10 Best Club Teams in English Football History (Ranked)

In brief
Over the years, a number of English sides have dominated.
Man United’s treble-winning squad from 1998–1999 is regarded as the best English club team ever.
But teams from Liverpool, Manchester City, and Arsenal have all won the most coveted titles.
In England, football is revered. Thousands of supporters travel across the nation each week from August to May to cheer on their team. They fervently watch with the hopes of winning, whether it’s in the Premier League, one of the most difficult championships in the world, or the depths of non-league.

A few iconic teams with some of the greatest football players in history have reigned over the years at the top of the pyramid. They have ‘finished football’ by playing beautiful and graceful football, or by doing the reverse and ‘parking the bus’.

As a result, we have chosen to list the top nine English clubs in history. They outperformed the rest of the globe based on performances in a single season. Given how brilliantly they have played in the 2024–2025 Premier League, will Arne Slot’s Liverpool make this list? This list includes the greatest players in English football history, although only time will tell.

Ranking Elements
Trophies Won: Only teams that took home significant honors are listed.
Player quality: Are the players they had now considered legendary?
Play style: Did the free-flowing football make for a thrilling spectacle?
The Greatest English Club Teams in History

Rank

Group

Time of year

United Manchester

1998–1999

City of Manchester

2022–2023

Liverpool

1976–1977

The Arsenal

2003–2004

Liverpool

2019–2020

City of Manchester

2017–2018

Chelsea

2004–2005

United Manchester 1967–1968

Forest of Nottingham

1978–1979

10.

The Arsenal

1997–1998

Ranking Elements
Trophies Won: Only teams that took home significant honours are listed.
Player quality: Are the players they had now considered legendary?
Play style: Did the free-flowing football make for a thrilling spectacle?
The Greatest English Club Teams in History

Rank

Group

Time of year

United Manchester

1998–1999

City of Manchester

2022–2023

Liverpool

1976–1977

The Arsenal

2003–2004

Liverpool

2019–2020

City of Manchester

2017–2018

Chelsea

2004–2005

United Manchester 1967–1968

Forest of Nottingham

1978–1979

10.

The Arsenal

1997–1998

10 Arsenal in 1997 and 1998

For the first time since 1970–1971, Arsenal won both the Premier League and the FA Cup at the end of the season, completing the domestic double in Arsene Wenger’s first full season as manager. After inheriting the renowned back-five of David Seaman, Nigel Winterburn, Tony Adams, Steve Bould, and Lee Dixon, Wenger set out to infuse his attack with a little more vigour and flair. He was soon rewarded with some incredible performances, especially from Marc Overmars and Dennis Bergkamp.

However, none could possibly surpass the French sensation Nicolas Anelka’s exhilarating pace, directness, and daring. To cap off a spectacular season and begin Wenger’s amazing career in English football’s most illustrious and storied cup competition, the teenager scored in the FA Cup final.

Details of the Season

Honours

FA Cup and Premier League

Position in the League

First

Supervisor

Wenger, Arsene

Leading scorer of goals

Bergkamp, Dennis (22)

9 Forest in Nottingham, 1978–79

First of all, Nottingham Forest is among the oldest football teams in English history. Their past, which primarily occurred in the late 1970s and early 1980s, is what made them renowned. Forest achieved the greatest football objective during the 1978–1979 season by taking home the European Cup.

In addition to winning the League Cup by defeating Southampton 3-2 in the final, they were second in the First Division, eight points behind champions Liverpool. Their 1-0 victory over Malmo in the European Cup final, however, swiftly eclipsed those accomplishments. Trevor Francis, who scored the game’s lone goal, will always be remembered as a Forest legend.

Details of the Season

Honours

League Cup, European Cup

Position in the League

Second

Supervisor

Clough, Brian

Leading scorer of goals

Birtles, Garry (26).

8 United Manchester 1967–1968

Manchester United also took home the European Cup more than ten years before to Nottingham Forest’s amazing victory. With George Best at the core of their triumph, they had won football’s greatest award ten years after the Munich Air Disaster in 1958, honouring those who tragically died that day.

One of the greatest British footballers of all time scored 32 goals during the season, earning him the titles of FWA Footballer of the Year and European Footballer of the Year. Sir Bobby Charlton scored twice as they defeated Benfica 4-1 in the European Cup final, following an outstanding season in which they finished second in the First Division.

Details of the Season

Honours

The European Cup

Position in the League

Second

Supervisor

Busby, Matt

Leading scorer of goals

Best, George (32)

Seventh, Chelsea 2004–2005

Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea was one of the best defensive teams ever, and that reputation continues until the present day. Football seems to be centred on attacking production these days, but the renowned former Porto manager defied expectations. They broke numerous records as they easily won the championship with 95 points, 12 more than Arsenal.

In addition to breaking the records for most clean sheets (25) and fewest goals allowed (15), it was the most points ever won in a season at the time. In addition to winning the League Cup by defeating Liverpool 3-2 in the final, the Blues had an incredible season and still maintain the latter two records.

Details of the Season

Honours

League Cup, Premier League

Supervisor

Mourinho, Jose

Leading scorer of goals

Lampard, Frank (19)

John Terry, Frank Lampard, and Gianfranco Zola are all at Chelsea, with the Chelsea badge in the background.
Associated
The Top 10 Best Chelsea Players of All Time (Ranking)
The top ten players in Chelsea Football Club history, from Eden Hazard to Frank Lampard, are listed in order.

6 Manchester, City, 2017–18

The Centurions. The idea of a team gaining 100 points seemed unthinkable years ago because there are only 114 points available in a Premier League season. But Manchester City accomplished the almost impossible in 2018. On the last day of the season, Gabriel Jesus scored the game-winning goal in the 94th minute away to Southampton, capping an unbelievable campaign.

They made history, and there was chaos. In addition to breaking the league record for most wins (32), away wins (16), and goals (106), they also won the EFL Cup, defeating Arsenal 3-0 in the final, capping an incredible season.

GIVEMESPORT KEY DATA: With five games remaining, Man City also tied the record for the earliest Premier League title victory.

Details of the Season

Honours

EFL Cup and Premier League

Supervisor

Guardiola, Pep

Leading scorer of goals

Aguero Sergio (30)

5 Liverpool in 2019 and 2020

Liverpool almost achieved the same goal two seasons after Man City reached 100 points, but they were unable to do so, possibly as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Reds won the competition for the first time in the most comfortable way conceivable during an amazing Premier League season.

They won the Super Cup and Club World Cup after qualifying for them by winning the Champions League the previous season, and they finished with 99 points, 18 points ahead of Man City. Jurgen Klopp’s team had one of the greatest attacking trios in history, and they were truly world-class during this campaign, which coincided with a period in which they won every trophy imaginable. renowned.

Details of the Season

Honours

Club World Cup, Premier League, and Super Cup

Supervisor

Klopp, Jurgen

Leading scorer of goals

Mohamed Salah (age 23).

4Arsenal

2003/2004

Although they haven’t won the Premier League since 2004, Arsenal made history when they accomplished so in their historic year. The Gunners, who finished the league season with a record of 26 victories and 12 draws, were the first and still the only English team to go undefeated.

Arsene Wenger’s group was in a different planet while they were playing at their stronghold, Highbury. They celebrated with their golden Premier League, forgetting that they had lost both the domestic cups and the Champions League. Their success was largely due to Thierry Henry, one of the greatest strikers in Premier League history, who scored an incredible 39 goals during the season.

Details of the Season

Honours

The Premier League

Supervisor

Wenger, Arsene

Leading scorer of goals

Henry Thierry (39).

Three Liverpool 1976–1977

Liverpool, who are on this list for the second time, demonstrated their supremacy at a previous period in the 1970s, winning the First Division for the second straight year in 1977. They fell to fierce rivals Man United in the FA Cup final, and they ended only one point ahead of Man City.

Nobody gave a damn when they showed off their prowess and won the European Cup for the first time, but the loss prevented them from being the first English team to win three major trophies in one season. They solidified their status as greats in Rome with a 3-1 victory over Borussia Monchengladbach. Top goal scorer Kevin Keegan obtained a British record move to Hamburg the following summer, and Bob Paisley went on to become one of the Reds’ best managers ever.

Details of the Season

Honours

European Cup, First Division

Supervisor

Paisley, Bob

Leading scorer of goals

Keegan, Kevin (20)

2. 2022–2023 Manchester City

The ‘real treble’ in English football has only ever been accomplished by two sides. Previously known as the “noisy neighbours,” Man City had every right to be noisy in 2023 after winning the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League all in one season.

They defeated fierce rivals United in the FA Cup final with a spectacular goal from Ilkay Gundogan, and they defeated Arsenal to win the league title following a fierce title struggle. But it was all capped off when they defeated Inter Milan 1-0 in the championship game to experience European success for the first time in their history. In the run-up to the final, Erling Haaland, who has consistently been one of the favourites to win the Ballon d’Or, helped fulfil their long-standing desire.

Details of the Season

Honours

Champions League, FA Cup, and Premier League

Supervisor

Guardiola, Pep

Leading scorer of goals

Haaland, Erling (52)

Manchester United, 1998–1999, first

But as the first time is always thought to be the most memorable, Man United’s treble-winning team from the 1998–1999 season has been recognised as the greatest English club team ever. Under the leadership of one of the greatest managers in history, Sir Alex Ferguson, the Red Devils defeated Newcastle 2-0 in the FA Cup final after narrowly defeating rivals Arsenal to win the title by one point.

When they lost to Bayern Munich 1-0 in the Champions League final, it was a game from history, and they were really nervous. But they pulled off one of the greatest comebacks ever, winning 2-1 thanks to two goals from Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in stoppage time. The club’s major star, David Beckham, was a legend in every way. He won UEFA Club Footballer of the Year and finished second to Rivaldo for the 1999 Ballon d’Or.

Details of the Season

Honours

Champions League, FA Cup, and Premier League

Supervisor

Alex Ferguson, sir

Leading scorer of goals

Yorke, Dwight (29).