Four teams who have ended trophy droughts in 2024/25 | OneFootball

The 2024/25 season has been the campaign of the underdog. Across Europe, several sides have broken long trophy droughts to ensure the current campaign is one to remember.

There could be more on the horizon too. Tottenham Hotspur are aiming to end a 17-year wait for a major trophy in the Europa League final on Wednesday, while Stuttgart (18 years since their last major honour) face an Arminia Bielefeld who have never won a major trophy in the German Cup final.

In a season of surprise successes, we’ve looked at four teams who have ended long trophy droughts in 2024/25.

Teams who have ended trophy droughts in 2024/25

Newcastle United – Carabao Cup (70 years)

Newcastle city centre was a sea of black and white as the Toon Army came out in numbers to celebrate Carabao Cup success in March. The Magpies’ fanatical support has had its fair share of near misses in the modern era, with agonising runners-up finishes in the Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup across the last three decades.

Eddie Howe finally led Newcastle over the line this season, as his side upset Liverpool to win the Carabao Cup. The Magpies were well worth their win at Wembley, as goals from Dan Burn and Alexander Isak sealed a first major domestic trophy in 70 years.

With the club closing in on a second Champions League qualification in three seasons, it might finally be time to shed their sleeping giant tag.

Go Ahead Eagles – KNVB Cup (92 years)

Go Ahead Eagles were closing in on a century without a trophy before upsetting the odds to win the KNVB Cup this season.

The Dutch outfit knocked out PSV Eindhoven in the semi-finals, before squeezing past AZ Alkmaar on penalties to win their first-ever KNVB Cup.

In a dramatic final in Rotterdam, AZ opened the scoring through Troy Parrot’s penalty before Mats Deijl held his nerve to equalise for Go Ahead Eagles with a spot-kick of his own in the ninth minute of stoppage time.

Unable to be separated in extra time, Go Ahead claimed the cup when Mayckel Lahdo missed for AZ. It was a first major honour since last becoming Dutch champions in 1933.

Bologna – Coppa Italia (51 years)

Bologna exceeded all expectations last season to secure Champions League football and have defied the exit of head coach Thiago Motta and key players to thrive again in 2024/25.

In addition to mounting another challenge for Champions League football, Bologna ended a 51-year trophy drought with Coppa Italia success. Dan Ndoye’s 53rd-minute goal was the difference as Bologna beat AC Milan in Rome.

It was a fine moment for head coach Vincenzo Italiano, after Coppa Italia (2023) and Europa Conference League (2022 and 2023) final losses in charge of Fiorentina.

Crystal Palace – FA Cup (119 years)

Crystal Palace fans could be forgiven for thinking this day might never come. The Eagles had never before won a major trophy in a 119-year existence as a professional outfit. Twice before, Palace had reached the FA Cup final but on each occasion lost to Manchester opposition.

In 2025, it was third time lucky.

Oliver Glasner’s side were underdogs against a Manchester City side into their third consecutive FA Cup final, but rode their luck and remained disciplined to cause an upset. City dominated the ball at Wembley before a clinical counter-attack saw Daniel Munoz race away and set up Eberechi Eze for the decisive goal. It was an FA Cup final with plenty of incident, including a contentious first-half handball decision.

Palace ‘keeper Dean Henderson handled outside his penalty area, though VAR deemed the incident not to be a goalscoring opportunity, with Jarred Gillett suggesting the ball was ‘going away from goal’. Just minutes later, Henderson saved Omar Marmoush’s penalty kick as Palace survived again.

Placing that controversial elephant in the room to one side, Palace’s win was welcomed by neutrals. Five clubs have dominated the FA Cup this century, with just three alternative winners to Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and the Manchester clubs since 2000. Palace have now made that four and a first-ever European sojourn beckons.

Read – Premier League clubs who have won a major trophy more recently than Arsenal

See more – The last five teams to lift the FA Cup for the first time

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