UEFA Rankings

May 22 '96

Under existing rules, the top 3 countries get 4 berths, 4th to 8th placed countries get 3, 9th to 21st get 2 and most of the remaining countries obtain 1 berth each. This is scheduled to change however, with the big changes planned. The following is based on existing rules.

The number of berths in next year's UEFA Cup (96-97) have already been decided by calculating from 90-95 but at the end of this season, the final 91-96 figures determine (a) the entrants in EC1, EC2 and the seedings for the UEFA Cup next year and (b) the the UEFA Cup entrants for the 97-98 season. The abridged list (top 10 only) below is also predicated on a 2 points per win, 1 point per draw and 1 point per bonus system.

The most notable features of this year's competitions and their effects on the rankings are

1. The success of French teams, notably the incredible achievements of Girondins de Bordeaux in reaching the UEFA Cup Final from the humble beginnings of the Intertoto Cup. Indeed, following their success, commentators from Germany (and England) seem to have already decided that the Intertoto must be taken more seriously in the future. However, Bordeaux's success is hardly repeatable on an annual basis and the participation of RC Strasbourg in the UEFA Cup following their success in the Intertoto actually harmed France's co-efficient.

2. The success of Spanish teams. Following the victory of Real Zaragoza in the Cup Winners Cup last May, Spanish clubs have performed very well in Europe this year - enabling Spain to rise above Germany in the rankings and claim an extra berth for the 97-98 competitions.

3. The remarkable increase in the Netherlands' figure over the last year resulting primarily from Ajax's European domination which included a 19 match unbeaten run.

4. The slump in England's figure after a series of poor performances by her teams this year. Indeed, the latter trend has given rise to an FA Inquiry! However, another factor in England's demise is the fact that Manchester United's 1991 ECWC triumph will no longer be a factor in England's figure.

5. Despite Spartak Moscow's six stunning victories in the Champions league, Russia has lost her place in in the 2nd rung (along with its associated automatic place in the Champions' League) to the Netherlands while Belgium's membership in the same group came very near to being taken from them by Greece following the impressive progress of Panathinaikos in the Champions League. Indeed, the continuation in the dramatic decrease in Belgium's figure is also a notable point in the above figures.

6. Further down the list, thanks to fine performances by the Praha-based teams Slavia and Sparta, the Czech republic have made the most progress jumping from a figure of 5.00 to 17.00, thus moving the new country from the 1-berth group to the 2-berth group.

Euro Club Competitions