2) Deportivo la Coruna 00/01 to 03/04
Deportivo la Coruna achieved European fame at the turn of the millennium, as the Spanish side enjoyed a four-year spell of success in the UEFA Champions League. Depor made their debut in Europe after their historic first La Liga title in 1999/00, reaching the quarterfinals in the 2000/01 edition of the UEFA Champions League.
It was a rather excellent bow too, as Deportivo made finished top of their group that included Juventus, while they finished as runners-up in the 2nd group stage that included a double over PSG, and creditable results against AC Milan and Galatasaray. The Spaniards were drawn against surprise entrants Leeds United in the quarter-finals and came rather close to knocking them out as they narrowly went out 3-2 on aggregate.
It was the next season that was even more incredible as Deportivo defeated Manchester United in both their group stage games, most notably downing Sir Alex Ferguson’s side 3-2 at Old Trafford, while also convincingly defeating Arsenal and Juventus in all their 2nd group stage games. However, the run ended on a surprise, as Manchester United had their revenge in the quarter-finals as the Red Devils won 5-2 on aggregate.
Deportivo’s best Champions League run came in the 2003/04 season, as the Spaniards went all the way to the semifinal, where they bowed out to eventual winners FC Porto. However Depor were the most entertaining side to watch, as their games were wildly unpredictable, including a stunning 8-3 reverse with finalists AS Monaco in the group stages.
The tiny Spanish club’s crowning moment however, was their 4-0 demolishing of a legendary AC Milan side in the quarterfinals, overturning a 4-1 loss in the first leg to go through to the semifinals with a 5-4 aggregate, after having taken care of another Italian giant in Juventus in the Round-of-16.
