4 biggest soccer betting wins throughout history

Big soccer betting wins aren’t that uncommon, but some verge on the borders of fantasy. Whether it be betting on a team with abysmal odds and making unbelievable returns or simply placing a random bet with virtually no expectations, there have been some truly incredible soccer betting wins in the past.

In this article, we will take a look at four of the biggest soccer betting wins throughout history, going over bets placed, the teams involved, and the specifics of why the wager turned out to be so profitable. Let’s get right into it. 

Leicester’s surprise upset 

First, let’s talk about Leicester’s surprise upset and the lucky individuals who profited massively. If you keep up to date with soccer news, you’ll likely know that Leicester has never been one of the top teams. It’s very rare that they even qualify to play in the Premier League. So, their chances of winning a major competition are slim to none. 

This is precisely why the 2015-2016 English Premier League season will forever be etched in the annals of soccer history. Leicester City had only narrowly avoided relegation the previous season and were given odds of 5000-1 to win the Premier League title. Betting on Leicester to win the league was akin to betting on a snowstorm in the Sahara. Well, despite all odds, Leicester City won. 

One of the most noteworthy winners was a lifelong Leicester fan called Leigh Herbert. He placed a £5 bet at the beginning of the season, probably more out of loyalty than genuine belief. As the season progressed, Leicester defied all expectations, beating the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal. Herbert’s belief paid off handsomely, and when Leicester lifted the trophy, his bet turned into a cool £20,000.

There were also a handful of other lucky fans who made significant returns on smaller bets, although none approaching the £20,000 that Leigh Herbert received. 

The accumulator £500,000 payout 

In 2011, an anonymous bettor from Malta made headlines with an incredible win on a 30-game accumulator. An accumulator bet, if you are unfamiliar, is a bet that links together different betting options and is dependent on all of them winning. It’s an incredibly high-risk, high-reward strategy because if just one selection fails, the entire bet is lost.

The bettor in question placed a €1 bet on 30 different games across various leagues and competitions. The odds of each game varied, but together, they formed astronomical odds of 683,738 to 1. Against all odds, every single game went his way. When the final whistle blew on the last match, his bet was worth a staggering €500,000. It’s one of those stories that makes you think you should perhaps try your luck with an accumulator.

The Greek fan’s dream come true

Greece’s national soccer team pulled off one of the greatest shocks in European Championship history by winning the tournament in 2004. Greece was considered a rank outsider, with odds of 150-1 to win the competition on many of the highest-ranked sports betting sites featured on AskGamblers. Most fans and bettors wrote them off, but against all logic, one Greek fan decided to back his team.

He placed a significant bet on Greece to win Euro 2004 and watched in disbelief as his team progressed through the group stages, then knocked out France, the reigning champions, in the quarterfinals. The semifinal saw them beat the Czech Republic, setting up a final against Portugal. 

When Angelos Charisteas scored the only goal in the final, Greece completed their fairytale run and the fan’s faith was rewarded with a hefty payout of €50,000. It was doubly joyous for him: national pride and a significant financial boost.

The Ladbrokes 14-fold bet

Let’s take things back to 2011, where another incredible betting story played out. This time, it involved a bettor who placed a 14-fold accumulator with Ladbrokes. This anonymous bettor laid down just £2 on 14 different games, spanning various European leagues. The odds of this bet were an astonishing 1.6 million to 1.

Each game fell into place like clockwork, from last-minute goals to unexpected upsets. When the final whistle blew on the last game, the bettor had turned his £2 stake into an eye-watering £1,000,000. Ladbrokes, in good spirits, congratulated the winner, stating that it was one of the luckiest and most remarkable wins they’d ever seen. Wins on this scale hardly ever happen. 

These are the outliers

While the big soccer betting wins we have discussed may be awe-inspiring and lucrative, it shouldn’t delude you into thinking wins like this are more common than they really are. In these one-in-a-million cases, it would take you a thousand lifetimes to have a good chance of winning any of these bets. The chances of them happening are close to zero. 

Moreover, you shouldn’t let them influence your betting decisions. You may be more tempted to place risky bets in the hopes of winning it big, but this is almost guaranteed to make you worse off. In the long term, your wallet is going to thank you if you place smart bets rather than careless gambles. 

Regardless of what you do, just make sure to gamble responsibly. If you have your eye on big wins and are determined to get them, it can be hard to think about anything else. This includes your finances, personal relationships, career, and much more. 

This is why it is absolutely vital to set hard limits and pull yourself away when you feel like you are getting too invested. Soccer betting (or any betting, for that matter) should be viewed as a fun pastime to indulge in from time to time, not as a viable way to make a profit.  

In reality, there are millions of people who place these almost impossible bets every day – and almost all of them go through their entire lives without ever winning a substantial amount of money. 

So, keep this in mind the next time you go to place a bet. There is nothing wrong with sports betting if done in a healthy way – it can be a great hobby that can enhance the excitement of certain matchups and bring an aspect of community. The problems come when things get taken too far.

If you feel like you are struggling to control your gambling or it is beginning to affect your life in a negative way, don’t be afraid to seek professional help. There are plenty of resources out there, and you will be able to get help if you reach out. 

Conclusion

So, were you surprised to find out about these soccer wagers? In some cases, the chances of winning these wagers were almost impossible. The fact that big wins like this have happened on multiple occasions just goes to show that anything can happen, no matter the odds. 

However, as we mentioned before, you shouldn’t take these one-in-a-million examples as the norm. The chances of replicating similar results to the bets we mentioned are virtually zero – you’re more likely to get struck by lightning than to profit to such an extent from an unlikely wager. With that being said, may Lady Luck favor you, and we’ll see you next time!