What is a Treble in Soccer & Who’s Won The Rare Feat?

Trebles are rare achievements in soccer and are most regularly won in Europe.
Manchester City won a treble in 2022/23.
Manchester City won a treble in 2022/23. / PA Images/IMAGO

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?

Manchester City's 2022/23 treble.
The FA Cup, Champions League, and Premier League titles. / Getty Images

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?

Toronto's Jozy Altidore lifts the MLS Cup in 2017.
Toronto FC's Jozy Altidore lifts the MLS Cup in 2017. / John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

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?

Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi, and Neymar in 2015.
Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi, and Neymar helped FC Barcelona win the treble in 2015. / Matthias Hangst/Getty Images

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.

Team

Federation

Number of Continental Trebles

Trophies Won

Seasons(s)

FC Barcelona

UEFA

2

LaLiga, Copa del Rey, Champions League

2008-09, 2014-15

Bayern Munich

UEFA

2

Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal, Champions League

2012-13, 2019-20

Cruz Azul

CONCACAF

2

Mexican Primera División, Copa México, CONCACAF Champions' Cup

1969, 1997

Ajax

UEFA

1

Eredivisie, KNVB Cup, European Cup

1971-72

Celtic

UEFA

1

Scottish League, Scottish Cup, European Cup

1966-67

Defence Force

CONCACAF

1

National League, Trinidad and Tobago Cup, CONCACAF Champions Cup

1985

Inter Milan

UEFA

1

Serie A, Coppa Italia, Champions League

2009-10

Manchester City

UEFA

1

Premier League, FA Cup, Champions League

2022-23

Manchester United

UEFA

1

Premier League, FA Cup, Champions League

1998-99

Monterrey

CONCACAF

1

Liga MX, Copa MX, CONCACAF Champions League

2019‍–‍20

PSV

UEFA

1

Eredivisie, KNVB Cup, European Cup

1987-88

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.

Team

Country

Number of Domestic Trebles

Celtic

Scotland

8

Rangers

Scotland

7

Buriram United

Thailand

5

Club Franciscain

Martinique

4

Istiklol

Tajikistan

4

Paris Saint-Germain

France

4

Kitchee

Hong Kong

4

Fall River

United States

1

Toronto FC

Canada

1


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Barnaby Lane
BARNABY LANE

Barnaby Lane is a highly experienced sports writer who has written for The Times, FourFourTwo Magazine, TalkSPORT, and Business Insider. Over the years, he's had the pleasure of interviewing some of the biggest names in world sport, including Usain Bolt, Rafael Nadal, Christian Pulisic, and more.