| List of English football champions | |
|---|---|
| Football League (1888–1892) | |
| Football League First Division (1892–1992) | |
| Premier League (1992–present) | |
Leicester City celebrate winning the 2015–16 Premier League
|
|
| Country | |
 England |
|
| Founded | |
| 1888 | |
| Number of teams | |
| 24 winners | |
| Current champions | |
| Liverpool (2024–25) | |
| Most successful club(s) | |
| Liverpool & Manchester United (20 titles each) |
The English football champions are the annual winners of the top-tier competition in the English football league system. Following the codification of professional football by the Football Association in 1885,[1] the Football League was established in 1888, after meetings initiated by Aston Villa director William McGregor.[2]
The new league's inaugural season was 1888–89, and the first club to be crowned champions was Preston North End, whose team completed its fixtures unbeaten.[3] In its first four seasons, with only twelve to fourteen clubs involved, the league was a single entity in which all the teams were from the North or the Midlands. Professionalism had been embraced more readily in those areas than in the South of England.[4] The Football League expanded its membership in 1892 when it absorbed the rival Football Alliance. With 28 members, the league was split into two divisions. Most of the former Alliance clubs joined the new Second Division, while the original league became the First Division, with promotion and relegation between the two.[5]
Rules stipulating a maximum wage for players were abolished in 1961. This resulted in a shift of power towards bigger clubs with more financial means.[6] Financial considerations became an even bigger influence from 1992, when the clubs then in the First Division defected to form the FA Premier League, which became the new top tier.[7] A series of progressively larger television contracts has put unprecedented wealth into the hands of top flight clubs.[8]
List of champions by season
| Ed. | Season | Champions (number of titles) | Runners-up (number of times) | Third place |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Football League (1888–1892) | ||||
|
1
|
1888–89 | Preston North End[a][b] (1) | Aston Villa (1) | Wolverhampton Wanderers |
|
2
|
1889–90 | Preston North End (2) | Everton (1) | Blackburn Rovers |
|
3
|
1890–91 | Everton (1) | Preston North End (1) | Notts County |
|
4
|
1891–92 | Sunderland (1) | Preston North End (2) | Bolton Wanderers |
| Football League First Division (1892–1992) | ||||
|
5
|
1892–93 | Sunderland (2) | Preston North End (3) | Everton |
|
6
|
1893–94 | Aston Villa (1) | Sunderland (1) | Derby County |
|
7
|
1894–95 | Sunderland (3) | Everton (2) | Aston Villa |
|
8
|
1895–96 | Aston Villa (2) | Derby County (1) | Everton |
|
9
|
1896–97 | Aston Villa[b] (3) | Sheffield United (1) | Derby County |
|
10
|
1897–98 | Sheffield United (1) | Sunderland (2) | Wolverhampton Wanderers |
|
11
|
1898–99 | Aston Villa (4) | Liverpool (1) | Burnley |
|
12
|
1899–1900 | Aston Villa (5) | Sheffield United (2) | Sunderland |
|
13
|
1900–01 | Liverpool (1) | Sunderland (3) | Notts County |
|
14
|
1901–02 | Sunderland (4) | Everton (3) | Newcastle United |
|
15
|
1902–03 | The Wednesday[c] (1) | Aston Villa (2) | Sunderland |
|
16
|
1903–04 | The Wednesday[c] (2) | Manchester City (1) | Everton |
|
17
|
1904–05 | Newcastle United (1) | Everton (4) | Manchester City |
|
18
|
1905–06 | Liverpool (2) | Preston North End (4) | The Wednesday |
|
19
|
1906–07 | Newcastle United (2) | Bristol City (1) | Everton |
|
20
|
1907–08 | Manchester United (1) | Aston Villa (3) | Manchester City |
|
21
|
1908–09 | Newcastle United (3) | Everton (5) | Sunderland |
|
22
|
1909–10 | Aston Villa (6) | Liverpool (2) | Blackburn Rovers |
|
23
|
1910–11 | Manchester United (2) | Aston Villa (4) | Sunderland |
|
24
|
1911–12 | Blackburn Rovers (1) | Everton (6) | Newcastle United |
|
25
|
1912–13 | Sunderland (5) | Aston Villa (5) | The Wednesday |
|
26
|
1913–14 | Blackburn Rovers (2) | Aston Villa (6) | Middlesbrough |
|
27
|
1914–15 | Everton (2) | Oldham Athletic (1) | Blackburn Rovers |
|
–
|
1915–16 to 1918–19 | League suspended due to the First World War | ||
|
28
|
1919–20 | West Bromwich Albion (1) | Burnley (1) | Chelsea |
|
29
|
1920–21 | Burnley (1) | Manchester City (2) | Bolton Wanderers |
|
30
|
1921–22 | Liverpool (3) | Tottenham Hotspur (1) | Burnley |
|
31
|
1922–23 | Liverpool (4) | Sunderland (4) | Huddersfield Town |
|
32
|
1923–24 | Huddersfield Town (1) | Cardiff City (1) | Sunderland |
|
33
|
1924–25 | Huddersfield Town (2) | West Bromwich Albion (1) | Bolton Wanderers |
|
34
|
1925–26 | Huddersfield Town (3) | Arsenal (1) | Sunderland |
|
35
|
1926–27 | Newcastle United (4) | Huddersfield Town (1) | Sunderland |
|
36
|
1927–28 | Everton (3) | Huddersfield Town (2) | Leicester City |
|
37
|
1928–29 | The Wednesday[c] (3) | Leicester City (1) | Aston Villa |
|
38
|
1929–30 | Sheffield Wednesday (4) | Derby County (2) | Manchester City |
|
39
|
1930–31 | Arsenal (1) | Aston Villa (7) | Sheffield Wednesday |
|
40
|
1931–32 | Everton (4) | Arsenal (2) | Sheffield Wednesday |
|
41
|
1932–33 | Arsenal (2) | Aston Villa (8) | Sheffield Wednesday |
|
42
|
1933–34 | Arsenal (3) | Huddersfield Town (3) | Tottenham Hotspur |
|
43
|
1934–35 | Arsenal (4) | Sunderland (5) | Sheffield Wednesday |
|
44
|
1935–36 | Sunderland (6) | Derby County (3) | Huddersfield Town |
|
45
|
1936–37 | Manchester City (1) | Charlton Athletic (1) | Arsenal |
|
46
|
1937–38 | Arsenal (5) | Wolverhampton Wanderers (1) | Preston North End |
|
47
|
1938–39 | Everton (5) | Wolverhampton Wanderers (2) | Charlton Athletic |
|
–
|
1939–40 to 1945–46 | League suspended due to the Second World War | ||
|
48
|
1946–47 | Liverpool (5) | Manchester United (1) | Wolverhampton Wanderers |
|
49
|
1947–48 | Arsenal (6) | Manchester United (2) | Burnley |
|
50
|
1948–49 | Portsmouth (1) | Manchester United (3) | Derby County |
|
51
|
1949–50 | Portsmouth (2) | Wolverhampton Wanderers (3) | Sunderland |
|
52
|
1950–51 | Tottenham Hotspur (1) | Manchester United (4) | Blackpool |
|
53
|
1951–52 | Manchester United (3) | Tottenham Hotspur (2) | Arsenal |
|
54
|
1952–53 | Arsenal (7) | Preston North End (5) | Wolverhampton Wanderers |
|
55
|
1953–54 | Wolverhampton Wanderers (1) | West Bromwich Albion (2) | Huddersfield Town |
|
56
|
1954–55 | Chelsea (1) | Wolverhampton Wanderers (4) | Portsmouth |
|
57
|
1955–56 | Manchester United (4) | Blackpool (1) | Wolverhampton Wanderers |
|
58
|
1956–57 | Manchester United (5) | Tottenham Hotspur (3) | Preston North End |
|
59
|
1957–58 | Wolverhampton Wanderers (2) | Preston North End (6) | Tottenham Hotspur |
|
60
|
1958–59 | Wolverhampton Wanderers (3) | Manchester United (5) | Arsenal |
|
61
|
1959–60 | Burnley (2) | Wolverhampton Wanderers (5) | Tottenham Hotspur |
|
62
|
1960–61 | Tottenham Hotspur[b] (2) | Sheffield Wednesday (1) | Wolverhampton Wanderers |
|
63
|
1961–62 | Ipswich Town (1) | Burnley (2) | Tottenham Hotspur |
|
64
|
1962–63 | Everton (6) | Tottenham Hotspur (4) | Burnley |
|
65
|
1963–64 | Liverpool (6) | Manchester United (6) | Everton |
|
66
|
1964–65 | Manchester United (6) | Leeds United (1) | Chelsea |
|
67
|
1965–66 | Liverpool (7) | Leeds United (2) | Burnley |
|
68
|
1966–67 | Manchester United (7) | Nottingham Forest (1) | Tottenham Hotspur |
|
69
|
1967–68 | Manchester City (2) | Manchester United (7) | Liverpool |
|
70
|
1968–69 | Leeds United (1) | Liverpool (3) | Everton |
|
71
|
1969–70 | Everton (7) | Leeds United (3) | Chelsea |
|
72
|
1970–71 | Arsenal[b] (8) | Leeds United (4) | Tottenham Hotspur |
|
73
|
1971–72 | Derby County (1) | Leeds United (5) | Liverpool |
|
74
|
1972–73 | Liverpool[d] (8) | Arsenal (3) | Leeds United |
|
75
|
1973–74 | Leeds United (2) | Liverpool (4) | Derby County |
|
76
|
1974–75 | Derby County (2) | Liverpool (5) | Ipswich Town |
|
77
|
1975–76 | Liverpool[d] (9) | Queens Park Rangers (1) | Manchester United |
|
78
|
1976–77 | Liverpool[e] (10) | Manchester City (3) | Ipswich Town |
|
79
|
1977–78 | Nottingham Forest[f] (1) | Liverpool (6) | Everton |
|
80
|
1978–79 | Liverpool (11) | Nottingham Forest (2) | West Bromwich Albion |
|
81
|
1979–80 | Liverpool (12) | Manchester United (8) | Ipswich Town |
|
82
|
1980–81 | Aston Villa (7) | Ipswich Town (1) | Arsenal |
|
83
|
1981–82[g] | Liverpool[f] (13) | Ipswich Town (2) | Manchester United |
|
84
|
1982–83 | Liverpool[f] (14) | Watford (1) | Manchester United |
|
85
|
1983–84 | Liverpool[e][f] (15) | Southampton (1) | Nottingham Forest |
|
86
|
1984–85 | Everton[h] (8) | Liverpool (7) | Tottenham Hotspur |
|
87
|
1985–86 | Liverpool[b] (16) | Everton (7) | West Ham United |
|
88
|
1986–87 | Everton (9) | Liverpool (8) | Tottenham Hotspur |
|
89
|
1987–88 | Liverpool (17) | Manchester United (9) | Nottingham Forest |
|
90
|
1988–89 | Arsenal (9) | Liverpool (9) | Nottingham Forest |
|
91
|
1989–90 | Liverpool (18) | Aston Villa (9) | Tottenham Hotspur |
|
92
|
1990–91 | Arsenal (10) | Liverpool (10) | Crystal Palace |
|
93
|
1991–92 | Leeds United (3) | Manchester United (10) | Sheffield Wednesday |
| Premier League (1992–present) | ||||
|
94
|
1992–93 | Manchester United (8) | Aston Villa (10) | Norwich City |
|
95
|
1993–94 | Manchester United[b] (9) | Blackburn Rovers (1) | Newcastle United |
|
96
|
1994–95 | Blackburn Rovers (3) | Manchester United (11) | Nottingham Forest |
|
97
|
1995–96 | Manchester United[b] (10) | Newcastle United (1) | Liverpool |
|
98
|
1996–97 | Manchester United (11) | Newcastle United (2) | Arsenal |
|
99
|
1997–98 | Arsenal[b] (11) | Manchester United (12) | Liverpool |
|
100
|
1998–99 | Manchester United[i] (12) | Arsenal (4) | Chelsea |
|
101
|
1999–2000 | Manchester United[j] (13) | Arsenal (5) | Leeds United |
|
102
|
2000–01 | Manchester United (14) | Arsenal (6) | Liverpool |
|
103
|
2001–02 | Arsenal[b] (12) | Liverpool (11) | Manchester United |
|
104
|
2002–03 | Manchester United (15) | Arsenal (7) | Newcastle United |
|
105
|
2003–04 | Arsenal[a] (13) | Chelsea (1) | Manchester United |
|
106
|
2004–05 | Chelsea[f] (2) | Arsenal (8) | Manchester United |
|
107
|
2005–06 | Chelsea (3) | Manchester United (13) | Liverpool |
|
108
|
2006–07 | Manchester United (16) | Chelsea (2) | Liverpool |
|
109
|
2007–08 | Manchester United[e] (17) | Chelsea (3) | Arsenal |
|
110
|
2008–09 | Manchester United[f][k] (18) | Liverpool (12) | Chelsea |
|
111
|
2009–10 | Chelsea[b] (4) | Manchester United (14) | Arsenal |
|
112
|
2010–11 | Manchester United (19) | Chelsea (4) | Manchester City |
|
113
|
2011–12 | Manchester City (3) | Manchester United (15) | Arsenal |
|
114
|
2012–13 | Manchester United (20) | Manchester City (4) | Chelsea |
|
115
|
2013–14 | Manchester City[f] (4) | Liverpool (13) | Chelsea |
|
116
|
2014–15 | Chelsea[f] (5) | Manchester City (5) | Arsenal |
|
117
|
2015–16 | Leicester City (1) | Arsenal (9) | Tottenham Hotspur |
|
118
|
2016–17 | Chelsea (6) | Tottenham Hotspur (5) | Manchester City |
|
119
|
2017–18 | Manchester City[f] (5) | Manchester United (16) | Tottenham Hotspur |
|
120
|
2018–19 | Manchester City[l] (6) | Liverpool (14) | Chelsea |
|
121
|
2019–20 | Liverpool (19) | Manchester City (6) | Manchester United |
|
122
|
2020–21 | Manchester City[f] (7) | Manchester United (17) | Liverpool |
|
123
|
2021–22 | Manchester City (8) | Liverpool (15) | Chelsea |
|
124
|
2022–23 | Manchester City[m] (9) | Arsenal (10) | Manchester United |
|
125
|
2023–24 | Manchester City (10) | Arsenal (11) | Liverpool |
|
126
|
2024–25 | Liverpool (20) | Arsenal (12) | Manchester City |
List of champion clubs by titles won
24 clubs have won the English top level title, including seven which have won the Premier League (1992–). The most recent to join the list were Leicester City (2015–16) and before that, Nottingham Forest (1977–78) and Derby County (1971–72).
Seven teams have at some point held first or joint first place in the number of titles won: Preston North End (1889–1895), Sunderland (1893–1899, 1936–1953), Aston Villa (1897–1953), Arsenal (1948–1976), Liverpool (1966–1971, 1973–2011, 2025–), Manchester United (1967–1971, 2009–), and Everton (1970–1971).
Eight teams have finished as runners-up without ever finishing top: Bristol City (1906–07), Oldham Athletic (1914–15), Cardiff City (1923–24), Charlton Athletic (1936–37), Blackpool (1955–56), Queens Park Rangers (1975–76), Watford (1982–83), and Southampton (1983–84). Of these, Cardiff City came closest to winning the league, matching champions Huddersfield Town in points but losing out on goal average (goals scored divided by goals conceded), the precursor to goal difference.
Where teams in the table are tied for championship wins, they are ordered by earliest title won.
| Rank | Club | Winners | Runners-up | Winning seasons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liverpool | 20 | 15 | 1900–01, 1905–06, 1921–22, 1922–23, 1946–47, 1963–64, 1965–66, 1972–73, 1975–76, 1976–77, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1981–82, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1985–86, 1987–88, 1989–90, 2019–20, 2024–25 |
| Manchester United | 20 | 17 | 1907–08, 1910–11, 1951–52, 1955–56, 1956–57, 1964–65, 1966–67, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2012–13 | |
| 3 | Arsenal | 13 | 12 | 1930–31, 1932–33, 1933–34, 1934–35, 1937–38, 1947–48, 1952–53, 1970–71, 1988–89, 1990–91, 1997–98, 2001–02, 2003–04 |
| 4 | Manchester City | 10 | 6 | 1936–37, 1967–68, 2011–12, 2013–14, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24 |
| 5 | Everton | 9 | 7 | 1890–91, 1914–15, 1927–28, 1931–32, 1938–39, 1962–63, 1969–70, 1984–85, 1986–87 |
| 6 | Aston Villa | 7 | 10 | 1893–94, 1895–96, 1896–97, 1898–99, 1899–1900, 1909–10, 1980–81 |
| 7 | Sunderland | 6 | 5 | 1891–92, 1892–93, 1894–95, 1901–02, 1912–13, 1935–36 |
| Chelsea | 6 | 4 | 1954–55, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2009–10, 2014–15, 2016–17 | |
| 9 | Sheffield Wednesday | 4 | 1 | 1902–03, 1903–04, 1928–29, 1929–30 |
| Newcastle United | 4 | 2 | 1904–05, 1906–07, 1908–09, 1926–27 | |
| 11 | Blackburn Rovers | 3 | 1 | 1911–12, 1913–14, 1994–95 |
| Huddersfield Town | 3 | 3 | 1923–24, 1924–25, 1925–26 | |
| Wolverhampton Wanderers | 3 | 5 | 1953–54, 1957–58, 1958–59 | |
| Leeds United | 3 | 5 | 1968–69, 1973–74, 1991–92 | |
| 15 | Preston North End | 2 | 6 | 1888–89, 1889–90 |
| Burnley | 2 | 2 | 1920–21, 1959–60 | |
| Portsmouth | 2 | 0 | 1948–49, 1949–50 | |
| Tottenham Hotspur | 2 | 5 | 1950–51, 1960–61 | |
| Derby County | 2 | 3 | 1971–72, 1974–75 | |
| 20 | Sheffield United | 1 | 2 | 1897–98 |
| West Bromwich Albion | 1 | 2 | 1919–20 | |
| Ipswich Town | 1 | 2 | 1961–62 | |
| Nottingham Forest | 1 | 2 | 1977–78 | |
| Leicester City | 1 | 1 | 2015–16 |
See also
- List of football clubs in England by competitive honours won
- List of English football championship-winning managers
Notes
- ^ a b Completed the season unbeaten.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Also won the FA Cup
- ^ a b c Sheffield Wednesday were known as The Wednesday until 1929.
- ^ a b Also won the UEFA Cup/UEFA Europa League.
- ^ a b c Also won the European Cup/UEFA Champions League.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Also won the League Cup/EFL Cup.
- ^ From the 1981–82 season onwards three points were awarded for a win. Prior to this a win was worth two points.
- ^ Also won the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup.
- ^ Manchester United won a continental treble of the Premier League, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League in 1999.
- ^ Also won the Intercontinental Cup
- ^ Also won the FIFA Club World Cup
- ^ Manchester City won a domestic treble of the Premier League, FA Cup and EFL Cup in 2019.
- ^ Manchester City won a continental treble of the Premier League, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League in 2023.
References
Specific
- ^ "The History of the Football League". The Football League. Archived from the original on 11 February 2007. Retrieved 15 February 2006.
- ^ Inglis 1988, pp. 6–8.
- ^ Titford, Roger (November 2005). "Football League, 1888–89". When Saturday Comes. Archived from the original on 29 May 2009. Retrieved 6 June 2009.
- ^ Goldblatt, David (2007). The Ball is Round: A Global History of Football. London: Penguin. p. 58. ISBN 978-0-14-101582-8.
- ^ Inglis 1988, p. 25.
- ^ Dart, Tom (25 May 2009). "Burnley: little town, big traditions". The Times. London. Retrieved 18 January 2025.
- ^ "A History of The Premier League". Premier League. Archived from the original on 18 November 2011. Retrieved 7 June 2009.
- ^ Harris, Nick (7 February 2009). "£1.78bn: Record Premier League TV deal defies economic slump". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 28 August 2017. Retrieved 15 June 2009.
Sources
- Inglis, Simon (1988). League Football and the Men Who Made It. Willow Books. ISBN 978-0-00-218242-3.
General
- "Past winners". The Football League. Archived from the original on 17 July 2014. Retrieved 29 August 2008.
- "England – List of Champions". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 26 July 2020. Retrieved 11 June 2009.
- "English League Leading Goalscorers". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 16 January 2019. Retrieved 11 June 2009.