England’s 25 Most Successful Football Clubs, Ranked

ARL Football Success Ranking System

The ARL Football Success Ranking System for men’s European club football establishes for certain which clubs are the most successful of each nation and in the whole of Europe.

It is a system of scoring points to clubs based on what trophies and how many have been won.

Different trophies score different points and are based on a ‘glory’ criteria.

Only ‘competitive football’ trophies are considered.

England and its Premier League (Updated July, 2025)

England, alongside it’s northern neighbour, is the cradle of football civilisation. A sport played since medieval times and now played in every corner of the globe. Club football served to channel the fierce regional identities and rivalries of places like Merseyside, Tyne and Wear, Greater London and Greater Birmingham. The English also became highly consumerised and these factors account for the rise in the popularity of the ‘beautiful game’ and why England’s Premier League is regarded as the strongest league in the world.

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English Competitions

English Football League (EFL) Division 1 / Premier League (1889-1915 ; 1920-1939 ; 1947-)

Football Association (FA) Cup (1872-1915 ; 1920-1939 ; 1946-)

EFL Cup (1961-)

FA Charity Shield / Community Shield (1908-1912 ; 1920-1922 ; 1927-1928 ; 1930-1938 ; 1948-1949 ; 1951-)

• English football ranks 1st in the UEFA Association Coefficient for 2025, making it a Tier 1 footballing nation and therefore awarded maximum Success Points for its domestic competitions.

• English clubs have earned 580 success points in international competitions.

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* Scroll to the bottom for the lowdown of the 10 most successful clubs in England!

The tournament and points table

Competition Key	Points
SC: Domestic Super Cup (FA Charity Shield / Community Shield)	2  (1 point per ‘shared’ trophy)
UEFA SC: UEFA Super Cup	4
IC: Intercontinental Cup / FIFA Club World Cup / FIFA Intercontinental Cup	6
LC: League Cup (EFL League Cup)	8
ECL: UEFA Conference League	8
NC: National Cup (FA Cup)	10
EL: UEFA Cup / UEFA Europa League	12
UEFA CWC: UEFA Cup Winners Cup	13
FIFA CWC: Quadrennial FIFA Club World Cup	15
CL: UEFA European Cup / UEFA Champions League	17
C: Top Tier League Championship (Division 1 / Premier League)	18

The 25 most successful clubs in England

Position	Football Club	Points Subtotals	Points Total
1	Liverpool FC	SC: 11 x 2 + 5 x 1 = 27 UEFA SC: 4 x 4 = 16 IC: 1 x 6 = 6 LC: 10 x 8 = 80 NC: 8 x 10 = 80 EL: 3 x 12 = 36 CL: 6 x 17 = 102 C: 20 x 18 = 360 + 2 (Treble)	709
2	Manchester United FC	SC: 17 x 2 + 4 x 1 = 38 UEFA SC: 1 x 4 = 4 IC: 2 x 6 = 12 LC: 5 x 8 = 40 NC: 13 x 10 = 130 EL: 1 x 12 = 12 UEFA CWC: 1 x 13 = 13 CL: 3 x 17 = 51 C: 20 x 18 = 360 +1 (Treble)	661
3	Arsenal FC	SC: 16 x 2 + 1 x 1 = 33 LC: 2 x 8 = 16 NC: 14 x 10 = 140 UEFA CWC: 1 x 13 = 13 C: 13 x 18 = 234	436
4	Manchester City FC	SC: 7 x 2 = 14 UEFA SC: 1 x 4 = 4 IC: 1 x 6 = 6 LC: 9 x 8 = 72 NC: 7 x 10 = 70 UEFA CWC: 1 x 13 = 13 CL: 1 x 17 = 17 C: 10 x 18 = 180 +2 (Treble)	378
5	Chelsea FC	SC: 4 x 2 = 8 UEFA SC: 2 x 4 = 8 FIFA IC: 1 x 6 = 6 LC: 5 x 8 = 40 ECL: 1 x 8 = 8 NC: 8 x 10 = 80 EL: 2 x 12 = 24 UEFA CWC: 1 x 13 = 13 FIFA CWC: 1 x 15 = 15 CL: 2 x 17 = 34 C: 6 x 18 = 108	323
6	Aston Villa FC	SC: 1 x 2 = 2 UEFA SC: 1 x 4 = 4 LC: 5 x 8 = 40 NC: 7 x 10 = 70 CL: 1 x 17 = 17 C: 7 x 18 = 126	271
7	Everton FC	SC: 8 x 2 + 1 x 1 = 17 NC: 5 x 10 = 50 UEFA CWC: 1 x 13 = 13 C: 9 x 18 = 162	242
8	Tottenham Hotspur FC	SC: 4 x 2 + 3 x 1 = 11 LC: 4 x 8 = 32 NC: 8 x 10 = 80 EL: 3 x 12 = 36 UEFA CWC: 1 x 13 = 13 C: 2 x 18 = 36	204
9	Newcastle United FC	SC: 1 x 2 = 2 LC: 1 x 8 = 8 NC: 6 x 10 = 60 C: 4 x 18 = 72	142
10	Sunderland AFC	SC: 1 x 2 = 2 NC: 2 x 10 = 20 C: 6 x 18 = 108	130
11	Blackburn Rovers FC	SC: 1 x 2 = 2 LC: 1 x 8 = 8 NC: 6 x 10 = 60 C: 3 x 18 = 54	124
12	Wolverhampton Wanderers FC	SC: 1 x 2 + 3 x 1 = 5 LC: 2 x 8 = 16 NC: 4 x 10 = 40 C: 3 x 18 = 54	115
13	Sheffield Wednesday FC	SC: 1 x 2 = 2 LC: 1 x 8 = 8 NC: 3 x 10 = 30 C: 4 x 18 = 72	112
14	Nottingham Forest FC	SC: 1 x 2 = 2 UEFA SC: 1 x 4 = 4 LC: 4 x 8 = 32 NC: 2 x 10 = 20 CL: 2 x 17 = 34 C: 1 x 18 = 18	110
15	West Bromwich Albion FC	SC: 1 x 2 + 1 x 1 = 3 LC: 1 x 8 = 8 NC: 5 x 10 = 50 C: 1 x 18 = 18	79
16	Leeds United FC	SC: 2 x 2 = 4 LC: 1 x 8 = 8 NC: 1 x 10 = 10 C: 3 x 18 = 54	76
17	Huddersfield Town AFC	SC: 1 x 2 = 2 NC: 1 x 10 = 10 C: 3 x 18 = 54	66
=18	Preston North End FC	SC: 1 x 2 = 2 NC: 2  x 10 = 20 C: 2 x 18 = 36	58
=18	Sheffield United FC	NC: 4 x 10 = 40 C: 1 x 18 = 18	58
20	Portsmouth FC	SC: 1 x 1 = 1 NC: 2 x 10  = 20 C: 2 x 18 = 36	57
21	Leicester City FC	SC: 2 x 2 = 4 LC: 3 x 8 = 24 NC: 1 X 10 = 10 C: 1 x 18 = 18	56
22	West Ham United FC	SC: 1 x 1 = 1 ECL: 1 x 8 = 8 NC: 3 x 10 = 30 UEFA CWC: 1 x 13 = 13	52
23	Wanderers FC	NC: 5 x 10 = 50	50
24	Burnley FC	SC: 1 x 2 + 1 x 1 = 3 NC: 1 x 10 = 10 C: 2 x 18 = 36	49
25	Derby County FC	SC: 1 x 2 = 2 NC: 1 x 10 = 10 C: 2 x 18 = 36	48

10: Sunderland AFC 

Success Points:	130
Earliest Trophy Won:	Football League (FL) Division 1 Title, 1892
Latest Trophy Won:	Football Association (FA) Cup, 1973
Most Successful Manager:	Tom Watson – 108 points (Aug 1888 –1896)
Most Successful Decade:	1890s – 108 points

Sunderland AFC enjoyed their main period of glory the decade before their Tyneside rivals, grabbing three of six championships within five seasons of joining the English Football League in 1890.

Tom Watson, a later longstanding gaffer of Liverpool FC, first took charge of Sunderland in 1888 and brought in a squad of foreign internationals – Scotsmen, in this case. With players like League top-scorer John Campbell and goalie Ned Doig, Watson’s Black Cats won their first league crown at a canter in ’92, and by 11 points the season after. It was declared to have the ‘Team of All Talents’ by league-founder William McGregor and, after going up against Heart of Midlothian, then champions of the Scottish League, they triumphed 5–3 and were announced to be ‘Champions of the World’.

They’ve managed to hold aloft the FA Cup two times, the 2nd in 1973 when Sunderland beat Don Revie‘s Leeds United with club record goalkeeper Jimmy Montgomery between the sticks. Their vintage years of league dominance takes Sunderland into the top 10 successful clubs in England.

9: Newcastle United FC 

Success Points:	142
First Trophy Won:	FL Division 1 Title, 1905
Latest Trophy Won:	FL Cup, 2025
Most Successful Manager:	Frank Watt – 94 points (1892 – Dec 1929)
Most Successful Decade:	1900s – 66 points

The next place is taken by Sunderland’s fierce Tyne and Wear rival – Newcastle FC.

By 1903 The Magpies had a promising squad of young players who became renowned for their artistic play that combined team-work and quick, short passing. Newcastle dominated English football in the 20th Century’s first decade when they won three championships and an FA Cup. With goal machines like Jackie Milburn and George Robledo Newcastle bagged a further three FA Cups for the trophy cabinet in the 1950s.

Both Tyne & Wear clubs have since slumped. Yet, with Newcastle FC’s new obscenely rich owners, the Toon Army are bouncing back; Newcastle beat top-dogs Liverpool FC to win the 2025 League Cup.

8: Tottenham Hotspur FC

Success Points:	204
First Trophy Won:	FA Cup, 1901
Latest trophy Won:	UEFA Europa League (EL) , 2025
Most Successful Manager:	Bill Nicholson – 94 points (1958–1974)
Most Successful Decade:	1960s – 67 points

Spurs have achieved much for a club with just two league titles to their name. Years ending in ’01’ are particularly celebrated by The Lilywhites. Tottenham won an FA Cup in 1901, becoming the first and likely only non-league club to ever win an FA Cup. Spurs seized another in 1921. Tottenham were crowned English champions first in 1951, having just been promoted to Division One the season prior. In 1961 Tottenham Hotspur became the first club in the 20th Century to win the ‘Double’ with icon Bill Nicholson at the helm and Blanchflower controlling games. Spurs also won domestic trophies in 1971, ’81 and ’91.

In 1963 The Lilywhites won English football’s first UEFA trophy (The UEFA CWC) and also the first ever edition of the UEFA Cup in 1972.

Regular trophy success with attractive, pioneering tactics in the decades after WW2 meant Tottenham was regarded as the 5th biggest club in England by the time the Premier League was launched at the start of the 1990s. The club failed to exploit the commercial value of a league that went on to be the most wealthy in the world, however, winning just two trophies in the 21st Century to date.

7: Everton FC

Success Points:	242
First Trophy Won:	FL Division 1 Title, 1891
Latest Trophies Won:	FA Cup and Community Shield (CS), 1995
Most Successful Manager:	Howard Kendall – 74 points (May 1981 – 87)
Most Successful Decade:	1980s – 74 points

Although Everton’s global profile is overshadowed by that of their Liverpool city rivals, they have an impressive trophy cabinet in their own right. Everton claimed the English crown in the 3rd ever EFL season and won league crowns preceding both World Wars. Striker legend, ‘Dixie’ Dean, scored an amazing 60 league goals to win Everton a 3rd championship in 1927-28. Dean was still with Everton when they got re-promoted to the top tier in 1931, another championship win the season after, and a 2nd FA Cup the season after that.

Harry Catterick took charge in ’61 and introduced a ‘School of Science’, methodical approach to football. With a ‘Holy Trinity’ midfield of Kendall, Ball and Harvey, Everton stylishly won two more English crowns, another FA Cup and multiple Charity Shields.

The 1980s were The Toffees‘ best period under manager Howard Kendall. He brought in players such as Scotland striker Andy Gray and the club seized another two championships, an FA Cup and defeated Rapid Vienna to add European silverware to their collection. All this in four seasons.

The Heysal Stadium Disaster and the ensuing five-year English-club ban from UEFA competitions gave English football a hard jolt, hitting Everton badly. They lost their ascendancy to Manchester and London clubs in the ’90s, and Everton has since failed to win a league title in the Premier League era.

6: Aston Villa FC

Success Points:	271
Earliest Trophy Won:	FL Division 1 Title, 1894
Latest Trophy Won:	FL Cup, 1996
Most Successful Manager:	George Ramsay – 168 points (Aug 1884 – May 1926)
Most Successful Decade:	1890s – 122 points

Despite a lower profile in the PL in recent years, the Villans are the original giants of the English game, being the first serious club to emerge from the West-Midlands. This began the day George Ramsay stumbled across an Aston Villa practice match in 1876, joined in and was snapped up after astounding the squad with his ball control. Ramsay became a dedicated and faithful steward of Villa, becoming football’s first ever professional manager in ’86. This Scotsman borrowed ‘Combination Game‘ passing football from Queens Park FC to lead Villa on a glittering winning spree of six league championships and six FA Cups, including ‘the Double’ in 1887. Ramsay served the club across a fifty-year career.

After WWI the club slumped, although revived again in the latter 20th Century and Villa won no less than six major domestic trophies. Fitness fanatic Ron Saunders took charge from 1974 and got AVFC back into the elite. Under his regime, they were crowned champions for a 7th time in 1981 and the following season seized the European crown by beating Bayern Munich in the final, even though Saunders quit in the quarter-finals.

Aston Villa is the most successful club in the Greater Birmingham area.

5: Chelsea FC

Success Points:	323
Earliest Trophies Won:	FL Division 1 Title and FA CS, 1955
Latest Trophies Won:	FIFA Club World Cup (CWC) and UEFA Conference League, 2025
Most Successful Manager:	Jose Mourinho – 90 points (2004 – 2007 and 2013 – 2015)
Most Successful Decade:	2000s – 106 points

Founded in 1904, Chelsea FC was a slow-burner club until the latter 20th Century when manager Ted Drake came in and modernised Chelsea. Chelsea won their first ever English crown as underdogs in 1954-55. They built on this; in the 1960s-70s The Blues won three major trophies, including a UEFA CWC, won by trumping Real Madrid in the final.

Chelsea then underwent a slump as they tried to finance a Stamford Bridge redevelopment. By the end of the ’90s Chelsea were on the up again and won four cups in four years.

Roman Abramovich, Russian multi-billionaire extraordinaire, seized a majority share of Chelsea in 2003 and started pumping tens of millions of pounds into the squad. He appointed the ‘Special One’ Jose Mourinho, who they rode a wave of dominance under, winning two championships plus other trophies in three seasons. Many managers have come and gone in Chelsea’s 21st Century high pressure environment, but it’s reaped rewards. Chelsea’s fans have revelled in five PL triumphs, eight domestic trophies and two Europa Leagues, sandwiched between being crowned European kings twice. The club has done this with players like Terry, Lampard and Drogba who provided a backbone to build success around.

Despite recent financial disruptions, The Blues continue to compete for trophies, winning the inaugural revamped Club World Cup in 2025!

4: Manchester City FC

Success Points:	378
First Trophy Won:	FA Cup, 1904
Latest Trophy Won:	FA CS, 2024
Most Successful Manager:	Josep ‘Pep’ Guardiola – 191 points (Jul 2016-)
Most Successful Decade:	2010s – 120 points

Manchester’s 2nd club rocketed into the bigtime after a slow-burning early history similar to Chelsea’s before The Citizens acquired their own riches in the 21st Century.

Manchester City wrestled with frequent relegations throughout the 20th Century after being first promoted to Division 1 in 1900. Nevertheless, City won the first ever major trophy in Manchester with an FA Cup win in 1904. They won another Cup in ’34 in front of a record 85,000 fans, and then their first Division 1 championship in ’37 before dropping into Division Two.

In the 1950s, The Citizens adopted the hugely successful Hungarian tactic of playing a false number nine, with Don Revie as that number nine, and won another FA Cup with their goalkeeper finishing the game with a broken neck. Under the management of Joe Mercer, City won their 2nd English crown in ’68, narrowly beating rivals Man United to the post. City then won more trophies, including a cup ‘Double’ in 1970.

Manchester City’s mega wealthy Adu Dhabi backers took over in 2008 and proved their intention to reshape the football landscape by instantly spending a PL record sum on Brazilian striker Robinho. Since then, its owners have amassed a squad packed with talent in every position, winning eight PL titles and no less than 10 major trophies in 17 seasons, including an unprecedented domestic ‘Treble’ (plus Community Shield) in 2019. Man City went one better with a ‘European Treble’ in 2023. They’ve done this with some stellar talent, including Sergio Agüero, Kevin De Bruyne and legendary manager Pep Guardiola orchestrating their overwhelming success.

3: Arsenal FC

Success Points:	436
First Trophy Won:	FA Cup, 1930
Latest Trophy Won:	FA CS, 2023
Most Successful Manager:	Arsene Wenger – 138 points (Oct 1996 – May 2018)
Most Successful Decade:	1930s – 110 points

Breaking the 400 success point mark is Arsenal FC. The club struggled to establish themselves in the First Division until they built Highbury stadium and the club chairman began loosening the purse strings a bit… The ‘Bank of England Club’ bought in managerial legend Herbert Chapman who modernised the club’s practices. With players like Alex James and Charlie Buchan The Gunners evolved a counter-attacking style of football that would prove hugely successful for them. Arsenal won their first silverware in 1930 – an FA Cup – just five years into Chapman’s reign. Arsenal then won their first English crown the season after, scoring just one goal shy of the all-time league record (128 goals). They won a total five championships and two FA Cups before WWII commenced.

Arsenal won two more league titles and a cup in the 1950s. In 1971, they won their first ever League-Cup ‘Double’ with George Graham in the team; a player who would go on to win two more championships, a UEFA Cup Winners Cup as their manager in the 80s and 90s, then the 1989 Division 1 Title by a single, solitary goal with just a minute of the season to spare.

A second icon of the club’s was Arsene Wenger in the PL era who added three league crowns and no less than seven FA Cups to Arsenal’s trophy cabinet with PL icons like Thierry Henry and Tony Adams. Arsenal now have more FA Cups than any other club. They are a powerhouse of the domestic game and the most successful club in London.

2: Manchester United FC

Success Points:	661
First Trophy Won:	FL Division 1 Title, 1908
Latest Trophy Won:	FA Cup, 2024
Most Successful Manager:	Sir Alex Ferguson (SAF) – 410 points (Nov 1986 – Jun 2013)
Most Successful Decade:	1990s – 187 points

One of the biggest clubs in England, with their ubiquitous fanbase, Manchester United were faltering before they changed their name from Newton Heath in 1902 and Ernest Mangnall joined as Club Secretary. Mangnall transformed United into a professional and forward-thinking football club. With a revamped scouting network, Mangnall recruited many of the great players of the age such as Sandy Turnbull and Billy Meredith. They would drive United to usurp Aston Villa and win two championships and their first FA Cup before World War I.

Peace finally settled in 1945 and so Man U brought in Matt Busby as manager; a man who demanded an unprecedented level of control over his team. He recruited youngsters and his exuberant squad of ‘Busby Babes’ achieved a glittering period of success during the ’50s, winning three league titles and a 2nd cup. They also started to compete in Europe in 1957 where they beat Belgian giants Anderlecht 10-0. The Munich Air Disaster of 1958 brought Busby’s success to a crashing halt, however. United rose from the ashes, managing their next major trophy win five years later by winning another FA Cup. Under Busby, United won English football’s first European Cup in 1967 after two more Division 1 titles.

Between 1986 – 2013 Sir Alex Ferguson ran the club. This Scotsman, who had dazzled at Aberdeen FC, became the world’s greatest ever football manager at United. With numerous superstars such as Cantona, Beckham, Scholes and Ferdinand, Ferguson repeatedly built world-class squads out of great players with his uncompromising style of leadership. The Red Devils won 13 championships and nine domestic trophies as well as getting crowned kings of Europe twice.

The Devils still hold the joint-most league crowns in England, and despite a relative slump since the Ferguson-era, they remain the most successful club in Manchester.

1: Liverpool FC

Success Points:	709
First Trophy Won:	FL Div. 1 Title, 1901
Latest Trophy Won:	Premier League, 2025
Most Successful Manager:	Bob Paisley – 236 points (Aug 1974 – July 1983)
Most Successful Decade:	1980s – 203 points

Liverpool were founded in 1892 after a parting of ways between Anfield’s owner and Everton FC’s founding members. Scotsmen had a huge influence in the early years of many of Europe’s greatest footballing institutions and so it was that Liverpool’s first squad was a ‘team of Macs’. Tom Watson, a manager who had achieved great things at Sunderland FC, led them to win their first Div. 1 championship in 1901 and their 2nd in ’06. After the First World War David Ashworth became manager and returned the English championship to Liverpool in 1922, and they retained the trophy the season after, despite the fact Ashworth quit half way through the season in a noble but vain effort to save his old club, Oldham Athletic, from relegation.

Despite another English crown after WW2, Liverpool were relegated in 1954. But it was from this low-point that Bill Shankley and his ‘Boot Room‘ of Joe Fagan, Bob Paisley, and later, Kenny Dalglish would propel The Reds into the stratosphere of European football. They transformed their team and, over the next 40 years, were crowned English champions a whopping 13 times and European Champions four times. It took until 1965 for Liverpool to achieve their first FA Cup triumph, but during this glittering period these legendary coaches led their team to lift 11 more major cups also.

Liverpool lost their pre-eminence after the Heysel and Hillsborough tragedies, but with players like Steven Gerrard in the squad, The Reds achieved a ‘Treble’ of cups in 2001 and won the Champion’s League in 2005. More recently, Liverpool reaffirmed their credentials as one of Europe’s greatest clubs by winning their first Premier League and 6th CL under Jurgen Klopp‘s stewardship.

Liverpool now holds the record for CLs and won in England and have broken the 700-point ceiling, Liverpool are England’s most successful football club!