Uncovering the Greatest FA Cup Winners in Football History: A Comprehensive Guide

by Luke Andrews, 6 April 2023

The FA Cup is the world’s oldest football competition. First played in 1872, the competition was at one stage, the highlight of the footballing calendar. Even today, the final TV viewing figures often reach eight figures. In this blog article, we reveal all the FA Cup winners past and present, highlighting classic matches and the cup upsets that the competition is famous for. We’ll also reveal who has the most FA Cups to their name and who has been the most successful players.

FA Cup – The Early Years: First FA Cup Winners and Past Winners

The FA Cup is one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious football competitions, with a rich history dating back to the 19th century. The tournament is extremely popular with FA Cup betting fans as the competition is infamous for being unpredictable, and many punters see a healthy return by backing the underdog.

The inaugural Football Association Challenge Cup (FA Cup) occurred during the 1871-1872 season, with twelve British teams participating, although some opted out due to travel expenses.

On November 11th, 1871, the first-ever FA Cup matches were played, with four games occurring simultaneously. The initial final was held in the spring at Kennington Oval, where Wanderers triumphed over Royal Engineers with a 1-0 victory, becoming the first FA Cup winners.

A moment in history 🏆

It was the first chapter of an incredible journey #OnThisDay in 1872, as the very first FA Cup Final took place at The Oval. @wanderersafc 1-0 @sapperfootball #EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/aQ51HPtImG

— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) March 16, 2023

In the subsequent edition, Wanderers emerged victorious once more, benefitting from a rule that granted the current champions a direct entry into the final. This rule was discarded following that tournament.

As the years went by, the number of participating teams grew steadily, with over 40 teams entering the competition in 1877 and surpassing 50 in 1879. Several well-known clubs, such as Aston Villa, Blackburn Rovers, and Nottingham Forest, participated in the 1879-1880 season. By the 1883-1884 season, the tournament boasted 100 registered teams. This period marked the beginning of professional football, eventually leading to the decline of amateur teams and the establishment of the FA Amateur Cup in 1893.

The Wanderers, a team composed mainly of former public school students, won the cup in the following four seasons, making them the first team to win the competition consecutively in the list of FA Cup winners.

The Oval would host 20 of the successive 21 FA Cup finals. Last year, 2022, marks the 150th anniversary of the historic first FA Cup Final.

FA Cup Winners 1872 – 1899

The FA Cup, officially known as The Football Association Challenge Cup, is the oldest football competition in the world, having commenced in the 1871-72 season. Between the years 1872 and 1899, the competition had many different winners.

Wanderers was the first team to win the FA Cup in 1872, and they went on to win the championship six times in the first nine years of the competition.

Other early winners included Oxford University (1874), Royal Engineers (1875), and Old Etonians (1879). Between 1884 and 1899, Blackburn Rovers won the cup five times, while Aston Villa won twice (1887, 1895), and Notts County won once (1894).

The last final of the 19th century occurred in 1899 and was won by Sheffield United, who defeated Derby County 4-1. Here is a list of all the winners and runners-up from 1872 to 1899:

FA Cup Winners 1900 – 1920

The FA Cup finals during this period saw Bury win the trophy twice, with Manchester City, Aston Villa, Everton, Sheffield United, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Manchester United, Bradford City, and Barnsley each winning the trophy once. In 1915, Sheffield United defeated Chelsea with a score of 3-0, which was the largest margin of victory during this period. 1916 to 1919 had no FA Cup final due to World War I. However, Aston Villa won the trophy in 1920 after defeating Huddersfield Town 1-0 in extra time.

When league football resumed after the Second World War, Stan Cullis, a former player who helped the wanderers lift 3 FA Cups became the manager of the club. In Cullis's first season in charge, he led Wolves to the FA cup win since 1908 where Leicester City lost 2-1. pic.twitter.com/UmaRpecHpA

— Arkan 🇺🇸 (@arkanyc_) May 2, 2021

FA Cup Winners 1921 – 1940

Between 1921 and 1940, the FA Cup final produced some thrilling matches that were watched by football fans all over England. During this period, Tottenham Hotspur, Huddersfield Town, Bolton Wanderers, Newcastle United, Sheffield United, Blackburn Rovers, Cardiff City, Arsenal, West Bromwich Albion, Everton, Manchester City, Sheffield Wednesday, Sunderland, and Portsmouth were all crowned FA Cup winners.

Many of these finals were decided by narrow scorelines, with several being won 1-0, while others were high-scoring affairs with four or more goals. Notably, the 1940 FA Cup was cancelled due to the outbreak of World War II.

1/5

After the 2nd World War, league football didn't resume until 1946/47, but there was time to arrange the restart of FA Cup in 1945/46.

To help the clubs financially, cup ties were played over 2 legs. OTD 1946 #Arsenal faced West Ham at Upton Park in the 1st leg of 3rd round. pic.twitter.com/XdJJeAzq6s

— hente (@hente_afsc) January 5, 2023

FA Cup Winners 1946 – 1960

Although there were no FA Cup winners between 1941 – 1945, the Football League War Cup was an association football tournament held between 1939 and 1945. It aimed to fill the gap left in English football by suspending the FA Cup during the Second World War.

Though it was often referred to in contemporary coverage as the “League Cup” or “Football League Cup”, it is not to be confused with the later English football competition with the same name, which was formed in 1960 and is currently known as the EFL Cup. As with all wartime football in England, records and statistics from the competition are not considered official. Between 1946 and 1960, the FA Cup final saw some of the most memorable moments in English football history. During this period, the likes of Derby County, Charlton Athletic, Manchester United, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Arsenal, Newcastle United, Blackpool, West Bromwich Albion, Manchester City, Nottingham Forest, Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool, Everton, West Ham United, Leeds United, and Chelsea all became FA Cup winners.

Many of the finals were closely contested affairs, with several games being won by just one or two goals. Notably, Tottenham Hotspur won the cup three times in the space of just four years between 1961 and 1964. If online FA Cup betting had existed back then, Spurs would have been a popular choice!

The Queen's first-ever football match was the 1953 FA Cup final between Blackpool and Bolton Wanderers. #bwfc pic.twitter.com/iv1O4i5SYp

— Marc Iles (@MarcIles) September 8, 2022

FA Cup Winners 1961 – 1970

Between 1961 and 1970, the FA Cup final produced some unforgettable moments in English football. During this period, Tottenham Hotspur won the trophy three times, while Manchester United, West Ham United, Liverpool, Everton, West Bromwich Albion, Manchester City, and Chelsea all won it once. Notably, the 1966 final saw Everton defeat Sheffield Wednesday in extra time, while the 1970 final saw Chelsea defeat Leeds United in a replay after a 2-2 draw in the first match.

April 1967 – Forest hosted Everton in a FA Cup Quarter-Final.

An Ian Storey-Moore hat-trick earned the Reds a 3-2 win in a tremendous match.

The finest game ever seen at the City Ground?

🎥 British Pathe pic.twitter.com/uWZnx2pBhi

— The Forest Preservation Society (@ForestPresSoc) March 4, 2023

FA Cup Winners 1971 – 1980

The FA Cup was won by eight different football teams between 1971 and 1980. These teams include West Ham United (1975 and 1980 winners), Leeds United (1972 winners), and Arsenal (1971 and 1979 winners). Sunderland, Liverpool, Southampton, Manchester United, and Ipswich Town were other winners during this timeframe.

The 1978 FA Cup final saw Bobby Robson's @IpswichTown 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗻 Arsenal to win thier first FA Cup title! 🏆

A crowd of 100,000 filled Wembley to watch a 𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭 Ipswich performance as Roger Osbourne's 77th minute left footed strike sealed the title for his side 🤩 pic.twitter.com/CFMSAOJZWu

— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) January 10th, 2022

FA Cup Winners 1981 – 1990

The FA Cup final provided some iconic moments in English football history between 1981 and 1990. Tottenham Hotspur won the trophy twice during this time, while Manchester United, Everton, Liverpool, Coventry City, Wimbledon, and Manchester City took home a single trophy. Notably, Wimbledon upset Liverpool in the 1988 FA Cup final, and Coventry City defeated Tottenham Hotspur in the 1987 final, regarded as one of the biggest upsets in FA Cup final history.

Another noteworthy matchup was the 1989 final between Liverpool and Everton, which Liverpool won 3-2 in extra time.

BBC Match Of The Day
March 1988
FA Cup 6th Round
The Crazy Gang!
Brian Gayle clouts Malcolm Allen and sees red, then Wimbledon fight back and win 2-1 against Watford.
Commentator Barry Davies #afcw #WatfordFC pic.twitter.com/1wuQe66aND

— TV Football 1968-92 (@1968Tv) March 30, 2023

FA Cup Winners 1991 – 2000

Great moments in English football history occurred at the FA Cup final between 1991 and 2000. Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Everton, and Tottenham Hotspur won the trophy once during this span, while Manchester United won it three times.

In a commanding performance, Manchester United defeated Chelsea 4-0 in the 1994 final, whereas Everton defeated Manchester United 1-0 in the 1995 final, a result that was regarded as a shock. The 1999 Manchester United-Newcastle United championship game is another noteworthy one. Manchester United won 2-0 to complete the fabled triple, which also included the Premier League and the Champions League.

1995: That season, Ferguson becomes an Everton legend as they avoid relegation and win the FA Cup.

In seven Merseyside derbies in the 1990s, he never loses once.

He's famed for his headers and hot temper, which earns him a record eight red cards in the Premier League. pic.twitter.com/yp21JZJAXp

— The Upshot (@UpshotTowers) February 15, 2023

FA Cup Winners 2001 – 2010

The FA Cup final provided some iconic moments in English football history between 2001 and 2010. Arsenal won the trophy three times during this time, while Chelsea won it four times, Manchester United once, Liverpool once, and Portsmouth once.

The finals were frequently hotly contested, with a number of them coming down to penalties or being won by only one goal. Notably, after a scoreless draw, Arsenal defeated Manchester United in the 2005 championship game on penalties. After defeating Millwall in 2004, Manchester United held the cup but lost to Arsenal in the final a year later.

#OnThisDay in 2004, @Tim_Cahill's thumping strike sent @MillwallFC to an FA Cup Final 🦁#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/pBudJxOPOM

— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) April 4, 2023

The 2006 final saw Liverpool come back from 3-2 down to defeat West Ham United in another penalty shootout. The 2008 final saw Portsmouth win their first major trophy in 69 years with a 1-0 victory over Cardiff City, while a late Didier Drogba goal decided the 2009 final between Chelsea and Everton.

FA Cup Winners 2011 – 2020

Arsenal won the title three times between 2011 and 2020, while Chelsea, Manchester City, and Manchester United each won it twice, and Wigan Athletic won it once. So it was another prosperous spell for the Gunners.

Wigan Athletic won the 2013 final against Manchester City by a score of 1-0, giving them their first-ever major prize and a seat at the FA Cup winners table.

How Wigan Athletic won the 2013 FA Cup 🏆

[THREAD] pic.twitter.com/ZDQdWyHKGf

— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) November 23, 2021

Arsenal overcame a two-goal deficit to defeat Hull City 3-2 in the 2014 final, and they defeated Aston Villa 4-0 to win the FA Cup for the second time in a row in 2015. Arsenal beat Chelsea 2-1 in the 2017 final to win the trophy for a record 13th time, whereas the 2016 final saw Manchester United upset Crystal Palace 2-1 after extra time.

With a 6-0 victory over Watford in the FA Cup final of 2019, Manchester City became the FA Cup winner in 2019 and made English football history by winning the domestic triple.

Arsnal became the FA Cup winners in 2020 with a 2-1 win over neighbours Chelsea.

FA Cup – 2021 – Chelsea 0-1 Leicester City

In an unforgettable FA Cup finale, Leicester City achieved a historic victory over Chelsea at Wembley, seizing the prestigious trophy for the first time ever. The match’s deciding moment came from Belgian star Youri Tielemans, who delivered a phenomenal 25-yard right-footed strike in the 63rd minute, leaving Chelsea’s goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga helpless as the ball soared into the top corner.

Leicester’s manager, Brendan Rodgers, could not contain his excitement, rushing down the side-lines to join the celebration. The 21,000 fans in attendance, the largest crowd since lockdown measures, were on the edge of their seats throughout the nail-biting final moments of the match.

Goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel emerged as a hero for the Foxes, making two crucial saves. He first pushed former teammate Ben Chilwell’s header onto the post and later denied Mason Mount with an even more impressive dive to deflect his powerful shot.

The drama peaked in the closing seconds when Leicester’s Wes Morgan accidentally knocked the ball into his own goal during a chaotic scramble. However, the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) intervened, ruling out the goal by the slimmest of margins, securing Leicester City’s victory, and adding them to the FA Cup winners list. It was an unforgettable day for the underdogs who became FA Cup winners in 2021.

Brendan Rodgers’ record at Leicester City:

🏟️ 204 Matches
✅ 96 Wins
🤝 37 Draws
❌ 71 Losses
🔢 47% Win rate

🏆 1 FA Cup

End of the road. 🚗 pic.twitter.com/VytSV5gQgm

— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) April 2, 2023

FA Cup – 2022 – Chelsea 0-0 Liverpool

The 2022 FA Cup final, held on May 14th, 2022, at Wembley Stadium in London, England, saw Chelsea and Liverpool as the finalists. The match was a rematch of the 2022 EFL Cup final earlier in the season, which Liverpool won. For stat lovers the final was important as it was the first time in nearly three decades that the final of the EFL Cup and the FA Cup had the same teams. The last time it happened was in 1993 when Arsenal and Sheffield Wednesday faced each other.

Chelsea beat Luton Town, Plymouth Argyle, Sheffield Wednesday, and Manchester United on the way to Wembley, while Liverpool overcame Nottingham Forest, Leeds United, Tottenham Hotspur, and Arsenal.

The match was a closely contested affair, with both teams evenly matched. Liverpool dominated the game’s early stages, and Sadio Mane put them ahead in the 34th minute. However, Chelsea responded immediately, with Kai Havertz scoring just two minutes later to level the score. The match remained tied at 1-1 throughout regulation time and extra time, leading to a penalty shootout. Liverpool emerged victorious, winning the shootout 5-4 after goalkeeper Alisson Becker saved Chelsea’s final penalty.

The win saw Liverpool become FA Cup winners in 2022, their eighth FA Cup title and their first since 2006.

#mufc and Liverpool have met 17 times in the FA Cup, including twice in the 19th century when United were known as Newton Heath. [bbc]

— The United Stand (@UnitedStandMUFC) January 24, 2021

Most FA Cup Winners

Arsenal FC is the team with the most FA Cup titles, boasting 14 victories in the oldest club competition in the world. Their most recent win came in 2020, placing them at the top of the list. Manchester United comes in second, hot on Arsenal’s heels with 12 victories, the most recent being in 2016. Meanwhile, Liverpool FC claimed their 8th FA Cup win in 2022, catching up to Chelsea and Tottenham with eight FA Cup trophies.

One of the best decisions in my life 😍 #gunner https://twitter.com/throwbackafc/status/1294129152275218432

— Patrick Vieira (@OfficialVieira) August 14, 2020

FA Cup – Most Successful Players

Ashley Cole holds the record for the most FA Cup wins, with seven titles to his name

He is followed by Petr Cech, John Terry, and Patrick Vieira, who have all won the tournament five times.

A total of 21 players have won four FA Cup titles each, including Dennis Bergkamp, Didier Drogba, Ryan Giggs, Frank Lampard, and Mesut Ozil, among others. Although no one celebrates goals like Ryan Giggs. We personally feel that the FA brought the yellow card for taking your shirt off rule into the game, thanks to the Welshman!

Figure no. 74
Player: Ryan Giggs
Team: Man Utd
Moment: Ryan Giggs' Manchester United vs. Arsenal 1999 FA Cup Semifinal winning goal celebration.#Subbuteo #Subbuteolegends #subbuteoart #handmade #hobby #handpainted #tablefootball
#manutd #manchesterunited #ryangiggs pic.twitter.com/fapsTfJwJo

— ⎊𝙎𝙪𝙗𝙗𝙪𝙩𝙚𝙤𝙡𝙚𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙨⚽ (@subbuteolegends) April 5, 2021

Who Will win the 2023 FA Cup?

Four clubs can still win the trophy because they have advanced to the semifinal round.

Manchester City, Sheffield United, Brighton, and Manchester United are the names of these teams. First to qualify for the semifinals was Manchester City, who Brighton, Sheffield United, and Manchester United followed. At Wembley, the semifinal matches will occur between Manchester City and Sheffield United and Manchester United and Brighton.

Many teams were knocked out of the competition, including Arsenal, Tottenham, Liverpool, Chelsea, and Aston Villa. Despite their robust Premier League form, Newcastle fell at the first hurdle, and Aston Villa was humiliated at home against Stevenage.

In total, 49 teams were knocked out of the FA Cup 2022-23 from the third round onwards.

• Everton
• Huddersfield
• Watford
• Portsmouth
• Gillingham
• Crystal Palace
• Hull City
• Middlesbrough
• QPR
• Rotherham
• Bournemouth
• Nottingham Forest
• Millwall
• Shrewsbury
• Brentford
• Coventry
• Burton
• Newcastle
• Barnsley
• Chelsea
• Aston Villa
• Wolves
• Forest Green
• Wigan Athletic
• Swansea City
• Chesterfield
• Oxford United
• Cardiff City
• Arsenal
• Accrington Stanley
• Walsall
• Blackpool
• West Brom
• Preston
• Reading
• Liverpool
• Stevenage
• Derby
• Birmingham
• Luton
• Wrexham
• Ipswich
• Sheffield Wednesday
• Sunderland
• Stoke
• Leicester City
• Leeds United
• Bristol City
• Tottenham
• Southampton
• West Ham
• Fleetwood
• Burnley
• Grimsby
• Blackburn
• Fulham

The first semifinal between Manchester City and Sheffield United will take place on Saturday, April 22nd, and the kick-off will be at 16:45. The second semifinal between Brighton and Manchester United is the next day, Sunday, April 23rd, and the kick-off is at 16:30. Both games are at Wembley.

If the Manchester clubs win, they will meet in an FA Cup final for the first time. However, it is far from certain that both will qualify. Manchester United have a challenging game against Brighton, who are currently flying high in the Premier League (6th at the time of writing).

Sheffield United could also be a much trickier team to beat than expected. The Yorkshire club are second in the Championship and looks likely promotion candidates this season.

Here are the latest odds from bet365;

The FA Cup final will take place on June 3rd. Kick-off will be at 15:00 at Wembley.