Winning the English Premier League is basically the hardest thing to do in world football. You’ve got the money, the history, and the sheer physical brutality of a 38-game season that stretches from the August heat to the freezing rain of January. It’s a marathon that leaves most teams broken.
Since 1992, the "English Premier League winners list" has become an exclusive club. Honestly, it’s smaller than you might expect. Only seven teams have ever lifted that specific trophy. While the old First Division had plenty of variety, the modern era has mostly been a story of dominant dynasties and the occasional, earth-shattering miracle.
In 2025, we saw a massive shift in the power balance. Liverpool, under Arne Slot, finally climbed back to the top of the mountain. They ended the 2024-25 season with 84 points, fending off a relentless Arsenal to claim their 20th English league title overall and their second in the Premier League era. It felt like the end of an era for Manchester City, who had won four in a row before finally being dethroned.
The English Premier League Winners List: Every Champion Since 1992
If you look at the raw data, the names repeat. A lot. It’s a reflection of how wealth and coaching stability dictate who gets to celebrate on that final Sunday in May.
- 1992-93: Manchester United (84 pts)
- 1993-94: Manchester United (92 pts)
- 1994-95: Blackburn Rovers (89 pts)
- 1995-96: Manchester United (82 pts)
- 1996-97: Manchester United (75 pts) — The lowest points total to ever win the league.
- 1997-98: Arsenal (78 pts)
- 1998-99: Manchester United (79 pts)
- 1999-00: Manchester United (91 pts)
- 2000-01: Manchester United (80 pts)
- 2001-02: Arsenal (87 pts)
- 2002-03: Manchester United (83 pts)
- 2003-04: Arsenal (90 pts) — The famous "Invincibles" season.
- 2004-05: Chelsea (95 pts)
- 2005-06: Chelsea (91 pts)
- 2006-07: Manchester United (89 pts)
- 2007-08: Manchester United (87 pts)
- 2008-09: Manchester United (90 pts)
- 2009-10: Chelsea (86 pts)
- 2010-11: Manchester United (80 pts)
- 2011-12: Manchester City (89 pts) — Won on goal difference in the final seconds.
- 2012-13: Manchester United (89 pts)
- 2013-14: Manchester City (86 pts)
- 2014-15: Chelsea (87 pts)
- 2015-16: Leicester City (81 pts) — The 5,000-1 miracle.
- 2016-17: Chelsea (93 pts)
- 2017-18: Manchester City (100 pts) — The "Centurions."
- 2018-19: Manchester City (98 pts)
- 2019-20: Liverpool (99 pts)
- 2020-21: Manchester City (86 pts)
- 2021-22: Manchester City (93 pts)
- 2022-23: Manchester City (89 pts)
- 2023-24: Manchester City (91 pts)
- 2024-25: Liverpool (84 pts)
The Ferguson Era: When Manchester United Owned the League
Sir Alex Ferguson is the reason the "English Premier League winners list" looks the way it does. He didn't just win; he built three or four entirely different squads that all reached the same destination. 13 titles. That’s a number that feels impossible in the modern game.
People forget how close Blackburn Rovers came to stopping the momentum early on. In 1995, Kenny Dalglish led a squad powered by Alan Shearer’s goals to a title that went down to the final day. United lost out at West Ham, and the trophy headed to Ewood Park. It was a brief interruption. Ferguson’s "Class of '92"—Beckham, Giggs, Scholes, and the Nevilles—reshaped the league's DNA.
📖 Related: Matthew Berry Positional Rankings: Why They Still Run the Fantasy Industry
Arsenal and the Perfection of the Invincibles
Arsène Wenger changed English football forever. He brought in nutrition, scouting from overlooked markets, and a style of play that was basically ballet with a ball.
In 2003-04, Arsenal did something no one has done since: they went 38 games without losing. 26 wins. 12 draws. Zero losses. It’s sort of wild that even with that record, they "only" finished with 90 points. Manchester City has since surpassed that points total multiple times, but they've never managed the "0" in the loss column. Thierry Henry was a cheat code that year, scoring 30 league goals and making world-class defenders look like they were wearing work boots.
Chelsea, Roman, and the Mourinho Impact
The landscape shifted again in 2004. Roman Abramovich bought Chelsea and hired a guy called José Mourinho who had just won the Champions League with Porto.
They weren't just rich; they were organized. In 2004-05, Chelsea conceded only 15 goals. Think about that for a second. Across 38 matches, they barely let in a goal every three games. Petr Cech, John Terry, and Ricardo Carvalho formed a wall that nobody could climb. They broke the United-Arsenal duopoly and forced everyone else to spend big just to keep up.
The Leicester City Miracle: 5,000-1 Odds
Every few decades, something happens that defies logic. Leicester City winning the league in 2016 is that thing. They had barely survived relegation the year before. They hired Claudio Ranieri, a manager many thought was past his prime.
👉 See also: What Time Did the Cubs Game End Today? The Truth About the Off-Season
They didn't have the highest possession. They didn't have the biggest stars. But they had N'Golo Kanté, who played like three people, and Jamie Vardy, who couldn't stop scoring. While the "Big Six" all decided to have an identity crisis at the same time, Leicester just kept winning 1-0. It remains the most romantic moment in the history of the Premier League.
The Modern Machine: Manchester City’s Reign
Under Pep Guardiola, Manchester City turned winning into a science. They became the first team to hit 100 points in 2018. Then they became the first to win four consecutive titles (2021-2024).
City's dominance has been controversial for some because of the 115 financial charges looming over the club, but on the pitch, the football has been undeniable. They play a game of "keep ball" that eventually suffocates the opposition. Erling Haaland’s arrival only made it worse for the rest of the league, as he smashed the single-season scoring record with 36 goals in his debut year.
Liverpool’s Recent Redemption
Liverpool fans waited 30 years to see their team on the winners list. When they finally did it in 2020 under Jürgen Klopp, the world was in the middle of a pandemic. It was a strange, silent celebration in empty stadiums, but the 99-point total showed just how good that team was.
Fast forward to 2025, and the vibe is different. Arne Slot's Liverpool feels more controlled. They don't always "heavy metal" their way to wins anymore. They’re tactical. Mo Salah, even in the twilight of his career, managed 29 goals in the 2024-25 campaign. It’s a testament to the club’s recruitment that they could lose a legendary manager like Klopp and still find the formula to beat a peak Arsenal and a wounded Man City.
✨ Don't miss: Jake Ehlinger Sign: The Real Story Behind the College GameDay Controversy
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you're looking at the history of the league to predict the future, keep these realities in mind:
- Defense wins titles, but 90 points is the new 80. You used to be able to win with 75-80 points. Now, if you aren't pushing 90, you're probably finishing second or third.
- The "Post-Legend" Slump is real. Manchester United hasn't won a title since Ferguson retired in 2013. Arsenal went 20 years between titles. Replacing a visionary manager is the hardest task in sports.
- Squad depth matters more than a star XI. With the increased intensity of the 2025-26 schedule, the teams with the best "bench" usually pull away in March and April.
The list of winners isn't just a record of who was best. It’s a map of how football evolved from a physical battle of wills in the 90s to a high-speed game of chess in the 2020s.
To truly understand the trajectory of the league, look at the gap between the winners and second place. In the 90s, it was often tight. Now, we see seasons where the top two are 15 points clear of the rest of the world. The league is getting more top-heavy, but as Leicester showed us, the "impossible" is always one good recruitment window away.
Follow the current 2025-26 season closely to see if a new name can finally join the elite seven, or if the traditional powers will continue their stranglehold on the trophy. Look for injury patterns in the mid-winter months, as that's traditionally where the eventual champion separates themselves from the "pretenders."