10 Greatest English Managers of All-Time

English managers haven’t had the best of impacts on football in the modern era. While the Premier League and English football in general are a big attraction in the commercial sense, it’s the managers from other regions who have dominated the pitch.

England have produced some incredible footballers no doubt but they have, so far, been unable to reach the heights they were expected to. Some legendary English footballers like Wayne Rooney, Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard have struggled in the managerial department.

The likes of Spain’s Pep Guardiola, Portugal’s Jose Mourinho, or Italy’s Carlo Ancelotti have dominated world football in the modern era, winning everything possible. Even widely regarded as the greatest Premier League manager of all time Sir Alex Ferguson came from Scotland.

Hence, as England tries to find its managers, some of the English managers in the past can be a reference point. These managers were excellent at club or country level, achieving multiple honors throughout their esteemed careers.

On that note, let’s take a look at the top 10 greatest English managers of all time:

10. Gareth Southgate

Yes, he didn’t win anything but Gareth Southgate has certainly left a big mark in English football. He was appointed the manager of England’s senior team in 2016 after they were going through a tough time.

Southgate took them to the 2018 FIFA World Cup semi-finals, 2020 Euro final, 2022 FIFA World Cup quarter-finals and 2024 Euro final. They lost to Italy and Spain in the Euro final, respectively.

Gareth Southgate’s pragmatic brand of football often came under criticism, especially because they boasted some incredible attacking players. However, he did manage to make England a contender again before leaving in July 2024.

Also Read: Highs and Lows of Gareth Southgate’s tenure as England manager

9. Tom Watson

Liverpool’s longest-serving manager Tom Watson is next on the list, who spent 19 years at Anfield. He joined the Reds in 1896 after winning three league titles in four years with Sunderland.

Watson then led the Merseysiders to two league titles and an FA Cup final in 1914. He is widely regarded as one of the best English managers of all time because he introduced tactics in English football.

8. Howard Kendall

Howard Kendall was another legendary English manager, who managed multiple clubs in his career. He spent seven years at Everton between 1967 and 1974, leading them to two First Division titles and one FA Cup. He is a bonafide legend in the Toffees’ history, having also made over 200 appearances for them as a player.

Kendall could have continued as Everton manager further but moved to Athletic Bilbao due to a ban on English clubs in European tournaments. He had two more spells with the Toffees (1990-93 and 1997-98).

He also managed the likes of Manchester City and Blackburn Rovers during his career.

7. Don Revie

Don Revie is widely regarded as the greatest Leeds United manager of all time. The Englishman joined them in 1961 and helped them earn promotion. He then led them to two First Division titles, spending 13 years at the club. Leeds also have a statue of Don Revie at their home ground – Elland Road.

He was also appointed England manager in 1974 and led them to the British Home Championship trophy.

Don Revie was known for how he prepared for the opposition and also for building a physical team to be fierce on the pitch. He also managed Al Nassr and Al Ahly during his career.

6. Herbert Chapman

Herbert Chapman’s managerial career began with Northampton United in 1907, spending five years with them and winning the Southern League. He then joined Leeds City before moving to Huddersfield Town six years later. He won two First Divison titles and one FA Cup with them before joining Arsenal in 1925.

The Gunners were battling relegation when Chapman arrived and he turned them into three-time league winners along with an FA Cup. He spent around nine years with Arsenal before his death in 1934.

Chapman is also known for making breakthroughs in making football more professional in England. He brought in multiple training techniques, introduced physiotherapists and masseuses, and also ensured the players were paid properly.

Also Read: Top players who retired from football after Euro 2024

5. Bill Nicholson

Bill Nicholson is a bonafide Tottenham Hotspur legend, having spent 36 years at the club as a player and manager. He was appointed Spurs manager in 1958 and stayed there until 1974.

Nicholson was the manager when Tottenham became the first English club to win a major European trophy as they won the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1963. He also led them to a First Division title, three FA Cups, two League Cups, and one UEFA Cup.

Nicholson is widely considered one of the greatest English managers of all time. He won an OBE in 1975 and also has a street named after him in north London.

4. Sir Alf Ramsey

Sir Alf Ramsey will forever remain on the list of the greatest English managers in Football history because of being the only English manager to have tasted success with England’s men’s team. He brought in a narrow formation for the side and led them to the 1966 FIFA World Cup trophy.

Ramsey even has a street named after him in Ipswich and a statue at Wembley Stadium. He also managed Ipswich Town before taking over the England national team. He helped them win a First Division in the first year after their promotion to the top flight.

3. Sir Bobby Robson

Sir Bobby Robson was one of the most influential English managers, having won loads of trophies with multiple clubs across Europe. He managed the likes of Ipswich Town, Barcelona, Porto, Sporting CP, and Newcastle United throughout his 36-year career.

Robson is widely regarded as Ipswich’s greatest manager of all time as he led them to their only European Trophy – UEFA Cup – in 1981. Overall, he won every trophy available at the club level with different clubs – League titles, FA Cups, and more.

He also won many individual accolades along with earning knighthood.

2. Brian Clough

Brian Clough was one of the most iconic managers due to his incredible achievements with two clubs – Derby County and Nottingham Forest.

He joined in 1967 when they were in the Second Division and led them to the First Division title in 1972. This meteoric rise was unthinkable due to the imbalance of resources between the teams and the general way football was heading.

However, Clough not only repeated his achievements but also added more trophies, this time with Nottingham Forest. He joined the Tricky Trees in 1975 in the Second Division and led them to the First Division title just three years later. He also managed multiple European trophies with Nottingham.

1. Bob Paisley

Bob Paisley is one of the top English football managers ever and certainly the most illustrious English manager. He took over the Reds in 1974 after they parted ways with Bill Shankly and led them to six league titles, three European Cups, and one UEFA Cup, among other honors, in his nine-year stay.

Only Sir Alex Ferguson has more English league titles than Bob Paisley and only Carlo Ancelotti has more Champions League titles. Paisley made Liverpool into a powerhouse and brought immense success to the club.

Also Read: Donny van de Beek Bids Farewell to Manchester United: Joins Girona for £500k