Liverpool manager Arne Slot has become the sixth manager to win the Premier League in his first season. Slot’s Red machine has enjoyed a remarkable first campaign and has sat pretty in top spot since October.
While the Dutch manager has certainly made some tweaks to Jurgen Klopp’s team — more possession, fewer transitional defensive moments, less Trent-Alexander Arnold in buildup — Slot has also been able to rely on a near 30-goal, 20-assist league season from talisman Mohamed Salah. He deserves credit: this is no easy trick.
It should be noted that 2015/16 Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri does not qualify for this list, even though it was his first season with the club. Why? He previously enjoyed a stint with Chelsea in the early 2000s.
1) Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United 1992/93
Ferguson joined United in 1986 and despite winning a slew of trophies, never captured a league title until the Premier League was formed in 1992/1993.
The Scottish manager relied upon the superb forward play of Mark Hughes and recent arrival Eric Cantona. Ryan Giggs broke into the team as part of a United side that would dominate both the 1990s and 2000s.
2) Jose Mourinho, Chelsea 2004/05
Mourinho entered English football with lofty expectations and somehow backed up, especially in his debut season. Fresh off of winning the Champions League with Porto, the Portuguese manager continued his defensive excellence in the Premier League.
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He buoyed his Blues side with an all-time haul of transfers, including: Petr Cech, Didier Drogba, Ricardo Carvalho, Paulo Ferreira, and Arjen Robben. Chelsea conceded 15 goals and walked to 95 points.
3) Carlo Ancelotti, Chelsea 2009/10
Oh look, another big-name European manager storming to early success in west London. Ancelotti did it without dipping into the Roman Abramovich checkbook but with continuity and a free-flowing attack.
Chelsea scored a then-record 103 league goals: 29 came from Drogba and a ridiculous 22 from Frank Lampard from midfield. Ancelotti also guided the club to its first domestic “double” along the way.
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4) Manuel Pellegrini, Manchester City, 2013/14
Pellegrini arguably spearheaded Manchester City through the most fraught title race in recent Premier League history, navigating past a four-team gauntlet featuring Liverpool, Chelsea, and Arsenal to win the title in his debut campaign.
While still going with Real Betis in Spain, the Chilean manager is arguably the least heralded name on this list. His City side slipped in the following two campaigns before he was replaced with Pep Guardiola, who has won six (and counting) league titles with the club.
5) Antonio Conte, Chelsea 2016/17
Conte joined Chelsea following a lowly 10th-place finish in 2015/16. After a slow start, the Italian mastermind settled on a 3-4-3 formation and never looked back.
The Blues shook off an early-season challenge from Liverpool and walked to the title. Diego Costa produced his last solid season in professional football while Eden Hazard cemented his Premier League legacy with a dazzling campaign.
