In a league as global and internationally appealing as the Premier League, English managers are becoming a rarer sight. The number of native Englishmen in charge has been relatively low in recent years, with just four at the start of the 2018/19 season.
However, since then the number has doubled, with nine of the 20 top flight clubs now led by an Englishmen. Almost half of the league’s competitors have now resorted to hiring homegrown managers, resulting in mixed fortunes throughout the campaign.
The question is, who has done the best job? Based on their season so far, the results and their future potential, 90min ranks the nine current English managers in the Premier League.
9. Eddie Howe
It’s been an unfortunately disappointing season for Eddie Howe and Bournemouth, who are in the relegation zone battling for survival. Howe has done a magnificent job in transforming the Cherries in 11 years at the helm, but this season has been underwhelming.
So high are the standards of the side who have established themselves in the Premier League, relegation would be devastating. One win in 12 games saw them drop down to 19th, and they haven’t been in the top half of the table since mid-November.
If Howe can keep Bournemouth up, he can fill the gaps in the squad over the summer and return them to their spot in mid-table. There is potential for him to continue his legacy on the south coast and renew their Premier League status, but action must be taken now.
Results: 1/5
Potential to Improve Current Club: 3/5
Overall: 4/10
8. Dean Smith
Two of the three relegation spots are occupied by English managers, with Dean Smith joining Howe at the bottom. Having guided Aston Villa to promotion last season, they are now two points off safety with a win percentage of just 25% and facing instant relegation.
The Villans have not been in the top half at all this season, and while they have struggled, they aren’t dead and buried just yet. Smith has shown his management quality in the Carabao Cup run to the final, with hints of it coming through in the league at times too.
For Villa, it’s another case of securing survival and rebuilding over the summer break. Smith has work to do to keep them in the Premier League, and if his previous success is anything to go by, the Lions’ great escape is more than possible.
Results: 2/5
Potential to Improve Current Club: 3/5
Overall: 5/10
7. Graham Potter
Graham Potter was the first new arrival for the 2019/20 season, replacing Chris Hughton to take over at Brighton. His Seagulls reign began with an impressive 3-0 win over Watford, before recording just one win in their next eight games and dipping to 16th.
Despite their patchy form this season – Brighton haven’t recorded back to back league wins since November – they have never dropped into the relegation zone. Considering they survived by just one place and two points last season, it’s been a job well done so far.
Potter will have accomplished his main objective if he keeps Brighton up, but they must urgently end their current run of nine games without a win. He is a proven manager and can do wonders at the AMEX, but must guide them to safety before getting ahead of himself.
Results: 2/5
Potential to Improve Current Club: 4/5
Overall: 6/10
6. Steve Bruce
Steve Bruce was the man entrusted to take over Rafael Benítez’s legacy at Newcastle, and has done a decent job. While his appointment received criticism on Tyneside, Bruce has dragged the Magpies out of the bottom three and into the safe waters of mid-table.
Newcastle’s season is a tale of two halves: all but safe sitting eight points off the relegation zone with the joint fourth most clean sheets, but the league’s joint-lowest goalscorers with 25 goals and a solitary home win in 2020.
It’s safe to say it’s been an average season, though Bruce has done well enough to settle the on-field nerves at St. James’ Park. He has the potential as a manager and with the possibility of future investment, as the Magpies hope to soon return to the giddy heights of Europe.
Results: 3/5
Potential: 3/5
Overall: 6/10
5. Sean Dyche
Now eight years into his reign at Burnley, Sean Dyche has done a sound job at Turf Moor this season. Tenth in the league and unbeaten since mid-January, the Clarets manager was also commended for his fine work with the February Manager of the Month award.
Results have been mixed sometimes but among them are some fantastic performances, including the 2-0 win away to Manchester United and holding both Arsenal and Tottenham at Turf Moor. A mid-table finish is good for the club, who finished 15th last year.
Dyche is continuing his Burnley legacy in style, and can certainly repeat his seventh-place finish of 2017/18 with the right resources in the next few years.
Results: 3/5
Potential to Improve Current Club: 4/5
Overall: 7/10
4. Roy Hodgson
Crystal Palace sit six points off the Europa League spots, and that is thanks to the superb work of Roy Hodgson. It’s easy to see why the Eagles were so eager to extend his contract once again, with the south Londoner a fan favourite on and off the pitch.
Palace have been flying close to the European spots throughout the season, and although they have dropped down the table a bit, European nights under the Selhurst Park lights aren’t so far-fetched. Three wins on the bounce was a good place to leave off before football’s suspension, with more certainly to come.
Hodgson has transformed Crystal Palace into a well-rounded Premier League team, and can definitely take them further depending how long he stays. The league’s oldest manager is one of the wisest around, and has the potential to improve Palace's fortunes even more in the next two or three years.
Results: 3/5
Potential to Improve Current Club: 4/5
Overall: 7/10
3. Nigel Pearson
With the Hornets rooted to the bottom with one win and seven points off safety, Pearson arrived in December looking to pull off the great escape.
Pearson has done an incredible job at Vicarage Road, and the numbers prove it. Five wins in their last 12 games – after winning once in their first 17 – finally getting out of the relegation zone and pulling off the shock of the season, beating Liverpool 3-0 and inflicting their first defeat of the season.
The Englishman has already had an instant impact, and looks likely to renew Watford’s Premier League status. If this is what he can do in a matter of months, who knows how far the Hornets could go in the next couple of years under Pearson.
Results: 4/5
Potential to Improve Current Club: 4/5
Overall: 8/10
2. Frank Lampard
When Frank Lampard returned to Chelsea as manager back in July, Blues fans couldn’t contain their delight. Everyone knew it would be a rollercoaster of a season, and it has proved to be exactly that, as the Blues are fourth in the table with 14 wins.
Results have certainly been mixed, with some wonderful highs and depressing lows. Derby day wins at Tottenham and Arsenal were a statement to the capital, but home defeats to West Ham, Bournemouth and Southampton have shown that there is still some way to go.
A Champions League spot would be a job well done for Lampard, and while results can be better the potential is mouth-watering. Lampard could become one of the best managers in the country due to his football intelligence, and Chelsea could soon be back at the top.
Results: 3/5
Potential to Improve Current Club: 5/5
Overall: 8/10
1. Chris Wilder
There’s only one man who can take the number one spot here, in what has been an outstanding debut season in the Premier League. Chris Wilder guided Sheffield United to Championship promotion last season, seizing their underdogs title and proving the whole country wrong.
Wilder has revolutionised the Blades into a formidable force, sitting seventh in the league with the second-best defence in the whole league. Just two points off the top five and one of the best teams this season, Sheffield United deserve all the plaudits they've been receiving.
You cannot fault a Championship side who have come up and instantly challenged for the European spots. If this is what he can do in his debut top flight season, the potential for years to come is astonishing for the south Yorkshire underdogs.
Results: 5/ 5
Potential to Improve Current Club: 4/ 5
Overall: 9/10
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Source : 90min