For many teams, football is all about getting trophies in the end.
Playing beautiful, wide-open football is important, but for the top teams, it usually doesn’t mean much if they don’t win anything. At the top level, kindness can only get you so far.
Bickering fans are using social media to score points and form tribes more than ever. They are competing for the honorary title of “the best club in England.” But since it’s such an abstract idea, maybe the only way to put a number on it is to look more closely at the prize cabinets of the biggest teams.
Based on how many trophies they have won, these are the most successful English football clubs in history.
Most Successful English Football Clubs by Major Trophies (as of May 2025)
| Rank | Club | Major Trophies* | League Titles | FA Cups | League Cups | Europe/World** | Recent Updates (2024-25) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liverpool | 52 | 20 | 8 | 10 | 13 | Won 2024–25 Premier League, now 52 major trophies |
| 2 | Manchester United | 47 | 20 | 13 | 6 | 8 | Won 2023–24 FA Cup, 47 major trophies 16 |
| 3 | Manchester City | 34*** | 10 | 7† | 8 | 9 | Won 2023–24 Premier League, 2024 FIFA Club World Cup |
| 4 | Arsenal | 31 | 13 | 14 | 2 | 2 | No major trophy since 2020 FA Cup, drought continues |
| 5 | Chelsea | 27 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 7 | No new men’s major trophy since 2022 |
* Major trophies include: League titles, FA Cups, League Cups, and major European/World competitions (European Cup/Champions League, UEFA Cup/Europa League, Cup Winners’ Cup, UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup).
** Europe/World: Sum of European and worldwide major titles.
*** Manchester City‘s total includes 10 league titles, 7 FA Cups (pending 2025 FA Cup Final), 8 League Cups, 7 Community Shields, 1 Champions League, 1 UEFA Super Cup, and 1 FIFA Club World Cup.
† City could win their 8th FA Cup on May 17, 2025.
Key 2024–25 Updates
- Liverpool: Won their 20th English league title (2024–25 Premier League), bringing their major trophy count to 52, the most in England.
- Manchester United: Won the 2023–24 FA Cup, bringing their major trophy tally to 4716.
- Manchester City: Won the 2023–24 Premier League (10th league title) and the 2024 FIFA Club World Cup, maintaining their place as the third most successful club. They play the 2025 FA Cup final on May 17, aiming for their 8th FA Cup.
- Arsenal: No major trophy added since the 2020 FA Cup; trophy drought now at five years.
- Chelsea: No new men’s major trophy since 2022; remain on 27 major trophies.
Notes
- Trophy counts are for men’s senior teams and major competitions only.
- Community/Charity Shields are not counted as major trophies in this table, following the convention in most official tallies.
- Liverpool and Manchester United are now tied for league titles (20 each), but Liverpool leads in total major trophies.
This table reflects the most up-to-date and accurate count of major trophies for the top English football clubs as of May 2025.
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5. Chelsea has won 27 titles
Roman Abramovich bought Chelsea in 2003 and made them become a major force in English football. Since then, the Blues have won every major trophy they’ve been able to.
After the Russian invested, the team won the Premier League five times, the Champions League twice, the FA Cup five times, the League Cup three times, and the Europa League twice.
Since Todd Boehly is now the boss in the office, Chelsea’s future is a little less clear. However, they were very close to winning their 26th major trophy in this year’s Carabao Cup final.
4. Manchester City has won 31 titles
Like the takeover at Chelsea, the arrival of Abu Dhabi money at Manchester City in 2008 changed the club’s prize cabinet. Pep Guardiola’s appointment as manager has also been a big part of the team’s recent success.
In their first winners League season, the current world winners won all three titles, which is a rare feat. With three straight Premier League wins, they could become the first English team to win four in a row by the end of the season.
Because of their success last year, they have now passed Chelsea in the standings, though the Citizens can still win another treble this season.
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3. Arsenal has 34** titles
Arsenal has had a lot more success than either Chelsea or Man City. Their wins have also been spread out over a longer period of time. Their first prize was won in the 1930s.
Since then they have won a lot of awards, including two Premier League wins after Arsene Wenger was hired, who has had a huge impact. The last one was in 2003–04, when Arsenal won their 13th league title and became the first English team to ever go a whole 38-game season without losing.
Arsenal has won 30 prizes so far, including a record 14 FA Cups. It’s true that they haven’t won any since the beginning of the 2020s.
However, Mikel Arteta’s team still has a chance to make history this season; the Gunners could win their first-ever Champions League title.
2. Manchester United has won 47 trophies
Manchester United has always been one of the biggest teams in Europe, but it wasn’t until Sir Alex Ferguson took over as manager that they really took over English football.
The Scotsman won the Red Devils a record 13 Premier League titles, bringing their total to an unmatched 20. He also won two Champions League wins and five FA Cups.
During the 1998–99 season, they also won a famous treble, which included beating Bayern Munich in the Champions League final at the very last second.
Since they began in 1878, Manchester United has won 43 big trophies. They would still be the best team in England if Jurgen Klopp hadn’t joined Liverpool.
1. Liverpool has 52 titles
Liverpool has won more awards than any other English football club. They have 46 big awards, three more than their fierce rivals Manchester United.
From the 1960s to the 1980s, the Reds were unbeatable. They won every prize there was, including four European Cups and 13 league titles.
Since 2015, Klopp has given Liverpool new life and led them to their first Premier League title, as well as one Champions League title, one FA Cup title, and two League Cups.
The German is leaving Liverpool at the end of the season. They just won the Carabao Cup, and they still have three more titles to win this season.
What are the key factors that contributed to Liverpool’s 2024-25 title win
| Factor | Description |
|---|---|
| Arne Slot’s Immediate Impact | New manager Arne Slot made a record-breaking start, winning his first three Premier League games without conceding and setting the tone for the season. His tactical acumen, including bold halftime substitutions, established high standards early5. |
| Mohamed Salah’s Spectacular Season | Salah delivered one of his best campaigns, scoring 28 goals and providing 18 assists. He contributed to 46 goals, breaking records for goal involvements and proving decisive in many key matches 356. |
| Defensive Leadership | Virgil van Dijk played every minute of the league season, anchoring a defense that kept 11 clean sheets and conceded less than a goal per game when he and Ibrahima Konaté played together 35. |
| Key Player Improvements | Significant improvements from Luis Díaz, Cody Gakpo, and especially Ryan Gravenberch, whose transformation into a reliable starter in midfield provided balance and consistency 25. |
| Squad Depth and Resilience | Slot used 24 players, demonstrating depth and adaptability. Standout contributions from backup goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, especially during Alisson’s injury, helped maintain momentum 35. |
| Comeback Mentality | Liverpool recovered 22 points from losing positions, the most in the league, and produced crucial comebacks against Brighton, Southampton, and Fulham, showcasing mental toughness 357. |
| Key Moments and Late Goals | Decisive late goals from Darwin Núñez (Brentford) and Virgil van Dijk (West Ham) secured vital points. Slot’s halftime changes, such as at Ipswich, often shifted matches in Liverpool’s favor 45. |
| Consistency and Dominance | Liverpool led the league for 234 days and went on a 26-match unbeaten run from September to April. They scored first in 21 of 34 matches leading up to the title, often dictating play from the outset 3. |
| Favorable Rivals’ Circumstances | Injuries to key players at rivals Arsenal and Manchester City, such as Rodri and Bukayo Saka, weakened the competition during crucial stretches of the season 47. |
| Support and Atmosphere | Record-breaking attendances at Anfield and strong away support energized the team, with the expanded Anfield Road Stand contributing to a historic home atmosphere 3. |
| Smooth Managerial Transition | The transition from Jurgen Klopp to Arne Slot was executed seamlessly, ensuring continuity and fresh energy without destabilizing the squad 6. |
Summary
Liverpool’s 2024-25 title triumph was built on a blend of tactical innovation from new manager Arne Slot, Mohamed Salah’s world-class performances, defensive solidity led by Virgil van Dijk, and a resilient, deep squad. Key comebacks, crucial late goals, and the ability to capitalize on rivals’ misfortunes all contributed to a dominant and consistent campaign, culminating in a record-equalling 20th English top-flight title 5.
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