Frank Christian
As a prominent football club in both England and Europe, Chelsea has a rich legacy filled with numerous victories and honors.
Currently preparing for the 2024/25 UEFA Conference League final, Chelsea has the opportunity to become the first club to claim all three active UEFA club trophies, having already secured the Champions League and Europa League titles in the past.
The Cup Winners’ Cup was once part of that elite group, but since its conclusion in 1999, there have only been two major European competitions. With the launch of the Conference League in 2021, previous champions (Roma, West Ham, and Olympiacos) have limited experience in European finals.
This positions Chelsea well to potentially become the most celebrated team to claim this relatively new trophy.
Insights from The Sporting News highlight Chelsea’s historical achievements and reveal how they’ve accumulated most of their silverware, particularly during the financially prosperous period under Roman Abramovich.
Total Trophies Won by Chelsea
In all, Chelsea boasts a remarkable total of 34 major titles throughout their illustrious history.
This tally includes six titles from England’s top flight (excluding two Second Division championships) and two UEFA Champions League victories.
Most Recent Trophy Achievement
The last trophy celebrated by Chelsea was the FIFA Club World Cup in February 2022, marking their first triumph in that event.
They entered as the 2020/21 UEFA Champions League holders, with Thomas Tuchel guiding the team to victory against Manchester City and Pep Guardiola, thanks to Kai Havertz’s decisive goal in the 42nd minute for a 1-0 victory in Porto. They also secured the UEFA Super Cup that same year, winning a penalty shootout against Villarreal after a 1-1 draw.
Indeed, Chelsea’s recent achievements have predominantly come on the European front, including a Europa League win in the 2018/19 season.
Their last domestic title was the FA Cup in the 2017/18 season, following their most recent Premier League win. Since then, they have reached three FA Cup and three EFL Cup finals but have fallen short in each.
Historical Overview of Chelsea’s Trophies
| Trophy Type | Competition | Titles | Latest Win |
| Domestic | Premier League/First Division | 6 | 2016/17 |
| FA Cup | 8 | 2017/18 | |
| EFL Cup | 5 | 2014/15 | |
| FA Charity/Community Shield | 4 | 2009 | |
| Second Division | 2 | 1988/89 | |
| Continental | UEFA Champions League | 2 | 2020/21 |
| UEFA Europa League | 2 | 2018/19 | |
| UEFA Super Cup | 2 | 2021 | |
| UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup | 2 | 1997/98 | |
| International | FIFA Club World Cup | 1 | 2021 |
| TOTAL | 34 |
Premier League (First Division)
- Total Titles: 6
- Years Achieved: 1954/55, 2004/05, 2005/06, 2009/10, 2014/15, 2016/17
Despite Chelsea’s standing as one of the world’s elite football clubs, it is surprising to note they have only six top-flight domestic titles throughout their history.
They secured just one before the Premier League was formed, with the other five occurring during Roman Abramovich’s era. The club hasn’t claimed a league title since 2017 under Antonio Conte, experiencing considerable variations in their league placements since then.
FA Cup
- Total Titles: 8
- Years Achieved: 1969/70, 1996/97, 1999/00, 2006/07, 2008/09, 2009/10, 2011/12, 2017/18
Chelsea’s achievements in the FA Cup surpass their accomplishments in any other single tournament, having triumphed eight times—ranking third among English clubs, behind only Arsenal and Manchester United.
Half of these FA Cup victories came within a six-year period during the 2000s and 2010s. Notably, each of their last five FA Cup victories were decided by a single-goal margin. However, they’ve faced setbacks in their recent finals, losing to Arsenal, Leicester City, and Liverpool in consecutive years from 2020 to 2022.
EFL Cup/League Cup
- Total Titles: 5
- Years Achieved: 1964/65, 1997/98, 2004/05, 2006/07, 2014/15
Chelsea’s five League Cup victories place them joint fourth historically among English clubs, trailing only Liverpool, Man City, and Man United.
They last won the EFL Cup in 2015, yet like the FA Cup, they have faced defeat in their last three finals, with the most recent losses occurring against Liverpool in 2022 and 2024. Of their five overall defeats in this competition, four have occurred since 2008.
FA Community Shield (Charity Shield)
- Total Titles: 4
- Years Achieved: 1955, 2000, 2005, 2009
To compete in the Community Shield, clubs must have secured either the Premier League or FA Cup titles, as this match pits champions against each other to kick off the new season (if the same club won both competitions, the league runners-up participate).
Chelsea has amassed 14 titles across these two competitions, yielding 13 Community Shield participations (they achieved the double in 2009/10), yet have only triumphed in this trophy four times. They have encountered nine losses in the Community Shield, including defeats in their last five appearances since 2009.
Fortunately for Chelsea, this match is often seen as a friendly and not necessarily viewed as a major domestic trophy.
English Second Division
- Total Titles: 2
- Years Achieved: 1983/84, 1988/89
Before establishing themselves as a Premier League stalwart, Chelsea navigated between the top tier and second tier (currently known as the Championship) during the 1970s and 1980s.
They experienced relegation from the top tier (then termed the First Division) in 1975, 1978, and 1988. Of course, to be relegated three times, a club must secure promotion back to the top division each time, and Chelsea achieved two second-tier titles during that journey.
The last of these, in 1988/89, marked the conclusion of their absence from the English top flight—since 1992, they’ve been a constant presence in the Premier League and the three seasons prior.
UEFA Champions League (European Cup)
- Total Titles: 2
- Years Achieved: 2011/12, 2020/21
Prior to Abramovich’s ownership, Chelsea supporters could hardly imagine clinching Europe’s premier trophy. However, as the club grew in prestige and financial power, they began to contend for such lofty honors.
In 2012, Chelsea secured their first European title, defeating Bayern Munich on penalties following a 1-1 draw. They overcame the unique challenge of a host nation in the final, with Roberto Di Matteo steering the team towards victory, aided by their strong performance.
In the thrilling 88th minute, Didier Drogba scored to equalize the match.
Nine years later, Chelsea celebrated another title, triumphing over Man City 1-0 in Portugal. During their journey to this victory, they defeated both clubs from Madrid and Porto in the knockout rounds, with Olivier Giroud finishing as the team’s top scorer with six goals.
UEFA Europa League (UEFA Cup)
- Titles: 2
- Years won: 2012/13, 2018/19
Securing consecutive European championships isn’t uncommon, but achieving this feat across different tournaments is quite exceptional. Chelsea accomplished this in 2012/13 when, despite winning the Champions League the prior season, they faltered in the next round, exiting in the group stage and dropping to the Europa League.
Nevertheless, under Rafa Benitez, they clinched the Europa League title, marking their first victory in UEFA’s secondary competition.
The team repeated this success in 2018/19, decisively defeating Arsenal 4-1 in the final held in Azerbaijan. Coached by Maurizio Sarri, Chelsea overcame teams like Olympiacos, Dynamo Kyiv, and Eintracht Frankfurt to reach the final, where Eden Hazard scored twice, marking his last game with Chelsea before joining Real Madrid.
UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup
- Titles: 2
- Years won: 1970/71, 1997/98
The now-defunct Cup Winners’ Cup holds a special place in the hearts of older fans of European football, and Chelsea supporters surely cherish their two victories in this tournament.
Shuttered in 1999, this competition featured teams qualifying through domestic cup victories. For decades, it served as a counterpart to the Champions League, which primarily included only league champions back then.
Chelsea’s inaugural FA Cup win in 1970 allowed them to compete in the next season’s Cup Winners’ Cup, where they triumphed over Man City in the semifinals and Real Madrid in the final. Their subsequent FA Cup win in 1997 earned them another chance, and a pivotal goal from Gianfranco Zola secured a 1-0 victory against Stuttgart in the 1998 final in Stockholm.
UEFA Super Cup
- Titles: 2
- Years won: 1998, 2021
Similar to the Community Shield, the UEFA Super Cup is an early season match that features the previous season’s Champions League winner and the reigning Europa League champion.
Initially, the competition paired Champions League winners against Cup Winners’ Cup holders. Chelsea claimed their first Super Cup title in 1998, stepping in as Champions League winners to face Real Madrid — marking a rematch from their inaugural Cup Winners’ Cup final. The Blues won the match with a 1-0 score, thanks to a late goal by Gus Poyet.
Returning in 2021 after winning the Champions League, they emerged victorious on penalties following a 1-1 draw against Villarreal in Belfast.
Chelsea has lost this trophy three times, including during 2012 when, as defending Champions League winners, they were defeated by Atletico Madrid, the Europa League champions, with a score of 4-1.
FIFA Club World Cup
- Titles: 1
- Years won: 2021
The FIFA Club World Cup is expected to undergo significant changes in 2025, but prior to that, the tournament heavily favored European clubs.
For many years, it consisted of a seven-team bracket featuring the six most recent continental champions and one club nominated by the host country. This setup often benefitted the defending European champions, who typically held more power and resources in the competition.
Thanks to their two Champions League triumphs, Chelsea participated in the Club World Cup twice. Notably, they remain the last European team to lose in this event, suffering a shocking defeat in the 2012 final to Brazilian side Corinthians with a score of 1-0. They redeemed themselves nine years later by defeating Palmeiras 2-1, needing extra time to secure the win as fans worried about a repeat of history.
