The Pursuit of Silverware in Football
The pursuit of silverware is a fundamental aspect of football, driving clubs and fans through seasons filled with both triumphs and heartbreaks. While some Premier League giants consistently lift trophies, many other clubs endure long periods without major honours. A recent ranking highlights this disparity, showing the last time each Premier League club won a significant trophy, excluding the Super Cup, Club World Cup, and Community Shield.
Recent Triumphs in the Premier League
Manchester United currently lead the list of recent winners in the Premier League. They lifted the FA Cup on 25 May 2024, a victory that was inspired by Kobbie Mainoo’s Man of the Match performance. This win marked a significant moment for Erik ten Hag’s team, although his tenure would later end controversially with his sacking halfway through the 2024/25 season. United had also secured their first major trophy since 2017 by defeating Newcastle United 2-0 in the League Cup final in early 2023, with goals from Casemiro and Marcus Rashford.
West Ham United made history by ending a 43-year wait for a major honour. On 7 June 2023, they clinched the Europa Conference League title. Jarrod Bowen scored the decisive winning goal, following Said Benrahma’s penalty and Giacomo Bonaventura’s equaliser for Fiorentina. Before this memorable night, West Ham’s last major honour dated back to the 1980 FA Cup.
Arsenal also celebrated relatively recently, securing the FA Cup on 1 August 2020. In a final played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored twice to overcome Chelsea 2-1, despite an early goal from Christian Pulisic. This marked Arsenal’s record 14th FA Cup triumph.
Clubs with Long Droughts
Further down the list, several clubs are still waiting for a major trophy. Aston Villa’s last major success came on 24 March 1996, when they defeated Leeds United 3-0 in the League Cup final, with goals from Ian Taylor and Dwight Yorke. This was Villa’s fifth League Cup success, equalling Liverpool’s record at the time.
Everton’s last major trophy was the FA Cup on 20 May 1995, a victory secured by Paul Rideout’s headed goal against Manchester United. Leeds United’s most recent major honour was the First Division title on 3 May 1992, the final season before the Premier League era. Howard Wilkinson’s side lost just four times in 42 matches, finishing four points clear of runners-up Manchester United.
Nottingham Forest’s last major trophy was the League Cup on 29 April 1990, beating Oldham with Nigel Jemson scoring the only goal. This came a decade after their two European Cup triumphs. Wolverhampton Wanderers’ last major silverware was also the League Cup, on 15 March 1980, when Andy Gray scored the winner against Nottingham Forest. Sunderland’s last major trophy was the FA Cup on 5 May 1973, when Ian Porterfield’s goal famously sealed an underdog victory against a formidable Leeds United side while Sunderland were in the second tier.
The longest drought among current Premier League clubs belongs to Burnley, whose last major trophy was the First Division title on 2 May 1960. As one of the 12 founder members of the Football League, Burnley have been crowned champions of England on two occasions, with their 1960 triumph seeing them finish one point ahead of Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Clubs Yet to Taste Major Glory
For a quartet of Premier League teams, the wait for a major trophy continues indefinitely, as they have never won one in their history:
- Brentford
- Brighton
- Fulham
- Bournemouth
These clubs represent the ultimate aspiration in the Premier League – to not only compete but to etch their name into the annals of football history with a major piece of silverware.
