Drama, unpredictability, and absolute competition define the Premier League. Since the league’s inauguration in 1992, it has grown to be an international phenomenon, drawing a wide audience from almost every nook and corner of the world.
While many fans across the continent rally around the powerhouse teams like Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, and Manchester City, there is another group of fans who year in and year out, still keep their fingers crossed that their favourite club will win the Premier League trophy one day.
That day has not arrived for a couple of clubs so far, including some of England’s most famous ones.
In three decades of the league, only seven teams have won the ultimate prize: Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal, Blackburn Rovers, and Leicester City.
That means some big clubs have missed out. Today we dive into the seven top clubs that never won the Premier League despite their size, history, and in some cases near misses.
1. Tottenham Hotspur
- Best finish: 2nd, 2017
- Notable players: Harry Kane, Son, Gareth Bale, Dele Alli
Tottenham Hotspur is the quintessential nearly club. For all these years, despite having a squad full of talent, they have always managed to somehow fall short of winning the Premier League.
The closest they came was during the 2016-17 season, when Mauricio Pochettino led them to a runners-up finish on 86 points, seven behind Antonio Conte’s Chelsea. Spurs were one of the most entertaining teams in the league, led by Harry Kane’s precision in front of the goal and the creative brilliance of Dele Alli.
Even before that, close was Tottenham in 2015-16, finishing third in a season where Leicester City shocked the world with a title. Many people felt that was Spurs’ year, only to see them falter at the end of the season to lose ground.
For all their repeated top-four finishes, Tottenham’s wait for major silverware continues to build. Their most recent silverware came in 2008 with the League Cup. The hope is with the right manager and investment that Spurs fans may one day see the Premier League trophy come into North London.
Until then, they remain one of the biggest clubs to never win it.
2. Newcastle United
- Best finish: 2nd, 1996
- Notable players: Alan Shearer, David Ginola, Kevin Keegan-manager
Newcastle United’s tale is one of heartbreak: For the 1995-96 season under Kevin Keegan, they flew high in the league to blow a 12-point lead and ultimately finish second behind Manchester United.
That was the season Newcastle played some of the most exciting football the Premier League has ever seen, with stars like Alan Shearer and David Ginola lighting up St. James’ Park.
The next season, Newcastle finished as runners-up again, this time a whooping seven points behind champions Manchester United. Despite coming so close on multiple occasions, Newcastle has never managed to win the Premier League title.
But recent ownership of this club by Saudi Arabian investors has brought freshness to this part of England. And with fresh finance, many believe that it is only a matter of time before another real title challenge from Newcastle.
But for now, they remain one of the biggest clubs never to win the Premier League.
3. Everton
- Best finish: 4th, 2005
- Notable players: Tim Cahill, Mikel Arteta, Wayne Rooney
Historically, Everton is one of the most successful clubs in England, but all their glory years came before the inception of the Premier League. Their best finish in the Toffees came during the 2004-05 season when they managed to grab fourth place under David Moyes, thus qualifying for the Champions League for the first time in the Premier League era.
The tireless energy and knacky Tim Cahill for goals became the symbol of that Moyes-led team.
However, despite heavy investment in recent years, Everton has struggled to break into the Premier League elite. The famous home, Goodison Park, remains a fortress for the fans, though battles with relegation rather than with the titles of the Premier League have been more prevalent as of late with the club.
Rich in history, with a very passionate fanbase, the dream for top-flight status amongst their supporters still lingers on, even as the odds, it would appear, grow against them in the modern Premier League environment.
4. Aston Villa
- Best finish: 2nd, 1993
- Notable players: Dwight Yorke, Paul McGrath, Jack Grealish
Aston Villa is steeped in tradition right from the formation of the Football League. They agonizingly missed out on glory during the first 1992-93 season of the Premier League, finishing runners-up to Manchester United.
With 74 points, the Villa of brilliant Dean Saunders and Paul McGrath pushed United right until the final stretch before falling 10 points short.
The club remained a force throughout the mid-1990s, even winning the League Cup in 1996. One of its stars of that era was Dwight Yorke, who notched 25 goals in the 1995-96 season. But with Manchester United’s dominance growing along with Chelsea and Arsenal coming into power, Villa fell away from title contention.
Villa Park is one of the most daunting stadiums in England, and while the Villa dream of glory in the Premier League, the title continues to evade them.
However, recent investment and an avid set of fans will continue to dream about a challenge at the summit in years to come.
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5. Leeds United
- Best finish: 3rd, 2000
- Notable players: Mark Viduka, Rio Ferdinand, Harry Kewell
The story of Leeds United is one of dramatic highs and crushing lows. For a few short years at the turn of the 2000s, they were not only competing-they were thriving.
Their best finish in the Premier League was third place in the 1999-2000 season, 22 points off Manchester United’s leading total. This team featured Mark Viduka, Rio Ferdinand, and Harry Kewell, among others, in a very exciting style of football which qualified them for the Champions League the next season.
Unfortunately, that eventually proved to be financial mismanagement, and they fell.
Forced to sell key player Ferdinand to Manchester United the club spiralled down into relegation and the depths of the Football League.
Finally, under Marcelo Bielsa, Leeds returned to the Premier League in 2020, and fans are still hopeful that their club is once again on the path to greatness.
However, this historic Yorkshire club has yet to get its hands on the Premier League trophy.
6. Nottingham Forest
- Best finish: 3rd, 1995
- Notable players: Stan Collymore, Stuart Pearce, Bryan Roy
The glory years of Nottingham Forest have been synonymous with their historic European Cup victories in the late 1970s under Brian Clough.
However, their foray into Premier League success has been far less glamorous.
Their best finish came in the 1994-95 season when they managed a third-place finish, amassing 77 points and finishing 12 points behind Blackburn Rovers, the improbable champions of that year.
Not to be outdone, Stan Collymore was a force to be reckoned with for Forest, scoring 25 goals that season.
However, even with that, the presence of Forest in the Premier League has been patchy at best. They got relegated shortly thereafter and spent much of the early 2000s out of the top flight.
Only recently did they finally make their way back into the Premier League.
7. West Ham United
- Best finish: 5th, 1999
- Notable players: Paolo Di Canio, Mark Noble, Ian Wright
West Ham United is one of those clubs steeped in football heritage and houses one of the most vocal and dedicated fan bases anywhere in the country.
They have been the epitome of a mid-table team for the last few years and often come close to qualifying for Europe. The highest finish they have ever managed in the Premiership era came in the form of an excellent fifth-place finish under manager Harry Redknapp in 1999.
They mustered a total of 57 points that season, an alarming 22 points off champions Manchester United, with Ian Wright finishing as their top scorer with a paltry nine goals.
Never at any point of the season did they pose any serious challenge for this title, but all along, West Ham has been viewed as a team with great potential.
Fast forward to 2023, and the Hammers finally picked up their first major European trophy by winning the UEFA Conference League. As joyful as that moment was for their fanbase, the Premier League trophy still eludes them.
The Hammers have managed progress in terms of consistent top-half finishes and European qualification with David Moyes, but that alone is not satisfactory for its fans, who dream of more domestic glory.
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