Over the years, we have witnessed some Premier League managers go on to achieve great things. Roberto Di Matteo, Sir Alex Ferguson and Rafa Benitez all won Champions League trophies whilst managing Premier League clubs.
On the other hand, the likes of Luiz Felipe Scolari, Roy Hodgson and David Moyes failed miserably at big clubs. But, other great managers such as Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti, Arsene Wenger and Pep Guardiola have all graced the Premier League with their unique philosophies.
Here we look at five of the greatest managerial coups in Premier League history:
#5 Jose Mourinho – Chelsea, 2004
When Jose Mourinho was hired by Chelsea in 2004, he was the champion of Europe, having just lifted the Champions League with Porto. Appointing the manager who had just led his team to a Champions League victory at face value seemed an incredible appointment, and he certainly went on to confirm that.
In his first season, the Special One won Chelsea their first Premier League title whilst amassing the biggest points tally in the history of the Premier League (95) and the fewest goals conceded (15). Additionally, he also won the League Cup, completing the double in his first season as Chelsea manager.
Mourinho’s trophy count did not stop there though. In his second season as Chelsea manager in 2005/06, he once again led his team to domestic glory as they won the Premier League for a second consecutive year. Subsequently, he went on to claim the only trophy missing from his cabinet when he led Chelsea to the FA Cup in 2007. He then came back for a second stint as manager of the Blues and won another league title and League Cup.
Mourinho was easily one of the greatest managerial coups in Premier League history, as he won every domestic trophy in his time at the club.
#4 Rafa Benitez – Liverpool, 2004
In 2004, Rafa Benitez was appointed as Liverpool boss and fans were ecstatic, considering his recent success. He had led Valencia to their first league title in 31 years and won them a second title in three seasons when they once again finished on top of La Liga in 2003/04. In addition to this, he had led them to European glory as they completed the double with a UEFA Cup win too.
Although he was unable to deliver Liverpool their first league title in 30 odd years during his reign, he did still win a Champions League and an FA Cup, and reached another Champions League final.
The Spaniard was a part of one of the greatest comebacks of all time in Istanbul, a night Liverpool fans will never forget. And a year later, he also saw his Liverpool side come from behind to beat West Ham on penalties in one of the most dramatic FA Cup matches ever.
Benitez did not win a league title, but what he added to Liverpool, and the force he made them into in Europe, certainly made him one of the greatest managerial coups in Premier League history.
#3 Arsene Wenger – Arsenal, 1996
Arsene Wenger is a man who has transformed English football. As of Monday, 17th July, he is the longest serving manager in Premier League history, and in that time he has achieved some incredible things, winning three Premier League titles and seven FA Cups.
Wenger has built some magnificent sides, with the stand out team being the ‘Invincibles’ of 2003/04. They played with flair and tenacity, the ideal combination needed to clinch Premier League titles, similar to his title winning sides of 1997/98 and 2001/02.
To add to that, he’s had teams with players like Nicklas Bendtner, Manuel Almunia, Andre Santos and other mediocrity, yet regularly clinched a top four finish.
For the first time in 21 years, his team dropped out of the Champions League last season. However, his record still speaks for itself and the players he has produced – the likes of Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira, Cesc Fabregas, etc. – have all gone on to greatness.
Wenger was not only one of the greatest managerial coups in Premier League history, but one of the greatest coups of all time.
#2 Carlo Ancelotti – Chelsea, 2009
Carlo Ancelotti only managed in the Premier League for two seasons, but the Italian still showed bundles of class in his short time in England.
In his first season, Ancelotti led his Chelsea team to the Premier League title, a season in which they scored a record 103 goals along the way. He clinched the double too in his first season, beating Portsmouth to lift the FA Cup.
He was unable to capture any silverware in his second season in England, but his sacking still seemed very premature. Attaining Ancelotti’s services in the first place was quite miraculous considering what he achieved at Milan, winning two Champions League titles and finishing runner up to Liverpool in 2005.
He has now gone on to manage PSG, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, winning another Champions League trophy with Real Madrid. Even though the Blues have been successful since, Roman Abramovich is still likely to be disappointed he let Ancelotti go so quickly.
Simply getting the Italian to manage in the Premier League made him one of the greatest coups in Premier League history.
#1 Pep Guardiola – Manchester City, 2016
The jury is still out on Pep Guardiola and what he will win at Manchester City. However, what he has won in his time before moving to England certainly makes him one of the greatest managerial coups in Premier League history. If he achieves at City half of what he already has across the globe, he will be one of the best Premier League managers ever.
At just 40 years of age, the Spaniard had already won everything possible in Spain, as well as two Champions League trophies in 2009 and 2011. That was before he went on to manage Bayern Munich. Although he came up short in the Champions League with the German side, he won three successive Bundesliga titles, as well as two domestic cups.
Now, the 46-year-old is manager at Manchester City, trying to fulfil his philosophy in the Premier League. City started very well last season and looked favourites to go on and win the title, but a poor spell midway through the season cost them. To add to that, City fell out of the Champions League when they had a two-goal lead heading to Monaco, which was extremely disappointing.
However, with Guardiola’s track record, it is just a matter of time before he becomes a success in England, and that track record in itself makes him one of the greatest managerial coups in Premier League history.
