Football
Most Consecutive Clean Sheets in Football History
While many say scoring is the most difficult job on a football pitch, keeping the ball out of the net is also as difficult, if not more.
Rio Ferdinand, Edwin van der Sar and Nemanja Vidic//Getty Images
Football is a team game, but keeping clean sheets is what really proves a team’s togetherness. Goals can come from individual mistakes in any area of the pitch. While many say scoring is the most difficult job on a football pitch, keeping the ball out of the net is also as difficult, if not more.
As it is said, “You can't build a great building on a weak foundation”, the same is the case for a football team. Any team’s success normally depends upon their defensive strengths and togetherness. The most successful teams in history have been built on a solid foundation.
But we now live in the era of modern football, where clean sheets are a very rare find. But there are still teams that defy expectations and keep clean sheets for a successive run of games.
Join us as we take a look at the top eight teams that have kept the most consecutive clean sheets in English football history.
The 10 teams with most consecutive clean sheets in English football history
| Rank | Club | Clean Sheets | Season | League (Tier) |
| 1 | Man United | 14 | 2008-09 | Premier League (1) |
| 2 | Burnley | 12 | 2024-25 | Championship (2) |
| 3 | Reading | 11 | 1978-79 | Division Four (4) |
| 4 | York City | 11 | 1973-74 | Division Three (3) |
| 5 | Millwall | 11 | 1925-26 | Division Three (3) |
| 6 | Chelsea | 10 | 2004-05 | Premier League (1) |
| 7 | Torquay | 10 | 2009-10 & 2010-11 | League Two (4) |
| 8 | Charlton Athletic | 10 | 1997-98 & 1998-99 | Premier League/Championship (1/2) |
8. Charlton Athletic (10 consecutive clean sheets)
Starting off the list in 8th spot is England’s Charlton Athletic. Charlton achieved 10 clean sheets in a row, spanning two seasons. Their incredible clean sheet run started in the second tier (then known as the First Division) in the 1997-98 season.
The run continued during the start of the 1998-99 season in the English top-flight this time. Sasa Ilic was the Charlton Athletic goalkeeper during that period. The run came to an end after a 4-1 defeat against Man United on 9 September 1998.
7. Torquay (10 consecutive clean sheets)
Another lower-league English side on the list, Torquay also recorded 10 consecutive clean sheets. The clean sheet run started on 5 April 2010 in the English League Two and lasted a total of 998 minutes, coming to an end on 21 August 2010.
6. Chelsea (10 consecutive clean sheets)
Chelsea’s 2004-05 is considered as one of the best teams in football history. Jose Mourinho’s team lifted the Premier League title with 95 points. Petr Čech played a key role as he led his team as they conceded just 15 goals all league season.
They also recorded the most away wins in a season (15), most clean sheets kept in a season (25) and fewest goals conceded away in a season (9). They also kept 10 consecutive clean sheets, which was a Premier League record at that time.
5. Millwall (11 consecutive clean sheets)
Taking the 5th spot on the list is Millwall, with an impressive 11 consecutive clean sheets. In 1925, they put together a run of 11 consecutive clean sheets in the English Division Three.
4. York City (11 consecutive clean sheets)
York City, a football club based in York, North Yorkshire, England, currently play in the Football League One. York kept 11 successive clean sheets during the 1973-74 league season. The club were playing in the English division three at that time.
3. Reading (11 consecutive clean sheets)
During the 1978-79 season, Reading FC achieved the incredible feat of recording 11 consecutive clean sheets. The club were playing in the fourth tier of English football (now League Two) at that time.
2. Burnley (12 consecutive clean sheets)
Burnley started their incredible 12-match consecutive clean sheets run with a 2-0 win over Sheffield United on 26 December 2024 in the EFL Championship.
JJ Watt, one of the great NFL defensive ends, made a deal with James Trafford on December 28 that if the goalkeeper managed not to concede a goal from then until the end of the season, he would come out of retirement.
The run and dream to get Watt out of retirement came to an end against Cardiff City on Tuesday, March 4 2025.
1. Manchester United (14 consecutive clean sheets)
Sir Alex Ferguson, who knows a thing or two about winning trophies in football, once said that "attack wins you games, defence wins you titles". Over the years, he showcased exactly that.
From 15 November 2008 to 18 February 2009, the Red Devils did not concede a single goal in the Premier League. The formidable centre-back pairing of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic and legendary Dutch goalkeeper Edwin Van der Sar played a big role in the record-setting run.
The run of consecutive clean sheets had lasted 14 matches before goalkeeper Van der Sar was finally beaten by Blackburn’s Roque Santa Cruz in a 2-1 defeat.
With over a decade of experience in sports writing, Hardik Malhotra has built a distinguished career in the internet industry. His expertise spans across various domains including Art Direction, Web Content Writing, and Content Management, all underscored by a high degree of initiative. Hardik’s passion for sports is reflected in his professional journey and personal interests.