Great Sports Teams
Written by; Tao MacLeod
Sport has thrown up many success stories over the years. In the world of elite level competition it’s hard to win a league, cup, or championship but to do so more than once over a sustained period of time is something that is particularly note worthy. Each game, code and activity has its own prestigious tournaments, which fans and journalists alike use to judge teams against each other.
On the international stage, continental and world championships are staging points to set a bench mark every few years. Similarly, multi sports festivals such as the Olympics, Asian and Pan Americans Games, as well as the Commonwealth Games are all celebrations of sport that attract top notch athletes and teams. At domestic and club level, it’s down to the national and continental governing bodies to run tournaments that allows the cream rise to the top.
Who are the teams that have achieved the most success? Who are the clubs, sides and squads that have achieved great things over long periods of time? There are many iconic teams that have not only been successful once or twice, but over a sustained period of time, even seeing generational achievements that hints at an ingrained cultural habits and mentalities. This article is a celebration of those sides. However, with anything that is subjective, this list is not definitive. I am not across every team in every sport. If you have your own ideas for additions to this piece then please let us know what you think…
Long Term Success
Football
Brazil (Men)
When people think about football, they inevitably think about Brazil. Fans of the sport think that the way it should be played should be the way that the Brazilians play it. In fact, it was the late great Pele – the iconic centre forward – who dubbed it the ‘Beautiful Game’. The initial success for the Brazilian national team came in the late 1950s, winning the now defunct tournament Pan-American Championships in 1952 and 1956.
A teenaged Pele burst onto the scene in the 1958 World Cup, scoring a brace in the final to secure their first global title. The squad that found success here evolved to retain their title in 1962, before winning a third in 1970. This was a side described as the greatest football team of all time, playing beautifully throughout the tournament, culminating with a pass and move goal to cap off a four-one thrashing of Italy, at the Azteca Stadium. The Brazilians have now won a grand total of five world titles, and nine Copa America (South American) Championships, most recently in 2019. The national team colours of yellow, green and blue have come to represent flair, skill and attacking ambition within football. Some of the most well known players have represented the brilliance of Brazil and have been well lauded by fans of the game. Players such as Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Cafu, Roberto Carlos, Pele, Jairzinho, Ronaldinho and Garrincha have all become icons for the Canarinhas.
USA (Women)
The United States Women’s National Team (USWNT) are the most successful international side in the history of women’s football. They have dominated the game since the 1990s, having won the inaugural Women’s World Cup in 1991 and women’s Olympic tournament in 1996, going on to win four titles in both competitions. Furthermore, they have won a staggering nine gold medals at the CONCACAF Championships, since 1991 and most recently in 2022.
They have produced dozens and dozens of world class players over the years. New Yorker Kristine Lilly is the most capped footballer of all time, in either the male or female games, made 354 appearances for the USA as a midfielder, or forward, between 1987 and 2010. Other well known players include Carli Lloyd, Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe who have found success over the years, whilst also capturing the imagination of football fans around the world and garnering a strong public image. Some of the most iconic players for the USWNT, however, have been Abby Wambach and Mia Hamm. Wambach is the national team’s all time top goal scorer, being inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame. Hamm has been hailed as the most marketable female athlete of her generation, appearing on football computer games for Nintendo and EA Sports.
In recent years the women have used their platforms to call for equal pay for female athletes, calling out sexism within the sports industries. The Americans have become the benchmark for international women’s footy. English coach Emma Hayes has announced that she will take over the team as she looks to rebuild for the future, after some retirements from older players. It will be interesting to see what the younger footballers will bring to the game.
Real Madrid (Men)
Nicknamed Los Blancos due to their all white kit design, they have dominated Spanish, European and more recently world football for decades. The club has won more European Cups than any other team in the competition’s history, including the first five incarnations of the tournament between 1956 and 1960. Real Madrid also has won a record number of La Liga titles. The haul of 35 championship wins (eight more than rivals Barcelona) started in the 1931-32 season, with their most recent triumph occurring in 2022. On a more global scale Real has won five FIFA Club World Cup titles between 2014 and 2022, as well as three Intercontinental Cup victories in 1960, 1998 and 2002.
An early incarnation of the club was founded in 1897 by the students and academics of the Institución Libre de Enseñanza, becoming known as Madrid Football Club in 1901. The royal pre-fix to the name came in 1920, after King Alfonso XIII granted them the Real title. Their position as the establishment’s team continued as the side that General Franco leant his support to after the Spanish Civil War, developing a rivalry with Catalonian giants Barcelona. The match between these teams has become known as El Classico and is highlighted by the regional and national identities felt by their fans.
Several iconic players have turned out in the famous white shirts of Madrid over the years. Argentinian born, Spanish international Alfredo Di Stefano was widely regarded as the best player in the world during the 1950s and 1960s. He was a part of the great European successes for the club during this time period. Former captain Raúl won six league titles and three European Cups with his hometown side, between 1994 and 2004. He was a part of the famous Galacticos that also included Zinedine Zidane, Roberto Carlos, David Beckham, Luis Figo and the Ronaldo of Brazil. This era saw Real Madrid use their financial might secure the biggest and brightest stars of world football all for themselves, like a type of dream team. More recently Portugese captain Christiano Ronaldo has become the side’s all time record goal scorer, spending the peak years of his career in the Spanish capital city.
Corinthians (Men)
The Victorian and Edwardian principles of sportsmanship, during the early days of sports codification, promoted a kind of uber sportsmanship that shunned a type of competition and professionalism. It was thought that this would encourage negative tactics, styles of play such as defensiveness, or even, heaven forbid, cheating in order to win at any cost. Therefore the idea of participating in a league or a cup styled tournament, or being paid to play was considered ill conceived. The embodiment of this ethos was the Corinthian Football Club. Founded in London in 1882, they were based at the Queen’s Club, Crystal Palace and the Oval stadiums during their history. They played a series of friendlies and test matches, easily beating teams who did win elite level competitions across England.
They even went on international tours around the world, that included several European countries, South Africa, Jamaica and the United States of America. It was during their tour of Brazil, however, that inspired the creation of Sport Club Corinthians Paulista. The success and playing style that the English team created for themselves prompted railway workers in São Paulo to set up one of the most successful football teams in Latin America.
The Corinthian Football Club were so successful that dozens of players went on to receive international recognition. Scottish footballer Andrew Watson is considered to be the first player of Afro-Caribbean decent to play at international level. He got three caps for the Scots between 1881 and 1882. For several years Charles Bambridge was the leading goalscorer for the England national team, being over taken in more recent years by later day twentieth century professionals. Max Woosnam is often described as Britain’s greatest athlete. He won the Wimbledon tennis doubles event in 1923, as well as the doubles gold medal at the 1920 Olympic Games. However, he was also a first division standard footballer, who played for, amongst others, Corinthian FC, between 1914 and 1919. The Half Court Press Magazine wrote an article on Max Woosnam, which you can read here.
A purely amateur team, who thought that professionalism was counter productive to their ethos, they were eventually over taken by teams that had taken on full time players. In 1939 the club merged with another side to create the Corinthian Casuals FC and play in the English non-league pyramid, outside of the elite level divisions.
Field Hockey
India (Men)
A stalwart of elite level competitions, the Indians are the most successful team in the history of men’s hockey. Having been introduced to the sport during British colonialism, they took to it like a duck to water. The Asian powerhouse has won more medals than any other national team, in the history of the Summer Olympics hockey tournament. Their total of 12 includes three bronze, one silver and a staggering eight gold medals. The first triumph came in 1928, beating the Dutch in Amsterdam, with the most recent success coming with a third place finish in Tokyo 2020(1). In fact the Indians won seven Olympic titles between 1928 and 1964, only being interrupted by a 1-0 Pakistan victory over them in the final of 1960. Additionally India has won the Asian Games four time between 1966 and 2022, as well as the World Cup in 1975. All of this has been done with skill and panache which has made them synonymous with an exciting and attacking style of play.
The Indians are thought of as an exhilarating side to see by fans of hockey all over the world. Neutrals look out for their fixtures at any of the major tournaments in the hope of some thrilling play. Great players have stood out over the years. The legendary Major Dhyan Chand had the main stadium in New Delhi named after him and is thought of as one of the game’s all time greats, known for his dribbling skills and close ball control. He was a part of the dominant side of the 1920s and 1930s, captaining his team to Olympic gold in the Berlin Games of 1936. I was lucky enough to watch former national team captain Serdar Singh play for the Delhi Waveriders in the 2015 Hockey India League. He won the Asian Games, as well as two silvers at the Commonwealth Games in 2010 and 2014.
The Netherlands (Women)
The Dutch team are the dominant side in women’s hockey. They have produced world class squads and results since the advent of women’s competitive tournament, medalling in every World Cup event bar one, since the inaugural championship since 1974. The records show that the Dutch have won a total of one third place finish, four runner-up placements and a massive nine victories. There are similar stories in relation to the Olympics, with four golds medals in 1984, 2008, 2012 and 2020. However, it is the EuroHockey Championships where other national sides have barely had a look in. A staggering 12 gold medals, with the first being won in 1984 and the most recent in 2023 show an inter-generational culture of success.
The domestic league system, being the top division in the world, plays a large part in their success on a global level. Players are competing to a high level on a weekly basis only helps when making the step up to the international level. Tactically strong and technically able the athletes who have turned out for their country have commanded an elite position in the women’s game for the best part of forty years. Iconic players for the Dutch include former captain Carole Thate, who won the World Cup in 1990 and two Olympic bronze medals. She went on to marry Australian international Alyson Annan who coached the Dutch to World Cup victory in 2018. Annan has recently appeared on the Half Court Press Podcast, which you can listen to here. Kim Lammers is another who has had a very successful career. An Olympic gold medal in 2012, two World Cup victories in 2006 and 2014, as well as four EuroHockey Championships between 2003 and 2011 has shown how strong a grasp this national team has had on women’s hockey, over the years. A truly top side.
Baseball
New York Yankees (Men)
Globally recognisable by the pin-stripped uniforms and the NY embossed baseball caps sold around the world, they are often the first team non-Americans think of when they think about baseball. Established in 1903, they become known as the Yankees in 1913, changing their name from the Highlanders. The New York Yankees have won more World Series titles than any other side in Major League Baseball history, most recently in 2009 and their first in 1923. Their latest success came in 2022, with an East Division title, making it their 20th since 1976.
Joe DiMaggio was the first legendary player to turn out for the side. Nicknamed the ‘Yankee Clipper’, he is widely considered one of the greatest baseball players of all time. DiMaggio had two stints for the New York side between 1936 and 1951, broken only by his military service during the Second World War. Here he won nine World Series titles. Babe Ruth won four titles with the side, over a fourteen year stint between 1920 and 1934. He is often remarked as being one of the greatest players to grace a mound. Mickey Mantle is one of the other all time greats of baseball, who was a centre fielder and slugger for the Yankees. He won seven World Series’ between 1951 and 1968.
Rugby Union
New Zealand All Blacks (Men)
The All Blacks take their nickname from the colours of their kit worn on match days. They consistently win and maintain records that can be used to describe their dominance, such as the amount of first grade test match victories the national team has achieved, as well as time spent ranked number one in the world. The Kiwis have appeared in every edition of the Rugby World Cup, winning it three times, in 1987, 2011 and 2015. They got to the final twice more in 1995 and 2023 and finished third on three occasions. The sport of rugby was introduced to the island by the British in the late nineteenth century, where it then developed over the years, with the first test match occurring in 1903. Playing against the Australians, New Zealand ran out 22-3 victors.
The captain on that day was an Irish immigrant, called David Gallaher, who served with the New Zealand contingent of the military during the Anglo-Boer War. It was here, according to reports, where the original All Blacks skipper honed his leadership skills, becoming an early icon of the team. Another legend of the All Blacks was a man called Don Clarke, who played as either a prop, or a number eight. He was described as the equivalent of the Babe Ruth of Kiwi rugby, setting records for scoring points. He famously captained the first New Zealand side to a Grand Slam over the four Home Nations, or England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Jonah Lomu was a giant of a man. One of the biggest men in world rugby at the time, he could run 100 metres in under 11 seconds. Making his senior international debut at the age of 19, Medalling at two World Cups, he won gold at the 1998 Commonwealth Games with the sevens side. Lomu was the first global superstar in the game of rugby. The All Blacks are one of these sides where they aren’t just successful, but their continued dominance adds to a flavour of iconography, within the world of sports. If you say All Blacks, you think about rugby.
Ice Hockey
Montreal Canadiens (Men)
The Habs are the oldest ice hockey team in the world that have been in continuous operation. Founded in 1909, they predate the National Hockey League. One of the ‘Original Six’ to compete in the early days of the NHL, they are one of the most successful franchises in the top four North American sports of Ice hockey, American football, basketball and baseball. They have won a grand total of 24 Stanley Cups, with the first being in the 1915/16 season. In 1993 Montreal became the last Canadian side to do so. The Stanley Cup is of historical significance. As the oldest professional sports trophy in North America it’s on a par with the FA Cup in football, or the Grand National in horse racing. So to have been such a dominant force over the 20th century this team gets a mention in this list.
Short Term Success/Notable teams
Football
Barcelona FC
One of the great football teams in Europe, the Catalonian giants are the main rivals of Real Madrid (mentioned earlier in this article). Although they have had long term domestic success over their history (27 La Liga titles and 31 Copa Del Rey victories), also gaining regional importance and popular support during the Spanish Civli War, they haven’t been as historically successful as Los Blancos. That is until recently. Pep Guardiola, who was a player for the club in their first ever European Cup triumph in 1991, became the first team coach in 2008. Over a four year period, and spearheaded by the genius of Leo Messi, he helped Barca become the greatest footy team on the planet, winning the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA World Club Cup twice each. He also won the Spanish League on three occasions. This was all the more impressive considering the beauty of the style play that he helped to create, inspired by the Total Football brought to the club by Rinus Michels and Johan Cryuff from Ajax of Amsterdam and the Netherlands. Off the back of the success Barcelona had during this period the Spanish national team won the European Championships twice, as well as the World Cup, between 2008 and 2012, using many of the club’s players and a similar set of tactics.
Dick, Kerr Ladies F.C./Preston Ladies F.C. (Women)
Starting out as a factory team made up of some of the earliest female munitions workers, during the first World War, they became a football club in their own right. The Dick, Kerr Ladies went on to become the top women’s team known to fans at the time. This was an era before there was much in the way of formal competition for female players, they played several teams around Britain, securing many positive results. Based in Preston, Lancashire, the women toured the country playing matches that raised money for various charities. Teams from continental Europe, including France, came to play fixtures against this side, succumbing to the brilliance of the English ladies. They even toured America in the early 1920s.
After a disagreement with owners of the Dick, Kerr factory, the team changed their name to Preston Ladies. Unfortunately, the misogynistic attitudes to female participation in sport of the era meant that women’s football was officially banned by the English Football Association. In practical terms this meant that they weren’t able to use officially recognised league grounds or stadiums, forcing them virtually underground. The team was eventually wound up in 1965. The football club is iconic due to their early successes and numerous victories over opponents. However, they are here as well due to the club’s trailblazing mannerisms and the non-conformity of the players to the sexist social norms of the time.
Basketball
Chicago Bulls (Men)
The Illinois based basketball franchise play in the Eastern Conference, joining the NBA in 1966. There were some early successes, with a Division title being won in 1975. However, it was their victories throughout the 1990s that prompted their consideration as a great sports team. The Bulls dominated the NBA, between 1991 and 1998, winning six Conference title and a further six Championships. Players such as Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman and Michael Jordan, coached by Phil Jackson helped the team through these glory years. Since then there have been a couple of Division titles in 2011 and 2012, but without the continued domination of the past.
Cricket
West Indies (Men)
This is a regional representative side that plays international test match standard cricket. The West Indies is made up of a number of predominately English speaking countries in the Caribbean. With the origins of the team beginning in the late nineteenth century, with sides being selected for touring English sides, The Windies were granted test match status in 1928. Their heyday was during a successful period of the 1970s and 1980s. They won two World Cups in 1975 and 1979, reaching a third final in a row in 1983. Nor did they lose a test match for 15 years whilst playing an ambitious and adventurous type of cricket. The West Indies became known for their fast bowling, taking the game to the opposition. Great players included Brian Lara, Clive Lloyd and Viv Richards. It was during these years that the Caribbean diaspora really took the team to their hearts. During a period of loaded racism and ethnic unrest in the United Kingdom, the British-Caribbeans felt a strong connection with the cricket team and all they came to represent in overcoming the former colonial powers. Unfortunately the team’s success hasn’t been able to be maintained over longer periods of time, like some of the other sides mentioned in this list, but they deserve a mention nonetheless…
