While watching yesterday Germany beating Portugal I was thinking what would be the most boring league in Europe. There are lots of talk about what's the best and therefore the most interesting and votes are usually going to England, Spain, Italy and Germany. But is there a mathematical way of deciding this? I try to find out. I decided to count in leagues that are at least 30 years old. Other factors are A) how many titles have the top team won, B) how many different teams have won the title, C) and what's it look like for the past ten seasons. I decided to leave out attendances and TV money etc. and just concentrated on titles.
A) TEAM THAT'S WON MOST TITLES vs SEASONS
1. Greece / Olympiakos = 39 titles from 76 seasons = 51.4%
2. Scotland / Rangers = 54 titles from 116 seasons = 46.6%
3. Spain / Real Madrid = 32 titles from 81 seasons = 39.6%
4. Portugal / Benfica = 32 titles from 87 seasons = 36.8%
5. Turkey / Fenerbache and Galatasaray = 18 titles from 54 seasons = 33.4%
6. Norway / Rosenborg = 22 titles from 66 seasons = 33.4%
7. Austria / Rapid Wien = 32 titles from 100 seasons = 32.0%
8. Denmark / FC Kobenhavn = 31 titles from 98 seasons = 31.7%
9. Belgium / Anderlecht = 31 titles from 109 seasons = 28.5%
10. Netherlands / Ajax = 31 titles from 114 seasons = 27.2%
11. Italy / Juventus = 28 titles from 107 seasons = 26.2%
12. Switzerland / Grasshoppers = 27 titles from 114 seasons = 23.7%
13. Finland / HJK = 24 titles from 102 seasons = 23.6%
14. Germany / Bayern Munich = 22 titles from 100 seasons = 22.0% *
15. England / Manchester Utd = 19 titles from 113 seasons = 16.9%
16. Sweden / IFK Göteborg = 18 titles from 111 seasons = 16.3%
17. France / St. Etienne = 10 titles from 74 seasons = 13.6%
* I see Germany and West Germany as one league
So far it looks like this sections winners are:
Most boring league = GREECE
Most interesting = FRANCE
B) HOW MANY DIFFERENT WINNERS
1. Greece = 6 different winners = 12.7 titles per team
2. Portugal = 7 different winners = 12.5 titles per team
3. Turkey = 5 different winners = 10.8 titles per team
4. Scotland = 11 different winners = 10.6 titles per team
5. Spain = 9 different winners = 9.0 titles per team
6. Belgium = 15 different winners = 7.3 titles per team
7. Italy = 16 different winners = 6.7 titles per team
8. Austria = 16 different winners = 6.3 titles per team
9. Switzerland = 19 different winners = 6.0 titles per team
10. Denmark = 18 different winners = 5.4 titles per team
11. England = 23 different winners = 4.9 titles per team
12. Netherlands = 27 different winners = 4.3 titles per team
13. Norway = 16 different winners = 4.2 titles per team
14. France = 20 different winners = 3.7 titles per team
15. Germany = 28 different winners = 3.6 titles per team
So far it looks like this sections winners are:
Most boring league = GREECE
Most interesting = GERMANY
C) THE LAST TEN YEARS
1. Greece. Olympiakos have won 8 titles. 2 different teams have won the title.
2. Portugal. Porto have won 8 titles. 2 different teams have won the title.
3. Denmark. FC Kobenhavn have won 7 titles. 4 different teams have won the title.
4. Switzerland. Basel have won 6 titles. 3 different teams have won the title.
5. Norway. Rosenborg have won 6 titles. 5 different teams have won the title.
6. France. Olympique Lyon have won 6 titles. 5 different teams have won the title.
7. Scotland. Celtic and Rangers have won 5 titles. 2 different teams have won the title.
8. Italy. Inter Milan have won 5 titles. 3 different teams have won the title.
9. Spain. Barcelona have won 5 titles. 3 different teams have won the title.
10. Belgium. Anderlecht have won 5 titles. 4 different teams have won the title.
11. England. Manchester Utd have won 5 titles. 4 different teams have won the title.
12. Netherlands. PSV have won 5 titles. 4 different teams have won the title.
13. Germany. Bayern Munich have won 5 titles. 5 different teams have won the title.
14. Finland. HJK have won 5 titles. 5 different teams have won the title.
15. Turkey. Fenerbache have won 4 titles. 4 different teams have won the title.
16. Austria. Rapid Wien have won 4 titles. 5 different teams have won the title.
17. Sweden. Djurgårdens have won 3 titles. 6 different teams have won the title.
So far it looks like this sections winners are:
Most boring league = both GREECE and PORTUGAL
Most interesting = surprisingly SWEDEN.
Greece have topped the list three times so I think it is justified to say that their football league is the most boring in Europe.
PS. These lists were compiled with a help by Talisker's Distiller's Edition so there could be mistakes. Just notify me and I make corrections.