Top 15 European Leagues

Football is one of the most popular sports in the world if not the most popular. The devotion to the sport is such that many people now see it as a common language for the world – a language that everyone understands and a language that can foster peace.

Given the devotion to the game, it is not surprising that it should be thriving in different countries around the world, from Africa down to Latin America and Europe – you know it.

In this article, though, our focus is on the European League, which also happens to be one of the thriving leagues on the face of the earth, We bring you what we consider the 15 top leagues in Europe at the moment.

If you have been paying attention all along, you probably already know that some leagues have lost their spots and either climbed up or fumbled down. Either way, it is a sign of activity that should give clues about the evolution of the game.

Well, what follows are the top 15 European leagues in the world. We can’t guarantee you will agree with everything on the list, but then we have shared what we believe is the top of the league. Let’s roll!

1. The English Premier League (EPL)

Easily the most prestigious of the lot, the EPL has been around for decades and cemented its place as the league with the most dedicated following and interest globally. It is also the league of choice for most professional athletes.

Interestingly, for some footballers, they have not really arrived until they have played in the EPL.

The league is also said to be the most profitable, generating over 1 billion pounds in revenue. The league is home to top-flight clubs like Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal and several others. It has also been the pedestal on which many great talents had risen.

Such is the prestige and appeal of the EPL that football discussions are seldom complete without a mention of the league.

2. La Liga

La Liga stands out as another top league in Europe and also the league of choice for many top footballers who speak Spanish or who are unable to break into the EPL. La Liga is the name of the Spanish league, which has several clubs playing in it.

Years ago, most clubs in La Liga were plagued by debt and t was reported at the same time that investors were not eyeing clubs in the league because of that, Well, the fortunes of the league have changed remarkably in the intervening years.

Now La Liga stands out as one of the top leagues in the whole of Europe.

3. Serie A

Discussion of Italian football might never be complete without a mention of Serie A, the league under which most top-flight clubs in the country fall. This league is just as vibrant as the ones mentioned previously.

In its long and chequered history, though, it had had some bad rep, including hooliganism, racism and corruption. A conscious effort was made to check part of these problems and the result has been pretty decent.

Since its founding, the league has been attracting talent from all over the world. Nigerians, Brazilians, Ghanaians, and people of other provenances have found their way to the league as well.

4. Bundesliga

Bundesliga is the name for the German football league, easily one of the most prestigious out there and also one of the most exciting – with fiercely devoted fans as you find in the EPL. Teams playing in the Bundesliga include Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Much and VfB Stuttgart.

This club has robust followership around the world but the fans cannot be compared to those enjoyed by the English Premier League.

5. Ligue 1

The French league, known simply as Ligue 1, is one of the most respected leagues in Europe and even beyond. There are several reasons for this. Besides the league being home to some of the top-flight players in the world, it is also one of the best managed as well.

To give you an idea about this, you may want to know that at some point, a club that experiences a deficit also risks relegation. The result? Clubs are motivated to keep their books in order. Of course, the players benefit from such an organization as well.

6. The Russian Premier League

As the name of the league readily gives out, the league encapsulates the clubs in Russia. It has been around for as long as one can remember but does not come close in prestige to, say, the EPL. Still, this great league in Eastern Europe is deserving of a spot on your list.

Unlike the EPL and Ligue 1, the Russian Premier League is not exactly home to many foreign players.

7. Primeira Liga

The Primeira Liga might not have as many sinews as the EPL, but it projects the football universe of a country known to be a production hotspot for great football talents – Portugal. One of the greatest footballers of all time, Cristiano Ronaldo, was born there and eventually leapt to global prominence.

The Primera Liga throbs with talents from Portugal as well as Brazil. This is possible because there are only a few barriers between both countries. Portuguese is spoken in both Brazil and Portugal

8. The Ukrainian Premier League

Ukraine is a country in ruins, and no one is exactly talking about football in Ukraine at the moment but how to zap Vladimir Putin out of the motherland. Still, The Ukrainian Premier League is actually one of the top leagues in European.

One interesting aspect of this league is that it throbs with Brazilian players. Yes. From Shakhtar Donetsk to Dynamo Kyiv, right down to Metalist Kharkiv, several Brazilians are playing for the teams.

9. Danish Superliga

Denmark might not pass as the most vibrant football nation on earth, but it has a thriving league regardless. The Danish Superliga is one of the top leagues in Europe. Some of the prominent names that have popped out from there include Anders Lindegaard and Lössl.

10. Eredivisie (Netherlands)

Dutch football may have passed its glory years with the likes of Johan Cruyff, Marco van Basten, Rinus Michels and Dennis Bergkamp mesmerizing the world with their skills, but Eredivisie, as the Netherlands premier league is known, still holds a spot among the top leagues in Europe,

A major irony about the league is that it is rarely able to retain most of its top players, as they leave for other top premier leagues in Europe.

11. Superleague Greece

Greece has lost its glory years. The sinews of ancient Greece have long faded, and many now talk of the civilization of the ancient era with a sense of pathos. In terms of football, though, the Greeks aren’t doing too badly.

The Superleague Greece was home to some top names at some point, including Rivaldo and Nikos Liberopoulos. Those names might not be active in the field these days, but the Greek league is still plodding ahead just fine.

12. Belgian Pro League

 

Belgium is another country deserving of a spot on our list. It s home to the thriving Belgian Pro League, which has produced several notable names and continues its glorious run to this day.

A look through history shows that the league has produced the likes of Jean-Marie Pfaff, Jan Ceulemans, Paul Van Himst,  Eric Gerets, Fernand Goyvaerts, Enzo Scifo, and other equally outstanding names

However, its World Cup stats (oh, well, it is the players for the league that make it to the World Cup, after all) are not exactly impressive.

13. Swiss Super League

For some people, the mere mention of Switzerland only brings to mind secret offshore accounts, shrewd bankers and other figures in international business. But the country also actually has a thriving league adjudged one of the best in Europe.

The Swiss Super League has been around for decades. And at some point, it had names like Eren Derdiyok, Stephan Lichtsteiner, Tranquillo Barnetta, and Hakan Yakin.

14. Austrian Football Bundesliga

Does the “Bundesliga” in the name confuse you a bit? Well, it shouldn’t, as it is not exactly the German league. Nope. The Austrian Football Bundesliga is all its own, distinct as can be. The only difference is that it does not have a quarter of the buzz of top leagues like The EPL and Serie A.

15. Süper Lig

Turkey’s football universe has experienced massive growth thanks to its premier league called the Süper Lig. Which has notable clubs like Fenerbahçe, Beşiktaş and Galatasaray under it. These clubs have not only produced some top talents in the country, it had also played host to top players across the world, including Nigeria.