The Premier League's Most Successful Managers
The decision by the Premier League to create a Hall of Fame earlier this year raised more than a few eyebrows in the football world. Whilst no one could argue at the inclusion of Alan Shearer, Thierry Henry and Eric Cantona, there were calls to induct many other legendary players.
Whilst the list of inductees from 2021 covered 4 clubs and a range of different playing styles it was absent in one particular area - managers. Whilst we wait to see whether or not the Premier League will add managers to heir Hall of Fame we decided it would be a good idea to go over the potential list of inductees.
Below are our picks for the names to be considered in the Premier League manager's Hall of Fame, let us know who you would pick in the comments section below…
#1 Sir Alex Ferguson
Club(s): Manchester United 1986 - 2013
Premier League Titles: 13
Sir Alex Ferguson is the most successful manager in British football history, winning 49 trophies during his managerial career with 38 of them coming during his 26-year stint as Manchester United manager.
After breaking the Glasgow dominance of Rangers and Celtic in Scotland with Aberdeen, Ferguson earned his chance in England with Manchester United in 1986. The Scot inherited a club in turmoil and very nearly failed to turn around their fortunes.
In January 1990 Ferguson's Manchester United side travelled to Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup where defeat it was rumoured, would have seen Ferguson sacked. Fortunately for him and the club, a Mark Robins goal saved his job and bought him time with the board and the fans.
Three years later Ferguson and United would go on to win the first of their 13 Premier League titles together. In between, the Red Devils also lifted two Champions League trophies, most notably in 1999 as part of their famous 'Treble' of the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League.
Since Ferguson's departure from Manchester United in 2013 the club has never looked likely of winning another title. This season however, with the return of Cristiano Ronaldo and the arrival of Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane United are considered favourites in the Premier League betting odds.
(Sir Alex Ferguson is the most successful manager in Premier League and Manchester United history, a guaranteed inductee to the manager's Hall of Fame.)
#2 Arsene Wenger
Club(s): Arsenal 1996 - 2018
Premier League Titles: 3
In 1996 Arsenal shocked English football when they appointed the relatively unknown Arsene Wenger as their manager. The Frenchman quickly nicknamed 'Le Professeur' by the British media, joined Arsenal from Japanese side Nagoya Grampus Eight and was seen by many as under qualified for the job.
He proved his critics wrong in quick time, winning the Premier League and FA Cup double in 1997-1998 with a brand of slick, entertaining football rarely seen in England before. Wenger would go on to win two more Premier League titles with the Gunners along with 7 FA Cups.
His crowning achievement as Arsenal manager though was the 2003-2004 season in which his lethal side finished the campaign as unbeaten champions.
Had Arsenal not being financially hamstrung by the building of the Emirates Stadium coincided with Roman Abramovich's financial splurging on Chelsea, Wenger would undoubtedly have won far more with Arsenal.
His legacy at not only Arsenal but on English football in general, is the reason for his induction at number 2 in this list of all-time great Premier League managers.
(Arsenal defeated Leicester on the final day of the 2003-2004 Premier League season to become 'The Invincibles'.)
#3 Jose Mourinho
Club(s): Chelsea 2004 – 2007 & 2013 – 2015, Manchester United 2016 – 2018, Tottenham Hotspur 2019 - 2021
Premier League Titles: 3
After Ferguson and Wenger the competition begins to heat up with a number of managers battling it out for third-placed. Pep Guardiola with 3 Premier League titles may feel aggrieved not to have beat Jose Mourinho to third but there is the slight issue of financial handicaps…
Whilst the Portuguese undoubtedly benefitted from the financial power of Roman Abramovich in his two spells at Chelsea, Pep and City have spent more and thus have set themselves a higher bar of success to be measured by.
Another factor that has Mourinho above Guardiola in this list is how emphatically he hit the ground running in the Premier League. Beginning his odyssey in England with a 1-0 win over Manchester United at Stamford Bridge, Mourinho would go on to win the title in his debut season.
The following season Mourinho added another Premier League winner's medal to his collection before being unceremoniously sacked by the club in 2007.
Following successful stints in Italy and Spain the self-proclaimed 'Special One' returned to England in 2013 and won his third Premier League title with Chelsea in 2015. Whilst his time in charge of Tottenham was not particularly memorable, he did add to his trophy haul whilst manager of Manchester United, lifting the FA Cup and Europa League.
(Jose Mourinho reminds journalists just how many Premier League titles he has won as a manager.)
Notable Mentions
Above are three managers that come what may, will be included in the Premier League Hall of Fame. Below are a few names that could reasonably expect to be included in the conversation…
Pep Guardiola: Three Premier League titles (and counting) along with a 100+ point season should be enough to see Pep inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Kenny Dalglish: Prior to the establishment of the Premier League Kenny Dalglish further cemented his place in Liverpool folklore with a First Division title win as Reds manager. In 1995 he added to his trophy haul winning the title with Blackburn Rovers, surely enough to get himself a place in the Hall of Fame?
Claudio Ranieri: There are a lot of world-class managers who have only won one Premier League title, but none have managed to do so with a relegation candidate like Claudio Ranieri did in 2016. The Italian’s place in the Hall of Fame should be guaranteed for that feat alone.