Following a season marked by several prominent European clubs finally breaking lengthy trophy droughts, the focus now shifts. On a pitch still decorated with confetti in Bilbao, Spain, Tottenham Hotspur midfielder James Maddison reflected on a “special” season, not just for Spurs who lifted the UEFA Europa League, but also for others like Crystal Palace, Bologna, and even Harry Kane with Bayern Munich, all of whom secured titles after significant waits.
Indeed, this past season became known for ending long-standing curses across Europe. Tottenham`s win ended a 17-year wait. Bologna claimed their first Coppa Italia in 51 years. Newcastle United snapped a 56-year drought with the EFL Cup. Harry Kane finally won the first title of his career in the Bundesliga with Bayern. Crystal Palace lifted their first-ever trophy by winning the FA Cup. Even Paris Saint-Germain joined the ranks, winning Europe`s premier club prize for the first time in the UEFA Champions League final after years of falling short. This sequence of events was particularly engaging as it defied recent trends where a few dominant teams often monopolized major titles.
However, the weight of expectation doesn`t simply disappear. While the pressure has lifted for these newly crowned champions, it now falls squarely onto the shoulders of other teams. As the next season approaches, the responsibility to end trophy droughts becomes the defining challenge for a new group of clubs across Europe, who now find themselves seemingly inheriting the “curse.”
The teams highlighted here are on “curse watch” for various reasons, fundamentally linked to their inherent quality and potential. These are not just teams without trophies; they are clubs often expected to compete but who consistently fall short, sometimes due to misfortune and sometimes appearing to contribute to their own failures. Unlike teams like Palace or Bologna, who seized unexpected opportunities to rise to the occasion, the “cursed” teams are those frequently in the conversation but seemingly unable to cross the finish line, walking a precarious line between hope and despair as one trophy after another eludes them.
While their current droughts may not be as dramatic as those recently ended, the narrative of a curse is becoming increasingly difficult for these teams to shake, and the pressure to secure titles is mounting. Here`s a look at some of the clubs under the spotlight for next season`s “curse watch.”
AC Milan
Trophy drought: 3 years
AC Milan, one of Europe`s historic giants, may have won Serie A three years ago, but success has been elusive since, across multiple competitions. They came close during this period, finishing second in Serie A in 2023-24, though significantly behind rivals Inter. This season, however, saw a drop to eighth place, two managerial changes, and a missed opportunity in the Coppa Italia final where they lost to Bologna. The fact that their only other silverware in this stretch was the 2025 Supercoppa Italiana – a two-game knockout competition – speaks volumes about their struggles for consistent season-long excellence.
Their recent Champions League performances have also been underwhelming, exiting in the group stage in 2023-24 and losing in the knockout phase playoffs this past campaign. Crucially, they will not participate in European competition next season for the first time since 2019-20, signaling a critical need to reverse their current trajectory or risk becoming perennial underperformers in Italy.
Ajax
Trophy drought: 3 years
A recurring theme among “cursed” teams is not just the length of the drought but the magnitude of missed opportunities, and Ajax has significantly underperformed in recent years. The Netherlands` most successful club has struggled to compete with PSV and Feyenoord. This season offered a chance to turn things around, holding a promising nine-point lead over PSV with seven Eredivisie games remaining. However, Ajax won only three of those final matches, allowing their rivals to overtake them. The previous season was also one of their worst Eredivisie finishes in recent history (fifth place), coupled with early exits in both the KNVB Cup and the Europa League group stage.
Atletico Madrid
Trophy drought: 4 years
If any team feels perpetually linked to a curse, it is arguably Atletico Madrid. While they have enjoyed success with a couple of La Liga titles and a Copa del Rey win in the last 12 years, these feel like exceptions for a club long accustomed to being the third-best team in Spain, behind Real Madrid and Barcelona. Their heritage, even during the successful Diego Simeone era which saw them punch well above their weight, often involves moments of cruel misfortune, particularly in Europe. They hold the unwanted record for the third most games played in the Champions League without ever lifting the trophy. Their most defining recent heartbreaks include two Champions League final defeats, both at the hands of rivals Real Madrid – a lopsided loss in 2014 and a painful penalty shootout in 2016. True to form, they suffered another frustrating defeat to an arguably less formidable Real Madrid side this season, exiting the Champions League Round of 16 on penalties after a bizarre double-touch incident invalidated a key spot-kick.
Arsenal
Trophy drought: 5 years
Mikel Arteta`s time at Arsenal has largely been about establishing an upward trajectory, successfully elevating the club from a middling heavyweight to a consistent title challenger since taking charge in December 2019. Despite this progress – including one FA Cup title, three Premier League runner-up finishes, and a Champions League semifinal appearance this season – major silverware has eluded them for five years. Their Champions League semifinal exit against PSG, despite a competitive aggregate score (lost 3-1), doesn`t necessarily change the narrative; if anything, it increases the pressure for next season. While injuries were a factor this season, the fact that three rival London clubs secured major titles makes Arsenal`s shortcomings more apparent. They also failed to capitalize on opportunities like a perceived dip in Manchester City`s dominance in the Premier League this season. Adding to the “curse” narrative is their record for the most games played in the Champions League without ever winning the title. While acknowledging elements of bad luck, the responsibility is firmly on the Gunners to convert potential into trophies in the upcoming campaign.
Anderlecht
Trophy drought: 7 years
Few might expect Anderlecht to compete for Europe`s top honors, but Belgium`s most successful team has now gone seven years without winning any major titles, domestic or European. While they have remained among the higher-ranked teams in the Belgian league, they haven`t made a significant impact in competitions recently. This period even saw them miss out on a spot in European competition entirely for the first time in 56 years. They will participate in the UEFA Conference League next season but face the challenge of navigating three qualifying rounds to reach the group stage, a task that might be harder than it appears.
