Several Premier League stars have won the most prestigious title at the club level, UCL, but never lifted the league trophy at all.
The UEFA Champions League has been considered the highest trophy at the club level, even more prestigious than league titles. Having both UCL and league titles would be a perfect collection for any footballer. Such an ideal achievement.
Nonetheless, in football, there have always been anomalies where star players have won the UCL trophy without clinching a single domestic league title. Some are still actively playing, while others have retired.
The most recent example is probably German international Kai Havertz. He scored a winning goal when Chelsea won the Champions League in 2021 after a narrow 1-0 win over Pep Guardiola’s men. After two trophyless seasons at Stamford Bridge, he decided to switch sides to Arsenal. At first, things seemed to be working well, as the Gunners were leading the standings for most of the season. Unfortunately, Manchester City could take over the top spot at the final stage of the title race by taking full advantage of the extra game. Havertz has to succumb to another trophyless season. However, he could inspire another title race again with the hope of ending the league title drought next season. Should he keep up his good form, Arsenal tickets will remain in high demand throughout the season.
Here are the other EPL stars who have been lucky to win UCL but not so lucky with the league title.
Timo Werner
The former Havertz teammate at Chelsea is certainly one familiar name on the list. He was part of Thomas Tuchel’s squad when the Blues clinched the Champions League title in 2021. He contributed four goals in the competition, plus six goals and eight assists in the domestic league in 35 games. Such was surely not a convincing goal record for the Bundesliga top scorer in 2019/20.
In his second season with Chelsea, Werner even played fewer games, especially after the arrival of Romelu Lukaku. The German international only made 21 appearances and registered four goals plus one assist. He only managed to help Chelsea finish third, despite winning the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup. The 28-year-old forward has yet to lift a domestic league title until now. His return to RB Leipzig did not end well, as he often struggled with physical fitness. This led to his loan exit in January 2024, when he signed for Tottenham. His form and confidence have been gradually improving under Ange Postecoglou. As a result, Spurs have just extended his loan for next season.
Jorginho
He was Chelsea’s key man when they won the Champions League in 2021. The Italian midfielder joined The Blues in 2018 under his former boss in Napoli, Maurizio Sarri. Yet, during his stay at Stamford Bridge, he enjoyed more success in continental competition by winning the Europa League 2019, the UEFA Cup, and the FIFA Club World Cup 2021, along with UCL. He was also instrumental in helping Italy win EURO 2021 despite failing to convert a penalty in the shootout.
Last season, he plied his trade to Arsenal, hoping that he could lift the Premier League trophy, although he is no longer the mainstay under Mikel Arteta. Yet, once again, Jorginho has been unable to add to his silverware collection. The Gunners have failed to keep up with the reigning champions, Manchester City, in the latter stages.
Fernando Torres
The prolific goal scorer during his peak years in the 2000s was also unfortunate in his years. On the international level, Torres had enjoyed glorious years with Spain, from winning EURO 2008 and 2012, when he also scored in each final, to the FIFA World Cup in 2010.
The former Atletico Madrid man has switched sides to several top sides after he failed to win a single title at Anfield. Sadly, his spells at Chelsea, and AC Milan, and his return to Los Rojiblancos did not result in any league trophies. What’s worse, all of his former sides managed to win league titles when he left the club. On the contrary, the former forward won the Champions League 2012 and Europa League 2013 with Chelsea, plus another one for the latter title in 2018 with Atletico before he hangs his boots in 2019.
Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher
These two former Liverpool stars were part of the team’s squad during their banter era. The Reds had never won any league trophies despite having them as well as other top players such as Robbie Fowler, Michael Owen, Harry Kewell, Djibril Cisse, Fernando Torres, Xabi Alonso, Pepe Reina, Luis Suarez, and Daniel Sturridge in the squad from the mid-1990s to the early 2000s.
Gerrard joined Liverpool’s first team in 1998, while Carragher had been in the team two years earlier. The former had been a superb midfielder who was capable of creating chances and scoring from long range. He was often deployed as a winger and defensive midfielder. Throughout his career, the current Al Ettifaq boss has bagged 186 goals and provided 154 assists for the Reds. Yet none led to a Premier League trophy.
The same way goes for Carra. The former centre-back, who was occasionally operating on the right flank as a right-back, was so unlucky in the English top flight. Carragher played 787 games, scoring four goals and making twenty assists for the Reds.
Both of them experienced the title race twice in 2003 and 2009, which ended in their defeat by finishing second. The skipper, Gerrard, had another chance in 2014, a year after Carragher’s retirement. Unfortunately, he was ‘involved’ in Brendan Rodgers’s men’s failure dramatically with that infamous slip on his home turf.
Nevertheless, when it comes to non-league titles, Gerrard and Carra have won almost all of them. They won the FA Cup twice in 2001 and 2006, the EFL League Cup three times in 2001, 2003, and 2012, the UEFA Cup and UEFA Super Cup in 2001, and last but not least, the UEFA Champions League in 2005.