Harman Patil (Editor)

Double (association football)

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The Double, in association football, is the achievement of winning a country's top tier division and its primary cup competition in the same season. The lists in this article examine this definition of a double, while derivative sections examine much less frequent, continental instances. The Double can also mean beating a team both home and away in the same league season, a feat often noted as doing the double over a particular opponent.

Contents

The first club to achieve a double was Preston North End in 1889, winning the FA Cup and The Football League in the inaugural season of the league.

The team who holds the record for the most doubles is Linfield of Northern Ireland, with a total of 23.

Afghanistan

In Afghanistan, there are no national cups. The Afghan Premier League is the only national football competition in the country since 2012.

Australia

From 1977 to 1997, the double could be achieved in Australia by winning the National Soccer League and the NSL Cup.

Between 1997 and 2014, Australia had no national cup competition so the traditional league and cup double could not be achieved. Since the formation of the A-League in 2004, a double could be accomplished by winning the Premiership in the regular league season and the Championship in the finals series. The feat of winning the minor premiership and the finals during the NSL era was not officially recognised as a 'double'.

From 2014–15, the FFA Cup will take place on an annual basis.

Bahrain

In Bahrain three teams have won the Double of the Bahraini Premier League and the Bahraini King's Cup.

Bangladesh

In Bangladesh four teams have won the Double of the National Football Championship / Bangladesh Premier League and the Federation Cup.

Bhutan

Bhutan has no national cup, the A-Division is the only national football competition in the country.

Brunei

In Brunei, two teams have won the Double of the Brunei Premier League / Brunei Super League and the Brunei FA Cup.

Cambodia

In Cambodia only one team has won the Double of the Cambodian League and the Hun Sen Cup.

China

In China, three teams have won the Double of the Chinese Jia-A League / Chinese Super League and the Chinese FA Cup.

Chinese Taipei

In Chinese Taipei, two teams have won the Double of the Enterprise Football League / Intercity Football League and the CTFA Cup.

East Timor

Now in East Timor there is no national cup, the Super Liga Timorense is the only national football competition in the country.

Guam

In Guam two teams have won the Double of the Guam Men's Soccer League and the Guam FA Cup.

Hong Kong

In Hong Kong, nine teams have won the Double of the Hong Kong First Division League and the Hong Kong Senior Challenge Shield.

India

In India, three teams have won the Double of the National Football League / I-League and the Durand Cup.

Indonesia

In Indonesia only one team has won the Double of the Indonesia Super League / Indonesian Premier League and the Piala Indonesia.

Iran

In Iran two teams have won the Double of the Azadegan League / Iran Pro League and the Hazfi Cup.

Iraq

In Iraq, four teams have won the Double of the Iraqi Premier League and the Iraq FA Cup.

Japan

The Japanese Double is generally considered to be winning the league championship (the Japan Soccer League Division 1 until 1991–92 and the J. League Division 1 since then) and the Emperor's Cup. Winning the league and the Japan Soccer League Cup or its successor the J. League Cup is rare, and rarer still is winning the Emperor's Cup and the second division title.

First Division and Emperor's Cup

First Division and League Cup

(Note: Except for Verdy, every other club won the achievement as part of a treble. No First Division was held in 1992 and no League Cup was held in 1974, 1975 and 1995.)

Emperor's Cup and Second Division

Jordan

In Jordan, three teams have won the Double of the Jordan Premier League and the Jordan FA Cup.

North Korea

In North Korea two teams have won the Double of the DPR Korea League and the Republican Championship.

South Korea

In South Korea two teams have won the Double of the First Division and the Korean National Football Championship in semi-professionla era. In professional era, one teams have won K League Classic and the KFA Cup and three teams have won the Double of the K League Classic Champions and the FA Cup.

First Division and National Football Championship (former FA Cup)

First Division and FA Cup

Kyrgyzstan

In Kyrgyzstan three teams have won the Double of the Kyrgyzstan League and the Kyrgyzstan Cup.

Kuwait

In Kuwait three teams have won the Double of the Kuwaiti Premier League and the Kuwait Emir Cup.

Laos

In Laos two teams have won the Double of the Lao Premier League and the Prime Minister's Cup.

Lebanon

In Lebanon six teams have won the Double of the Lebanese Premier League and the Lebanese FA Cup.

Macau

In Macau only one team has won the Double of the Campeonato da 1ª Divisão and the Taça de Macau.

Malaysia

In Malaysia seven teams have won the Double of the Malaysia League / Malaysia Semi-Pro League / Malaysia Premier League / Malaysia Super League and the Malaysia Cup.

Maldives

In Maldives four teams have won the Double of the Maldives National Championship (1980–1999) / Dhivehi League (2000–present) and the Maldives FA Cup.

Mongolia

In Mongolia only one team has won the Double of the Niislel League and the Mongolia Cup.

Myanmar

In Myanmar only one team has won the Double of the Myanmar National League and the MFF Cup.

Northern Mariana Islands

In the Northern Mariana Islands, only one team has won the double of the M*League Division 1 and the Northern Mariana Cup.

Oman

In Oman four teams have won the Double of the Omani League and the Sultan Qaboos Cup.

Pakistan

In Pakistan, three teams have won the Double of the Pakistan Premier League and the Pakistan National Football Challenge Cup.

Philippines

Due to the sporadic nature of football competitions in the country, with a league not in place until the 21st century, and only the United Football League (UFL) to last more than a season, and a national cup competition not being consistently held annually, achieving a double has been mostly impossible until recently. The establishment of the UFL in 2009 led to annual league and cup tournaments. The institution of the PFF National Men's Club Championship (the national cup) in 2011 (next held in 2013) after years of dormancy meant that a domestic treble could now be contested. In 2013, a super cup is expected to be played, paving the way for a UFL treble.

Since the establishment of the UFL in 2009, a league double has been achieved twice. A domestic double (a title each from the UFL and the PFF) or a domestic treble (a UFL double and a PFF title) has yet to be won.

Qatar

In Qatar three teams have won the Double of the Qatar Stars League and the Emir of Qatar Cup.

Saudi Arabia

In Saudi Arabia five teams have won the Double of the Saudi Professional League and the King's Cup (1956–1990) (2008–present) / Crown Prince Cup (1990–2007).

Singapore

In Singapore four teams have won the Double of the S.League and the Singapore Cup.

Sri Lanka

In Sri Lanka three teams have won the Double of the Sri Lanka Football Premier League and the Sri Lanka FA Cup.

Syria

In Syria six teams have won the Double of the Syrian Premier League and the Syrian Cup.

Tajikistan

In Tajikistan six teams have won the Double of the Tajik League and the Tajik Cup.

Thailand

In Thailand two teams have won the Double of the Kor Royal Cup (1916–1995) / Thai Premier League (1996–present) and the Thai FA Cup.

Turkmenistan

In Turkmenistan three teams have won the Double of the Ýokary Liga and the Turkmenistan Cup.

United Arab Emirates

In the United Arab Emirates, five teams have won the Double of the UAE Arabian Gulf League and the UAE President's Cup.

Uzbekistan

In Uzbekistan five teams have won the Double of the Uzbek League and the Uzbekistan Cup.

Vietnam

In Vietnam three teams have won the Double of the V.League 1 and the Vietnamese National Cup.

Yemen

In Yemen four teams have won the Double of the North Yemen Champions / Yemeni League and the Cup of the Republic / Yemeni President Cup.

Algeria

In Algeria five teams have won the Double of the Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1 and the Algerian Cup.

Angola

In Angola three teams have won the Double of the Girabola and the Taça de Angola.

Benin

In Benin two teams have won the Double of the Benin Premier League and the Benin Cup.

Botswana

In Botswana seven teams have won the Double of the Botswana Premier League and the FA Challenge Cup.

Burkina Faso

In Burkina Faso three teams have won the Double of the Burkinabé Premier League and the Coupe du Faso.

Burundi

In Burundi only one team has won the Double of the Burundi Premier League and the Burundian Cup.

Cameroon

In Cameroon five teams have won the Double of the Elite One and the Cameroonian Cup.

Cape Verde

In Cape Verde only one team has won the Double of the Campeonato Nacional de Cabo Verde and the Taça Nacional de Cabo Verde.

Central African Republic

In Central African Republic only one team has won the Double of the CAR League and the CAR Coupe Nationale.

Chad

In Chad no team has won the Double of the Chad Premier League and the Chad Cup.

Comoros

In Comoros two teams have won the Double of the Comoros Premier League and the Comoros Cup.

DR Congo

In DR Congo six teams have won the Double of the Linafoot and the Coupe du Congo.

Republic of the Congo

In Republic of the Congo three teams have won the Double of the Congo Premier League and the Coupe du Congo.

Djibouti

In Djibouti four teams have won the Double of the Djibouti Premier League and the Djibouti Cup.

Egypt

In Egypt two teams have won the Double of the Egyptian Premier League and the Egypt Cup.

Equatorial Guinea

In Equatorial Guinea no team has won the Double of the Equatoguinean Premier League and the Equatoguinean Cup.

Eritrea

In Eritrea no team has won the Double of the Eritrean Premier League and the Eritrean Cup.

Ethiopia

In Ethiopia three teams have won the Double of the Ethiopian Premier League and the Ethiopian Cup.

Gabon

In Gabon five teams have won the Double of the Gabon Championnat National D1 and the Coupe du Gabon Interclubs.

The Gambia

In The Gambia two teams have won the Double of the GFA League First Division and the Gambian Cup.

Ghana

In Ghana three teams have won the Double of the Ghana Premier League and the Ghanaian FA Cup.

Guinea

In Guinea two teams have won the Double of the Guinée Championnat National and the Guinée Coupe Nationale.

Guinea-Bissau

In Guinea-Bissau three teams have won the Double of the Campeonato Nacional da Guiné-Bissau and the Taça Nacional da Guiné Bissau.

Ivory Coast

In Ivory Coast two teams have won the Double of the Ligue 1 and the Coupe de Côte d'Ivoire.

Kenya

In Kenya two teams have won the Double of the Kenyan Premier League and the President's Cup.

Lesotho

In Lesotho three teams have won the Double of the Lesotho Premier League and the Lesotho Independence Cup.

Liberia

In Liberia seven teams have won the Double of the Liberian Premier League and the Liberian Cup.

Libya

In Libya two teams have won the Double of the Libyan Premier League and the Libyan Cup.

Madagascar

In Madagascar four teams have won the Double of the THB Champions League and the Coupe de Madagascar.

Malawi

In Malawi only one team has won the Double of the Malawi Premier Division and the Malawi FAM Cup.

Mali

In Mali three teams have won the Double of the Malian Première Division and the Malian Cup.

Mauritania

In Mauritania two teams have won the Double of the Ligue 1 Mauritania and the Coupe du Président de la République.

Mauritius

In Mauritius six teams have won the Double of the Mauritian League and the Mauritian Cup.

Morocco

In Morocco three teams have won the Double of the Botola and the Coupe du Trône.

Mozambique

In Mozambique five teams have won the Double of the Moçambola and the Taça de Moçambique.

Namibia

In Namibia only one team has won the Double of the Namibia Premier League and the NFA Cup.

Niger

In Niger eight teams have won the Double of the Niger Premier League and the Niger Cup.

Nigeria

In Nigeria seven teams have won the Double of the Nigeria Premier League and the Nigerian FA Cup.

Rwanda

In Rwanda three teams have won the Double of the Primus National Football League and the Rwandan Cup.

São Tomé and Príncipe

In São Tomé and Príncipe six teams have won the Double of the São Tomé and Príncipe Championship and the Taça Nacional de São Tomé e Príncipe.

Senegal

In Senegal three teams have won the Double of the Senegal Premier League and the Senegal FA Cup.

Seychelles

In Seychelles two teams have won the Double of the Seychelles First Division and the Seychelles FA Cup.

Sierra Leone

In Sierra Leone two teams have won the Double of the Sierra Leone National Premier League and the Sierra Leonean FA Cup.

Somalia

In Somalia no team has won the Double of the Somalia League and the Somalia Cup.

South Africa

In South Africa thirteen teams have won the Double of the NFL / SASL / FPL / NPSL / NSL / South African Premier Division and the NFL Cup / SASF Cup / Nedbank Cup.

South Sudan

In South Sudan no team has won the Double of the South Sudan Football Championship and the South Sudan National Cup.

Sudan

In Sudan two teams have won the Double of the Sudan Premier League and the Sudan Cup.

Swaziland

In Swaziland two teams have won the Double of the Swazi Premier League and the Swazi Cup.

Tanzania

In Tanzania only one team has won the Double of the Tanzanian Premier League and the Nyerere Cup (defunct).

Togo

In Togo four teams have won the Double of the Togolese Championnat National and the Coupe du Togo (defunct).

Tunisia

In Tunisia ten teams have won the Double of the Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle 1 and the Tunisian Cup.

Uganda

In Uganda two teams have won the Double of the Ugandan Super League and the Ugandan Cup.

Zambia

In Zambia six teams have won the Double of the Zambian Premier League and the Zambian Cup (defunct).

Zimbabwe

In Zimbabwe six teams have won the Double of the Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League and the Cup of Zimbabwe.

Anguilla

In Anguilla there is no national cup, the Anguillan League is the only national football competition in the country.

Antigua and Barbuda

In Antigua and Barbuda two teams have won the Double of the Premier Division and the FA Cup.

Aruba

In Aruba two teams have won the Double of the Division di Honor and the Torneo Copa Betico Croes.

Bahamas

In Bahamas two teams have won the Double of the Senior League and the President's Cup.

Barbados

In Barbados seven teams have won the Double of the Barbados Premier Division and the Barbados FA Cup.

Belize

In Belize there is no national cup, the Premier League is the only national football competition in the country.

Bermuda

In Bermuda seven teams have won the Double of the Bermudian Premier Division and the Bermuda FA Cup.

Bonaire

In Bonaire there is no national cup, the Bonaire League is the only national football competition in the country.

British Virgin Islands

There is no national cup in the British Virgin Islands, the BVIFA National Football League is the only national football competition in the country.

Canada

Canada doesn't have its own football league and so shares its league system with the United States. The national cup, the Canadian Championship, is the country's premier football competition and is only contested between the Canadian teams of the MLS and NASL. As American teams can only qualify for the CONCACAF Champions League through the MLS (with the exception for the 2014 season), the Canadian Championship determines who takes the country's berth in the Champions League.

Cayman Islands

Five teams from the Cayman Islands have won the double of the Cayman Islands League and the Cayman Islands FA Cup.

Costa Rica

In Costa Rica no team has won the double of the Costa Rican Primera División and the Costa Rican Cup.

Cuba

In Cuba there is no national cup, the Campeonato Nacional is the only national football competition in the country.

Curaçao

In Curaçao there is no national cup, the Curaçao League is the only national football competition in the country.

Dominica

In Dominica two teams have won the Double of the Dominica Premiere League and the Dominica Knock-Out Tournament (defunct).

Dominican Republic

In Dominican Republic, there is no national cup, the Primera División is the only national football competition in the country.

El Salvador

In El Salvador only one team has won the Double of the Salvadoran Primera División and the Copa Presidente (defunct).

French Guiana

In French Guiana four teams have won the Double of the French Guiana Championnat National and the Coupe de Guyane.

Grenada

In Grenada is no national cup, the Grenada League is the only national football competition in the country.

Guadeloupe

In Guadeloupe six teams have won the Double of the Guadeloupe Division d'Honneur and the Coupe de Guadeloupe.

Guatemala

In Guatemala three teams have won the Double of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol de Guatemala and the Copa de Guatemala (defunct).

Guyana

In Guyana only one team has won the Double of the National Super League and the Guyana Mayors Cup.

Haiti

In Haiti four teams have won the Double of the Ligue Haïtienne and the Coupe d'Haïti.

Honduras

Club Deportivo Olimpia are the only club to complete the double having won both the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional and Honduran Cup in 2015.

Jamaica

In Jamaica three teams have won the Double of the National Premier League and the Champions Cup.

Martinique

In Martinique three teams have won the Double of the Martinique Championnat National and the Coupe de la Martinique.

Mexico

In Mexico eight teams have won the Double of the Primera Fuerza / Liga MX and the Copa MX.

Montserrat

In Montserrat no team has won the Double of the Montserrat Championship and the Montserrat Cup.

Nicaragua

In Nicaragua two teams have won the Double of the Nicaraguan Primera División and the Copa de Nicaragua (defunct).

Panama

In Panama is no national cup, the Liga Panameña is the only national football competition in the country.

Puerto Rico

In Puerto Rico only one team has won the Double of the Liga Nacional and the Torneo de Copa (defunct).

Saint Kitts and Nevis

In Saint Kitts and Nevis four teams have won the Double of the Saint Kitts Premier Division and the Saint Kitts and Nevis National Cup.

And no team has won the Double of the Nevis Premier Division and the Saint Kitts and Nevis National Cup.

Saint Lucia

In Saint Lucia two teams have won the Double of the Saint Lucia Gold Division and the Saint Lucia FA Cup.

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

In Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is no national cup, the NLA Premier League is the only national football competition in the country.

Sint Maarten

In Sint Maarten is no national cup, the Sint Maarten League is the only national football competition in the country.

Suriname

In Suriname two teams have won the Double of the Hoofdklasse and the Surinamese Cup.

Trinidad and Tobago

In Trinidad and Tobago thirteen teams have won the Double of the Port of Spain Football League / National League / Semi-Professional League / TT Pro League and the Trinidad and Tobago Cup.

Turks and Caicos Islands

In Turks and Caicos Islands is no national cup, the Provo Premier League is the only national football competition in the country.

Men

Currently in the United States, the Double may mean either the MLS Double, which is achieved by winning both the MLS Supporters Shield and the MLS Cup, or a league/cup Double of either the MLS Cup or Supporters Shield, in addition to the US Open Cup or Canadian Championship for United States and Canadian clubs, respectively. The Double may also be a combination of any of the domestic cups mentioned above and the CONCACAF Champions League. As of 2015, no team has achieved the Treble of both MLS honours and a domestic cup in the same season.

The following is a list of doubles in the United States in the MLS era:

Women

There is no currently sanctioned National Cup in the United States for women, so the only way to achieve the Double in the United States is through a league double (winning the Shield or its equivalent for the best regular-season record).

The Women's United Soccer Association did not have formal recognition of the team with the best regular season record, but during the 2002 WUSA season, the Carolina Courage had the best regular season record and won the Founder's Cup, the WUSA Championship Trophy.

Women's Professional Soccer, which operated from 2009-2011, had one club win both the regular season championship and the WPS Championship (the latter through the playoffs): During the 2011 Women's Professional Soccer season, the Western New York Flash had the best regular season record, and won in the Championship match on August 27, 2011 to win the WPS Championship and the double.

The National Women's Soccer League has not seen a double in its first three seasons (2013-2015).

United States Virgin Islands

In the United States Virgin Islands there is no national cup, the U.S. Virgin Islands Championship is the only national football competition in the country.

Argentina

Boca Juniors are the only club to simultaneously win the Argentine Primera División and the Copa Argentina, doing so in 1969 and 2015.

Bolivia

Club Bolívar are the only club to complete the double having won both the Liga de Fútbol Profesional Boliviano and Copa Aerosur (defunct) in 2009.

Brazil

Due to the large size of the country and the late development of the transportion and communication infrastructure needed to support it, a nationwide competition did not emerge until 1959. For thirty years, a domestic double was not possible since there existed only one national tournament. An exception was the 1967 season, when Palmeiras won the double consisting of the inaugural Torneio Roberto Gomes Pedrosa and the final edition of the Taça Brasil.

Since the founding of the Copa do Brasil in 1989, there has been only one domestic double at national level: Cruzeiro won the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A and the Copa do Brasil in 2003 as part of the treble, also taking the title in their state league, the Campeonato Mineiro.

Chile

Two teams have won the Chilean double of the Chilean Primera División and Copa Chile.

Colombia

Millonarios is the first Colombian club to win the double, taking both the Categoría Primera A and Copa Colombia in 1953 and 1963. Nacional became the second club in Colombia winning the double, taking both the Categoría Primera A (Apertura and Clausura) and Copa Colombia in 2013.

Ecuador

In Ecuador there is no national cup, the Ecuadorian Serie A is the only national football competition in the country.

Paraguay

In Paraguay there is no national cup, the Paraguayan Primera División is the only national football competition in the country.

Peru

In Peru is no national cup, the Peruvian Primera División is the only national football competition in the country.

Uruguay

In Uruguay three teams have won the Double of the Uruguayan Primera División and the Copa de Competencia (defunct).

Venezuela

To complete the double, a club must win the Venezuelan Primera División and the Copa Venezuela.

American Samoa

In American Samoa two teams have won the Double of the FFAS Senior League and the FFAS President's Cup.

Cook Islands

In Cook Islands five teams have won the Double of the Cook Islands Round Cup and the Cook Islands Cup.

Fiji

In Fiji two teams have won the Double of the League Championship (for Districts) and the FFA Cup.

New Caledonia

In New Caledonia five teams have won the Double of the New Caledonia Division Honneur and the New Caledonia Cup.

New Zealand

Between 1970 and 2003, five New Zealand teams have won the double of the national championship (New Zealand National Soccer League (1970–92 and 2000–04), Superclub competition (1993–95), National Summer Soccer League (1996–98) or the New Zealand island soccer leagues National Final (1999)) and the Chatham Cup. From 1993 to 2003, the league champions were determined by a knockout tournament between the top-finishing teams at the end of the season, the team that finished in first place during the league phase of the season were not officially awarded a title.

From 2003, the league system in the country was drastically structured and saw the National Soccer League disband, with its teams now competing on a regional basis. The New Zealand Football Championship was formed and became the country's national league, exclusively ran for franchised teams as opposed to the traditional clubs that competed in the National Soccer League.

As with most franchise leagues, the Football Championship is split into two phases; the Premiership during the regular season and the Championship during the finals phase, which is contested between the top four-placed teams of the Premiership phase. The franchises are ineligible to participate in the Chatham Cup so the teams in the Football Championship don't have a cup competition to compete in.

Palau

In Palau is no national cup, the Palau Soccer League is the only national football competition in the country.

Papua New Guinea

In Papua New Guinea is no national cup, the Papua New Guinea Overall Championship is the only national football competition in the country.

Samoa

In Samoa two teams have won the Double of the Samoa National League and the Samoa Cup.

Solomon Islands

In Solomon Islands is no national cup, the Telekom S-League is the only national football competition in the country.

Tahiti

In Tahiti nine teams have won the Double of the Tahiti First Division and the Tahiti Cup.

Tonga

In Tonga only one team has won the Double of the Tonga Major League and the Tonga Cup (defunct).

Albania

In Albania four teams have won the Double of the Albanian Superliga and the Albanian Cup.

Andorra

In Andorra three teams have won the Double of the Primera Divisió and the Copa Constitució.

Armenia

Prior to the breakup of the Soviet Union, Armenian clubs were part of Soviet competition. Ararat Yerevan was one of just two non-Russian clubs to win the Soviet double, in 1973, with Nikita Simonyan at the helm. They also won the post-independence Armenian Double in 1993.

In Armenia four teams have won the Double of the Soviet Top League / Armenian Premier League and the Soviet Cup / Armenian Independence Cup.

Austria

In Austria, nine teams have won the Double of the Austrian Football Bundesliga and the Austrian Cup.

Azerbaijan

In Azerbaijan four teams have won the Double of the Azerbaijan Premier League and the Azerbaijan Cup.

Belarus

In Belarus four teams have won the Double of the Belarusian Premier League and the Belarusian Cup.

Belgium

In Belgium, four teams have won the Double of the Belgian Pro League and the Belgian Cup.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

In Bosnia and Herzegovina two teams have won the Double of the Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Bosnia and Herzegovina Football Cup.

Bulgaria

In Bulgaria four teams have won the Double of the Bulgarian A Football Group and the Bulgarian Cup.

Croatia

In Croatia two teams have won the Double of the Yugoslav First League / Croatian First League and the Yugoslav Cup / Croatian Football Cup.

Cyprus

In Cyprus five teams have won the Double of the Cypriot First Division and the Cypriot Cup.

Czech Republic

Two teams won the Double of the Czechoslovak First League and Czechoslovak Cup. Since the dissolution of Czechoslovakia in 1993, the Double has consisted of the Czech First League and Czech Cup, being won by only one team to date.

Denmark

In Denmark, five teams have won the Double of the Danish Superliga and the Danish Cup.

England

In England, seven teams have won the double of the Football League First Division (1888–1992) / Premier League (1992–present) and FA Cup.

  • Preston North End in 1889 won the double without losing a game all season. Arsenal are the only club to win the double both before and subsequent to the start of the Premier League, and the only club to do so in more than one decade. Manchester United won the double three times in the 1990s, including as part of a continental treble in 1998–99.
  • Estonia

    In Estonia two teams have won the Double of the Meistriliiga and the Estonian Cup.

    Faroe Islands

    In Faroe Islands six teams have won the Double of the Faroe Islands Premier League and the Faroe Islands Cup.

    Finland

    In Finland, three teams have won the Double of the Veikkausliiga and the Finnish Cup.

    France

    In France, eleven teams have won the Double of the Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France.

    Georgia

    In Georgia two teams have won the Double of the Georgian Premier League and the Georgian Cup.

    Inter-war period

    A national cup competition was introduced in Germany in 1935, and was known as the Tschammer-Pokal for the country's then minister of sport. Between 1935 and the suspension of cup play in 1944 because of World War II, the Double was won only once.

  • Schalke 04 1937
  • Bundesliga era

    Play for what had become the DFB-Pokal was resumed following the war in 1953 and up until well after the formation of the Bundesliga in 1963, no club was able to complete the double. A new cup trophy was introduced as it was felt the previous one was associated with the Nazi period.

    In the modern-day Bundesliga era, the double has been won by only four clubs. Bayern Munich holds the record, with 11.

  • Bayern Munich (11) 1969, 1986, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2013 (as part of treble), 2014, 2016
  • FC Köln 1978
  • Werder Bremen 2004
  • Borussia Dortmund 2012
  • East Germany (defunct)

    Following World War II, a separate football competition emerged in the Russian-occupied eastern area of Germany. The first division DDR-Oberliga was active from 1947–48 to 1990–91 (not held 1960–61) and saw the introduction of the FDGB-Pokal in 1949. The cup competition was not staged in 1950–51, 1952–53 and 1960–61. Five doubles were won in East German competition:

  • Dynamo Dresden (3) 1971, 1977, 1990
  • Dynamo Berlin 1988
  • F.C. Hansa Rostock 1991
  • Since the reunification of Germany no former East German club has won either the Bundesliga title or the DFB Pokal, and as of 2014, none of these former double winners are competing in the top tier.

    Gibraltar

    In Gibraltar seven teams have won the Double of the Gibraltar Premier Division and the Rock Cup.

    Greece

    In Greece, only the big three of Athens have managed to win the double of the Superleague Greece and the Greek Cup.

    Note: Olympiacos' 1959 season included the double, as well as four other unofficial cups, for a total of six trophies.

    Hungary

    In Hungary, five teams have won the Double of the Nemzeti Bajnokság I and the Magyar Kupa.

    Iceland

    In Iceland four teams have won the Double of the Úrvalsdeild and the Icelandic Cup.

    Ireland

    In Ireland, the double is achieved by winning the League of Ireland and FAI Cup. Bohemians managed a similar feat in 1928 season by winning the League, FAI Cup, the League of Ireland Shield and the Leinster Senior Cup. Derry City FC completed 'The Treble' in 1988–89 by also winning the League of Ireland Cup.

    Israel

    In Israel the Double can be achieved by winning the Top division championship and the Israel State Cup. The team that has won the most doubles to date is Maccabi Tel Aviv, with seven wins, followed by their city rivals, Hapoel Tel Aviv with four wins. A total of 15 doubles has been won.

    Italy

    Five Italians club share nine doubles of the Serie A championship and the Coppa Italia.

    Note: In 2006, Inter finished third in Serie A but were awarded the title as the highest placed club not to be involved in the 2006 Italian football scandal. The club's 2010 double was made the Treble with their UEFA Champions League victory.

    Kazakhstan

    In Kazakhstan five teams have won the Double of the Kazakhstan Premier League and the Kazakhstan Cup.

    Kosovo

    In Kosovo four teams have won the Double of the Superleague (1999–present) and the Kosovar Cup (1999–present).

    Latvia

    In Latvia two teams have won the Double of the Latvian Higher League and the Latvian Football Cup.

    Liechtenstein

    There is no national league in Liechtenstein as its clubs partake in the neighbouring Swiss football league system, the Liechtenstein Football Cup is the only national football competition in the country.

    Lithuania

    In Lithuania five teams have won the Double of the A Lyga and the Lithuanian Football Cup.

    Luxembourg

    In Luxembourgian football the Double is made up of the National Division title and the Luxembourg Cup. As there are no other senior football competitions in the country, and no club have never come close to winning any European tournament, the Double is the ultimate achievement for a Luxembourgian club in one season.

    By far the most successful club has been Jeunesse Esch, who have completed eight Doubles.

    Republic of Macedonia

    In Republic of Macedonia four teams have won the Double of the First Macedonian Football League and the Macedonian Football Cup.

    Malta

    In Malta six teams have won the Double of the Maltese Premier League and the Maltese FA Trophy.

    Moldova

    Sheriff Tiraspol were only founded in 1997, but have come to dominate the Moldovan game, winning every title from 2001 to 2010 inclusive. Six of these were double wins (Moldovan National Division and Moldovan Cup). However Sheriff have never won the Moldovan Super Cup in any of their Double-winning years, though one reason for this was the Super Cup was not played in 2009 and 2010. One other club has won the double, Zimbru Chişinău in 1998.

    Montenegro

    In Montenegro only one team has won the Double of the Montenegrin First League and the Montenegrin Cup.

    Netherlands

    In Netherlands, six teams have won the Double of the Eredivisie and the KNVB Cup.

    Northern Ireland

    In Northern Ireland seven teams have won the Double of the Irish League/Premier League/Premiership and the Irish Cup.

    Norway

    In Norway, seven teams have won the Double of the Tippeligaen and the Norwegian Football Cup.

    Poland

    In Poland, five teams have won the Double of the Ekstraklasa and the Polish Cup.

    Till now, Legia Warsaw is the only team to achieve Domestic Treble by winning the two trophies and the Polish SuperCup title.

    Portugal

    In Portugal, the Double is called "Dobradinha" and is achieved by winning the Primeira Liga and the Portuguese Cup. Only the "Big Three" have done it since the nationwide round-robin league competition was introduced in 1934.

    Benfica holds the record of 10 Doubles. Sporting was the first side to achieve the Double, in 1941, and the most recent one was Benfica, in 2014.

    Romania

    In Romania, the Double is called the Event and can be achieved by winning the Liga I and the Cupa României. The team that has won the most doubles to date is Steaua București, with nine wins, followed by their city rivals, Dinamo București with six wins. In recent times, CFR Cluj has won the Double twice, being the fourth non-Bucharest team to do so, after Universitatea Craiova, UT Arad and, the now defunct team, Ripensia Timişoara.

    Note: Steaua București initially won the double in 1987–88 but voluntarily gave up their Cupa României title.

    Russia

    Four Russian teams achieved the Double of the Soviet Top League and the USSR Cup in the former Soviet Union. The final Soviet championship was contested in 1991 and, following the break-up of the USSR, newly independent states organised their own national competitions, with UEFA regarding the Russian Premier League and the Russian Cup as the respective successors to the old Soviet league and USSR Cup.

    San Marino

    In San Marino five teams have won the Double of the Campionato Sammarinese di Calcio and the Coppa Titano.

    Scotland

    Three teams have accomplished the double of the Scottish league championship and the Scottish Cup. Only Aberdeen have managed to break the Old Firm trend, following their stint of success in the 1980s.

    Serbia

    Two teams in the current Republic of Serbia have won the Double of the Yugoslav First League and Yugoslav Cup (1923–92), the First League of FR Yugoslavia/Serbia and Montenegro and FR Yugoslavia/Serbia and Montenegro Cup (1992–2006), and the Serbian SuperLiga and Serbian Cup (2006–present).

    Slovakia

    In Slovakia seven teams have won the Double of the Czechoslovak First League / Slovak Super Liga and the Czechoslovak Cup / Slovak Cup.

    Slovenia

    In Slovenia, two teams have won the Double of the Slovenian PrvaLiga and the Slovenian Football Cup.

    Spain

    In Spain four teams have won the Double (Doblete) of the La Liga and the Copa del Rey.

    Note: Barcelona's 2009 and 2015 Doubles were part of the club's Treble which also included their UEFA Champions League victory.

    Sweden

    In Sweden, six teams have won the Double of the Swedish championship and the Svenska Cupen.

    It should however be noted that Svenska Cupen wasn't introduced until the 1941 season while Allsvenskan started for the 1923–24 season. Svenska Cupen was also not played between 1954 and 1966. It should also be considered that winning Allsvenskan did not grant the title of Swedish champions until 1931 and between 1982 and 1992 when the title was given to the winner of other cup tournaments that were organized at the end of the league season. The number of doubles for IFK Göteborg and Malmö FF are affected by this. IFK Göteborg won the Swedish Championship together with Svenska Cupen in one additional season to the table below, they won the two titles in 1983, a year when they did not win Allsvenskan. Additionally while Malmö won Allsvenskan in 1989, they were not Swedish Championships for that season as they did not win the play-off following the ordinary league play. All other teams in the table below won the Swedish Championship in their double-winning seasons. The latest club to win a double is AIK who completed the feat in 2009. In 1982, IFK Göteborg also managed to combine its double with winning the UEFA Cup.

    Switzerland

    In Switzerland, eight teams have won the Double of the Swiss Super League and the Swiss Cup.

    Turkey

    In Turkey, four teams have won the Double of the Süper Lig and the Turkish Cup.

    Note: Galatasaray's 2000 Double was part of the club's Treble which also included their UEFA Cup victory.

    Ukraine

    Prior to the breakup of the Soviet Union, Ukrainian clubs were part of Soviet competition. Since 1992, the country has had its own domestic competition. Dynamo Kyiv has 4 Soviet and 8 Ukrainian Doubles among its honours.

    In Ukraine two teams have won the Double of the Soviet Top League / Ukrainian Premier League and the Soviet Cup / Ukrainian Cup.

    Wales

    In Wales seven teams have won the Double of the Division One (1904–92) / Welsh Premier League (1992–present) and the Welsh Cup.

    Achieving this and also winning the Welsh League Cup would make a domestic Treble'. To date, two have achieved the Treble.

    Greenland

    The Greenlandic Men's Football Championship is the only national football competition in the country.

    Kiribati

    In Kiribati there is no national cup, the Kiribati National Championship is the only national football competition in the country.

    Northern Cyprus

    In Northern Cyprus five teams have won the Double of the Birinci Lig and the Kıbrıs Kupası / Federasyon Kupası.

    Réunion

    In Réunion four teams have won the Double of the Réunion Premier League and the Coupe de la Réunion.

    Zanzibar

    In Zanzibar only one team has won the Double of the Zanzibar Premier League and the Nyerere Cup (defunct).

    League & League Cup Double

    A rarer, and less coveted, domestic double is that of winning the league championship and the League Cup. In many leagues this can not be done as there is no second domestic cup competition (as in Italy and the Netherlands) or it has been disbanded (such as in Spain and Denmark). The format of league cups and the number of participating teams can vary enormously from one country to another. In the case of Germany, it should be noted that the DFB-Ligapokal was played in the summer months prior to the Bundesliga and therefore was won in the preceding calendar year to the title win.

    Doubles in lower divisions

    In many countries, knock-out competitions exclusive to clubs outside the top division(s) also exist. This gives lower ranked clubs a chance to win a double. Examples include:

  • Cagliari Calcio won Serie C1 (third tier) and the Coppa Italia Serie C in 1988–89
  • Spezia Calcio won Lega Pro Prima Divisione (third tier) and the Coppa Italia Lega Pro in 2011–12
  • Birmingham City won Division Two (third tier) and Football League Trophy in 1994–95
  • Wolverhampton Wanderers won Fourth Division (fourth tier) and Football League Trophy in 1987–88
  • MK Dons won League Two (fourth tier) and Football League Trophy in 2007–08
  • Wycombe Wanderers won Conference (fifth tier) and the FA Trophy in 1992–93
  • Falkirk won Scottish First Division (second tier) and Scottish Challenge Cup in 1993–94 and 2004–05
  • Inverness CT won Scottish First Division (second tier) and Scottish Challenge Cup in 2003–04
  • St Mirren won Scottish First Division (second tier) and Scottish Challenge Cup in 2005–06
  • Queen of the South won Scottish Second Division (third tier) and Scottish Challenge Cup in 2012–13
  • Clyde won Scottish B Division (second tier) and Supplementary Cup (predecessor to the Scottish Challenge Cup) in 1951–52
  • Trans-State Double

    A very rare event. A Trans-State double occurs when a club wins a league and a cup which technically belong to two different countries and different associations. This usually happens as a result of a change in the political situation in the club's home country, or if the club has expatriated and is eligible to participate in the competitions of its native country and its adopted one.

    The European Double (Double Champions)

    In the same spirit as the European Treble, the European Double consists of winning the top tier European tournament (currently the UEFA Champions League) and domestic league title in a single season or calendar year. This has been achieved on 23 occasions by 15 clubs from 56 European competitions. FC Barcelona has achieved this on the most number of occasions (5). AFC Ajax and Real Madrid are the only teams that have successfully defended a European Double. José Mourinho has the unique distinction of being the only manager to achieve this double with two different clubs, having done so with F.C. Porto (2004) and Internazionale (2010).

  • (*) as part of The Treble
  • The Unbeaten Double

    In 1994–95, Louis van Gaal's Ajax with players such as Jari Litmanen, Patrick Kluivert, Marc Overmars, Finidi George, Nwankwo Kanu, Frank and Ronald de Boer, Edgar Davids, Clarence Seedorf, Winston Bogarde, Michael Reiziger, and Edwin van der Sar succeeded an unbeaten double, winning the Dutch Eredivisie with a 27–7–0 record, and the UEFA Champions League with a 7–4–0 record. Van Gaal's dream team was the only club to achieve a European Double with no defeat.

    League & Europa League Double

    The UEFA Europa League (formerly the UEFA Cup), with a domestic league title win, offers the chance for a club to win a lesser European double; but arguably a more prestigious achievement than a domestic double. This has been completed on fourteen occasions.

    g In 1987, Gothenburg finished third in the Allsvenskan. At this time, the title was decided by a play-off between the top four teams. They defeated first placed Malmö FF in the play-off final.

    League & Cup Winners' Cup

    Similarly, there were six occasions of clubs winning their League and the now defunct UEFA Cup Winners' Cup (CWC). No club ever won the CWC as part of a recognised treble. In the case of FC Mageburg and Dynamo Kiev, it is also worth noting that the domestic Championships they won are also now disbanded, due to German reunification and the disintegration of the Soviet Union respectively.

    Continental Double Outside of Europe

    Outside the UEFA confederation winning the Continental Double may be won in a calendar year, rather than a single season.

    Cup Double

    There are various possible combinations of winning two knock-out competitions.

    Domestic Cup Double

    A Domestic Cup Double consists of winning both domestic cup competitions in a single season or calendar year (for seasons when this double was won in conjunction with the league title see Domestic Treble). Examples include:

    European Cup Double

    There have been several occasions when a club has won its association's cup or league cup and a UEFA trophy but not its League title. For European cup doubles won in conjunction with the League title, see The Treble.

    L A unique Cup Treble.

    Other

    A combination of domestic league or cup and a lesser domestic or continental trophy may be won in the same season. Examples include (this list does not include doubles achieved as part of a treble):

  • Barcelona's 1960 team won both La Liga and the Fairs Cup.
  • Real Zaragoza won a Fairs Cup and Copa del Rey double in the 1963–64 season.
  • Leeds United were the first English team to win a double involving European and domestic trophies. It was in 1968 when Leeds won the Football League Cup and Inter-Cities Fairs Cup.
  • Chicago Fire won the MLS Supporters' Shield and US Open Cup in 2003.
  • Dinamo Tbilisi won the Georgian Cup and CIS Cup in 2004
  • Espanyol won the Copa del Rey and Copa Catalunya in 2006. This would not normally be counted as a domestic cup double comparable to those mentioned above, as the latter competition is not nationwide or league-wide.
  • FC Copenhagen won the Danish Superliga and the pan-Scandinavian Royal League in 2006.
  • International Double

    A national team cannot usually win a FIFA World Cup and their continental championship in the same year because they are usually not held in the same year (except for the Africa Cup of Nations until 2010), but one which wins both titles consecutively could be said to have "done the double".

    World and continental champions

  • Uruguay won the gold medal at the 1924 Summer Olympics and the 1924 South American Championship. (Prior to the FIFA World Cup's foundation in 1930, the Olympic champions were considered to be the world champions.)
  • West Germany won UEFA Euro 1972 and the 1974 FIFA World Cup
  • France won the 1998 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2000; they also won the 1998 King Hassan II International Cup Tournament and the 2000 King Hassan II International Cup Tournament
  • Brazil won the 2002 FIFA World Cup and the 2004 Copa América
  • Spain won UEFA Euro 2008, the 2010 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2012
  • World and other tournament champions

  • Italy won the 1933–35 Central European International Cup and the 1934 FIFA World Cup
  • Brazil won the 1956 Panamerican Championship and the 1958 FIFA World Cup
  • England won the 1965–66 British Home Championship and the 1966 FIFA World Cup
  • Continental and other tournament champions

  • Iran won the 1970 RCD Cup and the 1972 AFC Asian Cup
  • Ghana won the 1982 African Cup of Nations, 1982 West African Nations Cup and 1983 West African Nations Cup
  • Ivory Coast won the 1991 CEDEAO Cup and the 1992 African Cup of Nations
  • Argentina won the 1991 Copa América, the 1992 King Fahd Cup and the 1993 Copa América
  • Saudi Arabia won the 1996 AFC Asian Cup and the 1998 Arab Nations Cup
  • Brazil won the 1997 Copa América and the 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup
  • Mexico won the 1998 CONCACAF Gold Cup and the 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup
  • Brazil won the 2007 Copa América and the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup
  • Cameroon won the 2002 African Cup of Nations and the 2003 CEMAC Cup
  • Japan won the 2011 AFC Asian Cup and the 2013 EAFF East Asian Cup
  • Double Winning Managers

  • William Sudell, as manager of Preston North End won the inaugural First Division going unbeaten in the league (12 clubs:22 games) and won the eighteenth edition of the FA Cup without conceding a goal in that competition in 1888–89.
  • Jock Stein won the double on 9 occasions with Celtic between 1967 and 1977: 4 the doubles of the Scottish league championship and the Scottish Cup, 3 the doubles of the Scottish league championship and the Scottish League Cup and 2 the Treble.
  • Sir Alex Ferguson has won the double on four occasions; with Aberdeen in 1983–84, and with Manchester United in 1993–94, 1995–96 and 1998–99. This achievement makes him the only manager to win the double on both sides of the Anglo-Scottish border.
  • Sven-Göran Eriksson is the only manager to win a domestic double in three different countries, having done so in Sweden, Portugal and Italy with Göteborg (1981–82), Benfica (1982–83) and Lazio (1999–2000) respectively. Note that this included back-to-back double wins in separate countries.
  • Louis van Gaal won the double with Barcelona in 1997–98 and Bayern Munich in 2009–10; subsequent to his undefeated European Double with Ajax in 1994–95.
  • References

    Double (association football) Wikipedia