Statistics don’t lie do they? Of course not, not in football. From 2000 right up to 2007 Spain were the most successful club league in Europe.

Last season it was England, who incidentally finished runners-up to Spain for five of those eight years that Spain were winners. The tide has only just turned towards the Premier League and I’m quite sure that the FA would like it to remain that way.

Italy and Germany make up the four major countries. In fact, the last country to break up this happy quartet was France back in 1996. Before that Belgium and Scotland briefly popped into the equation.

Italy are always there or thereabouts, but the reputation that Serie A has deletes it from almost everyone’s train of thought when asked "Which is the best league in Europe?" Why? It’s not all that entertaining, that’s why.

The Bundesliga is not far behind in that way of thinking. Or is it? Last season’s Bundesliga was full of goals and it does attract some big names from all over the world. Could it be that the rest of Europe just aren’t interested in what goes on in that league? It’s highly likely, especially since Owen Hargreaves moved from Bayern Munich to Manchester United.

The Premier League and La Liga are by far the most entertaining and recently England boast most of the star attractions. It’s no coincidence that Real Madrid want Cristiano Ronaldo. Spain want to be recognised as the best league at all times and to achieve that they need the best players.

Champions League success has been at a lower level for Real recently and that just ain’t good enough for the most successful European club side ever. I can’t decide between the two of them, they both have more plusses than minuses.

They are alike in many ways in that Manchester United and Chelsea can be compared to Real and Barcelona, while Arsenal and Liverpool are the Villarreal and Valencia of England. Valencia had an untimely and almost catastrophic blip last year but that is not likely to happen again.

The next few years will be interesting and the situation will rarely change with these top four being the most successful. But it seems only fair to recognise that, at this moment in time, although it is officially England this year, Spain boasts the most exciting and successful league in Europe.

This was backed up to some extent last month when Spain lifted the Euro 2008 trophy. Well done to them.