Since the formation of the Premier League in 1992, only 13 managers have led their clubs to the championship title, with just four achieving this feat more than once. Evaluating the greatness of these coaches based on trophies, longevity, and their impact on football, BBC Sport has compiled a ranking of the ten best managers in the tournament's history.
Notable figures such as Arne Slot, Antonio Conte, and Manuel Pellegrini narrowly missed the cut, as did record match managers David Moyes (755 matches) and Harry Redknapp (641 matches).
10. Carlo Ancelotti (Premier League champion 2009/10 with Chelsea) The Italian manager celebrated immediate success in the Premier League with Chelsea, establishing a remarkable scoring record by thrashing Wigan 8-0 in a title-clinching game. Ancelotti later returned to England to manage Everton before heading back to Real Madrid.
9. Mikel Arteta (Premier League champion 2025/26 with Arsenal) The Spaniard became the league's thirteenth winning manager, leading Arsenal to glory for the first time in 22 years, breaking the dominance of Manchester City and Liverpool since 2004’s Invincibles.
8. Roberto Mancini (Premier League champion 2011/12 with Manchester City) Mancini kickstarted a golden era for the Cityzens, dramatically clinching the title in the dying moments of the season. He ranks among the top five managers for win percentage and holds the record for the best defensive record in the league's history, conceding just 0.83 goals per match.
7. Kenny Dalglish (Premier League champion 1994/95 with Blackburn Rovers) After enjoying success with Liverpool, the legendary Scot led the humble Blackburn Rovers from the lower divisions to a shocking title triumph, outpacing Manchester United in the race for the championship, becoming one of the few to succeed in the top-flight with two different clubs.
6. Claudio Ranieri (Premier League champion 2015/16 with Leicester City) Ranieri crafted one of football’s greatest fairy tales, leading Leicester City to the Premier League title with pre-season odds of 5000-1.
5. Jurgen Klopp (Premier League champion 2019/20 with Liverpool) The German tactician built an incredible side that consistently surpassed the 90-point mark, finally ending Liverpool’s 30-year wait for a league title in the 2019/20 season.
4. Jose Mourinho (Premier League champion 2004/05, 2005/06, 2014/15 with Chelsea) The Portuguese manager made a sensational entrance into English football, winning the title in his debut season with a record low of 15 goals conceded and a 12-point margin. He went on to secure a third Premier League title during his second spell at Stamford Bridge.
3. Arsene Wenger (Premier League champion 1997/98, 2001/02, 2003/04 with Arsenal) The Frenchman revolutionised English football and crafted the legendary Invincibles in the 2003/04 season, completing the league campaign without a single defeat.
2. Pep Guardiola (Premier League champion 2017/18, 2018/19, 2020/21, 2021/22, 2022/23, 2023/24 with Manchester City) Guardiola drastically altered the philosophy of English football, amassing a record 100 points in a single season and becoming the first manager in history to win four consecutive league titles, with a total of six championships at the Etihad Stadium over a decade.
1. Sir Alex Ferguson (13-time champion with Manchester United) The undisputed number one in the tournament’s history, the Scottish manager dominated in the early decades of the Premier League, rebuilding victorious squads for the Red Devils and clinching a remarkable 13 league titles before retiring in 2013.
