The League of Ireland is the top tier of football in the Republic of Ireland. The league has been running in various guises since its foundation in 1921. The league has a rich history. Several teams have been highly successful in the league, but which teams have been the most successful in the history of the League of Ireland?
Shamrock Rovers (21 League of Ireland titles)
Rovers are the most successful club in the history of the league, having won the title on 21 occasions. They have also finished as league runners-up 16 times during their history, with the last occasion being in 2024.
Their first league title-winning campaign was in season 1922/23 when they won 18 of their 22 games and suffered just one defeat.
Shamrock Rovers have twice won the title in four consecutive seasons, firstly from 1984 until 1987 and then from 2020 until 2023.
Dundalk (14 League of Ireland titles)
Someway behind Shamrock Rovers on the list of most title winners is Dundalk, who have claimed the League of Ireland title 14 times in their history. The first time they were crowned champions of the Republic was in season 1932/33.
Their most successful run when it comes to winning titles was in the 2000s, as Dundalk won the title five times in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019. If they hadn’t failed to claim the title in 2017, then Dundalk would have broken a league record by winning the title in six straight seasons.
Success has been harder to come by for the Lilywhites of late, as their last title was in season 2018/19. As well as winning the title 14 times, Dundalk has also finished as runners-up on 12 occasions.
Shelbourne (14 League of Ireland titles)
Like Dundalk, Shelbourne have been crowned as Irish champions on 14 occasions. In fact, they are the current reigning champions of the League of Ireland, having claimed their latest title in 2024.
The fourteenth time, Shelbourne Football Club are Champions of Ireland.#LOI | @shelsfc pic.twitter.com/wrBoKe0Alm
— League of Ireland (@LeagueofIreland) November 1, 2024
The Reds claimed their first League of Ireland title in the 1925/26 season. Their most successful period came from 1999 until 2006, when they won the title on five occasions. Before their most recent title, Shelbourne had not won the League of Ireland title since 2006.
Shelbourne have also finished as runners-up in the Irish top-flight nine times, most recently in season 2002/03, which came during their most successful period.
Bohemians (11 League of Ireland titles)
Bohs have been crowned League of Ireland champions 11 times in their history, with the most recent title coming in 2009. Their first title came way back in season 1922/23.
Bohemians haven’t really ever had a sustained period of success, with titles spread throughout their history.
Unfortunately for the club, they have actually finished the league campaign as runners-up on more occasions than they have finished as champions, finishing in second place in the league 15 times, the last of which was in 2020.
The last time that they had finished in the league’s top two before that was in 2010, when they finished as runners-up.
St Patricks Athletic (8 League of Ireland titles)
The Saints have been crowned as Irish champions on eight occasions. Their first title came in season 1951/52, which was their first campaign in the League of Ireland, having previously played in the Leinster Senior League.
Athletic’s most successful period came from 1995 until 1999, when they were crowned as Irish champions on three occasions.
St Patricks have been starved of success in recent years, with their highest finish in the last decade being second place in 2021, which was the fifth time that they have finished as League of Ireland runners-up.
Waterford (6 League of Ireland titles)
The Blues have been crowned League of Ireland champions on six occasions. However, the last of those titles came in season 1972/73. The first of their Irish top-flight titles was in season 1965/66.
The victory led to a highly successful period for Waterford, who won the title in seasons 1965/66, 1967/68, 1968/69, 1969/70, 1971/72 and, of course, their latest title in 1973.
They have also finished as League of Ireland runners-up on four occasions, with the last those coming in season 1962/63 before they had been crowned champions for the first time in their history.
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