Top 10 best English football managers in history 

Managers are like propellers in football, and the Premier League has been blessed with some of the best English managers in history. With their tactical mind and attacking style, they led their teams to the top domestic glory multiple times. 

However, most of the renowned English managers are from yesteryears as no modern coach has been able to make any considerable mark in Premier League football. The likes of Bob Paisley, Bill Nicholson, or Sir Alf Ramsey took the level of coaching success to new heights through a trophy-stuffed career.

There was a group of talented English managers in the 2000s, who apart from their tactical knowledge, used to influence the game just by standing on the side of the white line. They were so good in this business that they created glorious legacies by dominating the English Premier League, even when it was only called the English top division.  Here’s a look at the Top 10 English managers of all time.

List of best English football managers in history 

10. Howard Kendall (1979-99)

One of the iconic figures in English football, Howard Kendall is regarded as one of the legendary figures in the history of Everton Football Club for his unwavering success. Despite managing several English teams such as Manchester City, Blackburn Rovers and Sheffield United, Kendall showed his true worth when he was at the helm of the Toffees. The Merseyside outfit lifted two English league trophies and an FA Cup under his keen watch. The decorated coach went on to win the English Manager of the Year award twice in his career.

9. Gareth Southgate (2006 – present)

Well, maybe Gareth Southgate has not won anything for England, but his influence on the current England national football team is unquestionable. After taking over as interim coach, the former Middlesbrough manager took the Three Lions to the 2018 World Cup semi-finals. In the last two European Championships, he also led England to consecutive finals. It is fair to say, that Gareth Southgate is one of the most successful managers in English football on the international stage, who has been able to build a formidable squad, having united some of the elite players. Southgate’s most promising contribution in the Premier League was rebuilding the Middlesbrough team. He couldn’t win a single Premier League title, but his approach towards the development of the team was notable. 

8. Tom Watson (1888-1915)

If you want to know who Tom Watson was, then you need to ask this to a Liverpool fan. The father of tactical implementation in English football, Watson was born in Newcastle, and went on to build two era-defining teams in the country. After leading Sunderland to English league glory three times, the footballing genius came to Liverpool in 1896. He became the longest-serving manager at Anfield after spending 19 years as the Liverpool coach. During this period, Watson led Liverpool to their first two league titles and one FA Cup. In the English domestic league era, Watson was a pioneer.

7. Don Revie (1961-77)

Don Revie created one of the greatest managerial rivalries in English football in the early 1970s by locking horns with Brian Clough. Revie is still regarded as the greatest manager in Leeds United history. In his stint, he formed a physical and competitive team at Leeds and justified the need of brutal game in English football. He led the Yorkshire side to a famous English league glory just a year after the club’s promotion to the top division. He won the first division, League Cup, FA Cup and the glorious British Home Championship and registered his name on the tally of the best English managers.

6. Herbert Chapman (1907-34)

Roughly thirty-forty years before the era of Bill Nicholson, Herbert Chapman used to make waves in North London through his cunning game plan and tactical ideas. He started making strides towards greatness at Huddersfield, having won an FA Cup and two English league titles. Later he moved to Arsenal, and changed the demography of the club. He reformed the Gunners, who were fighting to escape relegation at that moment. The English team later went on to lift three top division trophies and one FA Cup with Chapman at the helm. 

Also Read: Ranking the 10 best Manchester United strikers of all-time

5. Bill Nicholson (1958-74)

The next on the greatest English managers in the Premier League list is Bill Nicholson. He etched his name in the history book of Tottenham Hotspur after spending 36 years as a manager and a star player. The North London-based outfit enjoyed their most title-laden era under the stewardship of Nicholson where they lifted the league title, two league cups and three FA Cups. He became the first English manager to lead his club to an European title. His impact on the revolution of English football was so great that a street in London was named after him.

4. Sir Bobby Robson (1968-2004)

If a book is written on the top 10 English managers of all-time, then a glorious chapter must be dedicated to Sir Bobby Robson. He is one of the very few managers, who has a trophy-laden career. Robson is well-known for his longevity in football as he spent 36 long years as a manager, excelling in all criteria. FA Cup, English League title, UEFA Cup – he won it all. The knighthood-awarded coach’s name was etched in England’s Hall of fame for his era-defining coaching career. 

3. Sir Alf Ramsey (1955-78)

Sir Alf Ramsey is a timeless figure in English football. The coveted manager led a young England team to the country’s first-ever World Cup title in 1966 at home. This success followed a semifinal finish in the 1968 European Championship. Despite being the philosopher of several pragmatic tactical ideas, he led Ipswich Town to their first-ever English top-flight glory. After all these years, Ramsey still remains the only England manager to lead his side to a major trophy. 

2. Bob Paisley (1974-83)

It is a difficult decision to put Bob Paisley in the second position on the list of the greatest English football managers, as his iconic career demands a top spot. His illustrious career at Liverpool established the Merseyside outfit as one of the greatest clubs in the world. The bonafide English manager won three European cups, six top-division trophies and three league Cups as a Red. Liverpool became a brute force in England under his stewardship.  

1. Brian Clough (1965-93)

After a meaningful consideration, we have decided to go with Brian Clough as the greatest English managers of all-time. His most underrated achievement must be taking Nottingham Forest to European glory. Clough truly began his managerial exploits at Derby County where he earned a promotion for the club and won the league title later. Nobody was interested in the club until he turned them into a team to beat.

During Clough’s time at Derby, the second Division of English football also witnessed a meteoric rise. Despite not being associated with any elite team, he enjoyed an exceptional career at the clubs including the likes of Brighton, Nottingham Forest, Leeds United and Hartlepool United. Before the name of the Premier League came into effect, Clough won the tournament in every possible way.

FAQs