Over the years, there has been a lot of discussion about the quality of English head coaches or managers. While, at times, England has struggled for genuinely great managers, there have been English managers who have left a huge legacy on the beautiful game.
Here are the managers, in our opinion, who have had the biggest impact on the English game:
Bob Paisley (Managed Liverpool from 1974 until 1983)
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There is no better place to start than Liverpool legend Bob Paisley when we talk about great English managers. Despite being born in the north east, he became a hero on the red half of Merseyside for his exploits in the dugout.
Having spent most of his playing career with the Reds, he moved into the club’s backroom staff when he retired in 1954. At first, he was the team’s physiotherapist.
However, he moved up the ranks of the club, eventually becoming assistant manager to the late great Bill Shankly. When Shankly retired in 1974, Paisley was appointed as manager.
He was unsure about taking the job at first, but it proved to be a shrewd decision. Paisley continued the success brought by Shankly as he guided Liverpool to six top-flight titles and the UEFA Cup, amongst other trophies.
However, his true legacy as Liverpool boss will be the three European Cups he won in 1977, 1978 and 1981. Only Italian managerial legend Carlo Ancelotti has won the competition more times as a head coach, claiming the trophy on five occasions.
Brian Clough (Managed Hartlepool United, Derby County, Brighton Hove Albion, Leeds United and Nottingham Forest from 1965 to 1993)
Brian Clough Statue, Nottingham city centre by Neil Theasby, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Clough started his managerial career at Hartlepool United before a move to Derby County in 1967, where he set about proving his worth as a manager at the top level.
The Rams had been in the Second Division for a decade, but Clough guided County to promotion to the First Division in 1969.
However, even better was to come in season 1971/72, as the team from the Midlands became English champions for the first, and to date, only time in their history.
After leaving Derby, Clough had short spells with Brighton and Leeds United, the latter now the thing of legend in football because of a reported clash with the club’s players and his exit after only a few months.
In January 1975, Clough would make the move that would define his career as he joined Nottingham Forest. By 1978, Forest were the English champions.
Although Clough won numerous other trophies, the two biggest ones were the European Cup triumphs in 1979 and 1980.
Clough continued as Nottingham Forest manager until 1993, the inaugural Premier League season. Unfortunately, the campaign saw the Tricky Trees relegated to the second tier of English football.
It was a sad end to the managerial career of not just an exceptional manager but an extraordinary personality.
Sir Bobby Robson (Managed Vancouver Royal Canadians, Fulham, Ipswich Town, England, PSV Eindhoven, Sporting CP, Porto, Barcelona and Newcastle from 1967 until 2004)
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After a successful playing career, Robson moved into management with Canadian outfit Vancouver Royal Canadians in 1967. However, it wasn’t until he returned to his homeland that Robson’s career really got going.
Robson was appointed Ipswich boss in 1969 and slowly but surely turned the Tractor Boys into genuine contenders for trophies, as well as challenging near the top of the First Division.
He won the FA Cup with Town in season 1977/78, as well as the UEFA Cup in season 1980/81.
Later in his career, he led England to the 1990 World Cup semi-finals, their first since 1966, only to suffer a heart-breaking penalty shootout defeat to Germany.
Robson also experienced success in the European game, leading PSV Eindhoven to two Eredivisie titles. While managing Porto in Portugal, he helped the Dragons to win back-to-back Primeira Liga titles in 1994/95 and 1995/96.
Sir Bobby Robson passed away 15 years ago today.
Town’s greatest ever manager.
RIP🙏 #ITFCpic.twitter.com/xMhBIpcmNe
— TheTractorBoys (@TheTractorBoys_) July 31, 2024
Although he didn’t win La Liga during his time in Barcelona, Robson guided the Blaugrana to the Copa del Rey in season 1996/97 and the European Cup Winners’ Cup in the same year.
Robson ended his managerial career at his hometown club, Newcastle United, in 2004, sadly passing away five years later at the age of 76.
Sir Alf Ramsey (Managed Ipswich Town, England and Birmingham City from 1955 until 1978)
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Sir Alf Ramsey enjoyed a highly successful playing career, the highlight of which was winning both the First and Second Division titles with Tottenham Hotspur.
He moved into management in 1955 when he took over at Ipswich Town. Ramsey did an outstanding job with the team from Suffolk, winning the Third Division South title before winning not only the Second Division title in 1961 but the First Division title in the following season.
His excellent performance for Town raised his profile, and in May 1963, he started his role as England manager, having been announced as the new England boss in October 1962.
In the 1966 World Cup, Ramsey made history by becoming the first England boss to win the biggest competition in international football.
The 4-2 extra-time victory over Germany in the final at Wembley will go down in football history as one of the most controversial and entertaining finals the competition has ever seen.
In May 1974, after failing to qualify for the World Cup, the FA decided to dispense with Ramsey’s services.
Ramsey only made a brief return to management with Birmingham City from September 1977 until March 1978.
In truth, though, Sir Alf Ramsey will always hold a place in English football history for guiding the national team to their first and only piece of major international silverware.
Herbert Chapman (Managed Northampton Town, Leeds City (Now United), Huddersfield Town and Arsenal from 1907 until 1934)
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By all accounts, Chapman enjoyed a mediocre playing career, but he certainly made up for that in his managerial career.
He started his managerial career with stints at Northampton and Leeds. However, he really started making a name for himself at Leeds’ Yorkshire rivals, Huddersfield, where he won the English top-flight title on two occasions and the FA Cup.
Chapman is also the man responsible for turning also-rans Arsenal into a team that claimed the English top-flight title on three occasions, as well as the FA Cup.
His last game in charge of Arsenal came on 30th December 1933, as his team were held to a goalless draw by Birmingham City.
During his managerial career, the Yorkshireman was considered a tactical innovator who is also regarded as a significant figure in bringing more professionalism into sport.
