Top 10 FA Cup Winners: A Complete List of the Teams with the Most Wins

Image: Arsenal player Aaron Ramsey lifts the FA Cup. Credit: Joshjdss, Flickr.

It's the oldest and most prestigious Cup in English professional football, but which teams have the most FA Cup wins? Discover the 10 most successful clubs in FA Cup history, and how you can watch the Cup action from the best seats in the house.

The FA Cup is one of the most prestigious football tournaments in the world, with a history dating back to the 19th century.

Over the years, many teams have competed for the coveted trophy, but only a handful have managed to lift it multiple times. In this blog, we'll be taking a closer look at the 10 teams with the most FA Cup titles.

From record-breaking titles to historic cup runs, these teams have left an indelible mark on the tournament's history. We'll explore their triumphs, their stars, and the moments that made them legendary.

As we dive into the rich tapestry of FA Cup history, we'll take a look at the teams and players who have cemented their place in football folklore. For teams with the same number of FA Cup titles, we’ve decided the rankings based on who has lost fewer finals. Find out who is at the top of the pile below.

10. West Bromwich Albion

FA Cup titles: 5 | Runners-up: 5

At number 10 is West Bromwich Albion, a team that most people wouldn't have expected to see on this list.

While they find themselves firmly planted in the championship at present, West Brom have a history of being quite consistent in the FA Cup, reaching 10 finals in the first 9 decades of the Cup’s history.

Although they were unsuccessful in half of them, West Brom claimed the title in 1888, 1892, 1931, 1954 and 1968. The Baggies defeated Preston North End (1888, 1954), Birmingham City (1931), and Everton (1968) all by a slender one-goal margin, with their only big win coming in a 3-0 victory against Aston Villa (1892).

9. Newcastle United

FA Cup titles: 6 | Runners-up: 7

Despite not having won a major trophy for almost 69 years, Newcastle United have a proud history in the FA Cup, having won the tournament on 6 occasions.

Their first victory came in 1910 with a 2-0 win over Barnsley, and they followed it up with further triumphs over Aston Villa in 1924, Arsenal in 1932, Blackpool in 1951, Arsenal again in 1952, and Manchester City in 1955.

The club's last appearance in an FA Cup Final was in 1999, but they were unable to secure a seventh title, losing 2-0 to Manchester United. Despite this, Newcastle United’s FA Cup triumphs remain the club's greatest success.

8. Blackburn Rovers

FA Cup titles: 6 | Runners-up: 2

At number 7 is Blackburn Rovers who have appeared in 8 FA Cup Finals in their history, winning on six occasions.

Their first triumph came very early on in 1884 when they beat Queens Park 2-1 in the final. They won their second FA Cup in 1885, and their third in 1886, becoming the first team to win the trophy three times in a row.

Blackburn's other FA Cup victories also came consecutively, in 1890 and1891, with wins over Sheffield Wednesday and Notts County. Their most recent cup win came all the way back in 1928 when they beat Huddersfield Town 3-1 in the final.

Blackburn Rovers also reached the FA Cup final in 1882 and 1960 but lost out to Old Etonians and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

7. Manchester City

FA Cup titles: 7 | Runners-up: 5

Premier League behemoths Manchester City have won the FA Cup seven times in their storied history. Before the infamous Sheikh Mansour takeover of the Sky Blues in 2008, the FA Cup was the club's most successful competition with 4 wins  

Their first triumph came in 1904 when they beat Bolton Wanderers 1-0. They would have to wait another 42 years before they lifted the trophy again, with a 3-1 victory over Birmingham City in 1956 adding their second title.

City's most recent FA Cup win was in 2023 when they beat Man United 2-1, taking home their second piece of silverware in their historic treble-winning season.

6. Aston Villa

FA Cup titles: 7 | Runners-up: 4

At number 6 is Birmingham side Aston Villa, who have lifted the FA Cup seven times in their history, with their first victory coming in 1887 when they beat West Bromwich Albion 2-0.

They won the trophy 5 more times in the next two decades, with wins over West Brom, Everton, Newcastle United, Sunderland, and Huddersfield Town in 1895, 1897, 1905, 1913, and 1920. The Villans most recently won the cup in 1957, when they defeated the mighty Manchester United 2-1.

They have also been runners-up on four occasions, losing out to West Brom, Newcastle United, Chelsea and Arsenal in 1892, 1924, 2000 and 2015.

5. Chelsea

FA Cup titles: 8 | Runners-up: 8

West London side Chelsea have appeared in 16 FA Cup Finals in total, winning exactly half of those, earning them fifth place on our all-time list of winners.

Their first FA Cup success didn’t come until 1970, 65 years after their formation when they beat Leeds United 2-1 in the final replay. They won the trophy twice more in 1997 and 2000 before being taken over by Russian Oligarch Roman Abramovich in 2003.  

Post takeover the club has experienced fantastic success, winning the FA Cup 4 more times in 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2012, with big game player and Blues legend Didier Drogba scoring in all 4 finals.

Their eighth and final win was in 2018 when they beat Manchester United 1-0 in the final thanks to an Eden Hazard penalty.

Chelsea's last visit to Wembley Stadium for the FA Cup Final was in 2022 when they lost 6-5 against Liverpool on penalties. This was undoubtedly hard for the Blues to take after losing the Carabao Cup Final just four months earlier to Liverpool, also on penalties.

4. Liverpool

FA Cup titles: 8 | Runners-up: 7

At number 4 on the list we have Liverpool, English football’s most successful club, who have won the FA Cup 8 times in their history.

They first experienced FA Cup success in 1965, when they beat Leeds United 2-1 in extra time thanks to goals from Roger Hunt and John St John. They went on to win the coveted trophy four more times before the turn of the century, in 1974, 1986, 1989 and 1992.

Their next 2 victories came in 2001 and 2006 when they beat Arsenal 2-1 and West Ham United on penalties after a 3-3 draw in the final. Liverpool are also the current FA Cup Champions, adding their eighth title in 2022 with a penalties victory over Chelsea after a hotly contested 0-0 affair.

3. Tottenham Hotspur

FA Cup titles: 8 | Runners-up: 1

Known throughout history as the Kings of the FA Cup, Tottenham’s continued slump under the tenure of ENIC and Daniel Levy has seen them slip down to third place in the winners' list.

Spurs have won the FA Cup eight times in their history. Their first triumph came in 1901 when they beat Sheffield United 3-1 in a replay. They won the trophy again in 1921, 1961, 1962, 1967, 1981, and 1982, and their most recent triumph was in 1991 after coming from behind to defeat Nottingham Forest 2-1.

Tottenham Hotspur boasts a fantastic record in FA Cup Finals, with 8 wins and only 1 loss at the hands of Coventry City in 1987. The club has a rich and storied history in the competition, and their eight victories place them in third on our all-time list of winners.

After an almost 16-year trophy drought, Tottenham fans will be hoping for further success in the competition in the future.

2. Manchester United

FA Cup titles: 12 | Runners-up: 9

The second most successful team in this competition's illustrious history is Manchester United, who have won the FA Cup 12 times, 4 more than Tottenham Hotspur in third place.

The Red Devils first conquered the cup in 1909, when they beat Bristol City 1-0 in the final. They won the trophy a further 9 times between 1940 and 2000, in 1948, 1963, 1977, 1983, 1985, 1990, 1994, 1996, and 1999, the most of any team in history at that point in time.

After the turn of the century, United have only hoisted the cup at Wembley a further 2 times, in 2004 with a victory over Millwall and in 2016 when they beat Crystal Palace 2-1 after extra time. Manchester United has also been runners-up in the FA Cup Final nine times, most recently in 2023 when they lost 2-1 to Man City.

1. Arsenal

FA Cup titles: 14 | Runners-up: 7

Topping the list as the club with the most FA Cup titles in history is Arsenal, who have experienced a fantastic level of success in the competition.

They have lifted the trophy an impressive 14 times between 1930 and 2020. Their first win in 1930 was a 2-0 victory over Huddersfield Town, and they then went on to win the competition another 6 times before the end of the century, in 1936, 1950, 1971, 1979, 1993 and 1998.

The Gunners' prolific FA Cup haul after the turn of the century is what rocketed them to the top of this list. They won a further 7 cups in the space of 18 years, in 2002, 2003, 2005, 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2020.

Arsenal's recent success in the FA Cup has been nothing short of remarkable, with the club's name now synonymous with the famous competition.

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For more information on this year's competition, check out our blog post: 2023/24 FA Cup Round Dates: Draws, Fixtures, Teams & How To Get Tickets.

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