Winning a treble is the ultimate prize for any soccer club.
Teams that do so are forever etched into the sport's history, joining a short list of iconic clubs who have managed the same achievement. Even some of the most triumphant players and clubs have never added a treble to their resumes.
So, what exactly is a treble in soccer, and which teams have won one?
What is a treble in soccer?
A treble in soccer refers to a team winning three trophies in one season.
Technically, this could be any three trophies, but the most prestigious trebles include a domestic league title, a continental title, and a major domestic cup.
For instance, in England, this would be the Premier League, the Champions League, and the FA Cup; while in Spain, it would be La Liga, the Champions League, and the Copa del Rey.
In the United States, this would mean a team winning the MLS Cup, the U.S. Open Cup, and the CONCACAF Champions Cup. This feat has never been accomplished, in part due to scheduling conflicts and complex qualification processes.
Including a second-tier continental tournament like the Europa League in the concept of a treble is acceptable, but it often carries an asterisk in the eyes of many fans.
What is a domestic treble in soccer?
A domestic treble occurs when a team wins its domestic league title, the primary national cup, and the secondary national cup within the same season.
For example, in England, achieving a domestic treble would require winning the Premier League, FA Cup, and EFL Cup.
In the U.S., it would mean securing the MLS Cup, Supporters' Shield, and either the U.S. Open Cup or the Canadian Championship.
Competitions like England's Community Shield and the Spanish Super Cup are generally not considered part of a domestic treble. Consequently, in countries like Spain, France, Germany, and Italy, a true domestic treble isn't technically possible due to the absence of a secondary national cup.
Which soccer teams have won a treble?
In Europe, only eight teams have ever achieved a continental treble by winning their domestic league title, the Champions League, and a domestic cup in the same season.
These are: FC Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Ajax, Celtic, Inter, Manchester City, Manchester United, and PSV Eindhoven.
Barcelona and Bayern have achieved the feat twice each, while Manchester City are the most recent team to do so, scooping the Premier League, Champions League, and FA Cup in 2022-23.
In North America, just three clubs—Cruz Azul, Monterrey, and Trinidadian side Defence Force—have achieved a continental treble.
In terms of domestic trebles, 76 teams worldwide have achieved this feat, with 27 of these clubs accomplishing it more than once.
Scottish club Celtic hold the record for the most domestic trebles, with eight, closely followed by its bitter rivals Rangers, who have won seven. Paris Saint-Germain's recent domestic dominance in France has seen them secure four domestic trebles, while Benfica, Bayern Munich, and Manchester City have also achieved this milestone.
To date, Toronto FC is the only MLS team to have ever won a domestic treble, achieving it in 2017 by winning the MLS Cup, Supporters' Shield, and Canadian Championship.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as What is a Treble in Soccer & Who’s Won The Rare Feat?.
