Premier League managers list – why it matters 2024
By Arasi Rex · Updated 14 August 2026 · 5 min read
The Premier League managers list records every manager who has led the 20 clubs competing each season since the league’s creation in 1992. The list is a chronological archive that tracks appointments, departures, and the tenure of each individual in charge of the squads that compete in England’s top division.
The mechanism and detail
The Premier League manager is the head of a club’s coaching staff and the main decision‑maker for match strategy, player selection and training. When a club appoints a new manager, the club’s board publicly announces the name, the date of appointment and the terms of the contract. The governing body records the appointment in the official league register, assigning a unique identifier to the manager and linking the record to the club’s fixture list for that season.
A typical entry in the managers list contains:
- Club name
- Manager name
- Start date of tenure
- End date (if the manager has left)
- Notes on the nature of the appointment (permanent, caretaker, interim)
The list is updated after each transfer window and at the end of every season. Clubs that change managers mid‑season add a new row to the register, while a manager who returns to the same club later in their career receives a separate entry with a new start date.
The structure of the league itself provides context for the list. Each season the 20 clubs play 38 matches, 19 at home and 19 away, for a total of 380 fixtures. Three points are awarded for a win, one for a draw and none for a loss. The league table is ordered by points, with goal difference, goals scored and head‑to‑head record used as successive tiebreakers.
History and evolution
The Premier League was founded on 20 February 1992 when First Division clubs broke away from the Football League to negotiate their own television rights. The inaugural season, 1992/93, featured 22 clubs, but the number was reduced to 20 from the 1995/96 campaign. Over that period, the number of managerial appointments has grown in tandem with the league’s expansion into a global brand.
From the league’s first year, each of the 22 clubs entered the managers list with a name that had been chosen after a selection process involving the club’s board, senior coaches and external advisors. As the competition matured, clubs began to adopt more sophisticated scouting and data‑analytics methods, which influenced the profile of coaches they hired. The list now includes managers who specialise in defensive organisation, possession‑based play, or high‑pressing tactics.
Mid‑season changes have become a common feature of the Premier League. A manager can be dismissed after a string of poor results, a major injury crisis or a conflict with the board. When this happens, the club often appoints a caretaker manager, someone from the coaching staff who temporarily takes charge, until a permanent replacement is found. The list records both caretaker and permanent appointments, providing a complete picture of who has been in charge at each stage of a season.
The league’s promotion and relegation system also affects the managers list. The bottom three clubs fall to the Championship, while three clubs from that division move up. New clubs entering the Premier League bring new managerial appointments, adding fresh entries to the list each season.
Edge cases and common confusions
A few scenarios create ambiguity in the managers list:
Joint managers - Rarely, a club appoints two managers to run the team together. In such a case, the league records a single entry with both names listed, but the club’s official communications may refer to them separately.
Caretaker vs. interim - The terminology varies between clubs. Some use “caretaker” to denote a temporary appointment after a manager’s dismissal, while others use “interim” to describe a short‑term role that is not intended to be permanent. The list follows the club’s official title, even if that title changes later.
Re‑appointments - A manager who leaves a club and later returns is counted as a new entry. The list does not merge the tenures; it preserves each distinct period of service.
Off‑field departures - Managers who are relieved of duties without a formal appointment to a new club are still recorded until the end of the season or until a successor is named.
Because the Premier League operates under strict licensing rules, a manager must hold a UEFA Pro Licence to be appointed. Clubs that fail to meet this requirement for a new manager must delay the appointment until the licence is obtained, which is reflected in the dates shown in the list.
Key takeaways
- The managers list is a year‑by‑year record of every individual who has led a Premier League club.
- Each entry shows club, name, start and end dates, and the appointment type.
- The league’s 380‑match structure and point system provide a backdrop for evaluating managerial performance.
- Mid‑season changes, caretaker appointments and re‑appointments create a dynamic list that evolves each season.
- Licensing requirements and promotion/relegation add further context to the list’s growth.
FAQ
What is the Premier League managers list? It is an official archive that tracks every manager who has overseen a Premier League club’s team during a season, including permanent, caretaker and interim appointments.
How many clubs are represented in the list? The list covers the 20 clubs that compete each season, plus any newly promoted clubs that join the Premier League for the following campaign.
Do caretaker managers appear on the list? Yes. Whenever a club appoints a caretaker to bridge the gap between permanent managers, the appointment is logged with the same format as a full‑time manager.
Is the list updated after each game? No. The list is updated after transfer windows and at the end of the season, reflecting all changes that have occurred over the course of the campaign.
What happens when a manager is re‑appointed? A new entry is created with a new start date; previous tenures remain in the archive as separate records.