Attaining some of the world’s biggest footballing institutions, British football has long captured the interest of football fans, attracting some of the greatest talents from around the globe.
Known for its end-to-end speed, physicality, and more direct play, British football has a frantic style that is incredibly entertaining to watch. Having adapted slightly to a more technical route in recent years due to the arrival of Pep Guardiola, the UK game has still stayed true to its roots, with the physical demands on players being at an all-time high.
After Chelsea’s Club World Cup success, and then Crystal Palace’s surprise victory in the Community Shield against Liverpool ahead of the 2025/2026 Premier League season, this article takes a closer look into the history of football in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, selecting our top 20 biggest football clubs in Britain.
Ranking factors
Domestic achievements (Premier League, Scottish Premiership, FA Cup, etc.)
Longevity in the top-flight
European success (Champions League, Europa League, Conference League)
Size of fanbase
20 Blackburn Rovers
Current Division: Championship
Beginning the list with the side that experienced its glory years way back during the 1880s and early in the 20th century, Blackburn Rovers won two First Division titles, six FA Cups, and a Super Cup during that period. However, in more modern times, they have suffered.
Last winning the Premier League title in the 1993/94 season and the League Cup in 2001/02, Blackburn were relegated from the top flight in 2012 and have never returned since. Now 13 seasons out of the Premier League, the Rovers are desperate to get back into the big time again, currently stuck in the Championship.
Blackburn Rovers Statistics
English Champion
3
First Division Points
3702
European Titles
0
Domestic Cups
8
19 Derby County
Current Division: Championship
Coming in at 19th is Derby County, who have not been seen in England’s top-flight division since the 2007-08 campaign, where they were relegated in their first season back after second-division promotion. Despite barely featuring in the Premier League era, Derby still remain 17th in the all-time English first-division ladder.
They won two English titles in the 1971/72 and 1974/75 campaigns, the FA Cup in 1946, and the Super Cup in 1975. In 1891, the Rams recorded their greatest-ever victory in league football, producing a stunning victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers in Division One, beating them 9-0 in a one-sided beatdown.
Derby County Statistics
English Champion
2
First Division Points
3303
European Silverware
0
Domestic Cups
2
18 Sheffield Wednesday
Current Division: Championship
Sheffield Wednesday celebrate winning the League 1 play-off final
Another side that has spent a considerable chunk of its recent history outside of the top flight of English football, Sheffield Wednesday, are the next team to place on this list. Being one of the founding Premier League clubs, the Owls have now spent 24 years out of the big time after their relegation in 2000.
Despite this, the club is still considered one of the biggest in English football, winning four first-division titles, both being back-to-back. The first two came in the 1902/03 and the 1903/04 campaigns, and then, after a 25-year wait, they did it once again in the 1928/29 and 1929/30 seasons.
Sheffield Wednesday Statistics
English Champion
4
First Division Points
3552
European Titles
0
Domestic Cups
5
17 Leicester City
Current Division: Championship
Holding one of the most mind-boggling achievements in not only football history but sporting history, Leicester City will always be remembered for defying 5000/1 odds to win the Premier League title in the 2015/16 campaign. Coming up from the Championship in the 2013/14 season and having only just survived in the first division the season beforehand, it was incomprehensible for them to become champions, but somehow, they did it.
This stunning title win was then followed up on in the 2020/21 season, where the Foxes were crowned FA Cup winners, beating Chelsea in the final, and their second Super Cup in 2021/22. Before their recent era of success, Leicester also won three League Cups, in the 1999/00, 1996/97, and 1963/64 seasons.
Leicester City Statistics
English Champion
1
First Division Points
2798
European Titles
0
Domestic Cups
6
16 Nottingham Forest
Current Division: Premier League
Nottingham Forest
One of the few sides in the list to have claimed more European titles than top-flight championships, Nottingham Forest ranks in this list as 16th. The majority of the club’s success was achieved during the 1970s and 1980s, as they went on to win eight major trophies throughout that period, including two European Cup Winners’ Cups, a First Division title, four League Cups, and a UEFA Super Cup.
One of the only clubs to win the previous equivalent of the Champions League in back-to-back seasons during the 1978/79 and 1979/80 campaigns, the Tricky Trees have quite a unique history despite recent woes.
Nottingham Forest Statistics
English Champion
1
First Division Points
3041
European Titles
3
Domestic Cups
7
15 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Current Division: Premier League
A side with a rich cup history between the 1950s and 1970s, the majority of Wolverhampton Wanderers successes came back long before the formation of the Premier League, lifting their last piece of silverware in the 1979/80 season, where they won the League Cup.
Since then, Wolves have limboed up and down the top three divisions of the English pyramid, currently spending their seventh consecutive season back in the big time. However, during their glory years, they did manage to amass an impressive amount of silverware, winning three league championships, four FA Cups, two League Cups, and four Super Cups.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Statistics
English Champion
3
First Division Points
3683
European Titles
0
Domestic Cups
10
14 Sunderland
Current Division: Premier League
A club that has had many bleak times over the last 10 years following back-to-back relegations in 2017 and 2018, Sunderland possesses a deep history of winning league titles during the late 1890s and early 1900s. In that period, the Black Cats attained five First Division titles, winning their sixth in 1936.
Unable to claim any major silverware since their FA Cup triumph back in 1973 and spending three seasons lingering in League One, it has been a very barren run on the seaside in the North East. However, focusing on acquiring new young talent around Europe, it has been a dramatic and exciting rise to the Premier League.
Sunderland Statistics
English Champion
6
First Division Points
4560
European Silverware
0
Domestic Cups
3
13 Newcastle United
Current Division: Premier League
Photo courtesy of Reuters.
Heading across the river to the Tyneside, Newcastle United get the nod above their major North East rivals, having achieved slightly more success, and spending more time in the top flight. Likewise for Sunderland, the majority of Newcastle’s success came in the early 1900s, winning four league titles in that period, as well as six FA Cups and a Super Cup.
But after lifting their last trophy in 1955, the Magpies finally ended their long hoodoo by beating Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final in March 2025, stopping a 70-year wait to get their hands on some silverware. Eddie Howe’s side did the unthinkable by beating arguably the best side in Europe in the 2024/2025 season in Liverpool, as well as defeating the likes of Arsenal along the way to their League Cup success.
Newcastle United Statistics
English Champion
4
First Division Points
5139
European Titles
0
Domestic Cups
8
12 West Ham United
Current Division: Premier League
A side that has been a stable member of the Premier League roster for quite some time now, West Ham United achieved the majority of their successes during the 1960s and 70s. During this period, the Hammers went on to win a Cup Winners’ Cup, three FA Cups, and a Super Cup.
In more recent times, the London outfit has been starved of silverware, until their 2022/23 UEFA Conference League campaign, where, despite finishing 14th in the league, they went on to lift the second European title in the club’s history. West Ham is also home to one of the most iconic figures in English football history, Bobby Moore, who captained England’s only-ever international title, winning the World Cup in 1966.
West Ham United Statistics
English Champion
0
First Division Points
3400
European Titles
2
Domestic Cups
4
11 Leeds United
Current Division: Premier League
Best known for being the first English side to discover Eric Cantona and for their feuded rivalry with Manchester United, Leeds United rank 11th on this list. Despite having spent much of their recent history stuck in the Championship, Leeds have still maintained a phenomenal fanbase and always carry a vibrant atmosphere at Elland Road.
Under Marcelo Bielsa, they recently had a stint in the Premier League but were unable to sustain their position following the Argentinian’s sacking in early 2022. But they finally made their return to the top-flight for the 2025/2026 season under Daniel Farke. In their history, the Whites have won three league titles, an FA Cup, a League Cup, and a Super Cup, winning the majority of that silverware in the 1960s and 70s.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has named the world’s five best footballers right now following France’s 3-0 victory over Sweden in the Round of 32 at the 2026 World Cup.
Kylian Mbappe scored another brace and moves level with Argentina’sLionel Messi on six goals in the race for the Golden Boot. The Real Madrid superstar now has 18 World Cup goals to his name. Only Messi (19) has more World Cup goals in the tournament’s history.
Bradley Barcola scored France’s other goal. Meanwhile, Michael Olise bagged two assists, and Ousmane Dembele set up Mbappe’s opener.
France are unquestionably the World Cup’s standout team so far and will be the red-hot favourites heading into Saturday’s last 16 tie against Paraguay at the Philadelphia Stadium.
Win that and they’ll then face either Canada or Morocco in the quarter-finals before a potential semi-final against Portugal, Spain, United States or Belgium depending on how results unfold in the previous two rounds.
Opta’s Supercomputer claims Lionel Messi’s Argentina have a stronger chance than England
REUTERS/Stephane Mahe
Ibrahimovic, the legendary retired Swedish striker who has impressed in his role as a pundit for FOX Sports at this summer’s World Cup, believes three members of the France squad are among the five best players in world football as things stand.
“Take the five best players in the world, three of them are in [France’s] attack: Dembele, Olise and Mbappe.”
He explained that Messi doesn’t make his top five because the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner is in a league of his own, and instead opted for two younger superstars.
Zlatan added: “[Lamine] Yamal and [Erling] Haaland, I would say, because Messi is in his own class… but three of the top five are in [France’s] attack. It’s not easy to make that combination. We have an example when PSG had Mbappe, Messi and Neymar. It was not working 100 per cent.
“But with France, they don’t have this ego, who will be the one. They also do their jobs off the ball, which is more important than on the ball because we know what they can do on the ball. They can decide the game by themselves – all of them. So, it’s scary.”
Rangers look set to complete a hijack after agreeing a deal to beat Southampton to a new signing, according to reports.
The Glasgow club are preparing to enter a new era after appointing former Hearts manager Derek McInnes as their new boss. He replaces Danny Rohl, who made the move to RB Salzburg.
It was a dismal end to the 25-26 season for Rangers, comfortably missing out on the Scottish Premiership title to rivals Celtic.
As a result, they will be looking to bring in reinforcements during the summer transfer window, likely aiming to strengthen in various areas of the pitch.
It could be a busy few weeks and months for Rangers as they look to back new manager McInnes in the transfer market.
According to both Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie and GIVEMESPORT correspondent Ben Jacobs, Rangers have agreed a deal to sign former Sunderland midfielder Dan Neil.
Jacobs confirms that Neil is expected to join Rangers as a free agent with an agreement in place and close to being formalised.
Downie confirms that Neil was in talks with Southampton and looked to have opted to join the Championship club, but things have changed significantly over the last 48 hours as Rangers swooped in.
Neil has been having a medical over the last 24 hours at Ibrox, and a deal is expected to be confirmed soon.
Rangers completed the signing of Ivor Pandur from Hull earlier this week in a deal worth £6m, so they are clearly making moves in the transfer market.
Arsenal are showing interest in signing another French star alongside Bradley Barcola of PSG, according to BBC reporter Sami Mokbel.
The Gunners haven’t rushed into any big signings so far in the summer transfer window, which is no surprise after they lifted the Premier League title last season.
The likes of Manchester United, Tottenham and Liverpool are all working on multiple deals at a time, but Arsenal can afford to sit back and wait.
The Gunners won’t want to rest on what they built last year, especially considering they lost in the Champions League final against PSG.
There’s no doubt Mikel Arteta will be looking to improve his squad in the summer transfer window, but there’s no need for them to panic after their 25-26 campaign success.
Arsenal are potentially in the market for a second-choice goalkeeper with Kepa Arrizabalaga’s future uncertain.
The former Chelsea goalkeeper might be considering heading through the exit door in the coming months in order to go and play more regular first-team football.
