Sports
10 Greatest Managers in English Football History Ranked by Ray Parlour
Being a football manager is not easy at all. There have been so many examples of individuals having extraordinary playing careers, but then failing when they turn their hand to management.
However, despite how difficult it is to succeed as a manager, some have been able to make it look easy in the history of English football.
In the 21st century, the likes of Brian Clough, Sir Matt Busby and Sir Alex Ferguson have all had tremendous success. Since the turn of the millennium, Jose Mourinho did some extraordinary things at Chelsea, Jurgen Klopp thrived at Liverpool and Pep Guardiola continues to win trophy after trophy at Manchester City.
Amid Guardiola’s success at City, Arsenal icon Ray Parlour has now named and ranked the 10 greatest managers in English football history in an interview with 10betSports.
Jurgen Klopp and Jose Mourinho Make Parlour’s Top 10
Clough sneaked into Parlour’s top 10. The Englishman enjoyed great success at both Derby County and Nottingham Forest. He won a plethora of trophies at the latter, including an English league title in 1978 and back-to-back European Cup triumphs in 1979 and 1980.
Mourinho was ranked in ninth. The ‘Special One’ thrived in two spells at Chelsea, while he also took charge at Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur. Parlour said of Mourinho:
“What he achieved at Chelsea was unbelievable. I talk to Frank Lampard and John Terry, people like that, and they tell me what a manager he was.”
Two Liverpool legends follow in Jurgen Klopp and Bob Paisley. Klopp made Liverpool one of the world’s best sides again in a highly successful spell, while Paisley won 20 trophies at the Reds, including six league titles and three European Cups.
Just missing out on the top five was Sir Matt Busby. Parlour was full of praise for the Man Utd icon, saying: “He was a bit out of my era, but my dad used to tell me all about Manchester United and how good they were.”
|
Ray Parlour’s 10 greatest managers in English football history (10-6) |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Rank |
Manager |
Nationality |
English clubs managed |
|
10 |
Brian Clough |
England |
Hartlepool United, Derby County, Brighton & Hove Albion, Leeds United, Nottingham Forest |
|
9 |
Jose Mourinho |
Portugal |
Chelsea, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur |
|
8 |
Jurgen Klopp |
Germany |
Liverpool |
|
7 |
Bob Paisley |
England |
Liverpool |
|
6 |
Sir Matt Busby |
Scotland |
Manchester United |
Ray Parlour Ranks Sir Alex Ferguson Above Pep Guardiola
Parlour has ranked Sir Bobby Robson as the fifth-greatest manager in English football history, with England’s only World Cup winning manager, the legendary Sir Alf Ramsay, a place ahead of him.
Arsene Wenger has been ranked in third, with Parlour very complimentary of his former manager. He said:
“He changed the attitude of football in England. And he was brilliant for me and my career. What he achieved at the club was amazing. Well deserved statue outside the Emirates Stadium.”
Pep Guardiola, who recently won his 20th major trophy at Manchester City following their success over Chelsea in the FA Cup, is the second-greatest manager in English football history in the eyes of Parlour, with the Arsenal icon describing him as ‘amazing’ and ‘an absolute revelation.’
For Parlour, only Sir Alex Ferguson is greater than Guardiola. The Scotsman, considered one of the greatest managers in football history, won 38 major trophies during his 26-year tenure at Manchester United, including 13 Premier League titles and two European Cups.
|
Ray Parlour’s 10 greatest managers in English football history (5-1) |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Rank |
Manager |
Nationality |
English clubs managed |
|
5 |
Sir Bobby Robson |
England |
Fulham, Ipswich Town, Newcastle United, England |
|
4 |
Sir Alf Ramsay |
England |
Ipswich Town, England, Birmingham City |
|
3 |
Arsene Wenger |
France |
Arsenal |
|
2 |
Pep Guardiola |
Spain |
Manchester City |
|
1 |
Sir Alex Ferguson |
Scotland |
Manchester United |
Sports
Scott McTominay Tipped to Make £65m Newcastle Summer Transfer
Ever since his 2024 move away from Manchester United, Scottish midfielder Scott McTominay has established himself as one of the most exciting footballers on the planet. In Italy, he has been pivotal for Napoli, leading them to Serie A glory in 2024/25.
He also won the Supercoppa Italiana this season and was named Serie A Footballer of the Year in 2025. Now 29, he’ll have the chance to further his reputation on the global stage with Scotland at the 2026 World Cup, with Group C fixtures to come against Haiti, Morocco, and Brazil.
Having come through the Man Utd academy, if he were ever to come back to England, many would expect an Old Trafford return to be on the cards. However, another Premier League side could turn out to be his next destination.
McTominay Tipped For ‘Transformative’ Summer Move
There have been rumours that McTominay could be chased by English clubs this summer, and Newcastle United have been among those to be ‘seriously considering’ a move for the Napoli star in 2026. Adding to this, head of Sun Sport Shaun Curtis has now tipped it as the ideal move for the Magpies.
Speaking on Inside the Toon, via TalkSport, he named Jean-Philippe Mateta, Omar Marmoush, and Goncalo Ramos as possible striker targets before adding:
“And the McTominay argument, Napoli are working on giving him a new contract up to 2032 at Napoli. There’s a question he could be bought for maybe £65million. It sounds a lot, but I really do feel he’d help transform Newcastle.”
Adam Clery of the Independent then agreed, as he added: “I would love Scott McTominay.”
McTominay Has Already Addressed His Napoli Future
McTominay has scored 14 goals and added a further four assists in all competitions this season as Napoli came second in Serie A behind Inter Milan. While they weren’t able to win back-to-back league titles, Napoli at least secured Champions League qualification, which cannot be said of AC Milan and Juventus, who finished fifth and sixth respectively.
With Newcastle linked to the Scottish midfielder, it appears as though his current side aren’t so keen on entertaining an exit. Indeed, while his contract runs until 2028, Napoli have already initiated extension talks, which would see him land a salary increase to reflect his performances on the pitch.
Gordon Upgrade: Newcastle Can Have Free Run at ‘One of the Best Players in the World’
Newcastle need to find a replacement for Anthony Gordon.
McTominay has previously spoken about his situation, playing down the idea that he’s got his eye on a move away from Italy. In February, he said: “My agent has not communicated with anyone regarding my future. He only speaks with me and with the club.
“He hasn’t said anything to the newspapers. I am extremely happy here and, as far as I am concerned, I am a Napoli player; it is all I think about. The future is very important and I could see myself in Napoli for a long time.”
It will be interesting to see if Newcastle try and make a move for McTominay this summer, and if he would be interested in a Premier League return.
Sports
Newcastle Could Have Free Run at Marcus Rashford
Newcastle winger Anthony Gordon looks set to leave the club in the summer transfer window, and they could have a free run at signing an upgrade in that position.
It could be a busy summer window for the Magpies as they look to head back in the right direction following a disappointing season.
Some players, like Gordon, are likely to head through the exit door after they fail to qualify for European competitions.
As a result, Newcastle could be busy in terms of incomings, and they will also have to find a replacement for Gordon.
A deal for Gordon to leave the club appears to have moved fast, and it will be interesting to see whether they already have a replacement lined up.
Anthony Gordon’s Barcelona Wage Will Make Him One of England’s Highest-Paid Players
Gordon will be earning MORE than Marcus Rashford, who he looks to be replacing at Camp Nou 🚨🤑
Barcelona Agree Gordon Deal
Reports emerged on Wednesday that Barcelona had made a bid of around £70m to sign Newcastle winger Gordon ahead of the summer transfer window.
Just hours later, it was reported that a deal had been agreed between the two clubs, with a medical booked in for Gordon to complete his move to the La Liga giants.
The Magpies will now work on trying to bring in a replacement for the England international, who is set to head off to the World Cup in the coming weeks.
It’s unclear who Newcastle could look to target, but the ideal replacement could be Marcus Rashford, who spent this season on loan at Barcelona.
Newcastle Could Have Free Run at Rashford
With Barcelona targeting Gordon in the summer transfer window, Newcastle could have a free run to sign Manchester United winger Rashford.
The English forward spent the season on loan at Barcelona, and their pursuit of Gordon perhaps hints that they won’t sign Rashford on a permanent deal.
Gordon and Rashford are very similar. They’re left-sided attackers, both using their pace to get in behind to try to score and create goals. Rashford, described as one of the best players in the world, could be the ideal replacement for Gordon, and he’d only cost a fraction of the price.
There is also an argument to suggest that Rashford would be an upgrade on Gordon, with the latter struggling to produce in the Premier League this season.
Sports
Crystal Palace Set to Hire Andoni Iraola After Conference League Victory
Crystal Palace could announce their new manager as soon as Thursday, after lifting the Europa Conference League.
Palace have been searching for a new coach over the last few months after it was confirmed that Oliver Glasner would be leaving the club at the end of the season.
The Austrian manager gave the Eagles plenty of time to find a replacement, and he went out on a massive high on Wednesday night.
Palace lifted the Europa Conference League on Wednesday with Jean-Philippe Mateta scoring the only goal of the game.
That was Palace’s third trophy since Glasner had arrived at the club, cementing him as one of the greatest managers in their history.
Now, it’s time for a new era for the capital club.
Crystal Palace Eyeing Move to Sign £250,000-a-Week Man Utd Star
Crystal Palace are preparing to enter a new era.
Palace Close to New Manager
According to reports in Italy, Crystal Palace are close to announcing their new manager, and it could be confirmed as soon as Thursday, the day after lifting the Conference League title.
It’s claimed that Andoni Iraola, who has now left Bournemouth, is set to join Crystal Palace after turning down the AC Milan job.
The Italian club were pushing to bring Iraola to Milan, but Palace have offered him the chance to continue working in the Premier League and not move his family.
The report adds that Palace could even offer triple the transfer budget that Milan were offering, meaning they are likely to beat the Serie A club in the race for Iraola.
Iraola a Huge Coup for Palace
Securing the signature of Iraola is a huge move for Palace heading into the 2026-2027 season.
The 43-year-old has done a phenomenal job during his time at Bournemouth, helping guide them to European football this campaign, with Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp labelling him as being an ‘elite’ manager.
Iraola has dealt with a lot of turmoil with the Cherries, often selling their best players, but he still produces results.
There’s no doubt Bournemouth’s recruitment model has helped Iraola to flourish, so Palace will need to ensure that they back him in the transfer market.
It’s an exciting time for Palace supporters, especially after lifting another trophy this week.
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