GENEVA (AP) — Arsenal's 22-year wait for another Premier League title finally ended late Tuesday when second-place Manchester City drew a must-win game at Bournemouth, capping a historic season in European soccer.
It was a season unlike any other in modern European football, featuring stunning first-time champions and teams ending decades-long title droughts across the continent.
Historic Champions Across Europe
In Denmark, AGF from Aarhus regained the title after 40 years. In Austria, LASK from Linz claimed their first championship in 61 years.
First-time champions included 128-year-old Thun in Switzerland and 87-year-old Mjällby in Sweden, who started the trend in October.
Scandinavia Sets the Trend
First it was Mjällby, then weeks later Viking secured its first Norwegian title for 34 years. In November, Viking toppled the new power in Norway, Bodø/Glimt — the Arctic Circle team that wrote Champions League lore this year by beating Manchester City, Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan.
Denmark completed a hat-trick when AGF was guided to success by coach Jakob Poulsen, similar to Mauro Lustrinelli at Thun, both former star players who returned to their old clubs.
Dominant Clubs Dethroned
Three of Europe's most dominant clubs were finally dethroned:
- Ludogorets — won 14 straight titles in Bulgaria before Levski Sofia claimed the championship
- Qarabag — won 11 of the past 12 titles in Azerbaijan before Sabah won their first title
- Ferencvaros — seven-time defending champion in Hungary before Győri ETO edged them by one point
In Romania, Universitatea Craiova won its first title since 1991, with 11-goal top scorer Assad Al Hamlawi from the Palestinian national team.
Near Misses in France and Scotland
Lens chased Paris Saint-Germain all the way into May pursuing their first title since 1998, while Heart of Midlothian suffered a devastating end — leading the Scottish Premiership from September until the 87th minute of a showdown at Celtic. It was the third last-day heartbreak for the fan-owned Edinburgh club since their previous title in 1960.
Why Are Underdogs Rising?
Olivier Jarosz, who advises potential investors and teams across Europe, told The Associated Press that a more democratic and low-cost access to knowledge and data about running clubs and scouting players has helped smaller teams close the gap.
If so, there could be more unheralded teams lifting trophies in small provincial towns next season.