England is one of the oldest football nations in the world. English football debuted in 1863 and, at the moment, has more than 800,000 registered football players. Today, we will cover the best English football managers in history.
The list will contain not only managers from England itself but also from the whole United Kingdom. As always, the coaches on the list will not follow a specific rank system because it is not appropriate to compare the managers who coached different teams and did that in diverse football eras.
Bob Paisley
Bob Paisley is one of the most decorated managers in Liverpool’s history. He was always associated with the Merseyside team because he spent more than 40 years (44) in this organization. He played for Liverpool for 15 years, from 1939 to 1954. After his playing career, B. Paisley evolved into a physiotherapist. He was in charge from 1954 to 1959.
However, in 1959, Bob finally debuted as an assistant manager and spent 15 years in this position. Yet, the most paramount epoch of his professional career began in 1974 when he became the head coach of Liverpool. The legendary saga ended in 1983, and he was only one year away from the 45th anniversary with the club.
Bob Paisley – Stunning Achievements
B. Paisley, as an assistant or as head coach, took part in 1,270 professional football games. During those 15 years as an assistant, he gathered tons of experience alongside Bill Shankly. All of that contributed to becoming the grandest manager in Red’s history. B. Paisley’s career achievements:
• Six League Titles – 1975/76, 1976/77, 1978-79, 1979/80, 1981/82/, 1982/83
• English League Cup – 1980/81, 1981/82, 1982/83
• Community/Charity Shield – 1974, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1982
• European Cup – 1977, 1978, 1981
• UEFA Cup – 1975/76
• UEFA Super Cup – 1977
In 1983, after he won 20 major trophies in nine years – it made him the second-most victorious manager ever. Pep Guardiola is the one to beat the historical feat set by one of the most prolific coaches in football. His average of 2.2 trophies per season will always be a challenging task to surpass.
Herbert Chapman
Many football experts call Herbert Chapman the evolutionist of football. During his 27 years of coaching, he stood out as one of the sharpest minds, and the strange part is his last managerial duration. He coached Arsenal for nine years, from 1925 to 1934. The legendary coach we previously talked about, B. Paisley, also was in charge for nine years. It turns out that both managers made it into the Hall of Fame in basically nine years.
Recently, the media started speculating whether this 9-year managerial duration impacted Jürgen Klopp’s decision. As we all know, the German mastermind will also leave his head coach position after nine years in Liverpool. However, it is most likely a coincidence.
H. Chapman coached four teams: Northampton Town, Leeds City, Huddersfield Town, and Arsenal. The journey started in 1907 when he was still playing for Northampton Town. H. Chapman coached and played for two years, until 1909. He left his first managerial position in 1912 and joined Leeds City.
Herbert Chapman – Coaching
Leeds City was formed in 1904 but was dissolved fifteen years later, in 1919. After some time, Leeds had another professional club, the ancestor of Leeds City – Leeds United. The club started to operate professionally again, but already without H. Chapman because his period at the club officially concluded in 1918.
H. Chapman joined Huddersfield Town in 1921, and it was his third coaching position. However, after four years there, the most glorious time came in 1925. He commenced his nine-year stint with Arsenal, which lasted until 1934. H. Chapman’s career achievements:
• Southern League – 1908/09
• FA Cup – 1921/22, 1929/30
• First Division – 1923/24, 1924/25, 1930/31, 1932/33
Herbert Chapman – New Elements
He was not just a manager, but H. Chapman was also an innovative person. He introduced numbered shirts and the idea of using rubber studs on boots. Regardless, these ideas seemed weird at that time and were not accepted. The suggestions became a standard during the 40s.
Brian Clough
Brian Clough belongs to the group of four managers who won the English league title with two clubs. Only this fact alone proves how badass B. Clough was.
Brian Clough
• Derby County – 1971/72
• Nottingham Forrest – 1977/78
Kenny Dalglish
• Liverpool – 1985/86, 1987/88, 1989/90
• Blackburn Rovers – 1994/95
Tom Watson
• Sunderland – 1891/92, 1892/93, 1894/95
• Liverpool – 1900/01, 1905/06
Herbert Chapman
• Huddersfield Town – 1923/24, 1924/25
• Arsenal – 1930/31, 1932/33
During his manager career, he coached six clubs. However, of these six teams he coached, only one was a youth academy team – Sunderland. Sunderland was not only his only coached youth academy team but also his first proper managerial position. B. Clough’s era began in 1964, but he left Sunderland and joined Hartlepool United. He spent two years in Hartlepool, from 1965 to 1967.
After this career stretch, Derby County was another side to have the privilege of having such a coach on their team’s sideline. B. Clough was the head coach of Derby Country until 1973 and won his first English league title there – 1971/72. Then, he managed two more clubs: Brighton & Hove Albion in the 1973–1974 season and Leeds United in 1974.
Brian Clough – New Era
In 1975, throughout the years of gaining experience, he joined the legendary Nottingham Forest side. He coached the team from 1975 to 1993 and won two in a row European Cups:
• 1979 – Nottingham Forest 1-0 Malmö FF
• 1980 – Nottingham Forest 1-0 Hamburger SV
During his glorious career, he coached in 874 official games, but this number should be grander because no one knows the exact number of matches that Hartlepool and Brighton played when B. Clough was the head coach.
Brian Clough – Missed Opportunity and Confidence
B. Clough was one of the best coaches in the world, but he has never been the head coach of the England national team. After years of speculations, he has received the nickname of the grandest coach England never had.
When asked about his football career – he answered in the most confident way possible. “I would not say I was the finest manager in the football industry, but I was in the top one.” His achievements speak for themselves, so that type of response is not a shock. B. Clough’s career accomplishments:
• Second Division – 1969
• Watney Cup – 1970
• Texaco Cup – 1972
• First Division – 1972, 1978
• Anglo-Scottish Cup – 1977
• League Cup – 1978, 1979, 1989, 1990
• Manager of the Year – 1978
• FA Charity Shield – 1978
• European Cup – 1979, 1980
• European Coach of the Year – 1979
• European Super Cup – 1979
• European Coach of the Season – 1980
• Full Members Cup – 1989, 1992
Matt Busby
Even though Alex Ferguson is the current legendary managerial figure of Manchester United, Matt Busby is the one who formed the club’s principles. Media likes to state that Fergie is an architect of modern Manchester United. However, M. Busby is the grandfather who set the tone for the future of this historic club.
When M. Busby became a manager of MU in 1945, he demanded a lengthier contract than the club was offering. He always knew that success comes with time and patience. He also had an opportunity to select his preferred staff and be the head of every footballing operation. No one has ever seen such a manager before. He was the first real autocratic manager in MU’s history, and a similar type of coach emerged half a century later. We will cover it soon.
Matt Busby – Plane Tragedy
His enthusiasm, humanity, and empathy made him one of the most respected managers in history. Nevertheless, M. Busby and his MU squad have been part of one of the biggest tragedies in football history. In 1958, the well-known Munich air disaster occurred. On the 6th of February, Flight 609 crashed on its third attempt to take off at the airport of Munich-Riem, West Germany.
It broke the hearts of millions of fans of Manchester United supporters. The crash claimed the lives of eight MU players, three staff members, eight travelling journalists, and two other passengers. The eight talented players who passed away are:
• Geoff Bent (25)
• Roger Byrne (28)
• Eddie Colman (21)
• Duncan Edwards (21)
• Mark Jones (24)
• David Pegg (22)
• Tommy Taylor (26)
• Liam Whelan (22)
D. Edwards, regarded as one the finest players of his generation, survived a crash but perished 15 days after the accident.
Matt Busby – Never Ever Give Up
It was devastating to come back to professional football after what happened. However, the environment convinced M. Busby to continue. He knew that he must carry on so that people who had lost a chance to fulfil their dreams had not done so in vain.
Ten years after the tragedy, in the 1967-68 season, the Red Devils became the first English team to lift the European trophy. Alongside the superstar names of Bobby Charlton, George Best, Nobby Stiles, Bill Foulkes, and many others, they have written themselves in the history books.
Matt Busby – Career & Achievements
During his 25-year coaching period, the majority of time spent in Manchester, he opened the doors to many splendid European superstars. M. Busby coached only one club in his career. The two other sides were national teams – Great Britain in 1948 and Scotland in 1958. However, he did not coach them for too long. M. Busby was the head coach of Great Britain for only 19 days and the boss of Scotland for a bit longer – 184 days. M. Busby’s career attainments:
• FA Cup – 1947/48, 1962/63
• First Division – 1951/52, 1955/56, 1956/57, 1964/65, 1966/67
• European Cup – 1968
• PFA Merit Award – 1980
• English Football Hall of Fame – 2002
Bill Shankly
When mentioning Bill Shankly, you always remember the names of Sir Alex Ferguson, Johan Cruyff, and Arsène Wenger – the long-lasting leaders of their teams. B. Shankly is not an exception. The true Merseyside legend, the foundation layer, is the man who made Liverpool what it is today.
Paper-wise, he was not the most prosperous Liverpool manager. He never had a period of total dominance like Bob Paisley or Kenny Dalglish. Regardless, coaches who conquered more did that on the foundation of the legendary personality – B. Shankly. He transformed the 2nd Division club into a forthcoming dynasty, and it was much easier for others to handle the team when they saw the path to follow.
Bill Shankly – Personality and Distinct Mindset
Throughout his career, B. Shankly always believed in perfectionism and once said that football success comes from the mind. A player must think he is the best and then make sure he is. He also paid much attention to how the players were training and how strict they were. His antique long-distance stamina activity was one of the most popular options. B. Shankly comprehended that if one seeks to beat his competitors, he must outrun them.
B. Shankly made his manager debut in 1949, and his first side was Carlisle United. The first team he played for was also Carlisle United. Then he coached Grimsby Town, Workington AFC, and two Huddersfield teams – U23 and first team. In 1959, ten years after his debut as a professional football head coach, he joined Liverpool, and the rest is history. B. Shankly’s managerial achievements:
• Football League Second Division – 1961/62
• Football League First Division – 1963/64, 1965/66, 1972/73
• FA Charity Shield – 1964, 1965, 1966
• FA Cup – 1964/65, 1973/74
• UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup – 1973/74
B. Shankly has officially coached in 741 matches. He was the head coach of Liverpool from 1959 to 1974. Then he left the position, and B. Paisley stepped in. Although B. Paisley is the first Liverpool coach to win a European title – his fourteen years as B. Shankly’s assistant manager gave him the tools to succeed on such a high level. To this day, B. Shankly has the reputation of a manager who resurrected the club and contributed to its success in later stages.
Alex Ferguson
Many consider Alex Ferguson the most influential manager in sports history. At the start of this career, it did not look like it could go that way. The current manager of Coventry City, Mark Robins, pretty much saved him from being sacked by MU.
M. Robins was a critical player when the Red Devils won the FA Cup in 1990, as it was Alex Ferguson’s first trophy at the club. He started his magnificent career in 1974. Since then, A. Ferguson coached teams like:
• 1974/75 – East Stirlingshire
• 1975/78 – St. Mirren
• 1978/86 – Aberdeen
• 1985/86 – Scotland
• 1986/2013 – Manchester United
Alex Ferguson – It is Time to Make Some Noise
When A. Ferguson joined on the 6th of November 1986, MU did not have a single league title for 19 years. A. Ferguson always said that a player is not grander than the club, and a player is not grander than the manager. His status always helped build new teams and acquire new players. A. Ferguson found some incredible talent over the years – David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt, and Gary Neville.
Playing for A. Ferguson was not as easy as it might look. The club had many rules and knew how to manage the player’s behaviour. Many players played much better than they would have played in other teams. Manchester United used to stand for unity, and that was key to reaching future success. This type of mentality helped MU conquer England and catch Liverpool.
Alex Ferguson – Different Reality
At that moment, Liverpool was a much bigger club than United. Regardless, the situation changed, and with 20 league titles, Manchester United is the most successful club in England. A. Ferguson’s dominance might never be repeated as his trophy cabinet is out of this world.
• Scottish Premier Division – 1979/80, 1983/84, 1984/85
• Scottish Cup – 1981/82, 1982/83, 1983/84, 1985/86
• Scottish League Cup – 1985/86
• UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup – 1982/83, 1990/91
• UEFA Super Cup – 1983, 1991
• Premier League – 1992/93, 1993/94, 1995/96, 1996/97, 1998/99, 1999/00, 2000/01, 2002/03, 2006/07, 2007/08, 2008/09, 2010/11, 2012/13
• FA Cup – 1989/90, 1993/94, 1995/96, 1998/99, 2003/04
• League Cup – 1991/92, 2005/06, 2008/09, 2009/10
• UEFA Champions League – 1998/99, 2007/08
• Intercontinental Cup – 1999
• FIFA Club World Cup – 2008
• LMA Manager of the Year – 1998/99, 2007/08, 2010/11, 2012/13
• English Football Hall of Fame – 2002
Alex Ferguson has officially coached in 1,551. However, his biggest rival, A. Wenger, has at least one advantage over A. Ferguson – he was a head coach in 1,793 official football games.