English football is full of historical clubs that have long histories for domestic and international glory. Manchester City and Liverpool have been the most dominant English clubs in recent times. City have won major domestic and international trophies but most of its success has come since 2010. With each passing season, the landscape of English football has evolved, but the achievements of these clubs are a testament to their legacies and the impact they have had on the sport. So without further ado, let’s take a look at the five most successful English clubs of all time.
Note: Only seven competitions are recognized as major trophies in the list (Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, Cup Winners’ Cup, and Conference League.
1. Liverpool (46 trophies)
The Merseyside Club are the most successful English club of all time, regaining their status in the upper echelons of modern football with their recent Carabao Cup success. Liverpool boasts a whopping 19 league titles and six Champions League trophies, making them the most successful English in European competitions. The Reds enjoyed a dominant spell in the 1970s and 1980s, winning four European Cups and 13 league titles in that timeframe.
Jurgen Klopp is one of the reasons for Liverpool’s success in the modern area as the German guided the Reds to the Premier League, Champions League, and both domestic cup competitions during his tenure.
2. Manchester United (43 trophies)
The Red Devils will forever be indebted to Sir Alex Ferguson for the sheer amount of glory and success he has brought to Old Trafford during his tenure. Man United have always been one of the most formidable forces in European football but most of their success came under the ex-Aberdeen boss. Under the management of the Scotsman, United have won 13 of their 20 league titles as well as two Champions Leagues and five FA Cups making them a global footballing powerhouse.
But since his departure, Manchester United have fallen down the pecking order in terms of trophies and ended their six-year trophy drought when they lifted the Carabao Cup in 2023.
3. Arsenal (30 trophies)
The Gunners are particularly notable for their success in the FA Cup, winning the trophy a record 14 times, the most by any English club. Despite enduring a rough spell in the last decade, Arsenal are regarded as one the most successful English clubs of all time. But it has been two decades since Arsenal lifted the biggest trophy in England, the Premier League. The North London club won the league title five times in the 1930s.
The Invincibles, under the management of Arsene Wenger, were the last Arsenal side that won the coveted trophy in the 2003/04 season. Arsenal have the golden opportunity to make history this campaign, as they are still capable of winning their first-ever Champions League trophy under the leadership of Mikel Arteta.
4. Manchester City (26 trophies)
Manchester City is the most successful English club in the last decade and has risen from the shadow of their noisy neighbours, Manchester United. The current English champions won a historic treble last season, winning their first Champions League trophy in the club’s history. City have won the last three Premier League trophies and could be the first English club to win four in a row this season.
They are only four trophies behind Arsenal in third and their dominance in the modern era is set to continue for the foreseeable future. The Cityzens are still capable of claiming a historic treble again this season.
5. Chelsea (25 trophies)
The Blues have enjoyed tremendous success under the ownership of Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich who took over Chelsea in 2003. The club won every trophy available to them under his regime. Chelsea are one of the most successful English clubs in Europe, having won the Champions League and Europa League trophies twice each.