In the years-old history of English football, Aston Villa managers have achieved great success in putting the club on the elite club’s list. Since 1897, the club has been competing on the highest level of English level, winning numerous accolades in the process, courtesy of a few great managers who built strong teams in different eras.
The home ground of Aston Villa, Villa Park has welcomed some of the best Premier League managers like Unai Emery, Roberto Di Matteo, and Paul Lambert. The Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard was also a part of the chronological list of the Aston Villa managers. Without making further wait, let’s discuss the last 10 managers who took charge on the sidelines of Villa Park.
List of Top 10 Aston Villa Managers
| Names of Aston Villa managers | Years |
| Graham Turner | 1984-86 |
| Billy McNeill | 1986-97 |
| Graham Taylor | 1987-90, 2002-03 |
| Josef Venglos | 1990-91 |
| Ron Atkinson | 1991-94 |
| Brian Little | 1994-1998 |
| John Gregory | 1998-2002 |
| David O’Leary | 2003-2006 |
| Martin O’Neill | 2006-10 |
| Gerard Houllier | 2010-11 |
Best Aston Villa Managers (Last 10)
10. Gerard Houllier
Gerard Houllier’s managerial career consists of some of the biggest European clubs like Liverpool, Lyon, PSG, etc. He became the Aston Villa manager for one season before retiring from this profession. Houllier’s first match in charge saw the Villans winning 3-1 against Blackburn Rovers in the League Cup in 2010.
Despite suffering several setbacks initially, Houllier picked up pace in the business end of the 2010/11 season and won most of the games in the Premier League, including a 1-0 victory over Manchester City. The Villans finished the league in the ninth position under Houllier. His biggest move at the club was some of the bold signings including the signing of Kyle Walker from Spurs.
Also Read: Top 10 Bournemouth Managers in the last 20 years
9. Alex McLeish
Alex McLeish is one of the best Aston Villa managers despite his one-year tenure at Villa Park. The Scottish coach arrived from Birmingham City just after the mutual contract termination of Gerard Houllier due to the latter’s physical condition. Just like his predecessor, McLeish also began his winning journey at the club with a 3-0 victory over Blackburn Rovers in the Premier League.
He led the Villans to a 16th placed finish in the English top flight, which saw a surprising win against Chelsea in the process. Despite avoiding relegation, he was sacked by the club directors in May 2012.
8. Paul Lambert
Paul Lambert was appointed as the Aston Villa manager in 2012 following McLeish’s exit. His initial days at Villa Park were not something to be cherished as the Lions continued to succumb to heavy defeats, including an 8-0 thrashing at the hands of Chelsea in the English Premier League.
However, things changed in the second half of the season, and Villa finished 16th on the points tally under Lambert. The Lion’s got off to a great start to the 2013/14 season by defeating Arsenal 3-1 at the Emirates Stadium. With subsequent improvement in the league, Lambert’s fortune ran out in the next season. With Aston Villa sitting in the 18th spot, Lambert was sacked by the club.
7. Tim Sherwood
Tim Sherwood’s appointment as the Aston Villa manager and his journey have two different stories. The English coach was greeted wholeheartedly by the Villans after the club’s 2-1 win against Leicester City. However, things started to change after his first game defeat against Stoke City in the English top flight. His journey of becoming hero to zero took just over seven months. Despite taking Aston Villa to the FA Cup final, the club’s first final appearance since 2000, Sherwood failed to impress the fans and the directors alike, courtesy of poor results in the Premier League.
6. Remi Garde
Remi Garde replaced Tim Sherwood to take over as the Aston Villa manager in 2015. Sherwood left the club hanging in the balance in the points table with 19th position. But, Garde could not improve the situation a bit. He was in charge of 23 official games at Villa Park, and won on just three occasions, losing 13 times. The French manager was axed in March, 2016 following five straight defeats.
5. Roberto Di Matteo
The former Chelsea coach, Roberto Di Matteo joined the Villans in 2016 in a bid to bring things back in order. Aston Villa was already relegated to Championship after finishing in the relegation zone of the Premier League in the previous season. Matteo, who had the opportunity to be one of the greatest Aston Villa managers, failed to take advantage of the situation. Consistent poor results including a 2-0 defeat against Preston North End led to his Villa exit in 2016.
4. Steve Bruce
In search of stability, Aston Villa directors signed the experienced Hull City coach Steve Bruce to take charge of Villa Park. In his second season as the Aston Villa manager, he took the club to the Premier League play-off final, but lost 0-1 to Fulham and missed out on a chance to return to the top flight. After a three-year stay at Championship, the Villans grew desperate, and poor performances of the team under the manager led to Steve Bruce’s immediate sacking in 2018.
3. Dean Smith
Dean Smith is arguably one of the best Aston Villa managers, courtesy of a courageous journey as a coach. When everything was going south at Villa Park, Smith arrived as a savior from Brentford. Under his stewardship, Jack Grealish-led Aston Villa broke the club’s 109-year-old winning streak by claiming 10 victories in 10 matches in the Championship. Smith then led the Lions to earn the Premier League promotion after beating Derby County in the play-off final.
The 2019 transfer window saw Villa spending a club record £145.5 million to bring several talented players including the likes of Jota, Tyrone Mings, Ezri Konsa, and Douglas Luiz. Off the back of a strong squad, Smith’s Aston Villa reached the FA Cup final, but only to lose 1-2 against a strong Manchester City team. His one of biggest achievements as the Aston Villa manager was pulling off a famous 7-2 home win over Liverpool in the 2020/21 Premier League season. In 2021, Smith parted ways with the Lions after some poor results.
2. Steven Gerrard
After coaching Rangers, Steven Gerrard took over as a manager at Villa Park in 2021, replacing Dean Smith. On his debut on the sidelines of Aston Villa, Gerrard won 2-0 against Brighton and Hove Albion in the Premier League. In the 2021/22 season, the Lions finished the league in the 14th position under Gerrard’s watch. After two wins in the first 12 games in 2022, the Liverpool legend was dismissed by the Villans.
Also Read: Ranking 10 best Chelsea Managers in the last 20 years
1. Unai Emery
The current Aston Villa manager, Unai Emery has transformed the club into one of the most dangerous teams to face in the English Premier League. The Spanish coach arrived at Villa Park in 2022. Despite defeats against the table toppers, Villa completed a seventh-place finish in the Premier League, earning European football qualification. In his debut season, he was nominated as the Premier League Manager of the Season award. The 2023/24 season saw the Villans securing a top four finish in the English top flight under Unai Emery. The club booked their first spot in the UEFA Champions League since 1982. For his exceptional performance as the Aston Villa manager, the club extended Emery’s contract until 2029. Many Villa fans might say that Unai Emery is the best Aston Villa manager of all-time.
FAQs
Who is the most successful Aston Villa manager?
George Ramsay is the most successful Aston Villa manager. He won six FA Cups and six first division Championships with the club.
Is Unai Emery a good manager?
Yes. Unai Emery is a good manager. He has won many major titles with different clubs including three consecutive Europa League trophies with Sevilla.
Who did the Aston Villa manager manage before?
The Aston Villa manager Unai Emery managed clubs like Arsenal, Villarreal, PSG and Sevilla before.
What nationality is Unai Emery?
Unai Emery is of Spanish nationality.