As featured on NewsNow: Football news

​TOP 5: Best non-British managers to coach in the Premier League

Jurgen Klopp notched his first victory as manager of Liverpool after the Reds defeated Bournemouth 1-0 in League Cup action on Wednesday night.

To mark the occasion, tribalfootball has decided to rank the top 5 non-British managers who have coached in the Premier League.

5. Gerard Houllier

The former Liverpool boss oversaw a golden era at Anfield between 1998 and 2004.

A decade after he finished his previous club managerial role at Paris Saint Germain, Houllier was hired by the Reds as joint manager alongside Roy Evans.

After a turbulent and unsuccessful start to the 1998/99 campaign Evans resigned 12 games into the season, handing Houllier the reigns.

The Frenchman went on to oversee 325 Liverpool fixtures and guided the Merseyside club to the FA Cup, League Cup and UEFA Cup treble during the 2000/01 season.

Houllier tasted success the following season as well, with the Reds winning their second consecutive League Cup.

Overall, Houllier finished his time at Liverpool with more than 100 Premier League victories under his belt and a 52% winning percentage.

The former French national team boss returned to the Premier League when he was appointed Aston Villa manager in September 2010, but he endured a tough time at Villa which saw him part ways with the club at season's end.

4. Rafa Benitez

Benitez had big shoes to fill after taking over the reigns of Premier League giants Liverpool from Gerard Houllier in 2004.

The Spaniard spent six seasons at Anfield where he oversaw 350 matches in all competitions, amassing nearly 200 total wins at a rate of 56%.

His greatest achievement without doubt was guiding Liverpool to the 2004/05 UEFA Champions League title in his first season at the club.

Liverpool's comeback from 3-0 down against AC Milan to win the Final in Istanbul on penalties rates as arguably the great Champions League Final triumph in history.

Benitez backed up the success of his initial season by steering the Merseyside club to FA Cup glory the following campaign.

Benitez returned to the Premier League when he took over as interim manager of Chelsea for the 2012/13 season.

Although his spell at Stamford Bridge was brief, Benitez still managed to win silverware with the Blues, securing the UEFA Europa League title and finishing with a 58% winning ratio after 48 matches in charge.

3. Roberto Mancini

Mancini was appointed Manchester City manager in December 2009, taking over from Mark Hughes.

The Italian had the difficult task of delivering silverware in a timely fashion for City's demanding new owners, the Abu Dhabi United Group.

Mancini delivered on that front during his second season in charge, guiding City to 2010/11 FA Cup trophy, their first major piece of silverware since winning the League Cup in 1975/76.

However, Mancini will be most remembered for steering City to the 2011/12 Premier League title, with the dramatic come-from-behind victory over Queens Park Rangers on the last day of the season to seal the title undoubtedly the best finish to a Premier League campaign in history.

Mancini finished his time at the Etihad Stadium with more than 100 wins in all competitions at a winning ratio of 59%

2. Jose Mourinho

The Special One established himself as one of the greatest managers the Premier League has seen during two separate stints at Chelsea.

Mourinho first moved to Stamford Bridge in 2004 and amassed 124 victories in all competitions at an incredible win ratio of 67%.

Along the way, the Portueguese boss managed to win two Premier League titles (2004/05, 2005/06), two League Cups (2004/05, 2005/06), and an FA Cup (2006/07).

Mourinho returned to his old stomping ground in the summer of 2013 after parting ways with Real Madrid.

He returned the London club to the pinnacle of English football by securing a Premier League, League Cup double last season.

Mourinho has been named Premier League Manager of the Year on three separate occasions.

1. Arsene Wenger

Wenger is in the midst of his 20th season in charge of Arsenal and it is this incredible longevity at a time when the managerial merry-go-round is in full swing, that puts him at the top of our list.

Wenger announced himself to the English public by winning the 1997/98 Premier League title and FA Cup double in just his second season in charge at Highbury.

The Frenchman's success sparked a trend, with clubs around the Premier League taking not and hiring foreign managers in the hope they could replicate Wenger's achievements.

The Gunners have played arguably some of the best football the Premier League has ever seen with Wenger at the helm and their incredible undefeated season in 2003/04 was the pinnacle of that.

Overall, the 66-year-old has overseen more than 1,000 Arsenal fixtures, amassing a staggering 623 victories – all while spending far less money on players than some of his cashed-up Premier League opponents.

Wenger's trophy cabinet at Arsenal includes three Premier League titles (1997/98, 2001/02, 2003/04) and six FA Cups (1997/98, 2001/02, 2002/03, 2004/05, 2013/14, 2014/15).

He has been named Premier League Manager of the Year three times and has a 58% winning ratio in all competitions with the Gunners.

Video of the day:

Gerard Laws
About the author

Gerard Laws

×

Subscribe and go ad-free

For only $10 a year

  1. Go Ad-Free
  2. Faster site experience
  3. Support great writing
  4. Subscribe now
Launch Offer: 2 months free
×

Subscribe and go ad-free

For only $10 a year

Subscribe now
Launch Offer: 2 months free