It’s often said that winning becomes a habit for successful clubs, and there are certain teams whose dominance in their respective domestic leagues makes it hard to imagine that success could ever falter.
Throughout Europe’s top leagues, we’ve seen significant dynasties—such as Bayern Munich securing 11 straight Bundesliga titles from 2013 to 2023, Celtic and Rangers with their nine consecutive title runs in the Scottish Premiership, and Juventus’s grip on Serie A between 2012 and 2020. However, there are lesser-known teams that are displaying an even stronger hold over their domestic competition.
Historically, teams such as Lincoln Red Imps in Gibraltar, who won 14 consecutive league titles from 2003 to 2016, matched by the defunct Skonto Riga in Latvia. Tafea FC of Vanuatu claims 15 wins in a row, but doubts remain about their legitimacy as they faced regional selections rather than a proper national league structure.
Which lesser-known clubs are currently ruled supreme in their own territories?
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FK Arkadag has an incredible achievement of never having lost a league point since its inception in April 2023. Having won all 82 of their league matches, they have rightfully secured three consecutive championships in the Yokary Liga.
This extraordinary success could be attributed to immense influence, as the club was founded by Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, the former president of Turkmenistan. The name Arkadag translates to “Protector,” a title adopted by Berdimuhamedow during his presidency from 2007 until 2022, when his son Serdar succeeded him. The $3.3 billion “smart city” of Arkadag was developed based on Berdimuhamedow Sr.’s vision in 2022.
This prominence enabled FK Arkadag to assemble a stellar lineup of local talent, with an added edge in a country with no foreign players. Alongside their league accolades, they have triumphed in all 14 domestic cup matches they have participated in, with three Turkmenistan Cups, two Super Cups, and one Football Federation Cup to their name.
Arkadag did eventually suffer a defeat in the 2024-25 AFC Challenge League against Kuwait’s Al Arabi, ending a remarkable 61-match winning streak, but they still went on to clinch the trophy in their debut season at the continental level.
In the ongoing AFC Champions League Two season, Arkadag recorded one win, four draws, and one loss during the group stage. This performance earned them a round-of-16 matchup over two legs against the high-profile Saudi Pro League team, Al Nassr.
Even without star forward Cristiano Ronaldo, who was absent due to dissatisfaction with the PIF (Saudi Arabia’s sovereign investment fund) influencing transfers, Al Nassr secured a 1-0 victory in the first leg in Turkmenistan on February 11.
Ronaldo has since returned to the pitch, scoring just 18 minutes into his comeback in Saturday’s 2-0 victory against Al Fateh and is poised to take the field for the second leg against Arkadag in Riyadh on February 18.
No matter the heights he has reached in his illustrious career—five Champions Leagues, five Ballon d’Ors, almost 1,000 goals—can Ronaldo say he has ever faced a team that has never lost a domestic match in its entire history?
The club known as JDT has achieved an unprecedented feat in Malaysia with 11 consecutive league titles, establishing a new standard for dominance in the Southeast Asian football scene. Prior to JDT’s reign, no Malaysian team had secured more than three back-to-back titles since the league began in 1982.
With royal ownership—specifically, the Crown Prince of Johor—JDT has access to superior finances and facilities, enabling them to attract top-tier regional talent alongside a strong foreign contingent.
Despite their domestic success, JDT remains the second-most-supported football club in Malaysia, trailing behind Premier LeagueManchester United—a title they might never claim.
The club from Dushanbe, Tajikistan, boasts an impressive 12 consecutive championships. Their name, which means “Independence,” reflects their powerful backing—co-founded by the heir to the presidency of Tajikistan. Notably, Rustam Emomali, the son of the long-serving Tajik leader Emomali, even played as a striker and team captain for Istiklol before stepping back to become the head of the Tajikistan Football Federation.
Ludogorets holds the European record for consecutive titles alongside Lincoln Red Imps (Gibraltar) and Skonto Riga (Latvia), securing their 14th straight victory last season.
Originating from Razgrad, Bulgaria’s 27th largest city, Ludogorets owes much of its success to the investments of Kiril Domuschiev, a pharmaceuticals tycoon who became Bulgaria’s first billionaire. After their ascension to the top flight in 2011 and an immediate league and cup double, the Eagles have been an indomitable force.
However, this season could challenge their dominance as they trail seven points behind leaders Levski Sofia. Nevertheless, with a playoff structure for the title involving the top four, they remain a strong contender.
In a quirky twist, the most successful team within the Welsh football league system operates out of England. Welsh club Llansantffraid FC rebranded as Total Network Solutions and later merged with Oswestry Town in 2003, establishing themselves just over the English border as The New Saints (TNS).
With significant investment into the Welsh league and the formation of the only full-time squad, TNS has claimed a record 17 Cymru Premier titles. They also once claimed a Guinness World Record for consecutive wins in February 2024, engaging in a quirky feud with Saudi side Al Hilal, though it was eventually revealed that one victory came via penalty shootout, nullifying their claim.
Although Sheriff Tiraspol may not be regarded as the reigning champions of Moldova by some, their name has become emblematic of Moldovan football success over the last two decades.
Located in Transnistria, a self-proclaimed independent region amid ongoing conflict, Sheriff has amassed 21 league titles in Moldova since the 2000-01 season. They lost the title last season despite an unbeaten campaign due to an unusual format requiring a final five-team group stage.
Nonetheless, the Wasps—whose president, Viktor Gushan, has a background in the KGB—continue to be a formidable presence, having achieved significant recognition by becoming the first Moldovan team to reach the group stage of the UEFA Champions League in 2021-22, where they notably defeated Real Madrid with a 2-1 upset at the Bernabéu.
Moreover, given that most enterprises in Transnistria are owned by the Sheriff group, they are one of the few clubs to have their own brand of vodka—a perfect accompaniment for a chilly midweek match in Tiraspol.