List of Longest serving Premier League Managers in History
The English Premier League is acclaimed as the most competitive and popular football league in the world, and managing a club in the league is the most prestigious job in football. It offers great pride and prestige and handsome wages to display its tactical and management brilliance in the English top-flight making it one of the highest-paid managers in England and Europe.
Since, the Premier League’s formation in 1992, many elite managers have commanded the top clubs in the league from the touchlines down the years leaving a peerless legacy as head coaches. Notably, they also successfully broke the recent ongoing trend of frequent sacking to etch their names into the prestigious longest-serving Premier League managers in history. With that, here’s the list of longest serving Premier League managers in history.
Rank | Managers | Club | Spell in Days | Tenure |
1 | Arsene Wenger | Arsenal | 7,894 days | (1996-2018) |
2 | Sir Alex Ferguson | Man United | 7,640 days | (1992-2013) |
3 | David Moyes | Everton | 4,096 days | (2002-2013) |
4 | Jurgen Klopp | Liverpool | 3,300 days | (2015-2024) |
5 | Pep Guardiola | Man City | 3,046 days | (2016 – Present) |
6 | Joe Kinnear | Wimbledon FC | 2,698 days | (1992-1999) |
7 | Harry Redknapp | West Ham United | 2,464 days | (1994-2001) |
7. Harry Redknapp (1994-2001)
One of the most well known names in English football having managed clubs like Southampton, Tottenham Hotspurs, Portsmouth, and Queens Park Rangers throughout his managerial career. However, his most memorable tenure in the Premier League was with the London club West Ham United, he was in charge of the club for 2464 days from 1994 to 2001 and assembled one the best Hammers side in its history. He brings legendary players to the club and has been credited for the development of academy talents like Rio Ferdinand, Joe Cole, Michael Carrick and his nephew Frank Lampard.
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6. Joe Kinnear (1992-1999)
Joe Kinnear is recalled for his time with Wimbledon FC and mastermind behind the famous “The Crazy Gang” a fearless and aggressive playing style approach which Kinnear embraced during his time in Premier League with Wimbledon and troubled top oppositions. The former Wimbledon boss frequently led the club to the upper half finish on the league’s table and was at the helm for 2698 days. It was till his departure from the club in 1999 that they dropped down from the Premier League next season and never returned again.
5. Pep Guardiola (2016 – Present)
The most decorated Spanish manager, Pep Guardiola arrived to take charge of Manchester City in 2016 from Bayern Munich and after 8 years of time, he still going strong with Citizens as their boss. He has brought unparalleled success to Eithad including City’s maiden Treble in the 2022/23 season when he steered the English Champions to lift their first UEFA Champions League triumph. The 53-year-old has entered into the list of longest serving managers in the English Premier League spending over 3046 days and is expected to surpass Jurgen Klopp’s 9 years spell in duration.
4. Jurgen Klopp (2015-2024)
Liverpool’s inspirational former boss Jurgen Klopp is the fourth longest serving Premier League manager in the entire history of the league courtesy of his 9-year-long tenure in Merseyside. The German has been a revolutionary figure at Anfield after helping the Premier League giants achieve back their lost Big Six status in the league and clinched domestic and continental glories as well. However, he decided to step down as The Reds boss to enjoy a career break concluding his incredible spell with the English club, Arne Slot joined the club as his successor this summer.
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3. David Moyes (2002-2013)
Premier League’s veteran manager David Moyes spent over a decade time at Goodison Park serving Everton as their head coach from 2002 to 2013. His work with the Toffees was a testament to his capability as a manager, as a result, the opportunity to manage Man United lured him to conclude his spell in Merseyside. Nonetheless, he still maintains his status of one the best managers to coach Everton. He oversaw 518 games for Liverpool based club across all competitions, though could not lift any major titles.
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2. Sir Alex Ferguson (1992-2013)
In the second position, it’s arguably the greatest manager in the history of the Premier League and football, Sir Alex Ferguson. He spent a staggering 7,640 days in charge of the Red Devils. He enjoyed enormous success at Old Trafford claiming 13 English titles and becoming the most successful manager in the history of English football. In addition, he led United to clinch 5 FA Cups and 4 League Cups and UEFA Champions League twice in 1999 and 2008. In 2013, Sir Alex announced retirement with ending his 26-year association with Manchester United.
1. Arsene Wenger (1996-2018)
Arsenal’s legendary Arsene Wenger is the longest serving manager in Premier League history with 7,894 days as Gunner in charge from 1996 to 2018. The French manager is hailed for North London club’s famous title charge leading them to the “The Invincibles.” securing the Premier League boasting an unbeaten record in the league in the 2003/04 season. He managed the likes of Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira, Dennis Bergkamp, Cesc Fàbregas, Robin Van Persie, Ian Wright and Ashely Cole. He spent 22 years in the English first division leading the Gunners as their manager and left the club in 2018 marking the end of an era.
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FAQs
Q. How many managers serve more than a decade in the Premier League without winning the title?
A. Arsene Wenger, Sir Alex Ferguson and David Moyes are three managers who have served more than a decade in the Premier League.
Q. Who holds the longest managerial reign in Premier League history?
A. Arsene Wenger holds the longest managerial reign in Premier League history.
Q. Are there any current managers close to joining the longest-serving list
A. Yes Pep Guardiola is a current manager who has joined the longest serving list.
Q. Did any manager serve more than a decade in the Premier League without winning the title?
A. David Moyes served more than a decade in the Premier League with Everton without winning the title.