Ranked: Every Premier League Manager From Best to Worst in 2026/27″

Premier League Managers Ranked: Best to Worst for 2026/27

The Premier League’s managerial landscape has rarely looked this unrecognizable. A summer of seismic upheaval saw elite coaches swap dugouts, ambitious clubs make statement appointments, and newly promoted sides roll the dice on unproven talent. With Enzo Maresca leaving Chelsea for Manchester City, Andoni Iraola trading Bournemouth for Liverpool, and Xabi Alonso arriving in England with a reputation already built on the continent, the 2026/27 season promises one of the most fascinating managerial arms races in recent memory. Here’s how the 20 Premier League bosses stack up — and the reasoning behind each ranking.

The Elite Tier: Champions and Proven Winners

1. Mikel Arteta (Arsenal) tops the list, and deservedly so. Having finally delivered Arsenal’s first Premier League title since the 2003/04 “Invincibles,” Arteta has silenced the doubters who once questioned whether his side could go the distance. He is now the league’s longest-serving manager, commands total control over his squad’s identity, and has the trophy to prove his methods work at the highest level.

2. Xabi Alonso (Chelsea), whose arrival from Bayer Leverkusen carries enormous weight. Alonso guided Leverkusen to an unbeaten Bundesliga title, a feat unmatched in the club’s history, and his tactical intelligence is considered among the sharpest of his generation. Chelsea’s gamble on him reflects genuine belief that he can restore the club to sustained contention.

3. Enzo Maresca (Manchester City) rounds out the top three. His Champions League triumph with Chelsea proved he can win on the biggest stage, and Manchester City’s decision to hand him the reins for their post-Guardiola era signals enormous institutional confidence in his ability to modernize while maintaining a winning culture.

The Established Performers

A cluster of experienced, trophy-laden coaches follows.

4. Unai Emery (Aston Villa) continues to overdeliver relative to his resources, drawing on a career rich in European silverware.

5. Andoni Iraola (Liverpool) earns his spot on the strength of a tactically inventive spell at Bournemouth, one impressive enough to convince Liverpool he was worth the jump to a genuine title contender.

6. Daniel Farke (Leeds) brings a track record of promotions and Bundesliga know-how that makes him a trusted hand for a club rebuilding its top-flight identity.

7. Oliver Glasner (Nottingham Forest), a Europa League winner with Eintracht Frankfurt, offers proven tactical nous, while

8. David Moyes (Everton) remains one of English football’s most experienced operators — a manager whose longevity speaks for itself even without recent silverware.

The Rising Names

The middle of the table belongs to coaches with genuine promise but shorter résumés at this level.

9. Fabian Hürzeler (Brighton) continues the club’s tradition of unearthing sharp young minds, having already impressed since replacing Roberto De Zerbi.

10. Roberto De Zerbi (Tottenham)brings undeniable attacking philosophy to a difficult rebuilding job, though he inherited a challenging situation mid-season.

11. Michael Carrick (Manchester United) is a name many expect to rise quickly, but for now he remains unproven under the unique pressure of Old Trafford.

12/13. Régis Le Bris (Sunderland) and Keith Andrews (Brentford) both earn credit for steady, competent work since taking charge, with Andrews in particular exceeding expectations in a difficult debut campaign.

The Unproven and the Gambles

Several clubs opted for high-upside, high-risk appointments this summer.

14. Matthias Jaissle (Newcastle) arrives with a strong reputation from his time abroad but now faces one of the more demanding jobs in the league.

15/16. Marco Rose (Bournemouth) and Pierre Sage (Crystal Palace)both carry credible European pedigrees, yet neither has been tested within the unique intensity of the Premier League.

17. Álvaro Arbeloa (Fulham) represents one of the boldest bets of the summer, given his limited senior managerial experience.

18. Gary O’Neil (Ipswich) returns to the Premier League having previously struggled to sustain strong form at former clubs, leaving question marks over his consistency.

The Bottom of the Table

19. Frank Lampard (Coventry) continues to search for the managerial identity that made his playing career so celebrated, with mixed results since transitioning to coaching.

20. Sergej Jaković (Hull City) sits last, reflecting the fact that, among all 20 Premier League bosses, he remains the least tested at this level.

A Ranking Built on Pedigree, Not Just Position

It’s worth stressing that this list reflects reputation, trophy history, and coaching pedigree rather than where each manager’s side will actually finish this season. Football has a habit of humbling the favorites and elevating the underestimated — Andoni Iraola’s rise from Bournemouth to Liverpool is proof enough of how quickly perceptions can shift. As the 2026/27 season unfolds, expect this order to be tested, challenged, and in some cases, completely rewritten by results on the pitch.