Unbeatable teams from Persia to the Premier League

We all cherish teams that win domestic or continental trophies, although there’s an extra-special feat in football that’s arguably worthy of even greater respect. Remaining unbeaten throughout a whole season, that really is a remarkable achievement, and it’s one that is becoming harder to accomplish in the top leagues around the world.

Let’s take a look at some unique teams who have written their names into the history books, stubbornly refusing to suffer defeat and creating unique seasons that will never be forgotten.

The Invincibles

Back in the formative years of the game in England, the inaugural Football League season in 1888-89 turned out to be ground-breaking in so many respects. Preston North End won the first title and without losing a single game, winning 18 and drawing 4 of their 22 matches. The first team to be known as “The Invincibles” also won the FA Cup that year, which additionally meant they were also the first football club to win a league and cup double.

Arsenal are the only other team in England to have remained unbeaten for a whole season. When they won the 2003-04 Premier League title, the team then managed by Arsene Wenger enjoyed a spectacular campaign, winning 26 and drawing 12 of their 38 games. Since that monumental season of success, the Gunners haven’t been able to win the league again.

During the current season, Liverpool really did look as though they were going to remain unbeaten for the whole of the 2019-20 campaign. However, they suffered a shock 3-0 defeat away at Watford, who are battling to avoid relegation. Proof positive that in football the underdogs always have a chance of winning. Nonetheless, Liverpool are still heavy favourites in the Premier League football odds.

Persian Perfection

It wasn’t until the 1970s that Iran had a fully national league structure, with clubs playing in provincial or city championships. The first truly national league was the Takht Jamshid Cup and during the inaugural 1973-74 campaign, Persepolis established a record that has yet to be equalled. The famous club from Tehran went unbeaten for the whole season, winning 15 and drawing 7 of their 22 matches, while scoring 46 goals and conceding just 4.

Remarkably, Persepolis won the league title by just 2 points ahead of Taj, who are now known as Esteghlal. Since then, these two clubs from Tehran have become the fiercest of rivals in the Persian Gulf Pro League and its predecessors, whilst also being the most successful clubs in the country. Persepolis have won the Iranian league title 12 times, while Esteghlal have 8 championships to their name.

While no other team in Iranian football has managed to match that 1973-74 unbeaten season, Persepolis themselves actually came very close during the 2018-19 campaign. On their way to winning the title, the team known as The Red Army won 16 and drew 13 of their 30 games, losing just once away to Foolad at the Ghadir Stadium in Ahvaz. Whether another Iranian team earns themselves the “Invincibles” nickname ever again, remains to be seen.

Unbeatably Unlucky

Teams remaining unbeaten in the top division of their country isn’t as uncommon as one might think. Numerous teams in top leagues throughout different continents have achieved the feat, although not always with the success they perhaps deserved at the end of the season. Indeed, as recently as the 2014-15 season, Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia went the entire campaign unbeaten, yet they were still beaten to the Saudi Pro League title by Al-Nassr.

In Europe, nobody in Serbia could beat Red Star Belgrade during the 2007-08 season, although having drawn too many games, they still finished behind bitter rivals Partizan Belgrade in the league. Finally, spare a thought for Italian outfit Perugia, who went the entire 1978-79 season unbeaten and still didn’t win the title, ending up 3 points behind AC Milan. It’s the closest they ever came to landing a championship, which makes missing out all the more unfortunate.