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Top 10 Premier League Managers of All Time: From Ferguson to Guardiola

Since the Premier League began in 1992, just 13 managers have claimed the title. Some names clearly dominate discussions about the greatest, but the rankings spark debate over who deserves a spot among the top 10.

Longevity and Success in the League

Longevity matters when judging managers. David Moyes has overseen 755 Premier League matches, only trailing Arsene Wenger (828) and Sir Alex Ferguson (810). Moyes ranks third for wins with 291, though he falls far behind Wenger's 476 and Ferguson’s 528. Pep Guardiola, despite managing fewer games, matches Moyes’ win count closely.

Harry Redknapp also stands out with the fourth-highest number of games managed (641), fifth-most wins (236), and a top-five ranking for goals scored (818).

Win percentage reveals another contender: Mauricio Pochettino. Coaching over 100 games without winning the title, he still boasts a record of winning more than half his matches, including Spurs' best-ever Premier League finish, second place in 2016-17.

But to crack the official top 10 list here, a Premier League title is a must, leaving three managers out.

Managers Missing the Cut

  • Arne Slot at Liverpool misses out first.
  • Manuel Pellegrini impressed with Manchester City before Guardiola’s arrival and showed good scoring stats over his Premier League career but faltered at West Ham.
  • Antonio Conte had mixed spells at Chelsea and Spurs, falling short of this list’s standard.

The Premier League’s Top 10 Managers

  • 10. Carlo Ancelotti - Title winner 2009-10Managed clubs like AC Milan, Bayern Munich, PSG, Real Madrid, and Chelsea. His Chelsea stint was brief but successful, winning the league in his debut season before being dismissed early in his second. Later returned to England with Everton before heading back to Real Madrid.
  • 9. Mikel Arteta - Title winner 2025-26The 13th Premier League-winning manager and first Arsenal boss since Arsene Wenger to claim the title. He ended an eight-year dominance by Manchester City and Liverpool, leading a powerful Arsenal squad with promise for future success.
  • 8. Roberto Mancini - Title winner 2011-12Known for dramatic final day goals that clinched Manchester City's first league crown in decades, Mancini laid the foundation for City's rise. He holds the fourth-best points-per-game average and boasts a strong defensive record.
  • 7. Kenny Dalglish - Title winner 1994-95Before the Premier League era, Dalglish won three titles as Liverpool's player-manager. Later, he guided Blackburn Rovers to the Premier League title in 1995, making him one of few to win English top-flight titles with two different clubs.
  • 6. Claudio Ranieri - Title winner 2015-16The mastermind behind Leicester City's stunning 5000-1 title triumph. Earlier, he nearly won with Chelsea in 2004, finishing second to Arsenal’s Invincibles and reaching the Champions League semi-finals.
  • 5. Jurgen Klopp - Title winner 2019-20Klopp brought high-energy football and captured Liverpool’s first league title in 30 years. Despite fierce competition from Manchester City, his teams consistently earned over 90 points in several seasons.
  • 4. Jose Mourinho - Title winner 2004-05, 05-06 & 14-15The self-styled 'Special One' transformed Chelsea into a dominant force, winning back-to-back titles and conceding just 15 goals in his debut season. Returning years later, he secured a third Premier League crown but left soon after.
  • 3. Arsene Wenger - Title winner 1997-98, 2001-02 & 03-04Wenger revolutionized Arsenal with three league titles including the famous unbeaten 'Invincibles' season. Although his later years lacked trophies, his early teams rank among the Premier League’s best.
  • 2. Pep Guardiola - Title winner 2017-18, 18-19, 20-21, 21-22, 22-23 & 23-24Guardiola reshaped English football, pioneering possession-based tactics widely copied below the elite level. His six Premier League titles include a record-breaking run of four consecutive championships and a 100-point season.
  • 1. Sir Alex Ferguson - Title winner 1992-93, 93-94, 95-96, 96-97, 98-99, 99-2000, 2000-01, 02-03, 06-07, 07-08, 08-09, 10-11, 12-13Dominating the Premier League’s first two decades, Ferguson won 13 titles. His ability to rebuild squads kept Manchester United at the summit, achieving more league titles than any other manager in English top-flight history.

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