When Every Premier League Club Last Won a Major Trophy (Ranked)

Highlights

• West Ham United ended their 43-year wait for silverware by winning the Europa Conference League in June 2023.
• Newcastle United’s last major trophy win was the FA Cup in 1955, over 25,000 days ago.
• Five Premier League teams are yet to win a major piece of silverware in their history: Brentford, Brighton, Crystal Palace, Fulham and Bournemouth.

Some teams in England’s top flight have been accustomed to racking up trophies year in year out, while some enjoy mild success, but ultimately it comes few and far between. And then there’s the rest: those that long for another cup final day out with friends and family to see their beloved side battle it out for what’s most important in the football echo chamber. Trophies.

West Ham United defied the norm and ended their extensive wait for silverware in 2023 by picking up the Europa Conference League, while Newcastle United fell at the final hurdle in their League Cup campaign. Winning trophies is the simplest measure of success for any football team. It’s a date that will remain part of a club’s history for as long as they live. But when was the last time each Premier League club won a major honour?

Please note that: Brentford, Crystal Palace, Bournemouth, Brighton and Fulham are omitted, seeing as they have not been fortunate enough to get their hands on a major honour, while the Super Cup, Club World Cup and Community Shield were not considered as a major trophy. Without further ado, let’s jump in.

15 Sheffield United – 25 April 1925

Trophy: FA Cup

Hosted at the Home of Football, Cardiff City were no match for the winners as the Blades’ Fred Tunstall’s 30th-minute effort was enough to seal the victory. Nearly 92,000 avid match-goers were in attendance to see the Yorkshire-based outfit travel home with the glory, though the now Premier League side have been yearning for another trophy ever since.

There are more pressing issues for Chris Wilder’s side at the moment as Sheffield United look nailed on for relegation back to the second tier of English football. The Blades have been more focused on their ventures in league football rather than domestic cup competitions in recent years.

14 Newcastle United – 7 May 1955

Trophy: FA Cup

In the 74th instalment of the FA Cup, Manchester City – back when their cabinet was not stacked with countless trophies – squared up with Newcastle United at Wembley Stadium. A trio of goals from Jackie Milburn, Bobby Johnstone and Bobby Mitchell was enough to drown out Bobby Johnstone’s first-half equaliser.

Eddie Howe’s outfit had the chance to end their trophy drought in February 2023 when they met Manchester United in the Carabao Cup final, but they fell to a 2-0 defeat. With the new-found wealth at St James’ Park, it feels like only a matter of time before a first trophy in almost 70 years is secured.

13 Burnley – 2 May 1960

Trophy: Division One

Before 1992, the Premier League was known as Division One, which means that Burnley were once the champions of England. It was the second time in their storied history that they had run out victors of England’s top tier, but interestingly, only sat in the top spot on the last day thanks to their 2-1 victory against Manchester City.

The side’s top goalscorer over the course of the season was John Connelly, with 20 of his 24 goals coming in the league. Vincent Kompany did lead the Clarets to the Championship title in the 2022/23, although that piece of silverware doesn’t go down as a major honour on this list.

12 Wolverhampton Wanderers – 15 March 1980

Trophy: League Cup

Wolves entered the affair as the underdogs considering they were facing the reigning League Cup winners and European champions, Nottingham Forest. Level on points in the league, however, the Old Gold knew the win was there for the taking and so, courtesy of a 67th-minute Andy Gray finish past the legendary Peter Shilton, they ran out 1–0 victors.

Their most recent win before 1980 came six years earlier in the same competition, but they have had little to no luck emulating the success since. It’s been a long wait for Wolves fans, but they are still active in the 2023/24 FA Cup, meaning there is an opportunity for Gary O’Neil’s side to lift silverware before the final whistle of the campaign is blown.

11 Luton Town – 24 April 1988

Trophy: League Cup

A five-goal thriller played out back in 1988 as Premier League new boys Luton and Arsenal battled it out for League Cup glory. Luton opened the scoring early, but it then took until the 71st minute for a flurry of goals to come about.

The north Londoners’ match dominance paid off as two quickfire strikes in three minutes saw them take the lead with 15 minutes of normal time to play. Fear not, though, as Brian Stein’s second of the encounter and Danny Wilson’s last-gasp winner sent the Kenilworth Road support into jubilation. The Hatters are still giving their fans plenty to shout about as they made their way into the Premier League for the first time in their history in 2023.

10 Nottingham Forest – 29 April 1990

Trophy: League Cup

On the 30th anniversary of the League Cup, Nottingham Forest and Oldham went toe-to-toe in what would be the former’s most recent major trophy win. Forest’s Des Walker was awarded the Man of the Match gong but had Nigel Jemson to thank for scoring the only goal of the game.

Let’s not forget that just a decade prior, Forest were crowned European champions two times on the bounce and became a dominant force in doing so. Since then, that has not been the case. Long gone are the days of Brian Clough’s European heroes of the late 1970s and early 1980s. The historic club are doing everything they can to rise to prominence in the game once more.

9 Everton – 20 May 1995

Trophy: FA Cup

The Merseyside outfit have been a staple part of the Premier League since its inception in 1992, having not been relegated in that period. That being said, their last major triumph came almost 30 years ago, as Everton lifted the FA Cup in 1995.

It was none other than Manchester United that fell at the feet of the Toffees on that day as Paul Rideout’s headed goal secured the win. As expected, their opponents dominated the rest of the final, though not to avail. Cheslea defeated Everton in the final of the same competition in 2009, and this is the closest the club have come to getting their hands on a trophy during their three-decade long drought.

8 Aston Villa – 24 March 1996

Trophy: League Cup

Having won the trophy just two years prior, Leeds United were no match for the high-flying Aston Villa side, who won 3-0. A dominant first-half display saw Villa enter the break 1-0 to the good, but goals from Ian Taylor and Dwight Yorke in the second stage of the game tied up a sweet victory. Equalling Liverpool’s record set in the competition, this occasion marked Villa’s fifth success in the League Cup.

Now employing a serial winner in European competition in Unai Emery, there is a chance Villa Park could welcome the Europa Conference League at the end of the 2023/24 season. There is a real feel-good factor back at the club, and it looks like their fans’ wait for glory could soon come to an end.

7 Tottenham Hotspur – 24 February 2008

Trophy: League Cup

There’s a longstanding running joke among football fans that Tottenham Hotspur are immune to winning trophies. Their last major honour victory came back in 2008 as they defeated London rivals Chelsea 2-1 in the League Cup final.

Didier Drogba smashed in a free-kick to take the lead in the 39th minute, but Tottenham’s persistence paid off. Goals from Spurs duo Dimitar Berbatov and Jonathan Woodgate, who was awarded Man of the Match, fired them into the lead. A fresh era under Ange Postecoglou has now begun in north London, and he will certainly be gunning for some sort of silverware during his managerial tenure.

6 Arsenal – 1 August 2020

Trophy: FA Cup

Officially known as the Heads-Up FA Cup final, capital club foes Arsenal and Chelsea played behind closed doors (due to COVID-19) to figure out who would be taking the fabled trophy home with them. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was at the double as Christian Pulisic’s early goal was cancelled out in a 2-1 Arsenal success.

Growing frustrated as the game ran away from them, Chelsea’s Mateo Kovacic picked up his second yellow card of the day to receive his marching orders from Anthony Taylor. Arsenal are the most decorated club in the long history of the FA Cup, having lifted the iconic trophy 14 times.

5 Chelsea – 29 May 2021

Trophy: Champions League

The west London-based side were able to halt Manchester City in their tracks as Pep Guardiola looked to bring home Champions League glory to Manchester for the first time in their history. Not on Thomas Tuchel’s watch.

Now at Arsenal, Kai Havertz opened and closed the scoring three minutes shy of the interval. City were the obvious favourites going into the game but came out dumbfounded at the loss. This marked the Blues’ second success in the Champions League, but was the last trophy to date for the success-hungry club. Chelsea have reached several cup finals since their famous victory against City, but have fallen just short.

4 Manchester United – 26 February 2023

Trophy: League Cup

Erik ten Hag’s side, as mentioned earlier, saw off Newcastle United in early 2023 to secure their first piece of major silverware since 2017. The game ended 2-0 as Casemiro scored the opener for his side and the ever-reliable Marcus Rashford solidified the blow just before the break.

Their League Cup success was no doubt swamped by their cross-city neighbours gobbling up the rest on offer, though the Dutchman and his players had the chance to spoil the party in the FA Cup but had no luck. The Red Devils remain the most successful English club of all time when factoring in all trophies won.

3 West Ham United – 7 June 2023

Trophy: Europa Conference League

That famous night in Prague. The east Londoners ended their 43-year major trophy drought as Jarrod Bowen etched himself in their rich history by coming up with the goods at the death. Said Benrahma bagged West Ham’s first of the night via a penalty, just for the scoring to be levelled a mere five minutes later by Giacomo Bonaventura.

The travelling support were in fine voice throughout – and for good reason, too. This was the first time many of the Irons’ fan base would have seen their side lift a trophy as the club’s last major honour was back in 1980 when they won the FA Cup.

2 Manchester City – 10 June 2023

Trophy: Champions League

No surprise that perennial winners – particularly under Pep Guardiola’s stewardship – are close to top spot with their Champions League victory over Inter Milan. In fine fashion, the Spaniard’s imperious roster of players rounded off their treble success with a 1-0 win over the Italians, all thanks to Rodri’s solitary goal on 68 minutes.

Such has been the dominance of this Manchester City juggernaut over the years, it would be no surprise if the Citizens were the next English club to lift a major honour. They are still in all three competitions they sealed to record their historic treble in 2023. Could they repeat the incredible achievement?

1 Liverpool – 25 February 2024

Trophy: League Cup

Liverpool one-upped their Premier League rivals Chelsea by getting the better of them after extra time in the 2024 League Cup final at Wembley Stadium. Both sides had ample chances to win it in normal time, but a goalless 90 minutes resulted in a tense extra-time period.

Virgil van Dijk rose highest from a Kostas Tsimikas corner to nod the Reds in front in the 118th minute with very little time for the opposition to reply. It could well go down as the final trophy Jurgen Klopp wins at Anfield and that would make it all the more special to fans of the club and the players involved.