They say that once you are at the top people can’t wait to shoot you down, something which Manchester City might just find out to their cost this season; but there’s one way to prove your title winning credentials and that’s to do it again and again.
In total 11 clubs in the First Division and Premier League history have successfully defended their title, some more than once; so if City are to prove they are the real deal they will need to make it 12 in order to join one of the most elite clubs in English football.
Manchester United
With seven top-flight title defences Manchester United currently hold the record when it comes to retaining the championship. After winning the league in 1956 the “Busby Babes” won it 12 months later but United would not achieve the feat again until 1994. Back-to-back titles followed again in 1996 and 1997 as well as a hat-trick of titles at the turn of the millennium, an achievement which was matched once more by Alex Ferguson’s men when they were crowned champions in 2007, 2008 and 2009.
Liverpool
With 18 league titles to their name. Liverpool have enjoyed five successful defences. Their first came in 1923 after they’d won their fourth league championship and the Reds would defend the title four times between 1976 and 1984 as they were crowned champions an astonishing seven times in nine seasons. Although they finished top of the pile again three times before the end of the ‘80s each of these triumphs was followed by a second place finish.
Arsenal
Herbert Chapman would lead Arsenal to their first title in 1931 but could only finish second behind Everton a year later. However the title went back to Highbury in 1933 and, despite the tragic passing of Chapman from pneumonia in early 1934, the Gunners successfully defended their title that May with George Allison in charge before he oversaw another successful defence to secure a hat-trick of titles in 1935.
Aston Villa
Defending the title they’d won in 1896 by claiming the league and cup double in 1897 three years later Villa were celebrating another back-to-back title success in 1900; but having been so dominant at the turn of the 20th century their sixth title in 1910 would be their last for another 71 years when they won the league under Ron Saunders in 1981.
Sheffield Wednesday
Known as The Wednesday until 1929 the Sheffield outfit won their first ever league title in 1903 and promptly retained the trophy when they were crowned as champions 12 months later. And a change of name didn’t bring with it a change of fortunes as the newly named Sheffield Wednesday went on to secure back-to-back titles in 1929 and 1930.
Huddersfield Town
Herbert Chapman made his name transforming Arsenal into the powerhouse of English football that they are today, but before arriving at Highbury he would lead Huddersfield Town to consecutive titles in 1924 and 1925. Far from capitulating following his departure The Terriers completed a hat-trick of titles in 1926 under Chapman’s successor Cecil Potter to make it three in a row.
Chelsea
Having won their first title in 1955 Chelsea would have to wait half a century before being crowned champions again by winning the Premier League in 2005. But like London busses two came along in quick succession as Jose Mourinho’s men successfully defended their crown in 2006, two of three championships in six seasons which would end up at Stamford Bridge.
Wolverhampton Wanderers
The 1950s were very much Wolves’ glory days as they claimed their first league championship in 1954 before winning two successive titles in 1958 and 1959 as the men from Molineux vied with Manchester United to be the top team in English football.
Portsmouth
One of only five English teams to have won back-to-back top-flight Leagues since the end of World War II Portsmouth clinched their first championship in 1949 after pipping Manchester United to the crown and successfully defended their title 12 months later by beating Aston Villa 5–1 on the last day of the 1949/50 season.
Sunderland
Sunderland won the league championship in 1892, just one season after joining the newly formed Football League, before finishing above Preston North End, who were going for their third title in four years, to defend the title a season later; the second of six top-flight championships which have been won by the Black Cats to date.
Preston North End
Preston won the first ever Football League championship in emphatic style as they went the entirety of that season without losing a game, and to prove it wasn’t a fluke they defended their crown at the first time of asking to become the first club ever to win back-to-back titles.
