The 10 Best Teams in English Football History
English football has been blessed with dynasties, dream teams, and unforgettable campaigns. From Europe-conquering sides to invincible league runs, certain teams have stood head and shoulders above the rest, cementing their place in history. These squads weren’t just winners; they were pioneers of style, discipline, and tactical evolution.
Some dominated with attacking flair, others with defensive resilience, and a few simply rewrote the record books. What they all shared was the ability to produce a season that lives forever in the memory. Here, we rank the 10 greatest English club sides of all time, each judged on trophies won, quality of players, and their impact on football culture.
10. Arsenal (1997/98)
Arsène Wenger’s first full season delivered instant glory as Arsenal completed the domestic double. Blending the famous back five of Seaman, Adams, Dixon, Bould, and Winterburn with attacking flair, the Gunners found perfect balance. Marc Overmars and Dennis Bergkamp provided guile and imagination, while a teenage Nicolas Anelka added explosive pace.
Anelka’s goal in the FA Cup final sealed the triumph, symbolizing the dawn of a new era. This was Arsenal’s first league and cup double since 1971, achieved with style and substance. Wenger’s influence reshaped English football with a modern approach to diet, training, and tactics. It was a campaign that set the stage for decades of innovation. Arsenal finished top of the Premier League, with Bergkamp scoring 22 goals and orchestrating play. For Gooners, it was the beginning of Wenger’s legendary reign.
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9. Nottingham Forest (1978/79)
Nottingham Forest’s rise under Brian Clough remains one of the greatest football stories ever told. In 1978/79, Forest lifted the European Cup, cementing their status on the global stage. Domestically, they finished second in the First Division and added the League Cup with victory over Southampton.
But it was in Europe where they truly left their mark. Trevor Francis, Britain’s first £1m player, scored the decisive goal in the 1-0 win over Malmö in the final. Forest had gone from second-tier obscurity to European champions in just a few seasons. Garry Birtles’ 26 goals highlighted the team’s attacking power. Clough’s management was unconventional but deeply effective, creating belief where none existed. Forest’s triumph remains the ultimate underdog tale in English football history.
8. Manchester United (1967/68)
Ten years after the Munich Air Disaster, Manchester United achieved the dream of winning the European Cup. Matt Busby’s team, led by George Best, Bobby Charlton, and Denis Law, played with flair and determination. Best scored 32 goals across the season and was named European Footballer of the Year.
The crowning moment came in Lisbon, where United beat Benfica 4-1 in the final. Charlton struck twice, with Best dazzling in extra time. The victory was more than a trophy — it was a tribute to the Busby Babes who perished in 1958. United finished second in the league but wrote their names into history through Europe. Busby became the first manager to lead an English club to continental glory. For many, this was United’s most emotional and symbolic triumph.
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7. Chelsea (2004/05)
José Mourinho’s arrival transformed Chelsea into a winning machine. In his first season, the Blues stormed to the Premier League title with a then-record 95 points. They conceded just 15 goals all season — still a record — and kept 25 clean sheets.
Frank Lampard’s 19 goals and leadership drove the team forward, while John Terry marshalled the backline. Chelsea also won the League Cup, beating Liverpool in the final. Mourinho’s pragmatism was a stark contrast to the attacking styles of Arsenal and United, but it worked flawlessly. This team was disciplined, clinical, and mentally unshakeable. Chelsea’s dominance marked the start of Roman Abramovich’s golden era. The 2004/05 side remains the benchmark for defensive excellence in English football.
6. Manchester City (2017/18)
Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City rewrote the Premier League record books in 2017/18. They became the first team to reach 100 points, clinching the title with Gabriel Jesus’ last-minute goal on the final day. City won 32 games, including 16 away, and scored an incredible 106 goals.
Sergio Agüero led the line with 30 goals, supported by Kevin De Bruyne’s artistry in midfield. Their football was breathtaking — fluid, attacking, and relentless. City also won the League Cup, completing a domestic double. Guardiola’s philosophy had fully taken hold, changing how football was played in England. Opponents were often dismantled before halftime, such was their dominance. The Centurions remain one of the most complete sides ever assembled in the Premier League era.
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5. Liverpool (2019/20)
Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool finally ended their long wait for a league title in style. The Reds stormed to the Premier League with 99 points, finishing 18 clear of Manchester City. They also added the UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup, confirming their global dominance.
Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mané, and Roberto Firmino formed one of the most feared attacking trios in football. Virgil van Dijk anchored the defence, while Alisson provided world-class security in goal. Their campaign was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but Liverpool never lost focus. Anfield was a fortress, and the team’s intensity overwhelmed opponents week after week. Klopp’s side played thrilling, high-energy football that won hearts as well as trophies. It was a season that crowned one of England’s greatest-ever teams.
4. Arsenal (2003/04)
Arsenal’s 2003/04 team achieved what no one thought possible in the modern era: an unbeaten league campaign. Arsène Wenger’s men won 26 matches and drew 12, finishing with 90 points and lifting the Premier League trophy.
Thierry Henry was at his brilliant best, scoring 39 goals across all competitions. Patrick Vieira provided steel in midfield, while Robert Pirès and Freddie Ljungberg added width and creativity. Highbury became a fortress as the Gunners brushed aside rival after rival. They fell short in Europe and the domestic cups, but that hardly mattered. Arsenal were crowned with a special golden Premier League trophy, a lasting symbol of their achievement. The Invincibles remain the only modern English side to go through a season unbeaten.
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3. Liverpool (1976/77)
Liverpool in the late 1970s were unstoppable, and 1976/77 was the season they took Europe by storm. They retained the First Division title, finishing one point ahead of Manchester City. Though they lost the FA Cup final to Manchester United, it hardly dented their legacy.
Bob Paisley’s men went on to win the European Cup for the first time, defeating Borussia Mönchengladbach 3-1 in Rome. Kevin Keegan scored 20 goals, leading from the front in his final season at the club. The triumph announced Liverpool as a force on the continental stage. They had come close to a treble, only to fall just short in the FA Cup. Still, this campaign marked the beginning of Liverpool’s European dynasty.
2. Manchester City (2022/23)
In 2022/23, Manchester City matched Manchester United’s famous treble, winning the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League. Guardiola’s team finally lifted Europe’s biggest prize, defeating Inter Milan 1-0 in the final.
Erling Haaland’s record-breaking 52 goals powered the campaign, while Ilkay Gündogan’s brace in the FA Cup final sealed victory over United. Domestically, City held off Arsenal in a tense title race, showing resilience as well as brilliance. Guardiola’s tactical tweaks kept them unpredictable and unstoppable. This was the season City silenced any doubters about their European credentials. The treble confirmed them as one of the greatest English sides in history.
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1. Manchester United (1998/99)
At the top of the list stands Manchester United’s legendary treble-winning side. Under Sir Alex Ferguson, the Red Devils won the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League in the same season. They edged Arsenal by one point in the league, then beat Newcastle 2-0 in the FA Cup final.
The crowning glory came in Barcelona, where two stoppage-time goals from Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer stunned Bayern Munich. United’s comeback remains one of the greatest moments in football history. David Beckham was instrumental, named UEFA Club Footballer of the Year. Dwight Yorke led the scoring with 29 goals, forming a lethal partnership with Andy Cole. This team had everything: resilience, flair, and the ability to deliver when it mattered most. The 1998/99 treble remains unmatched in drama and emotion.
