Spurs’ trophy drought compared to their PL rivals

Liverpool and Newcastle United both emerged victorious from their respective League Cup semi-final ties against Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal respectively.

The Anfield side’s 4-0 win over Spurs maintains their push for an unprecedented quadruple, while the Magpies will be aiming to end a decades-long wait for a major trophy in the final next month.

Spurs looked on course to make another final as they looked to end their own drought, but they were overpowered by the Reds in what was a dominant performance by Arne Slot’s men.

Who will win the EFL Cup this season, claiming the first trophy on offer in 2024/25? Will Liverpool live up to their favourites tag? Or shall it be Newcastle who finally get over the line in a major final?

Here, we take a deeper look at the longest trophy droughts among 2024/25 Premier League clubs. To qualify for this list, they must have won at least one major trophy, so no room for Community Shields or Intertoto Cups here.

15

Manchester United

FA Cup holders

Manchester United may be going through their toughest period since Sir Alex Ferguson took charge in 1986, but it hasn’t diminished their ability to win trophies.

The Premier League title has eluded the Red Devils since 2013, but the club have managed to win two League Cups, two FA Cups and a Europa League crown in the previous 11 years.

Indeed, they have won more trophies since 2013 than Spurs, Newcastle and Arsenal combined. Make of that what you will…

14

Manchester City

Premier League holders

Until their takeover by Sheikh Mansour in 2008, Manchester City had not won a major trophy since winning the League Cup during the 1975/76 season.

However, since 2008, the Etihad outfit have claimed eight Premier League titles, three FA Cups, six League Cups and a coveted Champions League title in 2023 as part of a historic treble.

Pep Guardiola has transformed the side into a winning machine, and despite enduring a poor season by their high standards, City will still be in the hunt for silverware.

13

Liverpool

EFL Cup holders

Liverpool are the recent EFL Cup holders and are going for their 11th victory in the competition, making them the most successful side in the history of the tournament.

The previous few years have been incredibly kind to the Anfield faithful, winning a raft of honours under the leadership of Jürgen Klopp. A sixth European Cup was won in 2019 before the Reds finally ended a 30-year league title drought by claiming the Premier League.

Many felt Slot would have a difficult time of things during his maiden campaign on Merseyside, but the Dutchman has ushered the club into a new era easier than many anticipated.

12

West Ham United

1 year (last trophy: 2023 Conference League)

Due to West Ham United winning the Conference League in 2023, their ‘drought’ is only a single year. David Moyes had led his club to the semi-finals of the Europa League a year prior, but they went one step further in Europe’s third-tier competition.

Can Graham Potter lead them back onto the continental stage? Only time will tell.

11

Chelsea

2 years (last trophy: 2021 Club World Cup)

Chelsea’s two-year trophy drought must feel like a lifetime for the supporters, especially due to the problems they have endured on the pitch since the start of the 2022/23 season.

Their last trophy came in February 2022, with the Blues taking part in a pandemic-delayed edition of the Club World Cup following their 2021 Champions League triumph.

Chelsea are now on their fourth permanent manager since August 2022, but signs do look positive that Enzo Maresca will eventually get the club back in the winner’s circle.

Much will depend on whether he is given the time required to build his team into one that can return to the Champions League. If so, the Stamford Bridge side could prove to be challengers at the top once again.

10

Leicester City

3 years (last trophy: 2021 FA Cup)

Leicester City’s fairytale Premier League title triumph in 2016 was their first major trophy since winning the League Cup in 2000.

Indeed, with the money involved in the game these days, the likelihood of a club like the Foxes claiming the Premier League title is as unrealistic as ever.

Five years after this triumph, the club won the FA Cup courtesy of a 1-0 win over Chelsea, winning the competition for the first time in their history after losing four finals on the spin.

9

Arsenal

4 years (last trophy: 2020 FA Cup)

For all that Mikel Arteta has done since taking over Arsenal at the end of 2019, the FA Cup won in August 2020 remains his only trophy.

The Gunners have made strides in the top flight, finishing second in the previous two seasons – the first time they have managed back-to-back top-two finishes for 20 years.

Liverpool appear to be running away with the title this season, but the club still have an outside chance of ending their four-year wait for silverware, especially as they are also in the last 16 of the Champions League.

8

Tottenham Hotspur

16 years (last trophy: 2008 League Cup)

What more can be said about Spurs that hasn’t already been said? Postecoglou looked like a breath of fresh air when he began his reign last summer, leading the club to a fifth-placed Premier League finish.

Hopes were high ahead of the current season that the former Celtic manager could finally end Spurs’ 16-year trophy drought, but it appears as though this will stretch into another year.

The 2008 League Cup was the last trophy the club won. Will the Australian boss be given more time to end this drought?

7

Aston Villa

28 years (last trophy: 1996 League Cup)

Aston Villa’s chances of claiming a major trophy have arguably never been better, especially with Unai Emery leading the team.

The fourth-place finish last term saw the Midlands side qualify for the Champions League for the first time, going on to finish in the top eight of the league phase, securing a passage through to the last 16.

The 1996 League Cup remains their last major trophy. Since then, they have lost two FA Cup finals (2000 and 2015) while losing two League Cup finals (2010 and 2020).

6

Everton

29 years (last trophy: 1995 FA Cup)

David Moyes’ first spell in charge of Everton established the club as a regular in the top half of the Premier League table. Indeed, during his 11-year spell between 2002 and 2013, the Toffees finished outside the top ten only twice, and both of them came within his first four seasons.

Despite this incredible consistency, the Goodison Park side played just one major final, losing to Chelsea in the FA Cup back in 2009.

Retaining the club’s top-flight status is Moyes’ priority between now and the end of the season, but a first trophy in over 29 years will be his focus after that.

5

Nottingham Forest

34 years (last trophy: 1990 League Cup)

Nottingham Forest are enjoying their finest season of the 21st century, as they are firmly in the race for European football. Nuno Espírito Santo has transformed a club that narrowly avoided relegation last season.

However, despite the club’s stature in the modern game, thanks to Brian Clough, their last major trophy was the League Cup in 1990, which they secured in a 1-0 over Oldham Athletic.

Forest have since slipped as low as the third tier since then, but it looks like the good times could be returning.

4

Ipswich Town

43 years (last trophy: 1981 UEFA Cup)

Ipswich Town’s glory period came under Sir Bobby Robson in the late 70s and early 80s. They won the FA Cup in 1978 before securing the UEFA Cup in 1981.

They beat Dutch side AZ over two legs, with the Tractor Boys prevailing 5-4 on aggregate despite a 4-2 defeat in the second leg in Amsterdam.

That success was their last major honour, and they might have to wait a few more years to win the next one.

3

Wolves

44 years (last trophy: 1980 League Cup)

Wolverhampton Wanderers are in the midst of a relegation battle, as a first major trophy since 1980 looks a long way off.

Between 1949 and 1980, Wolves won three top-flight titles along with the FA Cup and League Cup twice each, but their lack of success since means they are currently on a 44-year drought.

2

Southampton

48 years (last trophy: 1976 FA Cup)

Southampton’s FA Cup win in 1976 over Man Utd was a massive shock, as the Saints were in the second tier at the time.

A late winner from Boby Stokes sealed the cup for Lawrie McMenemy’s unfancied side, though no Saints team has won major silverware in nearly half a century.

Since then, they have reached just three major finals – the League Cup finals in 1979 and 2017 and the 2003 FA Cup final – losing all three. They also finished second in the First Division back in 1984, finishing just three points behind Liverpool.

1

Newcastle United

55 years (last trophy: 1969 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup)

Newcastle’s well-publicised trophy drought has been discussed for years, even more so during the periods when they had a squad worthy of finally ending the wait for silverware.

They have perhaps found themselves unlucky having come up against the likes of Manchester Utd and Arsenal in back-to-back FA Cup finals (1998 and 1999), while they have also lost League Cup finals to the Red Devils and Man City since the 1970s.

Their biggest slip-up is almost certainly the 1995/96 Premier League, where Kevin Keegan’s side had a mammoth 12-point lead in mid-January, only to be pipped by four points by Ferguson’s United in the final standings.

Having reached a second League Cup final in three seasons, Eddie Howe will be hoping to earn hero status on Tyneside by ending almost 60 years of hurt.