The best English players to never win the FA Cup

The FA Cup is the oldest national football competition in the world, and was first played during the 1871/72 season with an influence spanning over 150 years

A total of 745 teams took part in this year’s competition, showcasing the best talent English football has to offer.

This list compiles several high-profile players who have never got their hands on the illustrious trophy.

Rio Ferdinand

This Premier League Hall of Fame inductee won the league six times, as well as two League Cups and the prestigious UEFA Champions League, but never managed to get his hands on the FA Cup.

Ferdinand was one of the best centre-backs to grace the league; quick, powerful and confident on the ball and is known as one of the best defensive players of his generation.

Despite never winning the trophy, Ferdinand reached the final twice, both with Manchester United.

Falling at the final hurdle against Arsenal in 2004/05 and then Chelsea in 2006/07 left the English centre-back without the only notable trophy of his career.

Harry Kane

Having only recently won his first trophy of his career, it may not come as a surprise to many that Kane has made this list.

A Bundesliga title has ended the career-long drought of silverware that has plagued one of the most prolific strikers of a generation.

Despite scoring 17 goals in 27 FA Cup appearances, the semi-final is the furthest the Bayern Munich bagsman managed to reach in his time in England.

Now plying his trade in Germany, an FA Cup may never be on the horizon for England’s captain but the 31-year-old hasn’t had the career he’s had by giving up early.

Hopefully we will see Kane scoring on home soil before he hangs up his boots, maybe with a medal or two.

Alan Shearer

The Geordie bagged 27 times in 58 FA Cup appearances and managed to reach back-to-back FA Cup finals with Newcastle United but never lifted the coveted cup.

He captained the Magpies in two separate 2-0 final defeats, to both Arsenal and Manchester United, and the ex-England captain also never managed to grab a goal as a consolation.

The all-time Premier League top goal scorer had an impeccable personal record but was less successful trophy wise. A similar state of affairs as Harry Kane.

Now often seen on punditry duty, Shearer will never get his hands on a winner’s medal but was certainly a force to be reckoned with in his prime.

Jermain Defoe

A prolific striker, Jermain Defoe surprisingly has no major honours to his name despite over 300 goals for club and country.

Partly down to poor timing, the London born striker missed out on Portsmouth’s FA Cup success due to being cup-tied for the 2007/08 final.

He signed from Spurs in the January transfer window and was in great form, becoming the first ever Portsmouth player to score in his first five home matches, but the striker missed out on a winner’s medal due to regulation.

Defoe scored 24 of his 162 Premier League goals as a substitute, which is a competition record, all goals coming in 24 different games.

An impactful poacher who never managed to claim some silverware, Defoe couldn’t top off a stellar career with a medal.

Matt Le Tissier

Loyalty is a rare commodity in the modern game, and no one epitomizes it quite like Le Tissier did. Opting to spend his entire professional career at Southampton, he rejected multiple moves away from the Saints, even allegedly turning down footballing giants Liverpool.

He was the first midfielder to score 100 goals in the Premier League and is Southampton’s second highest ever scorer.

However, the furthest in the competition le Tissier progressed to was a quarter final, losing 2-0 to Manchester United.

If Le Tissier had left Southampton, his trophy cabinet may have looked very different, but he wouldn’t hold the same legacy he does now for the Saints.

Unfortunately, he wasn’t blessed by the magic of the cup.