The most recent football season witnessed several prominent clubs and players finally break lengthy trophy droughts. Following victories by teams like Tottenham Hotspur, who secured silverware after a 17-year wait, and Paris Saint-Germain, who lifted their first-ever UEFA Champions League title, the focus has inevitably shifted.
This period has been marked by the breaking of various `curses` across Europe. Beyond Spurs and PSG, Bologna ended a 51-year wait for the Coppa Italia, Newcastle United snapped a 56-year drought with the EFL Cup, Crystal Palace claimed their first-ever major trophy by winning the FA Cup, and even Harry Kane secured the first title of his career with Bayern Munich`s Bundesliga win. This season of disrupted patterns, where major honors were often monopolized by a select few, proved particularly compelling.
However, the pressure to win doesn`t simply vanish; it transfers. As the clubs that recently celebrated shedding the weight of expectation, other teams are now reluctantly inheriting that burden. These are teams that, despite possessing inherent quality, have consistently fallen short of success and now find themselves under the increasing scrutiny of a `curse` narrative.
It`s important to distinguish between teams that simply have a long trophy drought and those considered `cursed`. The latter aren`t just unlucky; they are often teams expected to compete for honors who repeatedly fail to get over the finish line, potentially contributing to their own misfortune. Unlike teams like Palace or Bologna, who defied expectations to end their waits, the `cursed` clubs are perpetually in contention but unable to clinch titles, trapped in a cycle of hope and disappointment.
While their respective trophy droughts may not always be as dramatic as the ones recently broken, the narrative of a curse is becoming increasingly attached to these teams, along with the mounting pressure to finally secure silverware. As attention turns to the next season, here`s a look at some major European teams that have landed on the `curse watch`.
Teams on Curse Watch
AC Milan
Trophy drought: 3 years
While this historic European giant won Serie A three years ago, silverware has been scarce since. They came close in the 2023-24 Serie A campaign, finishing second, but were significantly behind rivals Inter. This past season saw a decline to eighth place, two managerial changes, and a missed opportunity by losing the Coppa Italia final to Bologna. The 2025 Supercoppa Italiana, their only notable trophy in this period, is a short competition rather than a measure of sustained excellence. They`ve also underperformed in the Champions League in recent seasons and will notably miss out on European competition entirely next season for the first time since 2019-20. The pressure is on for a swift reversal of fortunes.
Ajax
Trophy drought: 3 years
As the most successful team in the Netherlands, Ajax`s three-year drought is particularly striking. They have struggled to compete with rivals like PSV and Feyenoord recently. This past season offered a clear opportunity to end their Eredivisie drought, holding a nine-point lead over PSV with just seven games remaining. However, winning only three of those matches allowed PSV to overtake them. This followed an even weaker performance the previous year, finishing fifth in the league and exiting domestic and European cups early. Their inability to capitalize on promising positions fuels the `curse` narrative.
Atletico Madrid
Trophy drought: 4 years
Perhaps the archetypal `cursed` team, Atletico Madrid has historically often been resigned to being the third-best side behind Real Madrid and Barcelona. While Diego Simeone`s tenure has brought notable successes (two La Liga titles and a Copa del Rey in 12 years), these remain exceptions. Their European record is particularly painful, ranking third for most Champions League games played without lifting the trophy. Key moments include two agonizing final defeats to rivals Real Madrid – a significant loss in 2014 and a heartbreaking penalty shootout in 2016. Their most recent Champions League exit also came against Real Madrid via penalties in the Round of 16, marked by a bizarre double-touch incident. Consistently falling short despite competing at high levels reinforces their reputation.
Arsenal
Trophy drought: 5 years
Under Mikel Arteta since late 2019, Arsenal has made significant strides, evolving from a middling side to a genuine title contender. However, major silverware has remained just out of reach. Arteta`s record includes one FA Cup, three Premier League runner-up finishes, and a Champions League semi-final appearance this past season (losing to PSG). While their progress is undeniable, especially in Europe, the repeated near misses intensify the pressure for next season. Injuries are often cited, but the fact that three rival London clubs secured major trophies this season highlights Arsenal`s own failures, particularly their inability to seize opportunities in the title race. They also hold the unwelcome record for most Champions League games played without ever winning the competition. Despite the upward trajectory, the onus is now firmly on the Gunners to end their drought.
Anderlecht
Trophy drought: 7 years
As Belgium`s most historically successful club, a seven-year drought without any major titles, domestic or otherwise, is a significant downturn for Anderlecht. While they have remained among Belgium`s higher-ranked teams, they haven`t made a notable impact in competitions recently. A low point during this period was missing out on European competition for the first time in 56 years. They are set to participate in the UEFA Conference League next season, but must navigate three potentially tricky qualifying rounds just to reach the group stage, highlighting the challenges they face in returning to trophy-winning ways.
Dominic Ashworth