1966 saw old champions knock long-time defending champions out of the throne to return to their rightful spots. In the Copa Libertadores, Penarol knocked off River Plate in the finals to replace two-time defending champion Independiente and become the first club with three titles. Likewise, in Europe, Real Madrid knocked out two-time defending champion (and current number one)Internazionale in the semis on its way to winning an unprecedented sixth Champions Cup.
Liverpool made a run to the finals of the Cup Winners Cup, helping it to its first ever WCR Top 25 ranking, before ultimately falling to Borussia Dortmund. The Inter Cities Fairs Cup became an all-Spanish affair as Barcelona knocked off Real Zaragoza in the finals.
Despite being knocked off in the semifinals of the Champions Cup, Internazionale became the first team to score back-to-back top rankings in the World Club Ranking Annual Top 25 as Real Madrid failed to win the Primera Division despite winning the Champions Cup. Nevertheless, Real Madrid finished in the Top 5, as it had in every prior WCR Top 25. Penarol found itself in the top five for the third consecutive year and Benfica found itself in the top ten for the seventh straight year. Scoring a spot for the first, last, only time was Yugoslavia's Vojvodina Novi Sad.
World Club Rankings - 1966
1. Internazionale (Ita) - Champions Cup - SF
2. Real Madrid (Esp) - Champions Cup - Winner
3. River Plate (Arg) - Copa Libertadores - RU
4. Sporting CP (Por) - Inter-Cities Fairs Cup - 2R
5. Penarol (Uru) - Copa Libertadores - Winner
6. Atletico de Madrid (Esp) - Cup Winners Cup - QF
7. Manchester United (Eng) - CC - SF
8. Benfica (Por) - CC- QF
9. Liverpool (Eng) - CWC - RU
10. Bologna (Ita)
11. Racing Club (Arg)
12. Anderlecht (Bel) - CC - QF
13. Independiente (Arg) - CL - SF
14. Leeds United (Eng) - ICFC - SF
15. Nacional (Uru) - CL - SF
16. Napoli (Ita)
17. Vojvodina Novi Sad (Yug)
18. Porto (Por) - ICFC - 2R
19. Celtic (Sco) - CWC - SF
20. Barcelona (Esp) - Inter-Cities Fairs Cup Winner
21. Fiorentina (Ita)
22. Ajax (Ned)
23. Burnley (Eng)
24. Rangers (Sc0)
25. Universidad Catolica (Chi) - CL - SF
Other Published Annual Top 25s - 2007, 1965, 1964, 1963, 1962, 1961, 1960
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