Football is comfortably the most popular sport in the English capital. London boasts a string of leading professional football clubs – 17 to be precise. In the 2023/24 Premier League, seven of the 20 top-flight clubs are situated within Greater London.
Which London clubs have been the most successful in their respective histories? Below, we’ll shine a spotlight on the London-based outfits that have lifted the most major trophies through the decades.
Arsenal
North London club Arsenal are currently the capital’s most successful football club, based on major trophies won. They have 30 trophies to their name, including 14 FA Cups and 13 top-flight titles. It’s been 20 years since the Gunners last lifted the Premier League trophy. However, the stars could be aligning for Arsenal to win the Premier League once again in 2023/24. Mikel Arteta’s men are one of three teams with a great chance of finishing at the summit in May.
They also have two League Cup trophies in the cabinet, as well as one major European final victory. The Gunners won the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1994, edging out Italian Serie A side Parma 1-0 in a nervy final. They went on to finish runners-up in the competition the following season.
Chelsea
West London side Chelsea run Arsenal close for the tag as London’s most successful football club. This part of London is famed for its football club, as well as its iconic Flower Show. The Blues have 25 major trophies to their name, five less than their city rivals. Chelsea have six top-flight titles in the bag, winning five of these in the Premier League era between 2005 and 2017. The Blues won their first top-flight title in 1955.
Chelsea have won five League Cups as well as eight FA Cups. The Blues have had significantly more success in European competition than the Gunners. They have two UEFA Champions League titles, as well as two titles apiece in the UEFA Europa League and European Cup Winners’ Cup.
Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur are a distant third in the ranking of London’s most successful clubs. They have just two top-flight titles to their name but have won the same number of FA Cups as Chelsea. In total, Spurs have 17 trophies in their cabinet, including four League Cups, one European Cup Winners’ Cup and a brace of UEFA Europa League/UEFA Cup titles.
So, there we have it: Arsenal reigns supreme as London’s most successful football club of all time. With the Gunners still in the hunt for a Premier League title and the Champions League this season, there’s every chance they extend their lead over their city rivals.
Photo by Chris Kursikowski
