AHEAD of Rob Edwards’ first game as Wolves manager today, what is the trend like of former players returning to manage their former clubs in the Premier League?
So, lets have a look at the top 10 best managerial stints from former players who returned to manage their former clubs for a minimum of 20 matches, exclusively in the Premier League.
10: John Gregory – Aston Villa
John Gregory took to the touchline at Villa Park in February 1998, leaving Wycombe Wanderers. This was his second stint in the dugout, having previously worked as a coach from 1994 to 1996 under Brian Little.
Gregory managed 148 Premier League games, winning 61, drawing 46 and losing 41, generating a 1.55 PPG.
9: Ruud Gullit – Chelsea
The man with one of football’s most iconic hairstyles took control of Chelsea in May 1996, initially as a player-manager after Glenn Hoddle left for the international stage, but was then sacked in February 1998.
The Dutchman took charge of only 63 league games; he won 30, drew 14 and lost 19, leaving with a PPG of 1.65.
8: Roy Evans – Liverpool
Roy Evans became Liverpool manager in January 1994 through to November 1998, with the final few months being in a joint-management role with Gerard Houllier, until he then resigned.
Evans took charge of the second most games of any manager on this list with 184, winning 87, drawing 50 and losing 47, which resulted in a 1.69 PPG.
7: Gianluca Vialli – Chelsea
The second Chelsea Manager on this list, and the person that took over from Gullit, much like his predecessor, Gianluca Vialli joined as a player-manager in 1998.
He initially joined Chelsea as a player in 1996, and was actually signed by Gullit, but after his exit Vialli became the manager, until he was shown the door in September 2000.
Vialli made history in his time as Blues boss, as he became the first Italian to manage a Premier League side. He managed 94 league games for Chelsea, won 45, drew 29 and lost 20 games, creating himself a PPG of 1.74.
6: Kevin Keegan – Newcastle
Keegan takes the Bronze for number of games managed on this list with 162, after joining the Magpies as manager in February 1992, through to his resignation in January 1998.
He joined Newcastle again 10 years later in January 2008, but resigned for a second time in September of that year, less than eight months after returning.
After promoting Newcastle to the Premier League in 1993, he won 83 games, drew 36 and 43, generating a 1.76 PPG, just edging Vialli to take 6th place.
5: David O’Leary – Leeds
David O’Leary was appointed Leeds manager in October 1998. He initially took over as caretaker manager, but was given the permanent job after George Graham left for Spurs, until he was sacked in June 2002.
In England’s top division, O’Leary won 75 of the 145 games he managed, drew 34 and lost 36, which meant his PPG as Leeds boss was 1.79.
4: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer – Manchester United
Much like O’Leary, after initially taking over as caretaker manager as a result of Jose Mourinho’s dismissal, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer joined the Red Devils as permanent manager in March 2019, until he was let go in November 2021.
The Norwegian took charge of 109 league matches for Manchester United, winning 56, drawing 29 and losing 24. His PPG as United boss was 1.81.
3: Roberto Di Matteo – Chelsea
A trend seems to be appearing now. Roberto Di Matteo joined Chelsea in 2012 as – guess what – caretaker manager! After the sacking of Andre Villas Boas, the Italian was appointed temporarily, until he was given the permanent job 3 months after he joined.
He didn’t last long at all, as he was sacked in November of the very same year.
In Di Matteo’s extremely short tenure, he managed 23 league games, winning 12, drawing 6 and losing 5, generating a 1.83 PPG, 0.02 ahead of Solskjaer.
2: Tim Sherwood – Tottenham
I bet you can’t guess what role Tim Sherwood was initially given at Spurs? Yes, Sherwood was appointed as caretaker manager, before being given a permanent contract in December 2013, replacing Andre Villas Boas, just as Di Matteo did at Chelsea.
The shortest tenure on the list by only one game after his Chelsea counterpart, Tim Sherwood won AND lost more games than Di Matteo, but was sacked 5 months into his job in May 2014.
He managed only 22 Premier League games, winning 13, drawing 3 and losing 6. Bearing in mind there’s only a one game difference, Sherwood’s PPG was 0.08 higher than Di Matteo, with 1.91.
1: Mikel Arteta – Arsenal
Finishing with the only manager on the list who’s still in his post, Mikel Arteta was appointed Gunners boss in December 2019, leaving his role as Pep Guardiola’s assistant manager at Man City.
The Spaniard has taken charge of the most games on this list with 221 (and counting), winning 131, drawing 43 and losing 47, generating a PPG just short of 2, with 1.97.
With his Arsenal side favourites to win this years Premier League title, could he become the first and only manager on this list to lift the countries’ greatest accolade?
