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The Premier League is the most popular and arguably the toughest footballing league on the planet. Every manager wants to manage a Premier League side, make them play eye-catching football, and eventually lead them to the title.
The five men on our list today have ticked all the aforementioned boxes. They have not only won the title, but have also seen their team score a gazillion of goals.
Here are the top five Premier League managers who have taken the least number of matches to reach 500 top-flight goals:
#5 Jose Mourinho - Chelsea and Manchester United (289 games)
The self-proclaimed “Special One,” Jose Mourinho, is the only manager on our list who has managed multiple clubs in the Premier League. Although the majority of his 500 Premier League goals came during his Chelsea spell, he also enjoyed a couple of good seasons with Manchester United.
In total, Mourinho took 289 games to reach 500 Premier League goals, which is not bad for such a pragmatic manager.
Having been impressed with Jose Mourinho’s work at Porto, Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich roped in the Portuguese manager in 2004. Mourinho wasted no time and guided Chelsea to their first Premier League title in 50 years.
His Chelsea retained the Premier League title the following year, marking Mourinho’s fourth consecutive league title. He was dismissed in 2007-08 but returned again in 2013.
He led the Blues to the Premier League title in 2014-15 before being sacked and appointed by Manchester United the following year.
Mourinho failed to win a Premier League title with Manchester United, but won them the Europa League and the League Cup in the 2016-17 season.
#4 Arsene Wenger - Arsenal (271 games)
During the twilight of his managerial career, Arsene Wenger was heavily criticized for failing to win the Premier League with Arsenal. Only after his departure in 2018 did people understand the competency of the Frenchman.
Under Wenger, Arsenal not only played to win, but they also performed to impress. Sleek movements, clever transitions and goals were a regular occurrence, making Arsenal a team to look out for.
With Wenger at the helm, Arsenal netted 500 goals in 271 games, which shows how adventurous the Gunners were back in the day.
The move from Highbury to the Emirates Stadium took a toll on Arsenal’s financials and kept them from signing high-profile names. However, before the switch, the Gunners bagged three Premier League titles under Wenger.
In 2003-04, Arsenal did not lose a single Premier League game and became the first and only team to win the title without tasting defeat.
#3 Sir Alex Ferguson - Manchester United (265 games)
One of the most respected managers in Premier League history, Sir Alex Ferguson, took 265 games to reach 500 English top-flight goals.
Under Ferguson, Manchester United toppled the biggest of teams, emerging as the most potent side in the Premier League.
Ferguson took charge of Manchester United in 1986 and slowly built the team from scratch. His first title came in 1992-93, marking the beginning of a glorious era of football.
Over the next 20 years, Manchester United won 12 Premier League titles, two Champions Leagues and five FA Cups amongst other honors.
#2 Jurgen Klopp - Liverpool (236 games)
On the last day of November, Liverpool took on crosstown rivals Everton in the Premier League. The Reds cruised to a 4-1 win against their opponents and made Jurgen Klopp the quickest manager to reach 500 Premier League goals in history.
The German reached the milestone in 236 games, taking 31 games fewer than previous record-holder Sir Alex Ferguson.
Since taking charge of the Anfield side, Jurgen Klopp has turned their fortunes around. Not only did he end their Premier League drought in 2019-20, but he also led them to the Champions League title in 2018-19.
Klopp made Liverpool the only English team in history to win all six Champions League group stage fixtures, managing the feat this season. If the Reds can keep their intensity up, they will surely have a trophy or two to celebrate at the end of the season.
#1 Pep Guardiola - Manchester City (207 games)
Following Phil Foden’s goal against Leeds United on Premier League matchday 17, City boss Pep Guardiola reached a significant milestone. The goal marked Manchester City’s 500th Premier League goal under the Spaniard, and it took them only 207 games to get there.
Jurgen Klopp, who had reached Premier League 500 goals with Liverpool in 236 games, was the previous record holder.
Of course, Manchester City were not going to stop there against Leeds. They went on to score six more to register a massive 7-0 win over their rivals. With 506 goals in 207 matches, Pep Guardiola currently has the highest goal/match average (2.44) in the Premier League.
Having already conquered Spain’s La Liga and Germany’s Bundesliga, Pep Guardiola turned his attention to the Premier League in 2016. He failed to win the league that season, but he managed to win the title three times in the next four years.
Pep Guardiola’s side started slowly in the Premier League this season but have now got up to speed. City currently sit at the top of the table and are the favorites to bag the English top-flight title once again.
