Top 5 Managers To Win Premier League Title in their First Season

Top 5 Managers To Win Premier League Title in their First Season

Top 5 Managers To Win Premier League Title in their First Season

Festus Chuma 06:00 - 28.04.2025

Everything you need to know about Arne Slot's historic Premier League triumph and the elite managers who achieved first-season glory.

The Premier League is the most fiercely competitive and unpredictable football league in the world a factor that makes it an extraordinary achievement for any manager to win the title in their first season at a club.

Liverpool's Arne Slot has now etched his name into the history books, delivering a 20th top-flight title for The Reds after a stunning 5-1 win against Tottenham.

Pulse Sports takes a look at the top 5 managers to win the Premier League title in their first season inspired by Slot's incredible triumph with Liverpool.

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5. Claudio Ranieri (Leicester City, 2015/16)

Claudio Ranieri’s appointment at Leicester City in 2015 raised more than a few eyebrows.

Top 5 managers to win the Premier League title in their first season
Claudio Ranieri is one of top 5 managers to win the Premier League title in their first season

Ranieri had previously managed top sides like Chelsea, Valencia, and Roma hence he arrived with a wealth of experience but also skepticism due to a few disappointing stints.

Taking charge of a team that narrowly avoided relegation the previous season, Ranieri transformed Leicester City into an unbreakable unit. In his locker room, he had stars like Jamie Vardy, Riyad Mahrez, and N'Golo Kanté.

The 2015/16 Premier League season saw Leicester defy odds of 5000-1 to win the title, finishing ten points clear of Arsenal. Across the globe his achievement was widely hailed as one of the greatest sporting miracles, cementing his place among the elite managers who have won the Premier League in their first season at a club.

4. Manuel Pellegrini (Manchester City, 2013/14)

Chilean manager Manuel Pellegrini took over Manchester City in the summer of 2013, stepping into English football with a strong reputation built from successful spells at Villarreal, Real Madrid, and Málaga.

top 5 managers to win the Premier League title in their first season.
Manuel Pellegrini is one of top 5 managers to win the Premier League title in their first season.

Pellegrini's Manchester City dazzled the Premier League with their attacking prowess, scoring a remarkable 102 goals during the 2013/14 season. Stars like Yaya Touré, Sergio Agüero, and David Silva flourished under Pellegrini's tactical approach.

In a tense title race, City eventually outlasted Liverpool to clinch the Premier League crown on the final day. Pellegrini also led City to League Cup success, making his debut campaign a double-winning season.

3. Antonio Conte (Chelsea, 2016/17)

Italian tactician Antonio Conte arrived at Chelsea in 2016 after a successful stint with the Italian national team and Juventus, where he won multiple Serie A titles.

Top 5 managers to win the Premier League title in their first season
Antonio Conte is one of top 5 managers to win the Premier League title in their first season

Conte brought passion, intensity, and meticulous tactical planning to Stamford Bridge, transforming Chelsea into a ruthless winning machine.

After a rocky start, Conte famously switched to a 3-4-3 formation following a defeat to Arsenal. Being a tactical magician, the gaffer's tactical shift rejuvenated Chelsea, sparking a record-breaking run of 13 consecutive league wins that would pave the way to the title. Key players like Eden Hazard, Diego Costa, and N’Golo Kanté were instrumental, thriving in Conte’s disciplined but flexible system.

Chelsea ended the 2016/17 season with 93 points, winning 30 of their 38 games—a then Premier League record. Conte’s impact was immediate and profound, making him one of the few managers to lift the Premier League trophy in their first season with a new club.

2. Carlo Ancelotti (Chelsea, 2009/10)

Carlo Ancelotti, one of the most respected managers in world football, brought his wealth of experience to Chelsea in the summer of 2009 after a trophy-laden spell with AC Milan.

Top 5 managers to win the Premier League title in their first season.
Carlo Ancelotti top 5 managers to win the Premier League title in their first season.

Under the Italian's stewardship, Chelsea played some of the most attractive football the Premier League had seen at the time. Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard, and Florent Malouda spearheaded an attack that scored a then-record 103 league goals.

Ancelotti's calm and classy approach allowed Chelsea’s star-studded squad to thrive without the chaos that had sometimes overshadowed previous campaigns.

Chelsea edged out Manchester United to win the 2009/10 Premier League title by a single point and capped off a memorable season with an FA Cup triumph, securing a historic domestic double.

Ancelotti’s immediate impact made him a standout among managers who have won the Premier League in their first season.

1. Jose Mourinho (Chelsea, 2004/05)

Jose Mourinho arrived at Chelsea in 2004 and he famously dubbed himself "The Special One"—and he wasted no time living up to that billing.

Top 5 managers to win the Premier League title in their first season.
Jose Mourinho is one of top 5 managers to win the Premier League title in their first season.

After winning the Champions League with Porto, Mourinho was backed heavily by owner Roman Abramovich to end Chelsea’s 50-year wait for a league title.

Mourinho built an incredibly resilient team that combined defensive solidity with clinical attacking play. The likes of John Terry, Frank Lampard, and Didier Drogba became the bedrock of a side that set records for the fewest goals conceded (15) and most points accumulated (95) in a Premier League season at that time.

Chelsea's 2004/05 campaign was a masterclass in consistency and dominance as Mourinho’s meticulous planning, motivational skills, and tactical genius established the Blues as a new powerhouse in English football.

The Portuguese's manager achievement of winning the Premier League title in his first season at the club remains one of the most iconic moments in Premier League history.