The recent football season saw several long-standing trophy droughts finally come to an end across Europe. On the pitch in Bilbao, Spain, Tottenham midfielder James Maddison celebrated his team`s UEFA Europa League victory, a moment that marked the end of a 17-year wait for silverware for Spurs. But they weren`t alone; clubs like Crystal Palace (winning their first-ever FA Cup), Bologna (Coppa Italia after 51 years), and Newcastle United (EFL Cup after 56 years) also ended lengthy waits. Even Harry Kane secured his first career title with Bayern Munich`s Bundesliga win, and Paris Saint-Germain finally lifted the coveted UEFA Champions League trophy for the first time.
This season of `broken curses` provided compelling entertainment by disrupting years of dominance by a select few teams. However, as the weight of expectation is lifted from these victorious sides, it inevitably shifts to others. Going into the next season, a new group of prominent European teams find themselves under pressure to finally break their own trophy droughts, inheriting what some might call a `curse`.
The teams now under the `curse watch` share a common trait: they possess inherent quality but have been unable to consistently secure titles. It`s not simply having a drought; a `cursed` team is often one that is expected to compete for trophies but repeatedly falls short, mixing misfortune with an inability to get over the finish line. Unlike teams like Palace or Bologna, who simply rose to the occasion, the cursed teams are those frequently in the mix but unable to clinch the final prize, oscillating between hope and disappointment as opportunities slip away.
While their current droughts might not be as extreme as those recently ended, the narrative of a curse is becoming increasingly hard to ignore for these clubs. Here’s a look at some teams facing the pressure of breaking their title droughts next season.
AC Milan
Trophy drought: 3 years
AC Milan, a historical powerhouse in European football, last won Serie A three years ago but has struggled to secure further major honors since. They came close this season, finishing second in Serie A in 2023-24, though significantly behind rivals Inter. Their domestic cup performance was disappointing, including a loss to Bologna in the Coppa Italia final. Their only notable recent trophy was the 2025 Supercoppa Italiana, a truncated competition consisting of just two knockout matches.
Their performance in European competitions has also been underwhelming, exiting the Champions League group stage in 2023-24 and being knocked out by Feyenoord in the knockout phase playoffs the following season. Their failure to qualify for European competition next season – the first time since 2019-20 – highlights the urgent need for a turnaround to avoid becoming a perennial underperformer in Italy.
Ajax
Trophy drought: 3 years
Ajax, the most successful club in the Netherlands, exemplifies the definition of a cursed team through squandered opportunities. Despite their pedigree, they have fallen behind rivals PSV and Feyenoord in recent years. This season offered a chance to reverse this trend, but they let a significant nine-point lead in the Eredivisie slip with seven games remaining, winning only three of those matches while PSV capitalized. This followed one of their worst Eredivisie finishes the previous year (fifth place), coupled with early exits in the KNVB Cup and Europa League group stage.
Atletico Madrid
Trophy drought: 4 years
Atletico Madrid often feels perpetually cursed, despite winning two La Liga titles and a Copa del Rey in the last 12 years. These wins are seen as exceptions for a club often stuck behind Real Madrid and Barcelona. The `curse` feels deeply ingrained in their history, even during Diego Simeone`s successful era where they`ve frequently exceeded expectations. Their Champions League record is particularly painful; they rank third for the most games played without ever lifting the trophy. Defining moments include two final losses to Real Madrid – a heavy defeat in 2014 and a penalty shootout loss in 2016. This season saw another frustrating European exit, losing a Champions League round of 16 penalty shootout to a less-than-impressive rival side, marked by a controversial double-touch penalty incident.
Arsenal
Trophy drought: 5 years
Under Mikel Arteta, Arsenal has significantly progressed from a mid-table heavyweight to a consistent title contender since late 2019. Their achievements include one FA Cup, three second-place Premier League finishes, and a Champions League semi-final appearance this season. However, despite a strong run in Europe where they were competitive against PSG, their inability to secure major silverware this season, particularly failing to capitalize on Manchester City`s dips in form, intensifies the pressure for next campaign. The success of three rival London clubs in winning major titles further highlights their shortcomings. Arsenal also holds the unenviable record for the most Champions League games played without winning the title. While injuries played a role, the responsibility is firmly on the Gunners to turn promising seasons into trophies.
Anderlecht
Trophy drought: 7 years
While not expected to win major European trophies, Anderlecht is Belgium`s most successful club and has now gone seven years without securing any title, domestic or otherwise. Despite remaining among the top teams in Belgium, they haven`t made a significant impact in competitions. This period included missing out on European competition for the first time in 56 years. For the upcoming season, they will compete in the UEFA Conference League qualifiers, needing to navigate three rounds to reach the league phase, which could prove challenging given their recent history.
