Chelsea fans were criticised for tampering with the statue of Arsenal’s legendary manager Herbert Chapman after their 0-0 draw at the Emirates Stadium this weekend.
The former Gunners boss was an influential figure in the game, who enjoyed great success with the North Londoners and with Huddersfield Town.
How many current managers will be considered legends one day?
We looked up and down the Premier League and came up short…it’s hard to imagine a statue of Sam Allardyce standing outside the Olympic Stadium in the future!
In light of this, we drew up a list of five iconic, legendary managers who we’d like to see in today’s Premier League…
Comment below and let us know which managerial great you’d like to see back in the EPL…!
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Bill Shankly
Imagine if Bill Shankly—the founding father of Liverpool FC—were to be dropped into the modern Premier League.
He’d probably hate some things; the famous socialist would doubtless be disgusted with the disconnect that exists between fans and players today.
However, maybe this is something Bill could transform.
Indeed, he insisted that Liverpool fans were privileged to represent the city and the fans, and had well-defined ideas about how players should conduct themselves.
Imagine Shankly passing by the boot room, walking into the Liverpool dressing room, only to find Mario Balotelli lighting a firework in the corner…maybe it’s not such a good idea after all!
Herbert Chapman
Mr. Innovator—whose statue was tampered with by Chelsea fans this weekend—was firmly ahead of his time.
The legendary Arsenal coach was instrumental in, or directly responsible for—among other things—the WM formation, white footballs, numbered shirts, flootlights and European continental club tournaments.
It’s not a bad legacy, and it’s intriguing to imagine what ideas Chapman would have in the modern game…
Maybe he could even invent a way for Arsenal to win the title again?!?
Bill Nicholson
Bill Nicholson, Tottenham Hotspur’s greatest-ever manager and coached the glorious double-winners of 1961.
‘Glorious’ is the word, and Bill Nick is one of the men most responsible for the Spurs’ ‘glory, glory’ characterisation and the value the club put on flair and flamboyancy.
However, while no other manager since has managed to lift the English championship, Nicholson managed to add substance to style.
Could he be the man to finally…finally secure regular Champions League football for Spurs?
Jock Stein
Jock Stein was the first manager to win the European Cup with a British side, securing an unforgettable triumph with Celtic in 1967.
That side—the Lisbon Lions—were all born within a 30-mile radius of Glasgow, and remain the greatest-ever Celtic XI.
They stood out both for their homegrown identity and for their bold attacking football; indeed, the Buoys overcame the great Internazionale—the greatest proponents of catenaccio.
Stein would be a purist’s delight—both promoting youth and local players to the first team, and not folding in the face of boring, negative football—another rival for Jose, perhaps?
Brian Clough
Modern football economics mean that it’s highly unlikely Old Big ‘Ead would be able to take two teams from the depths of Division Two (now the Championship) to the first division title.
However, we would love to see Brian Clough rattle some of the establishment figures by taking a fallen giant back up the table.
Imagine Clough jostling with Jose Mourinho on the touchline, or lamenting the referee’s decision on Match of the Day.