When we speak of the most successful clubs in England, it boils down to the powerhouse game – Football. Insane energy, 22 players, unique style of play, fouls and penalties. While the history of football goes back to the 19th century in England, the game has surely yielded a good deal of legendary clubs.
Manchester City and Liverpool have dominated the football club for years with enduring success. Chelsea, Arsenal, Real Madrid, and Barcelona have been a number and enjoyed stupendous success. So what separates the top-tier teams from the rest? Cup titles, domestic leagues and prestigious prizes they win at the end of the day.
Most people have different opinions on the hotly debated topic- which are the most successful football clubs in England? We are here with facts and figures. Let’s check it out.
Top Five Most Successful Clubs in England
1. Manchester United
Let’s start with a bang. Manchester United has been on the perch for almost three decades. Nearly twenty years back, United was adhered to only seven league titles and way behind Liverpool in the game. At present, Manchester United has outdone itself with a record of 20 league titles, 12 FA Cups, 5 League Cups and 21 Community Shields.
The Red Devils glided their dominance in the game to new heights under Alex Ferguson and undoubtedly became the biggest club in the world with the largest fan base. The Scottish legend has won a great number of domestic cups and a couple of Champions League trophies. He was the greatest manager in history and led the team ahead in major crowns.
2. Liverpool
Liverpool’s rich heritage has been a hallmark of English football for more than a decade with its phenomenal play. The Reds won their first league title almost thirty years back and have been ruling the field since then. Their love affair with the Champions League has been strong, and they have won trophies and titles more than any other English Club.
In addition to the 19-top league flight titles, Liverpool has won 7 FA Cups, 9 League Cups, 44 Major Honors, 3 Europe League trophies and 6 Champions League titles. The Merseyside giants underwent tremendous domestic success in the 1970s and 1980, while the 2019-2020 Premier League triumph was their first in three decades. But let’s just say they were not in the best phase at the time of inception. With Jurgen Klopp leading the Reds, Liverpool broke old grounds and set new records.
3. Arsenal
London’s most decorated team, Arsenal, stands tall amongst the most successful clubs in England. The Gunners have dominated the game for several years but sadly endured mediocrity for a long time after the Second World War. But despite the tough spell, Arsenal has made it to the victorious clubs of the game.
Arsenal has not won the Premier League since 2004, the major reason being the rise of clubs like Manchester United and Liverpool. Some significant trophies in Arsenal’s land include 14 FA Cups, 2 League Cups, 13 League titles, Inter-Cities Fairs Cup and European Cup Winners’ Cup. With a maximum win of FA Cups (14), Arsenal made it BIG in the news. However, they are still to win the major European title.
Some notable trophies include a whooping 46 trophies throughout the PL, FA and EFL honours and the Men’s FIFA and UEFA. Sadly, the greatness of Arsenal’s achievements led to a drought phase in the coming years. The team struggled to get a trophy home for a nine-year stretch. The good news was that Arsenal fans remained loyal throughout the glory and dismaying times.
4. Chelsea
Ain’t there anybody who’s not a Chelsea fan? One of the most successful clubs in England that tasted success and lived up to it. Some of the noteworthy Chelsea achievements include 6 league titles, 8 FA cups, 4 FA community shields and 5 league cups. Besides the illustrious achievements, Chelsea also added the FIFA Club World Cup and UEFA Super Club to their profile. Interestingly, Chelsea is the only London club to win the Club World Cup and Champions League. The Blues have been the fourth most successful club in English football and major credit to the arrival of Gianfranco Zola and Ruud Gullit.
Chelsea is the third English club to win the Club World Cup in 2022. A twist in the tale took place when Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich bought the club in 2003. And almost after two decades, The Blues bagged almost 25 trophies.
5. Manchester City
Manchester City has been a major driving force since their big-money takeover in 2008 by the Abu Dhabi United group. The Blues became a dominant force in the game and lifted first division titles in 1937 and 1968. The team has won multiple domestic cup titles and 13 major accolades in the last 14 years. Manchester City has been one of the most successful clubs in England, ranking fifth in league with 22 major trophies.
Man City has seen a revival while the Champions League glory is seen dodging them. However, they have won the second tier title on 7 occasions, which added enduring fame to their journey. The eminent team has enjoyed the highest level of success while collecting 29 trophies over the years. The club saw immense success in the late 1960s and attained the title of the world’s fifth most valuable football club at $ 2.69 billion. The Blues were back then called the ‘trophy-wining machine’.
One Last Thought:
The Premier League has been a hotbed for the most successful clubs in England. It’s not just prestigious but super fierce. It’s tough to conclude who’s the best, but let’s say Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester have continued to succeed. With more than 8 billion people on earth, a large crowd are loyal football fans. The ball-of-fire teams have dominated the 20th century and managed their clout in the game with a bang.
With an enticing history, football is always going to top the charts of the best all-time sports.