List of English football champions

The English football champions are the winners of the highest league in English men's football, which since 1992–93 is the Premier League.

English League (1st tier)
Football League (1888–1892)
Football League First Division (1892–1992)
Premier League (1992–present)
Country
 England
Founded
1888
Number of Teams
20 (2019–20 season)
Current Champions
Manchester City (2018–19)
Most successful club
Manchester United
(20 championships)
Leicester City celebrate winning the Premier League in the 2015–16 season.

Following the codification of professional football by the Football Association in 1885,[1] the Football League was established in 1888, after a series of meetings initiated by Aston Villa director William McGregor.[2] At the end of the 1888–89 season, Preston North End were the first club to be crowned champions after completing their fixtures unbeaten.[3]

Representing the first fully professional football competition in the world the league saw its early years dominated by teams from the North and Midlands, where professionalism was embraced more readily than in the South.[4] Its status as the country's pre-eminent league was strengthened in 1892, when the rival Football Alliance was absorbed into the Football League.[5] Former Alliance clubs comprised the bulk of a new Second Division, from which promotion to the top level could be gained. It was not until 1931 that a Southern club were crowned champions, when Herbert Chapman's Arsenal secured the title. Arsenal scored 127 goals in the process, a record for a title-winning side (though runners-up Aston Villa scored one goal more, a record for the top division).[6]

Rules stipulating a maximum wage for players were abolished in 1961. This resulted in a shift of power towards bigger clubs.[7] Financial considerations became an even bigger influence from 1992, when the teams then in the First Division defected to form the FA Premier League. This supplanted the Football League First Division as the highest level of football in England,[8] and due to a series of progressively larger television contracts, put wealth into the hands of top flight clubs in a hitherto unprecedented manner.[9] The first five champions in the Premier League era – Arsenal, Blackburn Rovers, Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United – had all won the title at least once prior to 1992. Leicester City were crowned champions for the first time in 2016, becoming the first team to win the Premier League without having previously won the First Division.

All the clubs which have ever been crowned champions are still in existence today and all take part in the top four tiers of the English football league system – the football pyramid. Sheffield Wednesday are the only club who have ever changed their name after winning a league title having been known as The Wednesday for the first three of their four titles.

Manchester United have won 20 titles, the most of any club.[10] United's rivals Liverpool are second with 18. Liverpool dominated during the 1970s and 1980s, while United dominated in the 1990s and 2000s under Sir Alex Ferguson. Arsenal are third; their 13 titles all came after 1930. Everton are fourth with nine titles. Aston Villa (seven) and Sunderland (six) secured the majority of their titles before World War I. Huddersfield Town in 1924–26, Arsenal in 1933–35, Liverpool in 1982–84 and Manchester United in 1999–2001 and 2007–09 are the only sides to have won the League title in three consecutive seasons.[11]

List

Football League (1888–1892)
Year Champions
(number of titles)		 Runners-up Third place Leading goalscorer(s) Goals
1888–89 Preston North End[1] Aston Villa Wolverhampton Wanderers John Goodall (Preston North End) 21
1889–90 Preston North End (2) Everton Blackburn Rovers Jimmy Ross (Preston North End) 24
1890–91 Everton Preston North End Notts County Jack Southworth (Blackburn Rovers) 26
1891–92 Sunderland Preston North End Bolton Wanderers John Campbell (Sunderland) 32

Football League First Division (1892–1992)
Year Champions
(number of titles)		 Runners-up Third place Leading goalscorer(s) Goals
1892–93 Sunderland (2) Preston North End Everton John Campbell (Sunderland) 31
1893–94 Aston Villa Sunderland Derby County Jack Southworth (Everton) 27
1894–95 Sunderland (3) Everton Aston Villa John Campbell (Sunderland) 22
1895–96 Aston Villa (2) Derby County Everton Johnny Campbell (Aston Villa)
Steve Bloomer (Derby County)		 20
1896–97 Aston Villa (3) Sheffield United Derby County Steve Bloomer (Derby County) 22
1897–98 Sheffield United Sunderland Wolverhampton Wanderers Fred Wheldon (Aston Villa) 21
1898–99 Aston Villa (4) Liverpool Burnley Steve Bloomer (Derby County) 23
1899–1900 Aston Villa (5) Sheffield United Sunderland Billy Garraty (Aston Villa) 27
1900–01 Liverpool Sunderland Notts County Steve Bloomer (Derby County) 23
1901–02 Sunderland (4) Everton Newcastle United Jimmy Settle (Everton) 18
1902–03 The Wednesday[8] Aston Villa Sunderland Sam Raybould (Liverpool) 31
1903–04 The Wednesday[8] (2) Manchester City Everton Steve Bloomer (Derby County) 20
1904–05 Newcastle United Everton Manchester City Arthur Brown (Sheffield United) 22
1905–06 Liverpool (2) Preston North End The Wednesday Albert Shepherd (Bolton Wanderers) 26
1906–07 Newcastle United (2) Bristol City Everton Alex Young (Everton) 30
1907–08 Manchester United Aston Villa Manchester City Enoch West (Nottingham Forest) 27
1908–09 Newcastle United (3) Everton Sunderland Bert Freeman (Everton) 38
1909–10 Aston Villa (6) Liverpool Blackburn Rovers Jack Parkinson (Liverpool) 30
1910–11 Manchester United (2) Aston Villa Sunderland Albert Shepherd (Newcastle United) 25
1911–12 Blackburn Rovers Everton Newcastle United Harry Hampton (Aston Villa)
George Holley (Sunderland)
David McLean (The Wednesday)		 25
1912–13 Sunderland (5) Aston Villa The Wednesday David McLean (The Wednesday) 30
1913–14 Blackburn Rovers (2) Aston Villa Middlesbrough George Elliot (Middlesbrough) 32
1914–15 Everton (2) Oldham Athletic Blackburn Rovers Bobby Parker (Everton) 35
1915/16–1918/19 League suspended owing to the First World War
1919–20 West Bromwich Albion Burnley Chelsea Fred Morris (West Bromwich Albion) 37
1920–21 Burnley Manchester City Bolton Wanderers Joe Smith (Bolton Wanderers) 38
1921–22 Liverpool (3) Tottenham Hotspur Burnley Andy Wilson (Middlesbrough) 31
1922–23 Liverpool (4) Sunderland Huddersfield Town Charlie Buchan (Sunderland) 30
1923–24 Huddersfield Town Cardiff City Sunderland Wilf Chadwick (Everton) 28
1924–25 Huddersfield Town (2) West Bromwich Albion Bolton Wanderers Frank Roberts (Manchester City) 31
1925–26 Huddersfield Town (3) Arsenal Sunderland Ted Harper (Blackburn Rovers) 43
1926–27 Newcastle United (4) Huddersfield Town Sunderland Jimmy Trotter (The Wednesday) 37
1927–28 Everton (3) Huddersfield Town Leicester City Dixie Dean (Everton) 60
1928–29 The Wednesday[8] (3) Leicester City Aston Villa Dave Halliday (Sunderland) 43
1929–30 Sheffield Wednesday (4) Derby County Manchester City Vic Watson (West Ham United) 41
1930–31 Arsenal Aston Villa Sheffield Wednesday Tom Waring (Aston Villa) 49
1931–32 Everton (4) Arsenal Sheffield Wednesday Dixie Dean (Everton) 44
1932–33 Arsenal (2) Aston Villa Sheffield Wednesday Jack Bowers (Derby County) 35
1933–34 Arsenal (3) Huddersfield Town Tottenham Hotspur Jack Bowers (Derby County) 34
1934–35 Arsenal (4) Sunderland Sheffield Wednesday Ted Drake (Arsenal) 42
1935–36 Sunderland (6) Derby County Huddersfield Town W. G. Richardson (West Bromwich Albion) 39
1936–37 Manchester City Charlton Athletic Arsenal Freddie Steele (Stoke City) 33
1937–38 Arsenal (5) Wolverhampton Wanderers Preston North End Tommy Lawton (Everton) 28
1938–39 Everton (5) Wolverhampton Wanderers Charlton Athletic Tommy Lawton (Everton) 35
1939/40–1945/46 League suspended owing to the Second World War
1946–47 Liverpool (5) Manchester United Wolverhampton Wanderers Dennis Westcott (Wolverhampton Wanderers) 37
1947–48 Arsenal (6) Manchester United Burnley Ronnie Rooke (Arsenal) 33
1948–49 Portsmouth Manchester United Derby County Willie Moir (Bolton Wanderers) 25
1949–50 Portsmouth (2) Wolverhampton Wanderers Sunderland Dickie Davis (Sunderland) 25
1950–51 Tottenham Hotspur Manchester United Blackpool Stan Mortensen (Blackpool) 30
1951–52 Manchester United (3) Tottenham Hotspur Arsenal George Robledo (Newcastle United) 33
1952–53 Arsenal (7) Preston North End Wolverhampton Wanderers Charlie Wayman (Preston North End) 24
1953–54 Wolverhampton Wanderers West Bromwich Albion Huddersfield Town Jimmy Glazzard (Huddersfield Town) 29
1954–55 Chelsea Wolverhampton Wanderers Portsmouth Ronnie Allen (West Bromwich Albion) 27
1955–56 Manchester United (4) Blackpool Wolverhampton Wanderers Nat Lofthouse (Bolton Wanderers) 33
1956–57 Manchester United (5) Tottenham Hotspur Preston North End John Charles (Leeds United) 38
1957–58 Wolverhampton Wanderers (2) Preston North End Tottenham Hotspur Bobby Smith (Tottenham Hotspur) 36
1958–59 Wolverhampton Wanderers (3) Manchester United Arsenal Jimmy Greaves (Chelsea) 33
1959–60 Burnley (2) Wolverhampton Wanderers Tottenham Hotspur Dennis Viollet (Manchester United) 32
1960–61 Tottenham Hotspur (2) Sheffield Wednesday Wolverhampton Wanderers Jimmy Greaves (Chelsea) 41
1961–62 Ipswich Town Burnley Tottenham Hotspur Ray Crawford (Ipswich Town)
Derek Kevan (West Bromwich Albion)		 33
1962–63 Everton (6) Tottenham Hotspur Burnley Jimmy Greaves (Tottenham Hotspur) 37
1963–64 Liverpool (6) Manchester United Everton Jimmy Greaves (Tottenham Hotspur) 35
1964–65 Manchester United (6) Leeds United Chelsea Andy McEvoy (Blackburn Rovers)
Jimmy Greaves (Tottenham Hotspur)		 29
1965–66 Liverpool (7) Leeds United Burnley Willie Irvine (Burnley) 29
1966–67 Manchester United (7) Nottingham Forest Tottenham Hotspur Ron Davies (Southampton) 37
1967–68 Manchester City (2) Manchester United Liverpool George Best (Manchester United)
Ron Davies (Southampton)		 28
1968–69 Leeds United Liverpool Everton Jimmy Greaves (Tottenham Hotspur) 27
1969–70 Everton (7) Leeds United Chelsea Jeff Astle (West Bromwich Albion) 25
1970–71 Arsenal (8) Leeds United Tottenham Hotspur Tony Brown (West Bromwich Albion) 28
1971–72 Derby County Leeds United Liverpool Francis Lee (Manchester City) 33
1972–73 Liverpool[2] (8) Arsenal Leeds United Pop Robson (West Ham United) 28
1973–74 Leeds United (2) Liverpool Derby County Mick Channon (Southampton) 21
1974–75 Derby County (2) Liverpool Ipswich Town Malcolm Macdonald (Newcastle United) 21
1975–76 Liverpool[2] (9) Queens Park Rangers Manchester United Ted MacDougall (Norwich City) 23
1976–77 Liverpool[3] (10) Manchester City Ipswich Town Malcolm Macdonald (Arsenal)
Andy Gray (Aston Villa)		 25
1977–78 Nottingham Forest[4] Liverpool Everton Bob Latchford (Everton) 30
1978–79 Liverpool (11) Nottingham Forest West Bromwich Albion Frank Worthington (Bolton Wanderers) 24
1979–80 Liverpool (12) Manchester United Ipswich Town Phil Boyer (Southampton) 23
1980–81 Aston Villa (7) Ipswich Town Arsenal Peter Withe (Aston Villa)
Steve Archibald (Tottenham Hotspur)		 20
1981–82[5] Liverpool[4](13) Ipswich Town Manchester United Kevin Keegan (Southampton) 26
1982–83 Liverpool[4] (14) Watford Manchester United Luther Blissett (Watford) 27
1983–84 Liverpool[3][4] (15) Southampton Nottingham Forest Ian Rush (Liverpool) 32
1984–85 Everton[6] (8) Liverpool Tottenham Hotspur Kerry Dixon (Chelsea)
Gary Lineker (Leicester City)		 24
1985–86 Liverpool (16) Everton West Ham United Gary Lineker (Everton) 30
1986–87 Everton (9) Liverpool Tottenham Hotspur Clive Allen (Tottenham Hotspur) 33
1987–88 Liverpool (17) Manchester United Nottingham Forest John Aldridge (Liverpool) 26
1988–89 Arsenal (9) Liverpool Nottingham Forest Alan Smith (Arsenal) 23
1989–90 Liverpool (18) Aston Villa Tottenham Hotspur Gary Lineker (Tottenham Hotspur) 24
1990–91 Arsenal (10) Liverpool Crystal Palace Alan Smith (Arsenal) 22
1991–92 Leeds United (3) Manchester United Sheffield Wednesday Ian Wright (Crystal Palace/Arsenal) 29

Premier League (1992–present)
Year Champions
(number of titles)		 Runners-up Third place Top goalscorer(s) Goals
1992–93 Manchester United (8) Aston Villa Norwich City Teddy Sheringham (Nottingham Forest/Tottenham) 22
1993–94 Manchester United (9) Blackburn Rovers Newcastle United Andy Cole (Newcastle United) 34
1994–95 Blackburn Rovers (3) Manchester United Nottingham Forest Alan Shearer (Blackburn Rovers) 34
1995–96 Manchester United (10) Newcastle United Liverpool Alan Shearer (Blackburn Rovers) 31
1996–97 Manchester United (11) Newcastle United Arsenal Alan Shearer (Newcastle United) 25
1997–98 Arsenal (11) Manchester United Liverpool Chris Sutton (Blackburn Rovers)
Dion Dublin (Coventry City)
Michael Owen (Liverpool)		 18
1998–99 Manchester United[7] (12) Arsenal Chelsea Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (Leeds United)
Michael Owen (Liverpool)
Dwight Yorke (Manchester United)		 18
1999–2000 Manchester United (13) Arsenal Leeds United Kevin Phillips (Sunderland) 30
2000–01 Manchester United (14) Arsenal Liverpool Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (Chelsea) 23
2001–02 Arsenal (12) Liverpool Manchester United Thierry Henry (Arsenal) 24
2002–03 Manchester United (15) Arsenal Newcastle United Ruud van Nistelrooy (Manchester United) 25
2003–04 Arsenal[1] (13) Chelsea Manchester United Thierry Henry (Arsenal) 30
2004–05 Chelsea[4] (2) Arsenal Manchester United Thierry Henry (Arsenal) 25
2005–06 Chelsea (3) Manchester United Liverpool Thierry Henry (Arsenal) 27
2006–07 Manchester United (16) Chelsea Liverpool Didier Drogba (Chelsea) 20
2007–08 Manchester United[3] (17) Chelsea Arsenal Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United) 31
2008–09 Manchester United[4] (18) Liverpool Chelsea Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea) 19
2009–10 Chelsea (4) Manchester United Arsenal Didier Drogba (Chelsea) 29
2010–11 Manchester United (19) Chelsea Manchester City Dimitar Berbatov (Manchester United)
Carlos Tevez (Manchester City)		 20
2011–12 Manchester City (3) Manchester United Arsenal Robin van Persie (Arsenal) 30
2012–13 Manchester United (20) Manchester City Chelsea Robin van Persie (Manchester United) 26
2013–14 Manchester City[4] (4) Liverpool Chelsea Luis Suárez (Liverpool) 31
2014–15 Chelsea[4] (5) Manchester City Arsenal Sergio Agüero (Manchester City) 26
2015–16 Leicester City Arsenal Tottenham Hotspur Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) 25
2016–17 Chelsea (6) Tottenham Hotspur Manchester City Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) 29
2017–18 Manchester City[4] (5) Manchester United Tottenham Hotspur Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) 32
2018–19 Manchester City[8] (6) Liverpool Chelsea Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Arsenal)
Sadio Mané (Liverpool)
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)		 22

Total titles won

There are 24 clubs who have won the English title.

Teams in bold compete in the Premier League as of the 2019–20 season.

Rank Club Winners Runners-up Winning seasons
1 Manchester United 20 16 1907–08, 1910–11, 1951–52, 1955–56, 1956–57, 1964–65, 1966–67, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1998–99, 1999–00, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2012–13
2 Liverpool 18 14 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
3 Arsenal 13 9 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 Everton 9 7 1890–91, 1914–15, 1927–28, 1931–32, 1938–39, 1962–63, 1969–70, 1984–85, 1986–87
5 Aston Villa 7 10 1893–94, 1895–96, 1896–97, 1898–99, 1899–1900, 1909–10, 1980–81
6 Sunderland 6 5 1891–92, 1892–93, 1894–95, 1901–02, 1912–13, 1935–36
Manchester City 6 5 1936–37, 1967–68, 2011–12, 2013–14, 2017–18, 2018–19
Chelsea 6 4 1954–55, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2009–10, 2014–15, 2016–17
9 Newcastle United 4 2 1904–05, 1906–07, 1908–09, 1926–27
Sheffield Wednesday 4 1 1902–03, 1903–04, 1928–29, 1929–30
11 Wolverhampton Wanderers 3 5 1953–54, 1957–58, 1958–59
Leeds United 3 5 1968–69, 1973–74, 1991–92
Huddersfield Town 3 3 1923–24, 1924–25, 1925–26
Blackburn Rovers 3 1 1911–12, 1913–14, 1994–95
15 Preston North End 2 6 1888–89, 1889–90
Tottenham Hotspur 2 5 1950–51, 1960–61
Derby County 2 3 1971–72, 1974–75
Burnley 2 2 1920–21, 1959–60
Portsmouth 2 0 1948–49, 1949–50
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
Bristol City 0 1
Oldham Athletic 0 1
Cardiff City 0 1
Charlton Athletic 0 1
Blackpool 0 1
Queen's Park Rangers 0 1
Watford 0 1
Southampton 0 1

Titles won by club (%)

  Manchester United – 20 (17%)
  Liverpool – 18 (16%)
  Arsenal – 13 (11%)
  Everton – 9 (8%)
  Aston Villa – 7 (6%)
  Sunderland – 6 (5%)
  Manchester City – 6 (5%)
  Chelsea - 6 (5%)
  Other clubs - 35 (29%)

By region
Region Championships Clubs
North West 60 Manchester United (20), Liverpool (18), Everton (9), Manchester City (6), Blackburn Rovers (3), Burnley (2), Preston North End (2)
London 21 Arsenal (13), Chelsea (6), Tottenham Hotspur (2)
Yorkshire 11 Sheffield Wednesday (4), Huddersfield Town (3), Leeds United (3), Sheffield United (1)
West Midlands 11 Aston Villa (7), Wolverhampton Wanderers (3), West Bromwich Albion (1)
North East 10 Sunderland (6), Newcastle United (4)
East Midlands 4 Derby County (2), Leicester City (1), Nottingham Forest (1)
South East 2 Portsmouth (2)
East of England 1 Ipswich Town (1)

By city/town
City / Town Championships Clubs
Liverpool 27 Liverpool (18), Everton (9)
Manchester 26 Manchester United (20), Manchester City (6)
London 21 Arsenal (13), Chelsea (6), Tottenham Hotspur (2)
Birmingham 7 Aston Villa (7)
Sunderland 6 Sunderland (6)
Sheffield 5 Sheffield Wednesday (4), Sheffield United (1)
Newcastle 4 Newcastle United (4)
Blackburn 3 Blackburn Rovers (3)
Huddersfield 3 Huddersfield Town (3)
Leeds 3 Leeds United (3)
Wolverhampton 3 Wolverhampton Wanderers (3)
Burnley 2 Burnley (2)
Derby 2 Derby County (2)
Portsmouth 2 Portsmouth (2)
Preston 2 Preston North End (2)
Ipswich 1 Ipswich Town (1)
Leicester 1 Leicester City (1)
Nottingham 1 Nottingham Forest (1)
West Bromwich 1 West Bromwich Albion (1)

See also
  • English football first tier top scorers
  • For English women's football champions, see FA Women's Premier League National Division: History
  • List of association football competitions
  • List of First Division and Premier League winning managers
  • List of Premier League winning players
  • List of football clubs in England by competitive honours won
  • List of FA Cup winners

Notes
  1. a b Completed the season unbeaten.
  2. a b Also won the UEFA Cup/UEFA Europa League.
  3. a b Also won the European Cup/UEFA Champions League.
  4. a b c d e f g Also won the EFL Cup.
  5. a From the 1981–82 season onwards three points were awarded for a win. Prior to this a win gave two points.
  6. a Also won the UEFA Cup Winners Cup.
  7. a In addition to the double of League and FA Cup, Manchester United also won the UEFA Champions League in 1999. This achievement is referred to as the Treble.
  8. a In addition to the double of League and FA Cup, Manchester City also won the EFL Cup in 2019. This achievement is referred to as the Domestic Treble.
  9. a b c Sheffield Wednesday were known as The Wednesday until 1929.

References
General
  • "Past winners – The Football League". Football League website. Archived from the original on 17 July 2014. Retrieved 29 August 2008.
  • "England – List of Champions". RSSSF. Retrieved 11 June 2009.
  • "English League Leading Goalscorers". RSSSF. Retrieved 11 June 2009.
Specific
  1. "The History of the Football League". Football League website. Archived from the original on 11 February 2007. Retrieved 15 February 2006.
  2. Inglis, Simon (1988). League Football and the Men Who Made It. Willow Books. pp. 6–8. ISBN 978-0-00-218242-3.
  3. Titford, Roger (November 2005). "Football League, 1888–89". When Saturday Comes. Archived from the original on 29 May 2009. Retrieved 6 June 2009.
  4. Goldblatt, David (2007). The Ball is Round: A Global History of Football. London: Penguin. p. 58. ISBN 978-0-14-101582-8.
  5. Inglis, League Football and the Men Who Made It, p25
  6. "Free-scoring Gunners clinch first title". Arsenal.com. Retrieved 15 June 2009.
  7. Dart, Tom (25 May 2009). "Burnley: little town, big traditions". The Times. London. Retrieved 15 June 2009.
  8. "A History of The Premier League". Premier League. Archived from the original on 18 November 2011. Retrieved 7 June 2009.
  9. Harris, Nick (7 February 2009). "£1.78bn: Record Premier League TV deal defies economic slump". Independent. London. Retrieved 15 June 2009.
  10. Nurse, Howard (14 May 2011). "Blackburn 1–1 Man Utd". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 May 2011.
  11. "Sideline". London: The Times. 16 May 2003. Retrieved 7 June 2009.

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