A study by Sky Sports has revealed the best 20 managers to have worked in the Premier League since its beginnings in 1992.
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Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, and Liverpool all have multiple managers amongst the best. There are also several surprising inclusions that come from judging the candidates on their points per game (which was multiplied by 10), titles won (multiplied by 50), top four finishes (multiplied by 15), and games managed (five points for every 100).
Here are the top 20…
20) George Graham, 1.38 points per game, 0 titles, 1 top four finishes, 287 games, 163pts
Took charge of Arsenal, Tottenham, and Leeds in the top flight. His agricultural style of football with the Gunners has been well remembered for its contrast with that of his successor, Arsene Wenger.
19) Frank Clark, 1.51 points per game, 0 titles, 1 top four finish, 98 games, 166pts
Well known at Nottingham Forest for guiding them to the quarter finals of the UEFA Cup, but enjoyed only a short spell in the top flight.
18) Andre Villas-Boas, 1.79 points per game, 0 titles, 0 top four finishes, 81 games, 179pts
Amazingly, despite being a failure at both Chelsea and Tottenham, the Portuguese makes in to the top 20. Perhaps he was sacked too early by the two London clubs?
17) David Moyes, 1.51 points per game, 0 titles, 1 top four finish, 461 games, 186pts
Now remembered for his terrible time with Manchester United, but the Scot was relatively successful for over a decade with Everton. Surprisingly his one top four finish also came with the Toffees.
16) Brendan Rodgers, 1.67 points per game, 0 titles, 1 top four finish, 152 games, 187pts
Impressed with Swansea before getting the Liverpool job, but it is yet to be seen if the Northern Irishman can repeat the brilliant success he had coming second with the Reds in the 2013-14 campaign.
15) Sir Bobby Robson, 0 titles, 2 top four finishes, 188 games, 194pts
Perhaps one of the best English managers of the past forty years, but most of his most impressive work was done abroad with teams such as Barcelona.
14) Kevin Keegan, 1.54 points per game, 0 titles, 2 top four finishes, 267 games, 197pts
He may only be remembered for the former Liverpool player claiming he “would f****** love it” if he beat Man Utd to the title and then losing, but Keegan did create some very exciting teams in his time.
13) Gianluca Vialli, 1.74 points per game, 0 titles, 2 top four finishes, 94 games, 204pts
Won the League Cup, FA Cup, and Cup Winner’s Cup while in charge of Chelsea, and also guided them to the Champions League for the first time. However, falling out with several senior players cost him his job in the end.
12) David O’Leary, 1.55 points per game, 0 titles, 3 top four finishes, 260 games, 210pts
Created a young, attacking team with Leeds, but has since been criticised for spending too much at Elland Road and seeing results drop in later years. His time at Aston Villa was similar, starting brightly, before high spending and a drop down the table.
11) Claudio Ranieri, 1.82 points per game, 0 titles, 2 top four finishes, 146 games, 217pts
Was very unlucky to be sacked as Chelsea boss despite four straight years of improving their points total in the division, but it may have been the right decision to do so. Jose Mourinho was the next man to take the reins.
10) Roy Evans, 1.69 points per game, 0 titles, 4 top four finishes, 184 games, 234pts
Took a Reds team in free-fall back in to contention for titles, and was perhaps unjustly replaced by Gerard Houllier after four years.
9) Gerard Houllier, 1.68 points per game, 0 titles, 4 top four finishes, 249 games, 238pts
Maybe the Reds were right to switch though? The Frenchman brought the debatable ‘treble’ of the League Cup, FA Cup, and Champions League to Anfield in 2001. He sadly had to resign from Aston Villa because of health problems.
8) Rafael Benitez, 1.91 points per game, 0 titles, 5 top four finishes, 254 games, 276pts
Won the Champions League with what was definitely not the best team in Europe for Liverpool in 2005, but struggled to match those heights in the rest of his time on Merseyside. Also picked up the Europa League while with Chelsea.
7) Carlo Ancelotti, 2.07 points per game, 1 title, 2 top four finishes, 76 games, 287pts
Won the double, but one trophyless campaign with Chelsea is enough to be sacked with Roman Abramovich in charge.
6) Kenny Dalglish, 1.70 points per game, 1 title, 4 top four finishes, 238 games, 290pts
Was unsuccessful in his second spell with Liverpool, but it is perhaps the title win with Blackburn Rovers which is the Scot’s best accomplishment.
5) Manuel Pellegrini, 2.17 points per game, 1 title, 2 top finishes, 76 games, 297pts
An impressive double of the Capital One Cup and Premier League in his debut campaign, but struggled last time out and won nothing. Next season will be a big test for the Chilean.
4) Roberto Mancini, 2.05 points per game, 1 title, 3 top four finishes, 133 games, 305pts
Won Manchester City’s first league title under the ownership of Sheikh Mansour and guided them to the Champions League for the first time. However it is still surprising to see the Italian so high.
3) Jose Mourinho, 2.29 points per game, 3 titles, 5 top four finishes, 196 games, 459pts
The best points to game ratio out of everyone on the list, and the Portuguese has shown in his two spells with Chelsea that he is a tactical mastermind.
2) Arsene Wenger, 1.99 points per game, 3 titles, 19 top four finishes, 714 games, 669pts
If there is one criticism of the 65-year-old it is that he should have won more than he has. However, his ability to keep the Gunners in the Champions League has been vital while they built their new stadium.
1) Sir Alex Ferguson, 2.16 points per game, 13 titles, 21 top four finishes, 810 games, 1221pts
It was always going to be the Scot at the top of the table. No manager in history has defined an era so much as the Manchester United boss has the Premier League.