The 11 English football clubs with the most major trophies – ranked

With the end of the season looming, clubs will be fighting it out for the four major trophies. The EFL Cup final is between Liverpool and Newcastle United next month, while the FA Cup appears to be wide open as several big sides have been knocked out.

The Anfield side and Arsenal are the ones fighting it out for the Premier League crown, but it looks as though the Reds are in the driving seat.

As the final few months approach, we take a look at the most trophies won by English clubs, with a detailed look at the top 11.

For this list, minor competitions like the Community Shield and the Intertoto Cup have not been taken into consideration, while ‘European cups’ does not include the UEFA Super Cup, though these are counted alongside honours such as the Intercontinental Cup and FIFA Club World Cup.

11

Nottingham Forest

10 trophies

Nottingham Forest are on course for their finest season in decades. At the time of writing, they currently occupy the heady heights of third in the Premier League table.

They haven’t won a major trophy since the League Cup back in 1990 under the leadership of Brian Clough, the most successful manager in the club’s history.

He led the team to their first and only top-flight title in 1978, before claiming back-to-back European Cups in 1979 and 1980. Add in four League Cups, and it is no wonder why so many loved Cloughie. Forest have also won two FA Cups and a European Super Cup, taking their total to 10 major trophies won.

10

Blackburn Rovers

10 trophies

Blackburn Rovers haven’t been in the top flight since 2012, but they rank joint-10th with Forest in terms of most successful English clubs.

All but two of their major trophies came before 1930, winning two league titles and six FA Cups. They ended an 81-year drought for a league title by winning the Premier League in 1995, while Graeme Souness won the League Cup during the 2001/02 season.

This remains the last time the club lifted silverware.

9

Newcastle United

11 trophies

Newcastle United currently have the longest drought of any club in England that has won at least one major trophy. Indeed, the last time Newcastle lifted silverware, the Beatles were still together and the Vietnam War was ongoing as the Magpies won the 1969 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup.

The Toon have won four league titles in their history, along with claiming six FA Cup titles. The last of these came in 1927 and 1955 respectively. Could they end their drought this term?

8

Everton

15 trophies

Everton have enjoyed brief periods of success during their history before going through long droughts.

Up until the 1940s, the Toffees had won five league titles and two FA Cups prior to enduring a quiet period. League titles in 1963 and 1970 sandwiched an FA Cup triumph in 1966.

Since then, only four more trophies have been won by the Goodison Park outfit, with the last one coming in 1995. They will have to wait until next year to end this drought.

7

Tottenham Hotspur

17 trophies

Much has been made about Tottenham Hotspur‘s current trophy drought, which stretches back to 2008, but a club this size should have claimed a couple of major honours since.

Overall, Spurs have won 17 major trophies throughout their history, with three coming in Europe – the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1963 and the UEFA Cup in both 1972 and 1984 – while the rest have been domestic honours.

Of the 17 honours, only two have been league titles, with their last one coming in 1961. Elsewhere, they have claimed eight FA Cup trophies in their history, adding four League Cup triumphs.

6

Aston Villa

21 trophies

Aston Villa’s main period of success came during the late part of the 19th century and early years of the 20th century. The club won six league titles and six FA Cups during this period.

Arguably, their finest achievement has been winning the European Cup in 1982, defeating Bayern Munich in the final. This came after they had secured their seventh top-flight title the season before.

A total of 21 major trophies have been won by the Midlands side, but you’d have to go back to 1996 for the last time they lifted anything of note.

5

Chelsea

28 trophies

Chelsea’s success during the first 20 years of the 21st century was undoubtedly down to Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich. Between 2003 and 2022, the Blues won 20 major trophies, including five Premier League titles and two Champions League crowns.

It wasn’t until 1955 that the club won their first league title, while they had to wait until 1970 to win the FA Cup. The last few years have been fairly tough, despite the millions spent on players. Will Enzo Maresca lead the club to more trophies? Only time will tell.

4

Manchester City

29 trophies

Manchester City are another club to benefit from being taken over by wealthy owners. Before the takeover in 2008, City had won just nine major honours.

The last 17 years have seen the club claim eight league titles, three FA Cups, a Champions League title and six League Cup trophies.

Pep Guardiola turned City into arguably the finest team of the Premier League era, but with the club struggling this term, is the era about to come to an end, or can he add more trophies to his haul?

3

Arsenal

31 trophies

While Spurs and Newcastle get flak for their respective trophy droughts, Arsenal have won just one FA Cup in the last eight years.

Overall, though, the Gunners have won a total of 31 major honours since their formation in 1886, including a record 14 FA Cup wins.

Furthermore, they have also won 13 league titles throughout their history, along with two European trophies – the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1970 and the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1994.

2

Manchester United

47 trophies

Manchester United rank second on this list, courtesy of winning a staggering 47 trophies in their history. Two managers won the bulk of these honours – Sir Matt Busby and Sir Alex Ferguson.

Indeed, Busby won eight major trophies, culminating in the 1968 European Cup triumph, 10 years after the Munich air disaster. The Red Devils went through a slump until Ferguson managed to work his magic. By 2013, he had won 28 trophies throughout an iconic spell.

They have some work to do to reach number one, however…

1

Liverpool

51 trophies

No surprises as to who tops this list. Liverpool have won 51 major trophies, and judging by Arne Slot’s success this season, this total will rise by the end of the campaign.

19 league titles and six European Cup/Champions League triumphs make up nearly half of the total, while the Reds have also won eight FA Cups, 10 League Cups and three UEFA Cups during their history.

Slot has the chance to join a wonderful list of managers who have led the club to a major trophy.