With this weekend being an FA Cup weekend, I've decided to a a FA Cup related top 10 this week and the top 10 this week is the best teams to have won the FA Cup.
The FA Cup is one of the oldest cup competitions in the world and arguably the greatest in English football. We've seen many giant killings, memorable moments and great goals in this competition over the years, alongside some great teams winning it.
We have seen some great teams win the FA Cup over it's long history and the winners of it are the teams that are remembered the best. Most of the teams are the list I've come up with are from the modern era, but there are a few from the pre-Premier League era and it feels right to include them.
And here is the list:
Man United - 1999
Tottenham - 1991
Arsenal - 2005
Man City - 2019
Liverpool - 2001
Chelsea - 2010
Man United - 2004
Liverpool - 2022
Man City - 2023
Liverpool - 1986
Tottenham - 1991
This Spurs side finished 10th in the old First Division that season and it's why I have them in this position. But they did win the cup and some top players in their side including Gary Lineker and Paul Gascoigne.
They beat Arsenal in the semi finals at the old Wembley and it was an Arsenal side that would go on to win the title. Gazza scored an incredible free kick in that game before Lineker struck in each half to send Spurs to the final.
They secured the cup by beating Brian Clough's Nottingham Forest 2-1 in the final after extra time, four years after losing in the final to Man City in 1987.
Liverpool - 2001
This Liverpool side won the treble in 2001 and the FA Cup win was the second part of of it after winning the League Cup earlier in the season, and before going on to win the UEFA Cup at the end.
It was a young Liverpool side managed by Gerard Houllier, who was a manager who both brought through and developed young players including Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher and Michael Owen, who developed into a fine finisher under him.
The reds were heading for defeat heading into the final minutes of the final against Arsenal, who had the better of the chances in the game and were looking the side in control. But up stepped Michael Owen, who scored a quickfire double in six minutes to turn the game around and win the cup for Liverpool.
Arsenal - 2005
This Arsenal side beat Man United on penalties to win the final in 2005 and it was the last trophy they won before their 9 year drought and long decline.
This side won the cup the year after going the entire league season unbeaten and they still had a lot of the players they have from that side including Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp, Patrick Vieira and Sol Campbell. It was pretty much the same team.
It was a great team on paper, but I had to put it in 8th because they were well off the pace in the Premier League that season, and the teams above them were slightly better.
Liverpool - 2022
This Liverpool side was arguably the strongest they ever had because of the options and quality they had in all areas. Their attack certainly looked the strongest area as it had the likes of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino, Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz, whose arrival in January strengthened their squad further.
They were chasing a quadruple that season but only ended up with a double after winning the Carabao Cup a few months prior before missing out on the Premier League to Man City and losing the Champions League final to Real Madrid.
They beat Chelsea on penalties to win the final in 2022 after goalless draw in normal time and extra time, just like it was in the Carabao Cup against the same opponents.
Man United - 2004
This Man United may have had an arguably easier final out of all the teams on this list as they were facing Championship Millwall. But they still had to perform to win the final and they that with a very strong team.
They still had players who won many league titles with them including Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and captain Roy Keane as well as the two Neville brothers. They also had a fine finisher in the box in Ruud Van Nistelrooy, who netted twice in the final, and an exciting youngster called Cristiano Ronaldo, who also scored in the final.
They had to watch Arsenal go the entire league season unbeaten, but they did get them back by beating them in the semi finals before going on to win the competition, which was the only thing they had to cheer about that season.
Liverpool - 1986
Out of the three Liverpool sides on this list, this one is by far the best as this was them in their heyday. They were the dominant force in English football during the 80's, and this team is one of the best they've ever had.
This Liverpool side won the double in this year winning both the league and the FA Cup, and their team was glittered with quality. They had two solid defenders at the back in Alan Hansen and Mark Lawrenson, and two top class strikers in Ian Rush and Kenny Dalglish, who was player-manager at the time.
They beat rivals Everton in the final at the old Wembley and they came from behind to win with Rush scoring twice in a 3-1 win.
Chelsea - 2010
This Chelsea team won the FA Cup for the second running after beating Everton in the final the year before. They beat a relegated and financially struggling Portsmouth side in the final of this year with Didier Drogba's goal being the difference.
The blues won the double in this season under Carlo Ancelotti, with Drogba and Lampard both having their best season in terms of goals.
This team was Chelsea in their prime and especially for the group of players they had in Petr Cech, John Terry, Ashley Cole, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba, most of whom were at the club at the beginning of their successful era under owner Roman Abramovich.
Man City - 2019
This Man City side won a domestic treble and they completed it by thrashing Watford 6-0 in the final of the FA Cup.
They played some excellent football that year under Pep Guardiola both in the league and the FA Cup. They certainly did that in the final and especially in the second half where their performances levels went up another level after Kevin De Bruyne came off the bench.
They had an easy run-in to the final with all their games being against winnable opponents, and they won most of them rather convincingly. Especially the opening rounds.
Man United - 1999
This Man United side was the first English side to have won the treble and their FA Cup win was the second part of it.
They beat Newcastle in the final of that year and the team they had was just incredible and one of the greatest sides in English football. Definitely their greatest ever side under Fergie.
This team looked strong all over both on the pitch and on the bench as they had a strong XI and players who could come off the bench and make an impact. Especially in attack with Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer both being effective back ups to both Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke, who both had an incredible partnership.
Man City - 2023
This side for me is the greatest that English football has ever seen because they won the treble, and played some incredible football along the way.
This Man City side had an incredibly strong squad as well as an incredibly strong team under Pep Guardiola, and the football they played in this season was just brilliant to watch like it has been throughout his time there.
They won most of their FA Cup games rather comfortably on their way to the final, where they beat rivals Man United with a controlled and dominant performance. Ilkay Gundogan scored twice for them that day with his first coming after 12 seconds.
MY TOP 10:
Man City - 2023
Man United - 1999
Man City - 2019
Chelsea - 2010
Liverpool - 1986
Man United - 2004
Liverpool - 2022
Arsenal - 2005
Liverpool - 2001
Tottenham - 1991
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