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The Premier League has played host not only to some exceptionally talented players but also to some of the greatest managers in modern football. The manager is an indispensable component for any football team, as he lays out formations and strategies needed to be executed on the field.
The hallmark of a great manager is their ability to identify the right players for the right positions and help upgrade their skills to make a winning team. An elite manager should have the ability to yield maximum output from the collective and get the best out of each individual.
On that note, here's a look at the five best managers in the Premier League this season:
#5 Graham Potter
After a relatively successful two-season stint at Brighton & Hove Albion, Graham Potter has established himself as one of the finest managers in the Premier League.
The Englishman was appointed as the manager of The Seagulls in 2018, replacing Chris Hughton at the helm. Under Potter, Brighton have emerged as one of the most exciting teams to watch in the Premier League, creating an abundance of goalscoring opportunities.
The Seagulls have found themselves in the top half of the table in terms of expected goals (xG) and expected points over the last few Premier League seasons. In the xG table of Premier League clubs, Brighton were projected to finish fifth last season.
However, the lack of a good finisher and ineffectiveness in front of goal resulted in them finishing a dismal 16th-place.
Potter is regarded by many as an England manager in the making, having proved himself across various leagues and divisions. The 46-year-old led Swedish side Ostersunds to three promotions in five seasons before returning to English football with Swansea City.
#4 David Moyes
Dubbed 'The Chosen One', David Moyes has regained his place among the best managers in the Premier League.
The Scot rose to prominence during his 11-year stint at Goodison Park, where he solidified Everton's place in the top half of the Premier League table. Moyes got his big break in the summer of 2013 when he was appointed manager of Manchester United.
He could never fill the big shoes of Sir Alex Ferguson, though, and looked out of depth during his nine-month spell at Old Trafford.
However, Moyes has redeemed himself in his latest role as West Ham United manager. The 58-year-old was appointed midway into the 2019-20 campaign for his second spell at the club. After surviving relegation in the 2019-20 season, Moyes led The Hammers to an impressive sixth-place finish in the league last campaign.
West Ham were also in contention for a Champions League spot for most of the 2020-21 campaign, and have started this season strongly. The Hammers currently find themselves in fourth spot, three points clear of Manchester United and Arsenal.
#3 Thomas Tuchel
Thomas Tuchel has not yet completed a full season in the Premier League. But he is already regarded by many as the best manager in the English top flight currently.
Since his appointment in January earlier this year, Tuchel has transformed Chelsea into one of the most well-oiled and effective machines in English and European football. The Blues are known for their ability to grind out wins no matter the circumstances.
Under Tuchel, Chelsea have conceded only four goals in the Premier League this season. Two of them came from the penalty spot, and two from open play. Tuchel's men have registered ten clean sheets in 15 games across competitions this season.
The German has proven his pedigree in Europe's elite competition on several occasions as well. Tuchel led PSG to their first-ever appearance in the Champions League final before going the distance with Chelsea last season.
#2 Pep Guardiola
Pep Guardiola is one of only four managers to have won three Premier League titles. He also happens to be the most successful manager of the 21st century.
With over 30 titles in his trophy cabinet, Guardiola is considered by many to be one of the greatest managers in the history of the game. The 50-year-old has carved his niche in modern football, adapting his mentor Johan Cruyff's 'total football ideology to lead Barcelona to a historic sextuple in 2009.
Following his appointment as Manchester City manager in the summer of 2016, Guardiola almost immediately set about overhauling City's ageing squad. That has paid rich dividends for the Cityzens, as they have gone on to win three Premier League titles in the last four seasons.
Guardiola has left an indelible imprint on the Premier League during his six seasons in the competition. However, the Champions League trophy continues to elude him. But he did take the Cityzens to their first Champions League final last season, where they fell short. So it seems to be a question of when rather than if he wins the competition with City.
#1 Jurgen Klopp
Following Thomas Tuchel, we have his compatriot Jurgen Klopp, who is undoubtedly one of the greatest managers in modern football.
Klopp has enjoyed success at every club he has managed, starting from FSV Mainz in Germany's second division. He achieved incredible results with the club, guiding them back to the Bundesliga in just three years.
Klopp rose to prominence during his seven-year stint at the helm of Borussia Dortmund. The 54-year-old is the only manager to dethrone Bayern Munich as German champions in the last 11 years. After winning five major titles during his time at Dortmund, Klopp undertook the most challenging assignment of his managerial career when he arrived at Liverpool.
That's because, before his arrival, Liverpool went trophyless for over three years. However, Klopp transformed their fortunes, helping The Reds to the Champions League and Premier League titles in successive seasons.
Under Klopp, Liverpool have evolved into a dynamic, fast-paced and offensive pressing side. He led Liverpool to their first Champions League title in 14 years in 2018-19 before The Reds ended their long three-decade wait for a league title in the next campaign.
