Top 5 active managers with most Premier League games in charge

Manchester City v Newcastle United - Premier League
Newcastle United manager Benitez applauds fans

Since the inception of the Premier League in 1992, there have been a number of managers who have taken charge of a team or more. However, it takes a top manager to sustain themselves in an environment like the Premier League.

The current football market is such that a manager can be dismissed just months after his appointment, giving him hardly any time to adjust and adapt to the situations and stamp his authority at the club.

While a few managers just stick to one club, a number of managers in the league have racked up games in-charge with numerous clubs. Here we take a look at list of 5 active managers with the most Premier League games in charge:


#5 Rafael Benitez - 288

Former Liverpool, Chelsea and current Newcastle United manager, Rafael Benitez is in fifth place on the list with 288 games and counting across 3 clubs and 8 years in the Premier League. Benitez began his managerial career with Real Madrid B, in 1993, before taking over Real Valladolid, Osasuna, Extremadura and Tenerife in the subsequent years.

In 2001, Benitez joined Valencia and stamped his authority at the highest level of the game and spent three seasons at the club. In 2004, Liverpool signed the Spanish manager and he guided to the club to their fifth Champions League triumph in 2005.

After six years at Anfield, Benitez took charge of Inter Milan before returning to the Premier League with Chelsea for a season. An astute tactician, Benitez then took over Napoli and Real Madrid before taking charge in England again with Newcastle United.

Despite relegation, Benitez stuck with Newcastle and led them back to the Premier League last summer.

#4 Alan Pardew - 312

Crystal Palace v Swansea City - Premier League
Veteran Premier League manager Alan Pardew

Former West Ham, Charlton, Newcastle, Crystal Palace and current West Brom manager, Alan Pardew is a Premier League veteran with 312 games and counting under his belt. The Englishman began his career with Reading as a caretaker, in 1998, after a long playing career that lasted 18 years.

A year later in 1998, Pardew took over the reigns as Reading manager and spent four years at the club. In 2003, Pardew took over as West Ham boss from Glenn Roeder and spent three years at the club before joining Charlton Athletic.

A year at Southampton was followed by a four-year spell with Newcastle where he enjoyed his most impressive spell as a Premier League manager. After a poor spell in his fourth-year at the Toon, Pardew was let go and joined Crystal Palace for a year and a half. The Englishman faces a tricky test at his current club as he works to help secure their Premier League status.

#3 Sam Allardyce - 495

Everton v West Bromwich Albion - Premier League
Everton manager Big Sam screams out instructions

Former Bolton, Newcastle, Blackburn, West Ham, Sunderland, Crystal Palace and current Everton manager, Sam Allardyce has taken charge of 495 Premier League games and counting and sits third on the list. The Englishman began his managerial career in 1992 with Preston North End before spending 2 years at Blackpool and Notts County.

In 1999, Allardyce was appointed the Bolton manager and eshtablished as a top Premier League manager, as he guided the club to European spots over an 8-year period. Spells with Newcastle, Blackburn, Sunderland and Palace lasted only a year or two at the most. The Sunderland job was by far the most challenging one as they were flirting with relegation. However, with some shrewd January signings, Big Sam prolonged their stay in the league.

He was also appointed national team manager in 2016 before he was removed from the post following a sting by the Telegraph. Currently, Allardyce is the boss at Everton and hoping to guide the club to compete for European places, after securing the club's safety.

#2 David Moyes - 512

Sunderland v Arsenal - Premier League
Moyes during his time as Sunderland manager

Former Everton, Man United, Sunderland and current West Ham manager David Moyes has taken charge of 512 games and counting and is one of the most experienced managers in the Premier League. The Scot began his career at Preston North End in 1998 and turned down an assistant coaching gig at United, under Sir Alex, before joining Everton as manager in 2002.

Moyes spent more than a decade at the club and established himself as a top managerial prospect. He was then appointed Man United manager on a six-year deal, although he was sacked after just nine months. A move to Spain and Real Sociedad followed before taking over the reigns at Sunderland.

Moyes has guided West Ham United out of the bottom three and is doing well at the club who have high ambitions after their move to the Olympic Stadium a year ago.

#1 Arsene Wenger - 814

Manchester United v Arsenal - Premier League
Arsenal manager Wenger is facing a lot of scrutiny from pundits and fans

Frenchman Arsene Wenger has been at the helm of Arsenal Football Club since 1996 and has won numerous trophies during his time with the Gunners. Wenger began his career in France with Nancy in 1984 and spent three years there before joining Monaco.

A seven-year stint with Monaco ended with a strange move away to Japan to take charge of Nagoya Grampus Eight in the J-League. The Frenchman spent a year in Japan before taking over the reigns at Arsenal in 1996.

A Premier League and FA Cup double in his second season in charge at the club earned him the adulation of the Arsenal fans at the time and his side then went on to advocate a swashbuckling style of football the club are still known for. A veteran manager, Wenger also overtook Sir Alex Ferguson as the most experienced manager in the Premier League with 814 games as Arsenal boss.

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Edited by Amit Mishra