Every Community Shield Champion Revealed: The Complete Winners' Roll of Honor
While many lament the erosion of tradition in contemporary football, the Community Shield has endured as part of England's sporting calendar for over a hundred years.
Similar to other domestic tournaments, this yearly match has diminished in importance through the decades. Today, the competition is viewed by some as merely an elaborate exhibition match and the unofficial opener for the upcoming season.
The Community Shield has evolved through various formats since beginning in 1908. The current structure, where league champions face FA Cup winners, wasn't established until 1930, with the familiar format we recognize today being formalized by former FA Secretary Ted Croker in 1974.
While it may not qualify as a 'major trophy,' Community Shield victories are still counted by clubs among their historical achievements.
Below are the most accomplished teams in this yearly encounter.
Most Successful Community Shield Teams
Team | Community Shield Wins/Shared Titles | Years Won/Shared* |
|---|---|---|
Manchester United | 21 | 1908, 1911, 1952, 1956, 1957, 1965*, 1967*, 1977*, 1983, 1990*, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2016 |
Arsenal | 19 | 1930, 1931, 1933, 1934, 1938, 1948, 1953, 1991*, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2004, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2020, 2023 |
Liverpool | 16 | 1964*, 1965*, 1966, 1974, 1976, 1977*, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1986*, 1988, 1989, 1990*, 2001, 2006, 2022 |
Everton | 9 | 1928, 1932, 1963, 1970, 1984, 1985, 1986*, 1987, 1995 |
Tottenham Hotspur | 7 | 1921, 1951, 1961, 1962, 1967*, 1981*, 1991* |
Manchester City | 7 | 1937, 1968, 1972, 2012, 2018, 2019, 2024 |
Chelsea | 4 | 1955, 2000, 2005, 2009 |
Wolverhampton Wanderers | 4 | 1949*, 1954*, 1959, 1960* |
Leeds United | 2 | 1969, 1992 |
Leicester | 2 | 1971, 2021 |
West Brom | 2 | 1920, 1954* |
Burnley | 2 | 1960*, 1973 |
Newcastle United | 1 | 1909 |
Brighton & Hove Albion | 1 | 1910 |
Blackburn Rovers | 1 | 1912 |
Huddersfield Town | 1 | 1922 |
Cardiff | 1 | 1927 |
Sheffield Wednesday | 1 | 1935 |
Sunderland | 1 | 1936 |
Bolton | 1 | 1958 |
Derby County | 1 | 1975 |
Nottingham Forest | 1 | 1978 |
Portsmouth | 1 | 1949* |
West Ham United | 1 | 1964* |
Aston Villa | 1 | 1981* |
It comes as no shock that English football's elite clubs have controlled this competition since its creation.
Twenty-five different winners have emerged, not counting the Professional and Amateur XIs that frequently participated between 1913 and 1929. Manchester United leads with 21 complete victories and shared titles. Prior to 1993, the Shield was divided if no winner emerged after regulation time.
Among their 21 triumphs, 10 occurred under Sir Alex Ferguson's leadership, who frequently minimized the competition's significance. "It wasn't the genuine article," the Scottish manager remarked after United defeated their city rivals in the 2011 edition. The Red Devils haven't claimed victory since 2016, finishing as runners-up in 2024—marking their 10th Community Shield loss.
Arsenal, historically the most successful FA Cup team, holds the second-highest Community Shield tally (19), while Liverpool, who matched Man United's 20 league championships in May, boasts 16 victories. Everton, a powerhouse during the 1980s, has captured nine titles.
Only eight additional clubs have multiple victories, with the remaining 13 achieving success just once. Among those 13 single winners, three teams (Portsmouth, West Ham United and Aston Villa) only shared their titles.
2024 champions Manchester City have flourished in the modern era, securing four of their seven victories following their Abu Dhabi ownership. Chelsea similarly ranks among today's most successful clubs, becoming regular participants in this match since José Mourinho's initial tenure.