I am aware topics like this spark a lot of argument among fans, because there are no clear cateria to judge the managers
Luckily, there's one easy metric for determining the best Premier League managers ever: the number of trophies,' medals in their collection is a decent place to start.
But obviously, that doesn't tell the whole story. There are managers whose team performance won many fans for club, yet they didn't win that much trophies.
We've tried to judge these managers solely on their Premier League performances as best we can – though you'll find a few references to cup competitions. We tried to bring it down to the top 10 best, but it is was almost looking unfair if exclude Manuel Pellegrini and Claudio RanieriRanieri from the list.
12. Claudio Ranieri (Chelsea, Leicester, Fulham, Watford)
It’s highly unlikely that any manager will ever achieve a shock success quite like Ranieri’s 2015/16 Premier League title win at Leicester.
Priced as 5,000/1 outsiders at the start of the season, the Italian’s tactical nous and composed manner helped the Foxes clinch the most stunning title ever, possibly in any sport. It was the first title of Leicester’s 132-year history, a fairytale success story that earned Ranieri legend status forever.
Sadly, he couldn't see out the next season, sacked in February with the club one point above the relegation zone.
A decent four-year spell as Chelsea boss in the 2000s was only overshadowed by the success of his successor, while two short and undeniably unsuccessful periods with Fulham and Watford diminish his standings here.
11. Manuel Pellegrini (Manchester City, West Ham)
The Chilean enjoyed a superb debut season at Manchester City in 2013/14, winning the Premier League and League Cup double, making history by becoming the first manager from outside Europe to win the league.
City set an English record by scoring 151 goals that season in all competitions that year, and Pellegrini later returned to the division with West Ham, guiding the Hammers to a top-half finish in 2018/19.
10. David Moyes (Everton, Manchester United, Sunderland, West Ham)
For a long time, Moyes’ reputation was scarred by his ill-fated spell at Manchester United, where he had the impossible task of succeeding Alex Ferguson in 2013.
But the Scot did a superb job with Everton to earn that role, leading them to fourth place and an FA Cup final during a nine-year spell, and he has excelled in his second stint at West Ham, taking the east London club from relegation trouble to their record Premier League points total and the Europa League semi-finals.
9. Rafael Benitez (Liverpool, Newcastle, Everton)
He may not have a title to his name, but Benitez made his mark in English football by leading Liverpool to Champions League and FA Cup glory, as well as a second-place finish in the league, during six years at Anfield.
Later, the tactically savvy Spaniard won the Europa League and FA Cup at Chelsea despite his initial appointment being met with protests, while he achieved fan favourite status at Newcastle by staying with the club following relegation to lead them back to the top-flight at the first time of asking.
The less said about his recent spell at Everton, though, the better.
8. Sir Kenny Dalglish (Blackburn, Newcastle, Liverpool)
The Liverpool legend’s first spell at Anfield doesn’t count here, given that his three league titles were won before the dawn of the Premier League era, but he takes his place among the greats thanks to his stunning success at Blackburn.
After finishing fourth in the inaugural Premier League campaign, Dalglish’s challenged Alex Ferguson's imperious Manchester United for the championship the following year, finishing second.
In 1994/95, a Rovers side fired by Alan Shearer and new signing Chris Sutton went one better and won a nail-biting title race that went down to the final day of the season.
King Kenny later took Newcastle to second place and turned around a poor start as Liverpool to guide them to sixth in a second managerial spell at Anfield – though both jobs had less fruitful sophomore seasons.
7. Roberto Mancini (Manchester City)
Mancini was the architect of City’s first Premier League title, and their first league title in 44 years, captured in the most extraordinary of fashions thanks to that goal from Sergio Aguero on the final day of the season.
The Italian was also responsible for signing some of the club’s greatest ever players like Aguero, David Silva and Yaya Toure.
6. Antonio Conte (Chelsea, Tottenham)
The charismatic Italian’s sole Premier League title came in his debut season in England when he guided Chelsea to the league crown in 2016/17, setting a league record for most wins in a single campaign after winning 30 of their 38 games.
Conte returned to England last November to take on the task of making Tottenham serious challengers and he started well, becoming the first ever Spurs boss to go unbeaten in his first eight games.
5. Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool)
Forever assured of hero status at Anfield overseeing Liverpool’s first league triumph in three decades, Jurgen Klopp has built one of the most entertaining teams around.
They’re also one of the most relentless, carrying out the German’s gegenpressing gameplan with a ferocity few can live with.
It’s taken the Reds to within striking distance of an unprecedented quadruple – which would only amplify Klopp’s reputation as one of the GOATs.
4. Jose Mourinho (Chelsea, Manchester United, Tottenham)
“I am a [yes, a] special one.”
Has any Premier League manager ever made as much of a splash in their opening press conference as Jose Mourinho?
Fresh from guiding Porto to Champions League glory, Mourinho came to England to win – and win he did, immediately ending Chelsea’s 50-year wait for a top-flight title then making it two in a row (before adding another in his second spell nine years later).
He considers his second-place finish with Manchester United in 2018 one of his best achievements, though both that and his time as Tottenham manager finished on sour notes.
3. Arsene Wenger (Arsenal)
Dismissed by even his own players at first, Arsene Wenger would go on to prove himself as one of the best in the business, becoming the first-ever non-British coach to win an English top-flight title in 1998.
Leading the Gunners’ ‘Invincibles’ to success in 2003/04 goes down as the Frenchman’s most remarkable achievement (unless, of course, he’s figured out how to zip up that pesky coat by now).
2. Pep Guardiola (Manchester City)
Comparing coaches from different eras has its limitations, but there is no doubt that Pep Guardiola is one of the finest managerial minds of all time.
He already held that status when he took over as Manchester City boss in 2016 – but the turtlenecked tactical genius has continued to strengthen it in the Premier League, winning three titles and setting a new record for consecutive games won.
1. Sir Alex Ferguson (Manchester United)
He did alright for someone who would never win anything with kids, didn’t he?
Never mind the Premier League; Sir Alex Ferguson belongs to the pantheon of the greatest managers ever to grace the game.
It’s a mark of the legendary Glaswegian’s immense influence that Manchester United have not won the league since he retired nine years ago – and his record of 13 titles will probably never be surpassed.
