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Arguably the biggest domestic football competition in the world, the English Premier League houses some of the best footballers and managers in the sport.
Given the finances involved, it is rare to see Premier League clubs employ an inexperienced and young manager. Some of the biggest managerial names harbor ambitions of coaching in the Premier League, and clubs usually opt for the best manager available.
However, it is not uncommon for Premier League clubs to gamble sometimes. From appointing player-managers to giving young coaches a chance, there have been many bold decisions taken by clubs in the top English division.
On that note, we look at the five youngest managers in Premier League history.
#5 Andre Villas-Boas (Chelsea) | 33 years, 301 days
After being part of Jose Mourinho's backroom staff at Porto, Chelsea and Inter Milan, Andre Villas-Boas was appointed as Chelsea manager in 2011.
Villas-Boas came to Stamford Bridge on the back of an immensely successful season with Porto. The Portuguese giants won the Primeira Liga, Taca da Liga and the UEFA Europa League during Villas-Boas' sole season in charge. His success with the Portuguese club made him the ideal man for the Chelsea job.
However, the Portuguese did not enjoy a successful spell with Chelsea. Villas-Boas did not have a good relationship with star players like Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole. The Portuguese did not last the entire season at the club. Roberto Di Matteo was appointed as the interim manager midway through the year, and under his management, Chelsea won the Champions League in the same season.
After his stint at Chelsea, Villas-Boas managed the likes of Tottenham Hotspur, Zenit Saint Petersburg, Shanghai SIPG and Marseille. He enjoyed a fruitful stint at Zenit Saint Petersburg, winning the league and the Russian cup. The team also qualified for the Champions League for each of Villas-Boas' seasons at the club.
#4 Gianluca Vialli (Chelsea) | 33 years, 227 days
Gianluca Vialli enjoyed a good career as a player, representing clubs like Cremonese, Sampdoria, Juventus and Chelsea.
The Italian was appointed as Chelsea's player-manager in 1998. During his spell as manager, the Blues played some bright football, winning the League and FA Cup under Vialli's management.
Vialli was sacked after a poor start to the 2000/01 season. The former Italian international then became Watford's manager in 2001 but was sacked from his role the following year.
Since then, Vialli has not taken up any managerial roles. He has worked as a pundit and a football commentator. He is currently the delegation chief for Italy's national football team.
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#3 Chris Coleman (Fulham) | 32 years, 313 days
Chris Coleman joined then-Fulham manager Jean Tigana's backroom staff in 2002. However, Tigana's sacking in 2003 saw Coleman take charge of Fulham's senior squad.
Fulham finished ninth in Coleman's first season as boss, surprising many. However, subsequent years saw a decline in performances and the Welshman was sacked from his role in 2007.
Coleman went on to manage Real Sociedad, Coventry City, AEL, Wales, Sunderland and Hebei China Fortune. But it was his spell as the boss of the Wales national team that catapulted Coleman to fame.
Wales reached the semi-finals of the 2016 European Championship under Coleman's tutelage, beating Northern Ireland and Belgium on the way. The 50-year-old quit the national team in 2017 and is not employed at the moment.
#2 Attilio Lombardo (Crystal Palace) | 32 years, 67 days
A strong midfielder for clubs like Sampdoria, Crystal Palace, Juventus and Lazio, Attilio Lombardo was appointed as the caretaker manager of Crystal Palace in 1998 during his time as a player.
Lombardo was Crystal Palace's star man, but injuries stopped him from contributing at a consistent rate. Crystal Palace were relegated from the Premier League, but Lombardo stayed at the club.
Financial problems meant the Italian international had to be sold to Lazio, where he won the Serie A. Lombardo retired in 2002 after a short stint with Sampdoria.
After his retirement, the 55-year-old embarked on a managerial career. Lombardo managed Chiasso, Castelnuovo, Legnano and Spezia. He is currently the assistant manager of the Italian national team.
#1 Ryan Mason (Tottenham Hotspur) | 29 years, 312 days
Tottenham Hotspur's current manager, Ryan Mason, is the youngest manager in English Premier League history.
A product of the Tottenham Hotspur academy, Mason was an England international who had to retire in 2018 after suffering a fractured skull during a game. The former Hull City player joined Tottenham Hotspur's coaching staff in 2018 and also enjoyed roles in the club's academy.
Jose Mourinho's dismissal saw Spurs appoint Ryan Mason as interim manager for the rest of the season. Mason took charge of Tottenham's EFL Cup final loss to Manchester City.
It remains unlikely that the 29-year-old will be given the job permanently in the summer. Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with several names, including Ajax's Erik ten Hag, Atalanta's Gian Piero Gasperini and Inter Milan's Antonio Conte.
Also Read: 5 England players who could win the Ballon d'Or in the future
