Who Are The Most Successful Clubs in English Football

The most successful clubs in English football is an ever-evolving list. The top two teams have been neck-and-neck for a lengthy period. Behind them, sizeable investment has powered surges from Chelsea and Manchester City, seeing them overtake Everton, Aston Villa, and Tottenham.

It gets more congested behind the top five. Just two trophies split sixth and eighth. Newcastle are only one trophy ahead of Nottingham Forest and Wolves; the trio combined have nine fewer trophies than Arsenal.

Wolves – 13 trophies

They might not have won a major trophy since the League Cup in 1980, but Wolves are still joint-10th on this list. The Midlands club accumulated three First Division titles in the 1950s, and won the FA Cup in 1892, 1908, 1949, and 1960.

Stan Cullis is the club’s most decorated manager, guiding Wolves to all three of their league titles and a couple of FA Cups.

Nottingham Forest – 13 trophies

Two-time champions of Europe and winners of the First Division, Nottingham Forest’s most successful period was under the incomparable Brian Clough in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Forest won two more League Cups in the late 1980s, adding to FA Cup triumphs in 1898 and 1959. The club has only won the First Division on one occasion, which is the fewest times of any team in this article.

Newcastle – 15 trophies

Newcastle and Wolves are the only on this list of England’s most successful football clubs to have never won a double (Preston North End and Leeds are the only previous double winners not to make the top 10).

The Magpies ended their barren run without a trophy in March 2025, with Newcastle defeating Liverpool 2-1 in the EFL Cup final to claim a first domestic success in 70 years.

Everton – 24 trophies

Nine-time champions of England and five-time FA Cup winners, Everton’s trophy count is only just over a third of that achieved by their Merseyside rivals. It is, however, comfortably clear of ninth place in this list.

The Toffees spread out their success with league titles in the 1890s, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s.

Aston Villa – 25 trophies

Much of Aston Villa’s silverware was accumulated over a century ago. The Villains had six league titles before the start of the First World War and had won six of their seven FA Cups prior to 1921.

A pair of League Cup wins in the 1990s are Villa’s most recent taste of silverware. They have lost FA Cup and League Cup finals in the 2020s.

Tottenham – 27 trophies

The ‘Big Six’ begins here. Tottenham have the fewest trophies at English football’s top table, lagging eight behind London rivals Chelsea. Arsenal have nearly double as many trophies as the Lilywhites.

Spurs have the second-fewest league titles of the clubs featured here. The second of their First Division grounds was half of a history-making double in 1961. They have won just two League Cups since 1991.

Chelsea – 36 trophies

Chelsea rapidly climbed this list after Roman Abramovich brought the club in 2003. They had only one league title, three FA Cups, and two League Cups when the Russian took over from Ken Bates.

Since then, Chelsea have added five Premier League titles (including a double in 2009-10),  five FA Cups, three League Cups, two Champions Leagues, and two Europa Leagues, as well as the FIFA Club World Cup in 2025. While they remain the only London club to win the Champions League, the Blues have a long way to go to overtake Arsenal’s trophy haul.

Manchester City – 36 trophies

Manchester City’s story is similar to Chelsea’s. The Pep Guardiola era has seen City leapfrog Chelsea in these rankings, but City started from an almost identical point. Prior to 2010, the Citizens had two First Division crowns, four FA Cups, and two League Cups.

Under Roberto Mancini, Manuel Pellegrini, and Guardiola, City have made history. Guardiola won an (unprecedented in English football) treble. A domestic treble was completed four years prior, with City becoming not just the dominant force in England, but the consensus best team on the planet.

Arsenal – 49 trophies

Much was made about Arsenal’s trophy drought after winning the FA Cup in 2005. The Gunners might still be chasing a first Premier League crown since their invincible season, but they have added to their record FA Cup tally in recent years.

Dominance in the 1930s has ensured Arsenal have been among the country’s most successful clubs for decades. They have a long way behind the top, but they are sizeable buffer to Manchester City.

Manchester United – 68 trophies

Alex Ferguson did what he promised and knocked Liverpool off their perch. The Red Devils have now been displaced by their bitterest rivals due to years of underachievement and mismanagement since Ferguson hung up his hairdryer after winning the 2012-13 Premier League title.

United have just two FA Cups, two League Cups, and a Europa League over the last decade. Two of those trophies were won by Jose Mourinho in 2016-17.

Liverpool – 70 trophies

Thanks to a Premier League, Champions League, an FA Cup, and two League Cups under Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool have regained their spot as the most successful team in English football.

Now level on titles with Manchester United but miles off Arsenal’s FA Cup count, Liverpool don’t hold every record in domestic competition but their six Champions Leagues are clear of any English side, however, with Real Madrid and Milan being the only teams ahead of them.