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Interim managers are not a rarity in the Premier League. However, they are usually employed by teams flirting with relegation, and are left with no choice but to change managers midway through the season.
Sam Allardyce, for example, has made a habit of coming in late and helping teams crawl back to safety from the brink of relegation. Most elite managers, though, prefer to come in before the start of a campaign. That allows them to add to their squad, get rid of deadwood and implement their strategy across a full preseason.
Di Matteo to Dalglish: the Premier League's best caretaker managers
Although they are rarer than their counterparts in the bottom half of the table, a few caretaker managers have been successful at England's biggest clubs as well. In most cases, though, short-term success leads to a permanent appointment, and that doesn't seem to end well.
Nonetheless, here are five interim managers who have enjoyed successful spells in the Premier League in recent years:
#5 Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (Manchester United)
There was considerable scepticism about Ole Gunnar Solskjaer when he was appointed Manchester United's caretaker boss in December 2018. After a terrible stint at Cardiff City, whom he led to relegation, not many expected Premier League success for Solskjaer.
OGS, though, stunned the naysayers with a blistering start. He became the first Manchester United manager to win his first six games since the legendary Matt Busby. After earning ten points from a possible 12, Solskjaer was named the Premier League Manager of the Month for January 2019, his first full month as The Red Devils' boss.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was made the permanent Manchester United manager after a stunning comeback win over PSG in the Champions League. He signed the contract after winning 14 of his 19 matches in charge as interim boss, although he didn't manage a trophy with the club.
#4 Kenny Dalglish (Liverpool)
Premier League and Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish is one of the greatest players to have graced the game.
He enjoyed a tremendously successful spell with The Reds from 1985 to 1991. Initially starting out as interim player-manager, Dalglish famously led The Reds to their first-ever 'double', winning the league title and the FA Cup. He then took up a permanent role, and won multiple league titles and FA Cups with Liverpool. Dalglish also won three Manager of the Year awards.
Almost 20 years after his first spell, Dalglish returned as interim boss after Liverpool fired Roy Hodgson in January 2011. Eventually given a three-year contract, Dalglish only lasted a year at Liverpool. He memorably led them to the 2011-12 League Cup, which was The Reds' first trophy in six years. Liverpool also reached the 2012 FA Cup final.
Dalglish was fired at the end of the 2011-12 season after Liverpool finished eighth in the Premier League, and failed to qualify for the Champions League.
#3 Rafael Benitez (Chelsea)
Premier League leaders Chelsea's surprise appointment of Rafa Benitez was never going to be well-received by Blues fans because of his history in the league. However, the former Liverpool boss had a positive albeit strange season in London after replacing Roberto Di Matteo in November 2012.
Despite receiving a hostile reception from the Chelsea faithful, Benitez led the club to a third-place Premier League finish, and secured UEFA Champions League football. Chelsea reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup, lost in the FIFA Club World Cup final and famously won the Europa League under Rafael Benitez.
Benitez departed at the end of the 2012-13 season, having announced his intention to leave the role as early as January. His Chelsea stint turned out to be caretaker spell at an elite club that was short and successful.
#2 Guus Hiddink (Chelsea)
One of the greats of the game, Guus Hiddink enjoyed a long playing career, and followed it up with an even longer career as a manager, which lasted 34 years.
The Dutchman had two successful spells as Chelsea's interim manager, and yet never took up a permanent role. He first took over late in the 2008-09 campaign after The Blues sacked Luiz Felipe Scolari. Hiddink arrived in February, and continued to simultaneously hold his post as Russia's national manager.
His first tenure as caretaker manager was stunning, as Chelsea lost just one game in the Dutchman's four months in charge. They eliminated Liverpool from the Champions League before being knocked out on away goals in the semi-finals by Barcelona in controversial circumstances. The Blues finished third in the Premier League, and won the 2009 FA Cup as well.
Despite returning to his duties with Russia at the end of the 2008-09 season, Hiddink returned to Stamford Bridge in December 2015. Chelsea were in ruins at the time, having just sacked Jose Mourinho with the team languishing in 16th place in the Premier League table.
Hiddink helped the club finish tenth, climbing six places and setting a Premier League record for the longest unbeaten streak by a new manager (12 games). He departed once again at the end of the season.
#1 Roberto Di Matteo (Chelsea)
Considering Chelsea have employed 15 managers in the last 15 years, it isn't surprising to see a third Blues boss in this list. What is a surprise, though, is that Roman Abramovich's managerial merry-go-round actually seems to work!
Some interim managers aim to seal a permanent deal by steadying the ship. Others look to steal a top-4 finish. Well, Di Matteo earned himself a full-time role by winning the Champions League.
Already a Chelsea legend after making over 150 appearances for the club between 1996 and 2002, the Italian took over as caretaker manager in March 2012. The Premier League giants had just sacked Andre Villas-Boas late in the season. What followed was nothing short of astonishing.
Chelsea thumped rivals Tottenham Hotspur 5-1, and beat Liverpool in the final to win the 2012 FA Cup. Things got even better, as they stunned Lionel Messi's Barcelona before snatching the 2012 Champions League title from under Bayern Munich's noses.
Of course, things soon went downhill. Di Matteo was sacked five months into his reign as permanent boss after Chelsea were eliminated from the Champions League in the group stage. But as far as interim spells go, it was the stuff dreams are made of.
