List of English football championship-winning managers

The top level of the English football league system from its formation in 1888 was the Football League, until the introduction of a Second Division in 1892 when it became known as the Football League First Division.[1] This remained the top level of English football until 1992 when it was replaced by the Premier League.[2][3] The role of the manager is to select the squad during the league season, develop the tactics of the team and manage potential issues within the squad. Due to the prestige of winning the league championship, the pressures on managers to succeed can be great.[4]

Alex Ferguson as manager of Manchester United in 2006jejsiisjs
Alex Ferguson won a record 13 league championships from 1993 to 2013 as manager of Manchester United.

William Sudell managed Preston North End to the inaugural championship in 1888–89, which they retained the following season, with Suddell becoming the first manager to win multiple championships.[5] Since then, a further 24 managers have won the championship on more than one occasion. Alex Ferguson won 13 league championships as manager of Manchester United, which is the most a manager has won.[6] George Ramsay and Bob Paisley won six league championships as managers of Aston Villa and Liverpool respectively. Nine managers — Ted Drake, Bill Nicholson, Alf Ramsey, Joe Mercer, Dave Mackay, Bob Paisley, Howard Kendall, Kenny Dalglish and George Graham – have won the championship as a player and a manager.[7] Dalglish is the only one to have won the championship as a player-manager, a feat he achieved in the 1985–86, 1987–88 and 1989–90 seasons.[8]

English managers have won the most championships, with a total of 58 championships won by 38 different managers. Scottish managers are next with 37 championships won by 10 different managers and Spanish managers are third with five titles all won by Pep Guardiola. The last English manager to win the championship was Howard Wilkinson, who led Leeds United to victory in the 1991–92 season.[9] Arsène Wenger became the first manager from outside the British Isles to win the championship when he guided Arsenal to the 1997–98 Premier League title.[10] Manuel Pellegrini became the first manager from outside of Europe to win the championship when he guided Manchester City to the 2013–14 Premier League title.[11]

Managers

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George Ramsay (left) and Bob Paisley (centre) won six league championships as managers of Aston Villa and Liverpool respectively. Pep Guardiola (right) is the most recent manager to have won the league championship.

Period: Football League (1888–1892)Football League First Division (1892–1992)Premier League (1992–present)

English football championship-winning managers[12][13]
SeasonNationalityManagerClubRef.
1888–89  EnglandWilliam SudellPreston North End[14]
1889–90  EnglandWilliam SudellPreston North End[14]
1890–91  EnglandDick MolyneuxEverton[15]
1891–92  EnglandTom WatsonSunderland[16]
1892–93  EnglandTom WatsonSunderland[16]
1893–94  ScotlandGeorge RamsayAston Villa[17]
1894–95  EnglandTom WatsonSunderland[16]
1895–96  ScotlandGeorge RamsayAston Villa[17]
1896–97  ScotlandGeorge RamsayAston Villa[17]
1897–98  EnglandJoseph WostinholmSheffield United[18]
1898–99  ScotlandGeorge RamsayAston Villa[17]
1899–1900  ScotlandGeorge RamsayAston Villa[17]
1900–01  EnglandTom WatsonLiverpool[16]
1901–02  ScotlandAlex MackieSunderland[19]
1902–03  EnglandArthur DickinsonThe Wednesday[20]
1903–04  EnglandArthur DickinsonThe Wednesday[20]
1904–05  ScotlandFrank WattNewcastle United[21]
1905–06  EnglandTom WatsonLiverpool[16]
1906–07  ScotlandFrank WattNewcastle United[21]
1907–08  EnglandErnest MangnallManchester United[22]
1908–09  ScotlandFrank WattNewcastle United[21]
1909–10  ScotlandGeorge RamsayAston Villa[17]
1910–11  EnglandErnest MangnallManchester United[22]
1911–12  EnglandRobert MiddletonBlackburn Rovers[23]
1912–13  IrelandBob KyleSunderland[24]
1913–14  EnglandRobert MiddletonBlackburn Rovers[23]
1914–15  EnglandWill CuffEverton[25]
1915–19[a]
1919–20  EnglandFred EverissWest Bromwich Albion[27]
1920–21  EnglandJohn HaworthBurnley[28]
1921–22  EnglandDavid AshworthLiverpool[29]
1922–23  ScotlandMatt McQueenLiverpool[30]
1923–24  EnglandHerbert ChapmanHuddersfield Town[31]
1924–25  EnglandHerbert ChapmanHuddersfield Town[31]
1925–26  EnglandCecil PotterHuddersfield Town[32]
1926–27  ScotlandFrank WattNewcastle United[21]
1927–28  EnglandThomas H. McIntoshEverton[33]
1928–29  EnglandRobert BrownThe Wednesday[34]
1929–30  EnglandRobert BrownThe Wednesday[34]
1930–31  EnglandHerbert ChapmanArsenal[31]
1931–32  EnglandThomas H. McIntoshEverton[33]
1932–33  EnglandHerbert ChapmanArsenal[31]
1933–34  EnglandJoe Shaw (caretaker)Arsenal[35][36]
1934–35  EnglandGeorge AllisonArsenal[37]
1935–36  ScotlandJohnny CochraneSunderland[38]
1936–37  EnglandWilf WildManchester City[39]
1937–38  EnglandGeorge AllisonArsenal[37]
1938–39  EnglandTheo KellyEverton[40]
1939–46[b]
1946–47  EnglandGeorge KayLiverpool[42]
1947–48  EnglandTom WhittakerArsenal[43]
1948–49  EnglandBob JacksonPortsmouth[44]
1949–50  EnglandBob JacksonPortsmouth[44]
1950–51  EnglandArthur RoweTottenham Hotspur[45]
1951–52  ScotlandMatt BusbyManchester United[46]
1952–53  EnglandTom WhittakerArsenal[43]
1953–54  EnglandStan CullisWolverhampton Wanderers[47]
1954–55  EnglandTed DrakeChelsea[48]
1955–56  ScotlandMatt BusbyManchester United[46]
1956–57  ScotlandMatt BusbyManchester United[46]
1957–58  EnglandStan CullisWolverhampton Wanderers[47]
1958–59  EnglandStan CullisWolverhampton Wanderers[47]
1959–60  EnglandHarry PottsBurnley[49]
1960–61  EnglandBill NicholsonTottenham Hotspur[50]
1961–62  EnglandAlf RamseyIpswich Town[51]
1962–63  EnglandHarry CatterickEverton[52]
1963–64  ScotlandBill ShanklyLiverpool[53]
1964–65  ScotlandMatt BusbyManchester United[46]
1965–66  ScotlandBill ShanklyLiverpool[53]
1966–67  ScotlandMatt BusbyManchester United[46]
1967–68  EnglandJoe MercerManchester City[54]
1968–69  EnglandDon RevieLeeds United[55]
1969–70  EnglandHarry CatterickEverton[52]
1970–71  EnglandBertie MeeArsenal[56]
1971–72  EnglandBrian CloughDerby County[57]
1972–73  ScotlandBill ShanklyLiverpool[53]
1973–74  EnglandDon RevieLeeds United[55]
1974–75  ScotlandDave MackayDerby County[58]
1975–76  EnglandBob PaisleyLiverpool[59]
1976–77  EnglandBob PaisleyLiverpool[59]
1977–78  EnglandBrian CloughNottingham Forest[57]
1978–79  EnglandBob PaisleyLiverpool[59]
1979–80  EnglandBob PaisleyLiverpool[59]
1980–81  EnglandRon SaundersAston Villa[60]
1981–82  EnglandBob PaisleyLiverpool[59]
1982–83  EnglandBob PaisleyLiverpool[59]
1983–84  EnglandJoe FaganLiverpool[61]
1984–85  EnglandHoward KendallEverton[62]
1985–86  ScotlandKenny DalglishLiverpool[63]
1986–87  EnglandHoward KendallEverton[62]
1987–88  ScotlandKenny DalglishLiverpool[63]
1988–89  ScotlandGeorge GrahamArsenal[64]
1989–90  ScotlandKenny DalglishLiverpool[63]
1990–91  ScotlandGeorge GrahamArsenal[64]
1991–92  EnglandHoward WilkinsonLeeds United[65]
1992–93  ScotlandAlex FergusonManchester United[66]
1993–94  ScotlandAlex FergusonManchester United[66]
1994–95  ScotlandKenny DalglishBlackburn Rovers[67]
1995–96  ScotlandAlex FergusonManchester United[66]
1996–97  ScotlandAlex FergusonManchester United[66]
1997–98  FranceArsène WengerArsenal[68]
1998–99  ScotlandAlex FergusonManchester United[66]
1999–2000  ScotlandAlex FergusonManchester United[66]
2000–01  ScotlandAlex FergusonManchester United[66]
2001–02  FranceArsène WengerArsenal[68]
2002–03  ScotlandAlex FergusonManchester United[66]
2003–04  FranceArsène WengerArsenal[68]
2004–05  PortugalJosé MourinhoChelsea[69]
2005–06  PortugalJosé MourinhoChelsea[69]
2006–07  ScotlandAlex FergusonManchester United[66]
2007–08  ScotlandAlex FergusonManchester United[66]
2008–09  ScotlandAlex FergusonManchester United[66]
2009–10  ItalyCarlo AncelottiChelsea[70]
2010–11  ScotlandAlex FergusonManchester United[66]
2011–12  ItalyRoberto ManciniManchester City[71]
2012–13  ScotlandAlex FergusonManchester United[66]
2013–14  ChileManuel PellegriniManchester City[72]
2014–15  PortugalJosé MourinhoChelsea[69]
2015–16  ItalyClaudio RanieriLeicester City[73]
2016–17  ItalyAntonio ConteChelsea[74]
2017–18  SpainPep GuardiolaManchester City[75]
2018–19  SpainPep GuardiolaManchester City[75]
2019–20  GermanyJürgen KloppLiverpool[76]
2020–21  SpainPep GuardiolaManchester City[75]
2021–22  SpainPep GuardiolaManchester City[75]
2022–23  SpainPep GuardiolaManchester City[77]
2023–24  SpainPep GuardiolaManchester City

By individual

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Key
*Manager is currently active
English football championship-winning managers by individual
RankManagerTitlesClub(s)Winning seasons
1Alex Ferguson
13
Manchester United1992–93, 1993–94, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2012–13
2George Ramsay
6
Aston Villa1893–94, 1895–96, 1896–97, 1898–99, 1899–1900, 1909–10
Bob PaisleyLiverpool1975–76, 1976–77, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1981–82, 1982–83
Pep Guardiola *Manchester City2017–18, 2018–19, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24
4Tom Watson
5
Sunderland, Liverpool1891–92, 1892–93, 1894–95, 1900–01, 1905–06
Matt BusbyManchester United1951–52, 1955–56, 1956–57, 1964–65, 1966–67
6Frank Watt
4
Newcastle United1904–05, 1906–07, 1908–09, 1926–27
Herbert ChapmanHuddersfield Town, Arsenal1923–24, 1924–25, 1930–31, 1932–33
Kenny DalglishLiverpool, Blackburn Rovers1985–86, 1987–88, 1989–90, 1994–95
9Stan Cullis
3
Wolverhampton Wanderers1953–54, 1957–58, 1958–59
Bill ShanklyLiverpool1963–64, 1965–66, 1972–73
Arsène WengerArsenal1997–98, 2001–02, 2003–04
José Mourinho *Chelsea2004–05, 2005–06, 2014–15
13Arthur Dickinson
2
The Wednesday1902–03, 1903–04
Ernest MangnallManchester United1907–08, 1910–11
Robert MiddletonBlackburn Rovers1911–12, 1913–14
Thomas H. McIntoshEverton1927–28, 1931–32
Robert BrownSheffield Wednesday1928–29, 1929–30
George AllisonArsenal1934–35, 1937–38
Tom WhittakerArsenal1947–48, 1952–53
Bob JacksonPortsmouth1948–49, 1949–50
Harry CatterickEverton1962–63, 1969–70
Don RevieLeeds United1968–69, 1973–74
Brian CloughDerby County, Nottingham Forest1971–72, 1977–78
Howard KendallEverton1984–85, 1986–87
George GrahamArsenal1988–89, 1990–91

Won the League as a player and a manager

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Managers who won the league as player and a manager[7]
NamePlayer club(s)Player season(s)Manager club(s)Manager season(s)
Ted DrakeArsenal1934–35, 1937–38Chelsea1954–55
Bill NicholsonTottenham Hotspur1950–51Tottenham Hotspur1960–61
Alf RamseyTottenham Hotspur1950–51Ipswich Town1961–62
Joe MercerEverton, Arsenal1938–39, 1947–48, 1952–53Manchester City1967–68
Dave MackayTottenham Hotspur1960–61Derby County1974–75
Bob PaisleyLiverpool1946–47Liverpool1975–76, 1976–77, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1981–82, 1982–83
Howard KendallEverton1969–70Everton1984–85, 1986–87
Kenny DalglishLiverpool1978–79, 1979–80, 1981–82, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1985–86Liverpool, Blackburn Rovers1985–86, 1987–88, 1989–90, 1994–95
George GrahamArsenal1970–71Arsenal1988–89, 1990–91

By nationality

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CountryManagersTotal
 England3865
 Scotland1141
 Spain16
 Italy44
 France13
 Portugal13
 Ireland11
 Chile11
 Germany11

Notes

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  1. ^ No competitive football was played between 1915 and 1919 due to the First World War.[26]
  2. ^ In September 1939 first-class football was suspended due to the Second World War, with the 1939–40 league table voided and regional competitions contested instead.[41]

References

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Bibliography

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  • Butler, Byron (1988). The Football League: The First 100 Years. Colour Library Books. ISBN 0-86283-583-6.