6 Of The Best Foreign Premier League Managers In History

There were hardly any foreign managers in the top flight of English soccer when the Premier League began. Today it is dominated by foreign coaches, with only three English managers in the division at the moment. The best foreign managers in the Premier League have fundamentally altered the DNA of English soccer. These are six of the best foreign Premier League managers in English soccer history.

Arsène Wenger

There were few foreign Premier League managers in the English game when Wenger arrived at Arsenal. Wenger revolutionized English soccer with his dietary regimes and sleek pass-and-move coaching philosophy. Sports science was at the heart of his approach, and his fluid Wengerball one-touch passing attacking style of soccer was often a delight to watch.

Wenger was Arsenal’s greatest manager, who led the Gunners to three Premier League titles and seven FA Cups during his long reign. His crowning moment was the invincible season in which Arsenal won the Premier League without losing a game. He also helped the Gunners move to the Emirates Stadium.

José Mourinho

Mourinho proclaimed himself to be the Special One when he arrived at Stamford Bridge in 2004. He was indeed a very special Chelsea manager for how he revolutionized the Blues by shifting them to a 4-3-3 for a midfield overload. His best teams were formidable defensive units, and Mourinho also weaponized quick transitions to great effect.

Mourinho is one of the best foreign Premier League managers primarily because of the seven trophies he won at Chelsea. His Chelsea teams won three Premier League titles, a triumvirate of League Cups, and one FA Cup. Although Mourinho didn’t have quite so much impact at Man Utd, he still won the League Cup and Europa League across two fall seasons at Old Trafford.

Pep Guardiola

Guardiola is one of the best foreign Premier League managers in history because of his tactical innovation and Manchester City trophy haul. His tactical innovations include a strong emphasis on positional play, inverted full-backs, and sweeper-keeper build-up. He is also a manager renowned for his persistent tactical evolution, reinventing team shapes.

Guardiola won six Premier League titles, five League Cups, three FA Cups, one Champions League, and a FIFA World Club Cup at Manchester City. This was one of the greatest managerial reigns in English soccer history. True, that reign is now tainted with the Manchester City financial fair play scandal that has rocked English soccer. It is important to note, however, that Guardiola didn’t cook the books at Manchester City.

Jurgen Klopp

Klopp became one of the best foreign Premier League managers in history by unleashing Gegenpressing (counter-pressing) at Anfield. His high-intensity, high-pressing playing system was quite devastating when Liverpool peaked during his reign. Klopp also weaponized full-backs by turning them into more creative players to support attacks.

Klopp’s heavy metal soccer was the golden formula for ending Liverpool’s Premier League title drought. Aside from that, the German manager won the coveted Champions League, FA Cup, FIFA World Club Cup, and two League Cups during his glorious reign. Liverpool were also twice Premier League and Champions League runners-up.

Antonio Conte

Conte was among the most tactically astute foreign Premier League managers in history. He blew the Premier League away by introducing a 3-4-3 formation that sparked an amazing 13-match win streak at Chelsea. His spreading of the back three trend at Chelsea was a classic Italian ploy that revolutionized the modern Premier League approach.

Conte’s Chelsea won the Premier League and also lifted the FA Cup the following season. He also had a relatively brief stint at Tottenham, where he guided Spurs into the Champions League with a fourth-place finish. Conte’s brief Spurs reign looks positively masterful when compared to Tottenham’s recent struggles. His 62.9% Premier League win rate is only bettered by Fergie, Klopp, and Guardiola.

Carlo Ancelotti

Carlo Ancelotti was another of the best foreign Premier League managers for his flexible tactical approach. Unlike Amorim, he was not a manager locked into a single formation or style. Ancelotti shifted from 4-4-2 to 4-3-3 at Chelsea to great effect. His player-first adaptability prioritized tactical flexibility.

Ancelotti won the Premier League and FA Cup double in his first season. Although the Blues were Premier League runners-up in his second season, that was not enough to satisfy the Chelsea hierarchy. He also had a brief stint at Everton, where he guided a struggling Toffees side to mid-table respectability before returning to Madrid.

End Of My Best Foreign Premier League Managers Rant

Those best Premier League managers made a significant impact in English soccer. They elevated the technical standards in the Premier League by exporting their distinct soccer philosophies. Such managers helped to transform England’s top flight into the multibillion-pound global spectacle it is today.