What is the Greatness Index™?
The Greatness Index™ is a 1,000-point scoring system that ranks football teams and individuals across multiple weighted factors. It blends performance data, trophies, style, cultural impact, legacy and more into a single score. Unlike opinion-only debates, the GI Score introduces structure, transparency, and comparability — sparking fresh conversations about sporting greatness.
Teams by Period in Time
Teams are assessed by specific periods in time, not as whole clubs. This means the same club can be scored multiple times — from legendary eras of dominance to periods that fall short of greatness.
Evergreen by Design
Because history never changes, the Greatness Index™ is timeless — you can revisit scores and debates anytime, and they'll always stand the test of time.
How it Works
Podcast Ranking (Primary)
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Every episode ends with a verdict — All Time Greats, True Greats, Touch of Greatness, Edge of Greatness, or Blinkered Greats.
Greatness Index™ Score (Special Sauce)
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Our data-driven 1,000-point scoring system, used increasingly in Season 4 of th ePodcast and beyond, adds depth and precision to the debate.
One Club, Multiple Eras
"Club Greatness varies — it's judged by periods, not whole clubs."
Dominated England and Europe under Paisley — four league titles, three European Cups, iconic players. One of the most successful dynasties in football history.
Liverpool
1977-1981
All Time Greats
Dalglish's side played dazzling attacking football with Barnes, Beardsley, and Aldridge. Stunning peak but denied immortality by Hillsborough and Europe ban fallout.
Liverpool
1987-1988
True Greats
The "Spice Boys" era — flashes of talent with Fowler, Redknapp, McManaman, but underachievement and inconsistency left this side remembered more for culture than silverware.
Liverpool
1992-1996
588.1
Edge of Greatness
812.3
924.6
Always Evolving
The Greatness Index™ isn't static — it's a living framework. We review, refine, and release updated versions of the GI SOP (Scoring Operating Procedure) frequently. These iterations add new features, adjust weightings, and ensure the Index stays fair, balanced, and reflective of football's ever-changing debates. The roadmap means the GI Score is not just a snapshot, but part of an ongoing journey of measuring greatness.
The Data Behind The Greatness Index™
“The Greatness Index™ isn’t a simple scoreboard — it’s built on a complex framework of weighted factors, formulas, and rubrics that balance achievement with influence, numbers with narrative. Each score reflects not just trophies and performances, but style, legacy, and cultural impact. The exact weighting remains our secret sauce — designed to spark curiosity, debate, and discovery — but the result is a 1,000-point system that makes the timeless question of greatness measurable.”
Teams
Major Tournament Achievements
Primary Honours: leagues, continental cups, World Cup, Euros
Secondary & Cycle Achievements
Secondary trophies, qualifiers, dominance cycle, super cups, minor cups
Peak Performance
Defining season or tournament
Consistency & Longevity
Sustained success across season/eras/tournament
Legacy & Influence
Tactical, institutional, structural impact
Cultural Impact
Resonance beyond football, politics, fan culture, social footprint
Win Rate & Dominance
Win %, goal difference, unbeaten streaks
Style of Play
Tactical Identity, entertainment, recognisable flair, pragmatism
Individuals
Club/Local Achievements
League, continental honours
International Achievements
World Cup, Euros, Copa America, AFCON etc.
Recognition & Decorations
Ballon d'Or, XI selections, symbolic awards
Consistency & Longevity
Sustained excellence, adaptability
Legacy & Influence
Impact on evolution, positional/stylistic legacy
Post-Career Contribution
Managerial, ambassadorial, media, grassroots, symbolic immortality
Peak Performance
Defining seasons, tournaments, matches
Cultural Impact
Global stature, charisma, folklore, off-pitch resonance
* Example of Factors and formulas build in to v1.0
Partnership Opportunites
The Greatness Index™ is more than a podcast tool — it's a scalable data product.
Games & Apps
Interactive rankings, fan debates, fantasy integrations
Media & Publishing
Data-driven articles, interactive sports features
Clubs & Brands
Branded content, retro campaigns, heritage storytelling
Licensing
GI Scores as an API for sports data providers
How it Supports the Podcast
GI Score™â€‹
1,000-point data framework
The Greatness Index™ is the backbone of the By Far The Greatest Team podcast. Every episode uses the Index as a guide — balancing cold, hard stats with the emotion of football. Because teams are judged by specific periods, the same club can feature more than once: sometimes celebrated as an All Time Great, other times revealed as a Blinkered Great. This keeps the podcast evergreen, surprising, and endlessly debatable.
Podcast Verdict​
​5-tier passion-driven ranking