The Premier League is often recognised as the best division in world football. As a result, it’s no wonder that the English top division is home to some of the best players and coaches in the game today.
While players are frequently praised for their match-winning performances, the role of managers should not be underestimated. Dugout tacticians, the geniuses behind every great accomplishment, are becoming increasingly crucial in the modern game, and it’s past time they were recognised.
That stated, here are the 20 current Premier League managers, ranked from best to worst. In order to reach these conclusions, the following elements were considered:
Ranking Factors
Current performances:
Honours and Premier League experience.
Achievements in other leagues and their impact on the current club.
Every current Premier League manager (ranked)
Rank
Manager
Club
1
Pep Guardiola
Manchester City
2
Arne Slot
Liverpool
3
Mikel Arteta
Arsenal
4
Unai Emery
Aston Villa
5
Eddie Howe
Newcastle United
6
Nuno Espirito Santo
Nottingham Forest
7
David Moyes
Everton
8
Andri Iraola
Bournemouth
9
Thomas Frank
Brentford
10
Marco Silva
Fulham
11
Ruben Amorim
Manchester United
12
Ange Postecoglou
Tottenham Hotspur
13
Enzo Maresca
Chelsea
14
Fabian Hurzeler
Brighton and Hove Albion
15
Oliver Glasner
Crystal Palace
16
Graham Potter
West Ham United
17
Vitor Pereira
Wolverhampton Wanderers
18
Kieran McKenna
Ipswich Town
19
Ivan Juric
Southampton
20
Ruud Van Nistelrooy
Leicester City
1Pep Guardiola
Manchester City
Pep Guardiola is nearly universally regarded as the best manager in international football, not only in England’s top division. During his career at the top level of elite football, the Catalan-born technician transformed the game. So much so that many managers who want to emulate his success have adopted his possession-based style of football.
Guardiola has set an exceedingly high standard for others to meet after achieving history in the previous two seasons with a triple in the 2022/23 season and a fourth consecutive league title. There will be little arguing that the guy who has won the English Premier League in six of the last seven seasons deserves to be at the top, even if recent form hasn’t helped make the most persuasive case for such royal posture.
2Arne Slot
Liverpool
Liverpool fans will be overjoyed with Arne Slot’s inclusion on this list, despite the Dutchman having only 26 Premier League appearances under his belt, but this is entirely due to his tactical versatility, as evidenced by his brilliant breakdown of Manchester United’s structure following their 3-0 win. In fact, as he continues to impress in the Premier League, he has a good chance of moving up the pecking order.
Taking over from Jurgen Klopp would be a difficult and scary task for any manager, but Slot is the man the Reds have chosen to guide the club into a new era. This makes sense, given the 46-year-old transformed Feyenoord into perennial challengers for the Eredivisie, which they won under his leadership in 2023. There have been high expectations placed on his shoulders from the start, but aside from a shock loss to Nottingham Forest and an odd share of the spoils, Slot has answered every question posed to him thus far, as the Reds sit atop the Premier League with 30 wins from 41 games across all competitions.
3Mikel Arteta
Arsenal
Mikel Arteta is hoping to get one over his old boss after serving as Guardiola’s assistant manager at the Etihad Stadium. While he has turned Arsenal’s fortunes around in recent years, his young club has failed to dethrone the English giant Manchester City.
From the dreary state he found the north London side in when he arrived to the jubilant atmosphere around the Emirates Stadium now, it’s been a remarkable transformation under the Spaniard, who just signed a new contract that will keep him at the club until 2027. Arteta’s team is still in with a chance of winning the 2024/25 Premier League title, thanks to his tactical acumen and man-management abilities.
4Unai Emery
Aston Villa
Unai Emery might come in second on this list based on his career accomplishments in the dugout. After competing in the Europa League with Sevilla and coming close to reaching the Champions League final with Villarreal, the Spanish manager decided to give English football another try after a disastrous tenure at Arsenal.
Emery took over from Steven Gerrard with Aston Villa suffering relegation, and he quickly implanted his tactical views in the players, helping his new club climb the ladder to finish in a Europa Conference League berth. The 53-year-old tactician only improved in the 2023/24 season, when he oversaw Villa’s return to the top table in Europe with a fourth-place result. It’s unclear what the future holds for the seasoned tactician and his high-flyers, but his expertise is undeniable.
5Eddie Howe
Newcastle United
Eddie Howe’s reputation skyrocketed after guiding Newcastle United from relegation to the Champions League, and the Englishman appeared to be on track to continue his success with the mega-rich Magpies. However, the 2023/24 season was marred by a debilitating injury problem in crucial areas of the squad, resulting in an early exit from Europe’s elite competition and a mid-table finish.
A solid finish to the season wasn’t enough for Howe to get his team back into Europe, as Manchester United’s FA Cup victory denied Newcastle a Europa Conference League spot. The club’s problems bled into the early games of this season, but Howe deserves his place here given everything he’s done in the top division thus far. There’s a chance he’ll be the one to finally end the trophy drought.
6Nuno Espirito Santo
Nottingham Forest
Nuno Espirito Santo’s spell at Nottingham Forest is not his first journey into the top tier of English football; he previously managed Wolves and Tottenham with varied degrees of success. His time at Spurs was terrible, as seen by his inability to endure more than three months before being replaced by the renowned Jose Mourinho.
He was the guy who propelled Wolves back to the top tier and established them as a fixture in the English top division. Steve Cooper was a beloved figure at Nottingham Forest, and several were surprised when Santo was given control of the faltering team. He did, however, manage Forest to safety, confirming the former European champions’ third successive season in the division, which has looked extremely promising. After passing the halfway point, the Garibaldi are now in remarkable third position, ahead of Manchester City.
7David Moyes
Everton
David Moyes was fired by West Ham at the end of last season, after frequently qualifying for European competition and winning the UEFA Europa Conference League during his time in east London. While his dismissal may have left a foul taste in his mouth, it did have one significant benefit.
When Sean Dyche was dismissed from the Goodison Park bench in January 2025, Moyes was free to rejoin his former club Everton. Since returning to Merseyside, the Scottish manager has dramatically changed the mood, repositioning the Toffees as a formidable opponent for every team in the Premier League.
8Andoni Iraola
Bournemouth
When Bournemouth decided to fire Gary O’Neil and replace him with Andoni Iraola, many people were surprised. After remaining in the top division, the Cherries’ ownership demonstrated ambition by adding numerous outstanding players to the squad to back their new coach – and their investment has paid off given the team’s success under the former Rayo Vallecano manager.
Following a difficult start and a lengthy adjustment period, Iraola has since had Bournemouth humming on the pitch. A hard-working style of play, combined with the belief he instilled in his players, was the recipe for success at the Vitality Stadium, as the club achieved their highest-ever Premier League points tally last time out, surpassing the brilliance of former manager Eddie Howe, and things have started well this time around.
9Thomas Frank
Brentford
Links to important jobs such as Manchester United and Chelsea’s managerial posts do not come easily. While Thomas Frank will not be managing at Old Trafford or Stamford Bridge, the Danish manager has surely piqued the interest of numerous top clubs in England’s football pyramid.
This is not surprising given that the Bees have repeatedly outperformed their opponents under his soothing influence. His achievements are sometimes overlooked because of his pragmatic and sensible approach to life in the Premier League, but the Bees performed admirably when they tore the Championship apart during the 2020/21 season. Frank has successfully altered his style of play to survive and even outperform the conventional ‘Big Six’ in England.
10Marco Silva
Fulham
Marco Silva and Fulham, headquartered in west London, had an unusual season last year. The Portuguese tactician turned down a lucrative offer to move to the Saudi Pro League before losing his star striker, Aleksandar Mitrovic, who scored freely during his spell.
While the departure of the goal-hungry Serbian appeared to have an impact on the Cottagers’ front-line fortunes, Silva immediately turned things around, guiding the team back to mid-table security. This may not be the most glamorous achievement in world sports, but the capital club’s aim to re-establish itself at the top table of English football has been realised. Silva is deservedly regarded as a terrific coach, especially given his fantastic first season in the Premier League at Craven Cottage and the club’s outstanding form this season.
11Ruben Amorim
Manchester United
Manchester United chose to fire Erik ten Hag after two tremendously up-and-down seasons. They also spent no time in finding a replacement, as Ruben Amorim decided to take over as the Dutchman’s successor, making him one of the top 15 highest-paid managers in the world.
Amorim has a great reputation for his work in Portugal, where he has transformed Sporting into a formidable force in the Primeira Liga. The 40-year-old is considered as one of the world’s top young managers, but with the players at his disposal, it’s unknown how his time at United will play out. His start has been nothing short of slow, with the Red Devils currently in 15th place, but he’s obviously capable, so don’t be surprised if he leaps up this list.
12. Ange Postecoglou, Tottenham Hotspur.
Back in the summer of 2023, the atmosphere around Tottenham Hotspur was continually negative due to their ongoing defeats in cup competitions and league standings. The failed tenure of serial champions Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte have left even the most optimistic Spurs supporters pessimistic about the club’s future.
However, Ange Postecoglou’s dynamic and visually appealing football in north London rapidly dispelled such doubts. Granted, Tottenham’s form fell towards the end of his first season in charge, but the former Celtic manager rapidly pushed his football ideas on his new team after experiencing success elsewhere in the world. Spurs have frequently blown hot and cold this season, as evidenced by their 4-0 victory over Manchester City following a 2-1 setback to Ipswich Town. Consistency is undoubtedly a major issue, but it is one that the Greek-Australian can address.
13Enzo Maresca
Chelsea
Enzo Maresca is another of Pep Guadiola’s former proteges who has pursued their own path to success in terms of silverware and becoming one of the most recognised managers in world football. The Italian had a successful season with Leicester City in the Championship, earning an immediate return to the Premier League.
He didn’t stick around for the Foxes’ quest to stay in the division, however. Instead, Maresca will want to qualify for the Champions League in his new role as Chelsea custodian. While he had Leicester playing some exciting and attractive football, the step-up to the west Londoners is enormous, but early performances suggested that he was the ideal choice to propel the Blues higher up the Premier League table.
14Fabian Hurzeler
Brighton & Hove Albion
Fabian Hurzeler, Brighton & Hove Albion’s new manager, has the Seagulls in the middle of the Premier League table after 25 games. After arriving in the summer, he became the division’s youngest permanent head coach in history, as well as the first man born after its foundation in 1992, which is an astounding feat in and of itself.
Hurzeler’s relative inexperience limits him here, yet based on performances alone, few have outperformed him thus far. Dropped into the deep end, the inexperienced manager has plenty of time to hone his craft – but he doesn’t look out of place in one of the world’s hardest leagues. It’s frightening to contemplate how good he can become when half of his teammates are older than him.
15Oliver Glasner
Crystal Palace’
Many Premier League fans would be unfamiliar with Oliver Glasner’s accomplishments prior to his appointment as Crystal Palace’s new manager. However, English football fans are now well aware of the Austrian, who helped the Eagles fly in the latter months of the 2023-24 season, even if life now appears to be a little more tough without the talismanic Michael Olise.
The 50-year-old has a Europa League win to his name, having won the second-tier European competition with German club Eintracht Frankfurt in 2022. Eberechi Eze and Jean-Philippe Mateta have both thrived under his leadership, as Glasner gave the team’s creative players the ability to express themselves to their full potential. Nonetheless, this season’s form has left much to be desired. Things are looking up for the Eagles, as they have risen to 13th place.
16Graham Potter
West Ham United
The new West Ham United manager is finally back in the Premier League after nearly two years away. In his first press conference, Graham Potter apologised to fans for being linked with every high-profile post in English football since leaving Chelsea in 2023, but he has determined that the chance at the London Stadium is right for him.
Of course, Potter’s ill-fated spell at Stamford Bridge hangs heavily over him as he seeks to shed his skin and make new memories in the city. However, he does have a tremendous tenure at Brighton to draw on, as he helped raise the Seagulls to new heights during a fantastic time on the coast. It is this that has him jumping right into 16th place after only a few games back in the dugout.
17Vitor Pereira
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Gary O’Neil may have felt wronged to lose his job at Wolves after bemoaning the club’s lack of investment and direction after losing millions of pounds worth of players in previous windows – think Pedro Neto, Ruben Neves, Adama Traore, and Joao Moutinho leaving Molineux to align the club with FFP regulations. He had a point, of course, but he was fired and quickly replaced by Vitor Pereira shortly before Christmas.
The 56-year-old, who last played for Al-Shabab in the Saudi Pro League, was not a household name, but he made an immediate impact. In his first two games in command, he matched O’Neil’s season points tally, and things appear to be improving at Molineux.
18Kieran McKenna
Ipswich Town
Kieran McKenna, like the aforementioned Frank, was linked to the Manchester United and Chelsea manager positions shortly after securing back-to-back promotions with Ipswich Town in 2024. The Tractor Boys are back in the Premier League after more than two decades away, and McKenna’s work has been hailed as amazing.
He was previously a coach at Old Trafford under the much-loved Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, but the 38-year-old left to pursue his own career in the hot seat. His maiden journey into football management couldn’t have gone better, but he’s now facing his most difficult job yet as he seeks to maintain Ipswich in the top flight. It’s unclear whether that will be too much in May, as they struggle with the hustle and bustle of Premier League action – but his man-management and likability factor are undeniable.
19Ivan Juric
Southampton
Southampton returned to the top division after just one season in the Championship, and previous manager Russell Martin restored Saints fans’ faith in the players on the pitch with a possession-based style of play and steely determination. That did not convert into the Premier League, and he was immediately fired by the club’s management.
The axe was struck following their 5-0 defeat to Postecoglou’s Spurs, and Ivan Juric, a seasoned manager in Italy, was identified as their favoured choice. He has subsequently signed on the dotted line, but has yet to make a substantial effect; as a result, it is difficult to place him higher than 19th. Looking to turn things around on the south coast, the former AS Roma and Genoa player must be up to the onerous task of maintaining Saints in the top division.
20Ruud van Nistelrooy
Leicester City
With both sides of the M69 derby, Coventry City and Leicester City, recently sacking their managers due to relegation fears, the Foxes took the bragging rights when they were able to sign 95-goal former Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy ahead of their rivals following the dismissal of Steve Cooper earlier in November.
Though van Nistelrooy’s managerial career is still in its early stages, his outstanding interim stay at Manchester United, where he secured three victories and drew while filling in for Ten Hag and Amorim, has sparked interest among Leicester supporters. Van Nistelrooy’s record in the east Midlands has been mixed, as he takes on a permanent role for the first time since winning 64.71% of PSV games as manager.
