The 10 best soccer teams in England

There’s no perfect metric to define the best soccer teams in England. Global fanbase, major trophies, recent success, longevity, and commercial revenue can all play a factor when trying to nail down who makes the list and who, unfortunately, does not. We’ve taken all of those factors into consideration when ranking the top 10 soccer clubs below.

10. Leeds United

Nickname: The Whites
Founded: 1919
League: Premier League

Leeds United have one of the most passionate fanbases in the country, although it’s been a long time since their most successful years which came under coach Don Revie in the 1960s and early 1970s. They’ve won three English league titles, an FA Cup, and made the European Cup final in 1975, losing to Bayern Munich. Disaster struck in 2001 as Leeds suffered a financial crisis and tumbled down to the third tier of English soccer, but nowadays they are back in the topflight.

9. Newcastle United

Nickname:The Magpies
Founded:1892
League:Premier League

Newcastle United haven’t won a major trophy since 1955, but that doesn’t stop more than 50,000 fans filling out St James’ Park for most home games. The Magpies have spent 89 years in England’s top division and have won four league titles and six FA Cups. In late 2021 owner Mike Ashley sold the club to a Saudi Arabian consortium for £300 million, making them the richest club in the world.

8. Aston Villa

Nickname: The Villans
Founded: 1874
League: Premier League

Aston Villa were one of just three clubs who were founding members of the football league system in England in 1888, and the Premier League in 1992. Thy are seven-time English league champions and seven-time FA Cup winners, with much of their success coming in the late 1800s. The club’s greatest moment came in 1982, however, when the Villans beat Bayern Munich 1-0 to win the European Cup.

7. Everton

Nickname: The Toffees
Founded: 1878
League: Premier League

Like Aston Villa, Everton were one of the founding members of the league system, and have competed in the top division for a record 118 seasons – having only missed out four times. The Toffees rank third in the all-time points rankings and won nine league titles between 1890 and 1987. Everton are five-time FA Cup winners, with their most recent success in 1995 when they shocked Manchester United and won 1-0.

6. Tottenham Hotspur

Nickname: Spurs
Founded: 1882
League: Premier League

Spurs became the first club in the 20th century to win the league and cup double, and have won a major trophy in each of the six decades from the 1950s to the 2000s – a feat that can only be matched by Manchester United. They are two-time league winners, but have had far more success in the knock-out tournaments, winning four League Cups and eight FA Cups. One of the highest-earning clubs in the world, Tottenham built a brand-new state-of-the-art stadium in 2019 and made the European Cup final the same year.

5. Chelsea

Nickname: The Blues
Founded: 1905
League: Premier League

Chelsea have over 30 competitive honors to their name, making them one of England’s most successful clubs. Their most successful period has come since 2003, when Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich bought the club and pumped money into buying star players. Since then, they have won five Premier League titles, four League Cups, two European Cups, and two Europa League cups. They remain the only club to have won all three major European competitions twice.

4. Manchester City

Nickname:The Citizens
Founded:1880
League:Premier League

One of the world’s best clubs, Manchester City had domestic and European success in the late 1960s before a period of decline which saw them drop to the third tier of English football. In the early 2000s they climbed back into the Premier League, and in 2008 the club was bought by the Abu Dhabi United Group which came with huge financial backing. Since then, they have won five Premier Leagues, two FA Cups, and six League Cups. They are the only team in Premier League history to attain 100 points in a single season.

3. Arsenal

Nickname: The Gunners
Founded: 1886
League: Premier League

Arsenal hold the record for the longest streak in England’s top division, having been a mainstay since the league resumed after World War I. Their trophy haul is incredible, but the standouts are the 13 league titles and 14 FA Cups – the latter is a record in the competition. Arsene Wenger was manager between 1996 and 2018, and was their most successful leader, bringing a huge amount of success including a record 49-game unbeaten spell between 2003 and 2004, with a team dubbed "The Invincibles."

2. Liverpool

Nickname: The Reds
Founded: 1892
League: Premier League

Liverpool were England’s most dominant force in the 1970s and 1980s when they won 11 league titles and four European Cups. With Bill Shankly, Bob Paisley, Joe Fagen, and Kenny Dalglish all taking charge during that era, Liverpool quickly became a major force across Europe. The club fell into a period of decline in the early 1990s, and had to wait 30 years until they tasted league glory again this time under Jurgen Klopp. The Reds are England’s most successful team in Europe with six European Cup victories.

1. Manchester United

Nickname: The Red Devils
Founded: 1878
League: Premier League

Manchester United are the most successful club in English soccer, having won the league a record 20 times, in addition to 12 FA Cups, five League Cups, three European Cups and a whole host of other honors. During Sir Alex Ferguson’s 27-year reign, the Red Devils won 38 trophies and became the first and only team to win the European treble of the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League. While they have been in the shadow of neighbors Manchester City for the last decade, there is no doubting who tops this list.