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Where are the old European Cup kings now? Ajax, Celtic, Red Star, Steaua's decline

From Die Presse · () German

Translated from German, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Sources not specified Context piece
  • Once dominant European football clubs like Ajax, Celtic, and Steaua Bucharest have seen their influence wane outside of major leagues, struggling to maintain international success.
  • Factors contributing to their decline include the massive growth of European football finances, which disproportionately benefits top leagues, and challenges in sustaining the talent development-to-success cycle.
  • While Ajax showed in 2019 that the model can still work, the departure of key management and a decline in performance have seen them slip in European rankings, with Eastern European clubs like Steaua and Red Star Belgrade now barely featuring in UEFA reports.

Celtic Glasgow's upcoming Champions League qualifier against LASK in Linz marks a moment to reflect on the fading glory of European football's former kings. Clubs like Celtic, Red Star Belgrade, Steaua Bucharest, Ajax Amsterdam, and Galatasaray, once celebrated for their international triumphs and ability to challenge giants from England, Spain, and Germany, now symbolize the decline of major teams outside the elite leagues.

Ajax Amsterdam's near-miss in the 2019 Champions League semifinals offered a glimpse of their past brilliance, reminiscent of their 1990s heyday when they dominated European football and won the Champions League in 1995. However, recent seasons have seen Ajax struggle even for Champions League qualification. The club's fortunes took a significant downturn after 2022 with the departure of management legends Marc Overmars and Edwin van der Sar. The famed youth academy appears depleted, the team's performance is lackluster, and national dominance has evaporated, leaving Ajax ranked a mere 55th in UEFA's club standings.

The landscape of European club football has dramatically expanded, but financial rewards are heavily concentrated in the top leagues. Even clubs with Ajax's pedigree find themselves on the sidelines financially. The challenge for many former European powerhouses has been maintaining the crucial cycle of talent development, on-field success, revenue generation, and subsequent rebuilding. Ajax's 2019 run, however, demonstrated that this model can still be viable, albeit with significant challenges.

In contrast, Eastern European powerhouses Steaua Bucharest and Red Star Belgrade are now virtually absent from UEFA's reports. Steaua, the first Eastern European club to win the European Cup in 1986 and a finalist again in 1989, benefited from state support under the Ceauศ™escu regime. Following the revolution and a change in ownership to George Becali in the 2000s, the club saw some success, reaching the UEFA Cup semifinals in 2006. However, a legal dispute led to a court ruling in 2017 that stripped the club of its name, logo, and colors, forcing a rebranding to FCSB. This legal battle significantly hampered its development and European aspirations.

DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Die Presse in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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