The top 10 biggest sleeping giants in British football (Ranked) | OneFootball

FLW ranks the top 10 sleeping giants in British football right now.

We all have different opinions when it comes to football, but the unpredictability is undoubtedly what makes it so appealing.

It’s the case all over the world, but, particularly in Britain, your name counts for nothing when the whistle blows, and we have seen many shocks, whether it’s in the Premier League, the FA Cup or in the EFL.

In the modern world, the way clubs are run has become increasingly important, with the likes of Brighton, Bournemouth and Brentford excelling due to the model they have in place.

Their ability to operate as a business, as well as finding advantages in recruitment, has allowed them all to get an edge over their rivals, and the trio are all undoubtedly enjoying the best moments in their history.

Despite that, some clubs are still looked down upon due to their size, and there’s no denying it’s hugely frustrating for big clubs to see others with fewer resources do so well.

With that in mind, FLW ranks the top TEN sleeping giants in British football right now.

10 ? ? Celtic

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Some may dispute this, as Celtic are dominating in Scotland, but it’s a reference to how they compete in Europe.

The Glasgow giants were the first British side to lift the European Cup in 1967, so they have a rich heritage at that level, and they are a club with fans across the globe.

Yet, they have failed to make much of an impact in Europe’s top competition on a consistent basis for a very long time, and that includes failing to qualify through the play-off rounds.

A defeat over two legs to Kairat Almaty last year was a real low point, but it joined a growing list in terms of European embarrassments for the club.

The financial reality of the modern game means Celtic can’t be expected to make a big mark in the Champions League, but they should certainly be doing more than they have done.

9 ? ? Cardiff City

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It’s a good time to be a Cardiff fan right now, as the club have won promotion back to the Championship under Brian Barry-Murphy, with the head coach having built a stylish team around many academy graduates.

However, that doesn’t detract from their underachievements in the game over a long period of time now.

They may only have the FA Cup as a major honour, but the potential of Cardiff is huge. Obviously, as the capital of Wales, they should have a huge catchment area in terms of their support.

The mismanagement of Vincent Tan has understandably alienated a chunk of those over the years, and there is a feeling that Cardiff just aren’t maximising their potential, having barely spent any of their recent history in the top division.

There is hope that Barry-Murphy can help Cardiff tap into that potential, as he builds a club with an identity, as well as one that can get results on the pitch.

8 ? ? Bradford City

Bradford are another club that boast a huge catchment area in terms of their support, and, in fairness, the numbers they have got in the third and fourth tier over recent years is hugely impressive.

It has been very tough to be a Bantams fan for the past 25 years, with the club seemingly going from one problem to another following their relegation from the Premier League.

But, like Cardiff, there are some signs of recovery, as they gear up for another year in League One under Graham Alexander, and promotion to the Championship will be the aim.

When you see the size of the support, the ground, and the potential, playing in the second tier should be the minimum expectation for a club like Bradford, so they will hope they can get back to where they feel they belong.

7 ? ? Derby County

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For football fans in their 20s, Derby will largely be seen as a Championship club who had the worst Premier League campaign ever when they did get promoted.

But, this is a club that has won two top division titles and an FA Cup, with the legendary Brian Clough leading them from the third tier to the top tier and claiming that first title.

They are another club with impressive support, and the fans have rallied behind the Rams in some very difficult moments over the years.

With John Eustace now in place, they are another club who can look ahead with optimism, as they will feel the dark days are behind them, but, as it stands, Derby still have to be classed as a sleeping giant because they have endured so much with little in return for the past two decades.

6

Leicester are a new addition to the list, as they had been seen as the perfect club for all to follow when they memorably shocked the world to win the Premier League ten years ago.

So, it depends on your interpretation of sleeping giants whether they should be here, but the reality is that everyone would agree the Foxes are not your average League One club.

From the remarkable training ground, the stadium, the rich modern history and the fan base, all connected to Leicester will question how they have found themselves in the third tier.

Of course, the answer is continuous poor decisions by those at the top of the club, and it has left them in a very difficult position both in the short-term and the long-term when you assess their financial situation.

If Russell Martin can’t guide Leicester back to the Championship at the first attempt, the outlook is bleak for the Midlands outfit.

5

Blackburn have a rich history in the English game, as they’ve won a League Cup, the FA Cup on six occasions, and the top division three times, which includes the Premier League in 1994/95.

That makes them more successful than a huge number of clubs in the country, but the past decade has been very tough for Rovers under their current owners.

Blackburn have been out of the top flight since 2012, having previously established themselves back at that level, and they’ve even dropped to League One.

Realistically, a return to the third tier is far more likely than winning promotion, and it feels the whole club has been driven into the ground under Venky’s, as Ewood Park is sparse for most home games.

That’s a real shame, and whilst Venky’s could turn things around, it’s hard to see a positive future for Blackburn until they get a change in owners.

For a generation of football fans, Leeds were the best team in England, as they won a League Cup, an FA Cup, two Inter-Cities Fairs’ Cups, two top division titles and reached a European Cup final in a seven-year period.

As well as that, they won the First Division in 1992, and were competing in the latter stages of European competitions, including the Champions League, under David O’Leary.

So, even though Leeds are now in a good place under Daniel Farke, having spent most of the past 20 years in the EFL, they are a long way away from being a team that can compete with the best in the country on a regular basis.

Given the fan base and reach of Leeds, they will feel there is so much more to come, as they look to win their first major silverware since their own class of ‘92.

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Again, some may dispute Everton’s inclusion on the list as they have always been a Premier League club, so they haven’t suffered as much as many other supporters have.

But, it’s all about context, and like Leeds, Everton were a dominant force in English football, although they have a bigger trophy cabinet than the Yorkshire outfit.

With nine top division titles, five FA Cup wins and a Cup Winners’ Cup, Everton are one of the most successful clubs in English football.

Yet, the last piece of silverware they lifted came in 1995, so a whole generation of Toffees fans have not seen the club lift a trophy.

That is remarkable considering Everton’s history, and it’s something that the new owners and David Moyes should be determined to change.

2 ? ? Rangers

Once more, this is down to the context, as Rangers are a hugely successful club in Scotland and Europe, but the reality is that their success has dried up considerably.

Of course, the off-field issues that left them in the fourth tier of Scottish football played a big part in their struggles, but Rangers have been back competing with Celtic for years now, and they just can’t overtake their Glasgow rivals.

They have won just one Scottish Cup since 2009, one League Cup since 2011, and their only top division title win since 2011 was in 2021, during Covid.

So, there’s no denying that Rangers have massively underachieved, and whilst they have done well in Europe, which included reaching a Europa League final, it does feel like they should be capable of so much more, particularly domestically.

With the fan base, the history and the room for growth, Rangers will expect the balance of power in Glasgow to tilt back their way very quickly.

1 ? ? Sheffield Wednesday

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Sheffield Wednesday have to be considered the biggest sleeping giant in British football right now after suffering a dismal few years.

The way they operated under former owner Dejphon Chansiri left the club on the brink, and they incredibly ended last season with 0 points following two deductions.

So, it’s fair to say that Wednesdayites have had it worse than most in recent years, and whilst the takeover by Arise Capital Partners means they can look forward, a club of their stature belongs at a higher level.

With four top division titles, three FA Cup wins and a League Cup victory, the Owls are a successful club, and Hillsborough is an iconic stadium. They will still attract big crowds despite their position, and supporters will hope they are ready to embark on a much more exciting era.