Famous soccer clubs are usually celebrated for the trophies that fill their cabinets, the finals they’ve conquered, and the legends who lifted silverware in their colors. Yet history also remembers the teams that built strong reputations without ever tasting the joy of a major triumph. These are clubs that have filled stadiums, developed stars, and left their mark on domestic and international football, but for all their efforts, the ultimate prize has always slipped away.
Some have been around for more than a century, carrying generations of fans who still wait for glory. Others are newer projects, ambitious and well-backed, but still too fresh to break into the winners’ circle. Together, they remind us that soccer is not only about trophies but also about identity, loyalty, and the constant pursuit of success.
This is a ranking of 10 famous soccer clubs that, despite their history and recognition, have never won a trophy.
10. FK Krasnodar (Russia)
FK Krasnodar is unlike any of the other names here. They are new, ambitious, and built in an era when most clubs already had decades of history behind them. Founded in 2008 by billionaire businessman Sergey Galitsky, the club was created from scratch in the southern city of Krasnodar to become a modern powerhouse in Russian football.
Their youth system is one of the most advanced in the country, their stadium is one of the most beautiful in Europe, and their brand has been developed with precision. What they lack, however, is silverware.
Krasnodar have already shown signs of ambition on the European stage. They reached the last 16 of the Europa League twice, in 2017 and 2019, and even made the group stage of the Champions League in 2020. Domestically, their best league finish remains third in 2015, and they were runners-up in the Russian Cup in 2014 and 2023. But a trophy still escapes them.
Supporters of Krasnodar will argue that their time will come.
Sixteen years is short compared to the more than a century of existence for most clubs. Still, for a team built with such resources, patience is running out. The expectation is not just to compete but to win. Until then, the Bulls remain one of the most intriguing modern clubs to never lift a trophy.
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9. CD Maldonado (Uruguay)
From the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, Deportivo Maldonado are not among Uruguay’s most famous names, but they are one of the most curious. Founded in 1928, they have spent most of their history outside the spotlight. Yet over the years, Maldonado has become known as a stepping stone for players who would go on to bigger careers in Europe.
Stars like Alex Sandro, Allan, Gerónimo Rulli, and Willian José all passed through the Verdirrojos on their way to major clubs in Italy, Spain, and England. In Uruguay, though, Maldonado has never managed to step out of the shadows of giants like Peñarol and Nacional.
Their best domestic finishes came in 2022, when they ended third in both the Opening and Closing Championships. In the 2023 Uruguayan Cup, they reached the round of 16. With their centenary approaching in 2028, Maldonado remain a respected but trophyless side, famous less for what they’ve won than for the talent that has come and gone.
8. New York Red Bulls (USA)
Soccer in the United States has grown rapidly in the past three decades, and few clubs embody that rise more than the New York Red Bulls.
Founded in 1994 as the New York/New Jersey MetroStars, the club was rebranded after Red Bull purchased it in 2006. The energy drink company poured resources into the club, building a state-of-the-art stadium in New Jersey and bringing global stars like Thierry Henry to lead the team.
Despite that backing, the MLS Cup has always slipped through their fingers. Twice they’ve reached the final, in 2008 and 2024, only to lose. They have won the Supporters’ Shield, awarded for the best regular season record, three times. But in the United States, that isn’t considered a major title. Cup finals have brought even more disappointment: they lost in the U.S. Open Cup finals of 2003 and 2017.
For one of the league’s biggest markets, the lack of a crown weighs heavily. Fans still pack Red Bull Arena with hope every season, waiting for the breakthrough moment that will finally give the New York area a major soccer triumph.
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7. CD Leganés (Spain)
In the shadow of Madrid’s giants Real and Atlético sits Club Deportivo Leganés, founded in 1928. For most of their history, they were a small club battling in the lower divisions of Spanish football. But in 2016, Leganés made history by reaching La Liga for the first time, becoming the fifth club from Madrid to play in Spain’s top tier.
Leganés built a reputation as a tough, hardworking side that could frustrate bigger opponents. Their most famous triumph came in 2018, when they stunned Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu to knock them out of the Copa del Rey, eventually reaching the semi-finals.
That night remains their peak. Since 2020, they have returned to the second division, still searching for stability and their first-ever trophy. Supporters, known as Pepineros, continue to fill the small Butarque Stadium with pride. But the dream of lifting a cup or title remains out of reach.
6. Watford (England)
Watford are one of English football’s yo-yo clubs, bouncing between the Premier League and the Championship over the years. Founded in 1881, they have built a passionate following in the north-west suburbs of London. Their golden era came in the early 1980s under manager Graham Taylor and with Elton John as chairman.
In 1983, Watford finished second in the old First Division, an incredible achievement for a club of their size. The following year, they reached the FA Cup final but lost to Everton.
In 2019, another chance at glory slipped away when they were heavily beaten 6-0 by Manchester City in the FA Cup final.
To this day, Watford are one of the few clubs to finish second in England’s top division without ever winning it. Their story is one of close calls and near misses. For fans, the Hornets remain a source of pride, but the empty trophy cabinet still lingers as a frustration.
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5. Union Berlin (Germany)
Union Berlin is one of the most remarkable stories in modern football. Founded in 1906 and re-established in 1966, they were long considered underdogs in German football. For years, they played outside the Bundesliga, building a cult following known for its passion and defiance.
In 2019, Union finally reached the Bundesliga for the first time. Since then, they have stunned Germany by not only surviving but thriving. They secured qualification for the Europa Conference League, then the Europa League, and eventually even played in the Champions League in 2023.
Yet despite their rise, Union has no major trophy. Their only title remains the East German Cup in 1968. They reached the German Cup final in 2001 but lost. For a club with such incredible growth and community spirit, silverware remains the missing piece.
4. SC Freiburg (Germany)
Few clubs capture the spirit of loyalty and identity like SC Freiburg. Founded in 1904, Freiburg has long been a symbol of resilience in German football. They are best known for their long-serving manager,Volker Finke, who led the team for 16 years, a record in professional German football until recently.
Freiburg has produced influential players, including Joachim Löw, who later coached Germany to World Cup victory. They are loved for their community feel and for competing in the Bundesliga with modest resources.
But the one thing missing is a trophy. Their closest attempt came in 2022, when they reached the German Cup final, only to lose to RB Leipzig. In the Bundesliga, their highest finish has been fifth, most recently in 2022 and 2023.
Despite the lack of silverware, Freiburg remains one of the most admired clubs in Europe. Their consistency and identity are their trophies, though their fans continue to dream of the day when real silverware arrives.
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3. AFC Wimbledon (England)
Few clubs in world football have a story like AFC Wimbledon. Born in 2002 out of heartbreak, this is a team that exists because of its fans. When Wimbledon FC was controversially relocated to Milton Keynes and renamed MK Dons, supporters refused to let their history and identity be erased. They created a new club from scratch, starting at the very bottom of English football.
Within nine years, AFC Wimbledon rose into the Football League.
Their climb has been remarkable, marked by spirit, loyalty, and community rather than silverware. Along the way, they reached the fifth round of the FA Cup in 2019 and have battled in League One, where their best finish was 15th in 2017.
The lack of trophies doesn’t diminish their story. For fans, every promotion has felt like winning something bigger than a cup or a medal. Yet in footballing terms, the club still waits for its first major triumph. AFC Wimbledon remains a symbol of what supporters can achieve when they fight to keep their identity alive, even without the glitter of trophies.
2. Brighton & Hove Albion (England)
Brighton is a club that feels like it’s on the cusp of something special. Founded in 1901, the Seagulls have lived through ups and downs, from financial struggles to relegations and near extinction. But since their return to the Premier League in 2017, they have built a strong reputation as a modern, well-run club.
In 1983, Brighton reached the FA Cup final and came within minutes of winning, only for Manchester United to beat them in a replay. That remains their closest brush with a major trophy. They have won lower-league titles, but never at the top level.
Under Roberto De Zerbi, Brighton finished sixth in the Premier League in 2023, qualifying for Europe for the first time. Their journey continues to inspire admiration. For now, though, the wait for a first major piece of silverware continues.
1. Fulham (England)
At the top of this list sits Fulham, the oldest professional club in London, founded in 1879. Despite their long history and famous home at Craven Cottage, Fulham have never won a major trophy.
They came close in 1975, when they lost the FA Cup final to West Ham. In 2010, they reached the Europa League final, only to lose to Atlético Madrid. The club has also won promotion to the Premier League several times, but league titles remain out of reach.
Fulham’s most notable success came in 2003, when they won the Intertoto Cup, a minor European competition. But for a club of their stature and age, that is a thin return. Fans remain loyal, filling Craven Cottage every week with hope.
For now, Fulham remains a story of tradition without triumph, a club steeped in history but still chasing the ultimate prize.
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