Ranking the 15 greatest Premier League managers of all time

Managers in the Premier League operate under the knowledge that it's a matter of 'when, not if' they'll get fired. Other than a handful of greats who were able to transcend the pressure and difficulties of what many see an impossible job. Today, we're going to focus on them.

Since his arrival at Manchester City, Pep Guardiola has established a football dynasty and a style of play that has won fans around the world. With six Premier League titles under his belt - and counting - the Spaniard is one of the most successful managers of all time in English football. Such are the expectations around Pep, his City team is currently two points behind second and are considered in crisis!

Just like Guardiola at City, Arsène Wenger managed to revolutionise Arsenal, and football in England to an extent. 'Le Professeur' was Arsenal's longest-serving coach, according to the club's official website, and managed to stay unbeaten in the 2003/04 Premier League winning season, which fans fondly remember.

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At the time, Wenger and Arsenal fought tough battles with Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United. The Scot won the Red Devils everything there is to win, including two Champions Leagues and thirteen - yes, thirteen - Premier League titles. Since his departure, United have struggled to live up to their former glory, which says it all.

Jurgen Klopp took charge of Liverpool in 2015 and transformed the club like perhaps no other manager had done before at Anfield. The smiling German managed to transfer his energy to his team and ended a 30-year title drought in 2019/20. A true Merseyside legend.

Kevin Keegan was a super footballer in his prime, but he also excelled on the coaching bench. He came close to leading Newcastle United to the title in 1995/96 and also did an exquisite job at Manchester City, before returning to the Magpies to steer them away from the relegation zone in 2008, per Four Four Two.

Claudio Ranieri's first job in English football was at Chelsea, but it was with Leicester City that the Italian entered the Premier League history books. The 2015/16 season, in which the Foxes won the title, is enough to earn him a place on this list.

The man behind Manchester City's first Premier League title. Mancini must also be credited with managing Super Mario Balotelli, which was no small feat.

For years, David Moyes was in charge of Everton, with whom he finished fourth in 2004/05, Four Four Two reports. After a poor spell at Manchester United and less than a year at Sunderland, Moyes took over at West Ham, helping the Hammers win the Conference League and achieving a Premier League points record in 2020/21, per the club's official website.

José Mourinho called himself 'The Special One' when he arrived at Chelsea, and the Portuguese delivered. He won Chelsea back-to-back titles from 2004 to 2006 and reconquered the Premier League with the Blues almost ten years later. He also managed Manchester United and Tottenham, but both spells are sidenotes to his glorious years at Chelsea.

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In his time at West Ham, Harry Redknapp qualified the Hammers for Europe, while at Portsmouth, he won the FA Cup, no mean feat. With Spurs, he qualified for the Champions League. According to Opta Analyst, Redknapp is currently fourth in the list of managers with the most Premier League matches under his belt.

Rafael Benítez made history by winning the Champions League with Liverpool in 2005, while also winning an FA Cup at the time with the Reds. Later in his career, he led Chelsea to win the Europa League and Newcastle back to the Premier League, but it's his spell at Anfield that will always be engraved in the collective football memory.

Sam Allardyce was in charge of Bolton Wanderers when the likes of Jay-Jay Okocha and Youri Djorkaeff were playing at the Reebok Stadium. 'Big Sam' managed his star-studded team like no other and took the Trotters into European football.

Kenny Dalglish was the architect of Blackburn's title win in 1994/95, led by star strikers Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton. He also did an excellent job at Newcastle and Liverpool, winning several titles with the Reds, be it before the Premier League era.

Carlo Ancelotti has won trophies in every major football league, including the Premier League. At the helm of Chelsea from July 2009 to May 2011, the Italian claimed the Premier League title, the FA Cup and a Community Shield.

Roy Hodgson has no English trophies to his name, but he still deserves a place on the list for the job he did at Fulham, leading them to seventh place in the Prem and, more impressively, to a Europa League final, per Four Four Two. Enjoyed other successful and memorable spells at West Brom and Crystal Palace, too.

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