Which managers have won the Premier League in their first season? The elite club Arne Slot is about to join with Liverpool
Liverpool boss Arne Slot is set to join an elite group in Premier League history – managers who have won the title in their very first season in English football.
It’s an exclusive list that excludes even the likes of managerial icons such as Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp, and Arsène Wenger, all of whom took more than one season to claim their first English crown.
But the Dutchman, who joined from PSV Eindhoven last summer as Klopp’s replacement, has become an instant hero at Anfield.
101greatgoals.com takes a look at the four managers who managed to lift the trophy at their first attempt.
Jose Mourinho – 2004-05 (Chelsea)
After taking charge of a Chelsea team that had finished second behind Arsenal’s ‘Invincibles’ the year prior, Jose Mourinho immediately transformed them into a dominant force.
Backed by players like John Terry, Claude Makelele, as well as new signings like Petr Cech and Ricardo Carvalho, Chelsea became nearly impenetrable under the ‘Special One’.
Their season began with a gritty 1-0 win over Manchester United and ended with a then-record 95 points, conceding just 15 goals and keeping 25 clean sheets – both still unbeaten feats.
Carlo Ancelotti – 2009-10 (Chelsea)
While Chelsea had lost their defensive steel after Mourinho’s exit, they rediscovered their form under Carlo Ancelotti – only this time with an attacking flair.
The Italian oversaw a record-breaking season in which Chelsea scored 103 goals and posted a goal difference of +71, both Premier League bests at the time.
That campaign ended with a domestic double, although Ancelotti departed the following year after failing to add more silverware.
Manuel Pellegrini – 2013-14 (Manchester City)
Succeeding Roberto Mancini, Manuel Pellegrini took advantage of the post-Ferguson turbulence at Manchester United and steered Manchester City to the summit once again.
The title race went down to the wire as Liverpool, inspired by Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge pushed hard.
But City’s consistency – and some unforgettable moments like Yaya Toure’s midfield heroics and Sergio Aguero’s lethal finishing – saw them edge the Reds by two points.
Despite a long managerial career across Europe, this remains Pellegrini’s only domestic league title on the continent.
Antonio Conte – 2016-17 (Chelsea)
When Antonio Conte arrived, Chelsea had just endured a chaotic season under Mourinho during his second stint, finishing mid-table and out of European competitions.
Interim manager Guus Hiddink had steadied the ship, but Conte had a clean slate to work with.
With fewer fixtures to juggle, the Italian tactician maximised his time on the training ground, refining a dynamic 3-4-2-1 system. Chelsea went on a remarkable 13-game winning run mid-season, effectively locking up the title before spring arrived.
Conte now finds himself in a comparable scenario at Napoli, looking to revive a club that recently lost its way after previous success.
