English football managers have shaped the sport. From World Cup glory to European and domestic dominance, teams are more than just their players. Here, we've picked just a few of the English managers you should know about. Who would make your list?
Key Takeaways
- Sir Alf Ramsey is often treated as the best English football manager of all time because he led England to the 1966 FIFA World Cup.²
- Bob Paisley is one of the most successful English club managers, winning three European Cups with Liverpool.⁴
- Brian Clough’s back-to-back European Cups with Nottingham Forest remain one of the most remarkable achievements in English football management.¹¹
- Sir Bobby Robson built a global reputation through his work with England, Ipswich Town, PSV Eindhoven, Porto, Barcelona, and Newcastle United.¹²
- Sean Dyche and Eddie Howe represent two different versions of the modern English manager: one built on structure and resilience, the other on progressive coaching and player development.
Criteria for Ranking the Best English Football Managers
You have to look at more than one season or trophy to rank English football's top managers. We're looking for a combination of major titles, tactical influence, long-term legacy, and the ability to change the direction of a club or national team. We've picked World Cup winners, European champions, league-title managers, and influential modern coaches, all of whom belong in the discussion. We haven't included the England Women's team here because their manager is Dutch.
| Manager | Best known for | Main achievement | Why they rank highly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sir Alf Ramsey | Leading England to the 1966 FIFA World Cup | Won the 1966 FIFA World Cup with England² | The only manager to lead England to a men’s World Cup title |
| Brian Clough | Transforming Derby County and Nottingham Forest | Won back-to-back European Cups with Nottingham Forest in 1979 and 1980¹¹ | Built elite teams from clubs that were not traditional European powers |
| Bob Paisley | Liverpool’s domestic and European dominance | Won three European Cups with Liverpool⁴ | One of the most decorated English managers in club football |
| Sir Bobby Robson | Success with England, Ipswich Town, and clubs abroad | Led England to the 1990 World Cup semi-finals¹² | Succeeded across domestic, European, and international football |
| Howard Kendall | Building Everton’s great 1980s team | Won two English league titles and the 1985 European Cup Winners’ Cup¹ | Created one of Everton’s strongest and most successful sides |
| Sean Dyche | Overachieving with Burnley | Led Burnley to Premier League promotion in 2025¹⁰ | A notable current English manager for organisation, resilience, and man-management |
| Eddie Howe | Bournemouth’s rise and Newcastle United’s revival | Won the 2025 Carabao Cup with Newcastle United⁸ | A leading modern English manager with a progressive coaching reputation |
Achievements and Trophies
Tactical Innovations
Legacy and Influence
Top English Football Managers of All Time
Not every great manager takes the same route to greatness. Some made history with the only silverware that the England football team has won, while others built legendary club sides in English and European football. We've included the following managers because fans still talk about their achievements.
Sir Alf Ramsey
You’ve won it once. Now you’ll have to go out there and win it again.
Sir Alf Ramsey, before extra time in the 1966 World Cup final.
Brian Clough
Every day was a coaching lesson from Brian Clough.
Martin O’Neill, former Nottingham Forest midfielder.
Bob Paisley
I never imagined emulating the success that Bob had achieved.
Joe Fagan, Liverpool manager after Bob Paisley.
Sir Bobby Robson
I just adore football.
Sir Bobby Robson
Howard Kendall
Best Current English Football Managers to Watch
For current managers, we have to judge them differently, especially when their careers are still ongoing. The role of a manager is different today, with them handling recruitment systems, sports science, media pressure, and global tactical trends while still getting results on the pitch. The two we've picked here are examples of different versions of English football management. They mightn't have managed any of the UK's very biggest football clubs, but for the clubs they've managed, they've made a huge difference.
Sean Dyche
Eddie Howe
The Evolution of English Football Management
Since the mid-20th century, management in English football has changed dramatically. Just as England's goalkeepers have changed over the decades, managers used to be all about authority, selection, motivation, and tactical simplicity. Now, modern managers have to manage every detail of performance.
From Traditional Tactics to Modern Strategies
1962
Alf Ramsey Wins the First Division with Ipswich Town
Before his England success, Ramsey led Ipswich Town to the First Division title, showing his tactical ability at club level.³
1966
England Win the FIFA World Cup
Sir Alf Ramsey became the only manager to lead England to a men's FIFA World Cup title.²
1972
Brian Clough Leads Derby County to the League Title
Clough turned Derby County into champions, proving his ability to transform ambitious clubs into title-winning sides.⁷
1977
Bob Paisley Wins His First European Cup
Paisley led Liverpool to European Cup glory, beginning a remarkable run of continental success.⁴
1979 and 1980
Nottingham Forest Win Back-to-Back European Cups
Brian Clough guided Nottingham Forest to consecutive European Cups, one of the greatest achievements by an English club manager.¹¹
1985
Howard Kendall Wins in Europe with Everton
Kendall's Everton won the European Cup Winners' Cup, confirming the club as one of the strongest English sides of the 1980s.¹
1990
Bobby Robson Takes England to a World Cup Semi-Final
Robson led England to the semi-finals at Italia 90, one of the national team's strongest tournament runs after 1966.¹²
2017 to 2018
Sean Dyche Leads Burnley into Europe
Dyche guided Burnley to seventh in the Premier League, earning qualification for the Europa League.⁵
2025
Eddie Howe Wins the Carabao Cup with Newcastle United
Howe ended Newcastle United's long wait for a major domestic trophy and strengthened his case as one of the best current English football managers.⁸
The Role of English Managers in the Global Game
References
- Athletic Club Foundation. “Howard Kendall, a Legendary Coach at Everton… and at Athletic.” Athletic Club Foundation, 9 Oct. 2025, https://fundazioa.athletic-club.eus/en/blog/howard-kendall-a-legendary-coach-at-everton-and-at-athletic/ Accessed 8 May 2026.
- FIFA. “England World Cup History, Records and 2026 Fixtures.” FIFA, 17 Jan. 2026, https://www.fifa.com/en/tournaments/mens/worldcup/canadamexicousa2026/articles/england-team-profile-history. Accessed 8 May 2026.
- Football Association, The. “Three Lions Hero of 1966 Sir Alf Ramsey Remembered.” The FA, 28 Apr. 2015, https://www.thefa.com/news/2015/apr/28/sir-alf-ramsey. Accessed 8 May 2026.
- Haslam, Andrew. “Paisley’s European Cup Legacy at Liverpool.” UEFA, 14 Feb. 2016, https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/022a-0e93411c2afb-540d557c72f0-1000--paisley-s-european-cup-legacy-at-liverpool/. Accessed 8 May 2026.
- Keble, Alex. “Forest Undergoing Another Big Change of Style with Dyche’s Direct Tactics.” Premier League, 23 Oct. 2025, https://www.premierleague.com/en/news/4444081/forest-set-for-another-big-change-of-style-with-dyches-direct-tactics. Accessed 8 May 2026.
- Liverpool FC. “In Numbers: The Great Bob Paisley.” Liverpool FC, 23 Jan. 2019, https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/features/334243-in-numbers-the-great-bob-paisley. Accessed 8 May 2026.
- National Football Museum. “Brian Clough Hall of Fame Profile.” National Football Museum, https://nationalfootballmuseum.com/halloffame/brian-clough/. Accessed 8 May 2026.
- Newcastle United. “Eddie Howe Honoured with ‘Freedom of Newcastle’.” Newcastle United, 17 Mar. 2026, https://www.newcastleunited.com/en/news/eddie-howe-honoured-with-freedom-of-newcastle. Accessed 8 May 2026.
- Nottingham Forest. “Honours.” Nottingham Forest Football Club, https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/club-information/history/honours/. Accessed 8 May 2026.
- Premier League. “Promoted Clubs: All You Need to Know about Burnley.” Premier League, 5 June 2025, https://www.premierleague.com/en/news/4323143. Accessed 8 May 2026.
- UEFA. “Brian Clough and the Miracle of Nottingham.” UEFA, 21 Mar. 2015, https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/021f-0e9afe5f8d7a-99be2faacf0f-1000--brian-clough-and-the-miracle-of-nottingham/. Accessed 8 May 2026.
- UEFA. “Sir Bobby Robson.” UEFA, 31 July 2009, https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/01db-0f85c5e36faa-d59f3b998679-1000--sir-bobby-robson/. Accessed 8 May 2026.
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