Football is often about personal glory for players in the modern day, with very few ever showing immense levels of loyalty. However, there have been a handful of players over the years who have either stayed loyal or never been at a club good enough to win a league title.

This article has been inspired by England captain Harry Kane and his move to Bayern Munich in pursuit of his first league crown, after he saw his team pipped by Bayer Leverkusen for the Bundesliga title in the 2023/2024 season. In April 2025, he finally ended his career drought by winning the league in Germany, and has since won again in 2026. Marco Reus was also originally on the list, but after years of near misses with Borussia Dortmund, he claimed an MLS league title in America in 2024 with New York Red Bulls.

These 15 players, however, never quite got their hands on that elusive league title. Instead, they have been remembered as the best players who, sometimes narrowly, missed out.

Ranking factors

• Importance to the club they played for
• Their ability and talent
• Size of the club played for

15

Son Heung-min

Hamburger SV, Bayer Leverkusen, Tottenham Hotspur, Los Angeles FC

While Kane left Tottenham Hotspur to put an end to his title-hunting misery, Son Heung-min remained in north London and finally won the first major honour of his career as Spurs lifted the 2025 Europa League. Before that, the South Korean had been a runner-up in the Champions League and League Cup, and also finished second in the 2016/17 Premier League season (Spurs’ highest league finish since the 1962–63 season) but has not been able to get his hands on a league trophy.

That doesn’t change the fact that Son is a brilliant footballer, as proven by the fact that he has 127 Premier League goals, the 16th highest in competition history. Now in his 30s, and playing in MLS for Los Angeles FC, it will be interesting to see if he can win a league title before he hangs up his boots.

14

Daniele De Rossi

Roma

Kickstarting the list, Daniele De Rossi was one of the most consistent players throughout his career. The Italian solidified Roma’s midfield every single season, acting as a transitional player between defence and attack. A player as important that often wins a title, but not De Rossi.

He came close on three separate occasions, yet Roma never got it over the line. In the 2016/2017 season, they finished on 87 points – a remarkable feat – yet still four points adrift of Italian champions Juventus. It epitomised De Rossi’s luck in Italy, as, despite all his quality, he never won the most wanted trophy in the country – the Serie A.

13

Jamie Carragher

Liverpool

Now best known for his on-screen personality, Jamie Carragher became a one-club man by spending all 17 of his senior seasons with Premier League outfit Liverpool, and although he was part of the iconic Reds side that won the Champions League in 2005, he was unable to lift Premier League gold in that period.

His side’s best efforts came in 2001/02 and 2008/09 when the Merseysiders concluded the season in 2nd place, finishing with 80 and 96 points, respectively. And while he enjoys bickering with his former foe Gary Neville on television, one thing he cannot compete with the latter’s trophy collection, particularly in terms of league titles.

12

Robbie Fowler

Liverpool, Man City, Leeds, Perth Glory, Cardiff, Blackburn, Muangthong

Out of the five English clubs Robbie Fowler plied his trade for, 80% (four) of them have won a league title since 1990 – Leeds, Liverpool, Blackburn Rovers and Manchester City. The Englishman, however, had moved on by then. A scorer of 163 Premier League goals, the marksman enjoyed his brightest spell on Merseyside and won plenty of trophies there.

That included four major honours – including a cup treble in 2001 – but he never managed to get his hands on a league title, with his highest finish being 3rd. Upon his departure, he failed to recapture his former Anfield form, which earned him the moniker of ‘God’, and that in itself made becoming a champion all the more difficult.

11

Jay-Jay Okocha

Bolton, Eintracht Frankfurt, PSG, Fenerbahce, Borussia Neunkirchen, Hull

A fleet-footed winger who will forever be enshrined in football mythology, Jay-Jay Okocha never reached the promised land of club football – becoming a league winner, that is. His glitz and glamour aside, the Nigerian played for some top clubs in his heyday, such as Paris Saint-Germain and Fenerbahce.

While in the French capital, Okocha only managed a second-place finish in 1999/00 and his two-season spell at Fenerbahce beforehand was just as disheartening. They finished third in 1996/97 and second in the following campaign. There was no doubting the former Bolton gem’s ungodly talent, but perhaps it was a case of being in the right place at the wrong time.

10

Fernando Torres

Atletico Madrid, Liverpool, Chelsea, AC Milan, Sagan Tosu

When you think of hit-and-miss strikers, you probably think of Fernando Torres. On his day, he was one of the best players in the world – as showcased at Atletico Madrid and Liverpool. Yet he also struggled, including his disastrous spell at Chelsea. He went his entire career without winning a league title, despite coming close so many times.

In the 2008/2009 season, Liverpool finished on 86 points, four points adrift of champions Manchester United. Torres scored the fourth most goals in the league that season (14), but even the Spaniard’s prolific nature in front of goal couldn’t help the Reds over the line.

9

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink

Chelsea, Middlesbrough, Leeds, Atletico Madrid, Cardiff, Charlton, Boavista, AZ Alkmaar

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink may not be revered as a world-class superstar but his goals speak for themselves, stationed as the top tier’s 16th-highest goalscorer – above the likes of Premier League greats Cristiano Ronaldo and Ian Wright. The gifted Dutchman was a two-time Golden Boot winner but still couldn’t bring home what every kid dreams of.

Hasselbaink, now a Technical Coach for the Three Lions, was a runner-up in the Premier League and FA Cup with Chelsea. His top-class performances for the Blues are largely forgotten about thanks to the fact that they were a less sturdy force in those days. Even with Leeds, the closest he came to becoming a league champion was in 1998/99 when they finished fourth.

8

Gary Lineker

Leicester, Everton, Barcelona, Tottenham

Gary Lineker always jokes with Alan Shearer when on TV about trophies during their respective careers. Shearer never won the FA Cup, but Lineker somehow never won a league title during his playing days. Lineker left boyhood club Leicester for Everton in pursuit of ample silverware, but he fell narrowly short.

In the 1985/1986 season, they finished second on 86 points, two points behind bitter rivals Liverpool. Even when he moved to Spanish juggernauts Barcelona – and eventually Tottenham – he was never able to get his hands on a league title, despite being one of the best goalscorers of all time.

7

Antoine Griezmann

Real Sociedad, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona

Antoine Griezmann has been one of the most entertaining players to watch during the modern-day generation, gliding past defenders effortlessly. Yet, he has never won a league title. Incredibly, Griezmann has joined Atletico Madrid twice as reigning champions, but he has never won La Liga with them.

He came close while at Barcelona on two occasions during his brief spell on the Mediterranean coast, with 73 points and 82 points on two occasions, but it was never enough to beat their rivals. As his move to Orlando City has been confirmed, he will never win a La Liga title but will hope to lift an MLS title in America. Upon his Atletico exit, he emotionally admitted regret about leaving the club for Barcelona, which cost him a title in the Spanish capital:

6

Stanley Matthews

Blackpool, Stoke, Toronto City

The oldest Ballon d’Or winner at the age of 41 – Sir Stanley Matthews’ incredible longevity and reputation among fans and pundits alike is to be commended. Monikered The Wizard of the Dribble due to his efficiency and contribution to revolutionising the beautiful game, one thing that he lacked was a league trophy.

Across 29 separate campaigns for either Stoke City or Blackpool, the nifty winger won only one major trophy – the FA Cup in 1953. Matthews shone so bright 71 years ago that it was named “The Matthews Final” – but he was incapable of repeating the same heroics in the First Division.