 2026 and lost 3-0 to Aston Villa in Istanbul.
The run itself was remarkable. Freiburg had never gone past the round of 16 in the Europa League, then crushed Celta Vigo 6-1 on aggregate in the quarterfinals and edged Braga 4-3 in the semifinals. Under Julian Schuster, the club kept the patient, homegrown identity built during the Christian Streich years.
The Villa defeat stings because finals rarely come around for a club of this size. Freiburg also lost the 2022 German Cup final on penalties, so the wait for a first major trophy of any kind goes on.
- European finals reached: 1 (2026 Europa League)
4. Real Betis
Real Betis has the passion of a giant and a European résumé still waiting for its defining night. The Seville club reached its first continental final in 2025 and lost 4-1 to Chelsea in the Conference League decider in Wroclaw.
Betis actually led that night through Abde Ezzalzouli before Chelsea took control after halftime. Manuel Pellegrini’s team bounced back with a strong 2025/26 Europa League campaign, finishing fourth in the league phase before Braga knocked it out in the quarterfinals.
The local angle adds pressure. City rival Sevilla owns seven Europa League titles, and every Betis supporter knows that number by heart.
- Sevilla Europa League titles vs Betis European trophies: 7 vs 0
3. Fenerbahçe
Fenerbahçe is the biggest name in Turkish soccer without a European trophy, and the comparison with Galatasaray makes it hurt. Its Istanbul rival won the UEFA Cup and the UEFA Super Cup in 2000. Fenerbahçe has yet to reach a single European final.
The closest calls came in the 2007/08 Champions League, when Chelsea stopped the club in the quarterfinals, and in the 2012/13 Europa League, when Benfica won the semifinal. Recent seasons brought more frustration. José Mourinho was dismissed in August 2025 after a Champions League playoff exit against Benfica, and Nottingham Forest eliminated the club from the 2025/26 Europa League in the knockout playoffs.
With one of the largest fan bases in Europe and a demanding board, the pressure in Kadıköy never fades.
- Best European finish: semifinal (2012/13 Europa League)
2. AS Monaco
Monaco carries two lost European finals, and both came with the trophy within touching distance. The club fell 2-0 to Werder Bremen in the 1992 Cup Winners’ Cup final, then lost the 2004 Champions League final 3-0 to José Mourinho’s Porto.
That 2004 side, coached by Didier Deschamps, knocked out Real Madrid and Chelsea on the road to Gelsenkirchen. Monaco came close again in 2017, when a teenage Kylian Mbappé powered the team to the Champions League semifinals before Juventus ended the dream.
American fans have an extra reason to follow the chase. Monaco signed USMNT striker Folarin Balogun in 2023, and the club has become a regular presence in European competition.
- European finals lost: 2 (1992, 2004)
1. Athletic Club
Athletic Club is the most decorated Spanish club that has never won a European trophy. The Bilbao side holds eight La Liga titles and 24 Copa del Rey crowns, built on its famous policy of fielding players connected to the Basque Country.
Two finals ended in agony. In 1977, Athletic beat Juventus 2-1 at San Mamés but lost the UEFA Cup on away goals after a 1-0 defeat in Turin. In 2012, Marcelo Bielsa’s thrilling team fell 3-0 to Atlético Madrid in the Europa League final in Bucharest.
The cruelest twist came in 2025. San Mamés hosted the Europa League final, and Athletic reached the semifinals before Manchester United ended the dream of lifting the trophy at home. For a club that has never been relegated from La Liga, a European title would be the ultimate reward.
- La Liga and Copa del Rey titles: 32
The verdict
Athletic Club earns the top spot because no club on this list combines this much history with this much heartbreak. Monaco and Fenerbahçe carry decades of pressure, and Betis and Freiburg have proven that a first final can arrive faster than anyone expects.
Recent history offers real hope. Atalanta, Olympiacos and Crystal Palace all ended long waits within three seasons. The next name on that list could easily come from this top 5.
FAQ
Has Athletic Club ever won a European trophy?
No. Athletic Club reached the UEFA Cup final in 1977 and the Europa League final in 2012, losing both. Its best recent run came in 2024/25, when it reached the Europa League semifinals.
Which clubs won their first European trophy recently?
Atalanta won the 2024 Europa League, Olympiacos won the 2024 Conference League and Crystal Palace won the 2026 Conference League. All three were first ever European titles for those clubs.
Where can I watch European club competitions in the US?
Paramount+ streams the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League in the US, with select matches on CBS. La Liga games featuring Athletic Club and Real Betis air on ESPN platforms, while Monaco’s Ligue 1 matches are available on beIN Sports and Fubo.
Why is Monaco considered so unlucky in Europe?
Monaco lost the 1992 Cup Winners’ Cup final and the 2004 Champions League final, then fell in the 2017 Champions League semifinals. Few clubs have come this close this often without winning.
AS Monaco
Athletic Club
Fenerbahçe
Real Betis
SC Freiburg