The Most Successful London-Based Football Teams Of All Time
These London football clubs have a rich tradition of winning trophies and developing intense rivalries with their cross-city neighbours. Many of these rivalries have been founded off the back of both teams chasing the same illustrious domestic and continental honours.
Oct 25, 20242.9K Shares210.1K Views
The English capital has long been considered a footballing hotbed. London is home to no less than 17 professional football clubs. Some of which have been considerably more successful than others.
These London football clubs have a rich tradition of winning trophies and developing intense rivalries with their cross-city neighbours. Many of these rivalries have been founded off the back of both teams chasing the same illustrious domestic and continental honours. Below, we’ll explore the most successful London football clubs in the history of the ‘beautiful game’.
Arsenal
The “Gunners” of Arsenal are the most decorated London-based football club. They’ve won the top flight of English football an impressive 13 times, with only Manchester United and Liverpool winning the title on more occasions. In the 2003/04 Premier League season, they became the first team to go an entire Premier League campaign undefeated, with Arsene Wenger’s team becoming nicknamed ‘The Invincibles’.
Arsenal are bidding to make it 14 top-flight titles in the 2024/25 Premier League season. In fact, according to one of the leading betting sites, the Gunners – managed by Mikel Arteta – are currently 12/5 to win the division. If you enjoy betting on football, many betting sites that offer a sportsbook also double as a UK casino onlinethat have an array of football-themed games fans may enjoy, such as Big Football Bonus and Football Cash Pots.
Aside from their domestic honours, which also include 14 FA Cups and two League Cup triumphs, Arsenal also have a European Cup Winners’ Cup title and they also won the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1970.
Chelsea
West London club, Chelsea, were by no means one of the dominant forces of London football in the 20th century. They only won the top division once in 1955. However, in the 1990s and early 2000s, the Blues found their feet under the ownership of Russian billionaire, Roman Abramovich. The oligarch helped Chelsea invest in some of the world’s top talent, enabling the club to win five Premier League titles between 2005 and 2017.
Chelsea have won eight FA Cups and five League Cups and also have the honour of winning the UEFA Champions League twice in 2012 and 2021. In other continental and international tournaments, Chelsea have excelled, winning the UEFA Super Cupin 1998 and 2021 and the FIFA Club World Cup in 2021.
Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur, known colloquially as “Spurs”, are based in North London and the major rivals of fellow North London club, Arsenal. Tottenham are the third most successful London football club, although their level of success is largely overshadowed by the strength of Arsenal and Chelsea’s triumphs. Tottenham won their two top division titles in 1951 and 1961 respectively.
They also landed the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1963 and the UEFA Cup (now the Europa League) in 1972 and 1984. So, although their domestic success is incomparable to Arsenal, their success in continental football – combined with their impressive new stadium– makes them a worthy rival.
An honourable mention should go to West Ham United, with the Hammers enjoying success in the European Cup Winners' Cup on two occasions, and are three-time FA Cup winners too.
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