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Most Successful English Clubs in Football: 2023 Edition

most successful English clubs

What are the most successful English clubs? These are the clubs that have won the most trophies.

Most Successful English Clubs

To work out the best clubs in England we counted how many major trophies clubs had won. These are competitive honours run by official governing bodies – FIFA, UEFA or the FA.

Let’s take a look at the seven most successful English clubs of all time.

10. Nottingham Forest – 13 Tiles

Nottingham Forest is one of the most successful English clubs and Britain’s most beloved club. They enjoyed great success during their golden years through the 70’s and early 80’s. 

The club’s success was thanks to the mastermind of Brian Clough during his 18-year reign. In 1978 Nottingham Forest won the league title and League Cup double, followed it up with the League and European Cup double in 1979, and made it back-to-back European Cups in 1980.  

In Clough’s last decade at the club he managed to win the 1989 and 1990 League Cups, and steer the club to become finalists in the 1991 FA Cup and 1992 League Cup finals.

9. Newcastle United – 14 Tiles

Since joining the Football League in 1983, Newcastle have never dropped below the second tier. They’ve been a member of the Premier League for all but three seasons, but most of their success came at the turn of the 20th century.

Between 1904 and 1910, Newcastle won an FA Cup and three of its four League titles. Their last major domestic trophy was in 1955, and last major trophy, the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1969. 

In addition to their Inter-Cities Fairs Cup success, Newcastle has won four League titles, six FA Cups, an FA Charity Shield and the UEFA Intertoto Cup in 2006. 

Newcastle is a massive club locally with some of the most passionate supporters. The club is growing on a global scale thanks to the *buyout by the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund*.

8. Everton – 24 Tiles

Everton is the club with the second-longest run in England’s top flight, just behind Arsenal, and are one of the most successful English clubs.

The club has won nine league titles, their first success in 1891 and last title in 1987. They’ve won five FA Cups from 13 finals appearances and last lifted the trophy in 1995. 

Everton can also boast of winning the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1985 during a period of regular success, and they’ve also won nine Charity Shields. In recent times however they’ve endured a title drought.

7. Aston Villa – 25 Titles

Founded in 1874, Aston Villa became a founding member of the Football League in 1888, the Premier League in 1992, and is one of the most successful English clubs.

Despite the recent trophy drought Aston Villa has a rich history, having won 25 major trophies. Their haul includes seven League titles, seven FA Cups, five League Cups and their biggest win of all, the 1981/82 European Cup following a 1-nil win over Bayern Munich.

Villa were relegated from the EPL as recently as 2016, with one of the worst ever Premier League teams, and their last major honour was a League Cup crown in 1996.

Fans of Villa are among the best football fans in England, and Villa Park is also one of the best Premier League stadiums.

6. Tottenham Hotspur – 26 Tiles

Although Tottenham’s last major honour came in 2008 the North London club has 26 Major honours to its name and is one of the most successful English clubs.

Tottenham has won two League titles, last winning it in 1951, eight FA Cups, four League Cups, and seven FA Community Shields. Their 2008 League Cup final victory over Chelsea is their most recent success. 

The team plays its home matches at the state-of-the-art 62,850 capacity Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and is only 4 miles (6.4 km) from their North London rivals stadium, Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium. 

5. Manchester City – 29 Titles

Since Sheikh Mansour’s ownership in 2008, Manchester City has received considerable financial investment and we’ve witnessed a tremendous transformation of the club’s success. 

Manchester City has eight League titles, six FA Cups, eight League Cups, six FA Community Shields and one European Cup Winners Cup, making it the fifth-most successful English club. 

Before winning the Premier League in 2011-12, they had last won the league in 1968, with fans having to endure a 44-year wait. 

Manchester City will be looking for more success in European competition, and the modern day giants will be looking to move even higher up this list in the future.

4. Chelsea – 34 Titles

Just like Manchester City, much of Chelsea’s success came at the turn of the century when Roman Abramovich bought the club in 2003.

Only a year later they would win the Premier League, their first title win in 50 years since the 1954-55 season which was their first and only title until their 2004 Premier League title win.  

The Blues have been successful domestically, with six League titles, eight FA Cups, five League Cups, and four FA Community Shields. 

Chelsea is the first English club to have won all three major UEFA trophies, winning the Champions League, Europa League, the Cup Winners’ Cup and the Super Cup twice each, as well as one FIFA Club World Cup title.

3. Arsenal – 48 Titles

Arsenal is the third most successful English club having won 13 league titles, 14 FA Cups, two League Cups, and 16 FA Community Shields. 

Yet to win a major European title, the Gunners still have an impressive domestic record. The “Invincibles” team of 2003-04 finished with 26 wins, 12 draws and 0 losses, matching Preston North End’s unbeaten title season of 1888–89. 

Arsenal also holds a record FA Cup haul of 14, and has the longest running streak in the top division, avoiding relegation since 1913.

2. Manchester United – 66 Titles

Manchester United has an impressive haul of 66 titles. They’ve won a record 20 Premier Leagues, 12 FA Cups, 5 League Cups, and a record 21 FA Community Shields. 

They have also lifted the European Cup/UEFA Champions League three times, have won the UEFA Europa League, UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup, UEFA Super Cup, and the FIFA Club World Cup once each. 

Under Sir Alex Ferguson the Red Devils won 38 of their titles between 1986 and 2013. Since Ferguson’s departure, Man United are no longer as fearsome as they once were, but there’s hope the best stadium in England, Old Trafford, will soon return to its former glory.

1. Liverpool – 68 Titles

Liverpool is the most successful English club of all time, just ahead of Manchester United. The Reds regained their status as the best team in England following their resurgence under manager Jurgen Klopp. 

The club had tremendous domestic success in the 1970s and 1980s, followed by a rough couple of decades. Their 2019-20 Premier League triumph ended a 30-year League title drought. 

Liverpool has won 19 League titles, 8 FA Cups, a record 9 League Cups and 16 FA Community Shields. They’ve also achieved great European success winning six European Cups, three UEFA Cups, four UEFA Super Cups and one FIFA Club World Cup.

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