Since the inception of the English Premier League in 1992, more than 275 coaches have had the privilege to manage at least one of all the 50+ EPL clubs. The current Premier League was launched to replace the original Football League First Division, which was formed in the 1880s’.
Below, we discuss the top 6 coaches who have had the honour of managing the most clubs since the English Premier League was formed.
1. Sam Allardyce
Sam Allardyce is no stranger to most EPL fans and punters on any Premier League betting page on the internet today. He is fondly known as Big Sam.
Allardyce is a former player, having debuted professionally at Boston Wanderers. Sam has coached nine premier league teams in his long and illustrious career from 1994 to 2023. He landed his first role as a coach in 1994, coaching Blackpool FC in the second division.
Big Sam has had the privilege of managing the likes of Newcastle, Leeds United, Sunderland, West Ham United, Bolton Wanderers, Crystal Palace, Blackburn Rovers, and West Bromwich Albion. His last job was at Leeds United, where he replaced Javi Garcia for the 2022-2023 season.
Although he resigned after a poor performance, Sam has been termed a genius owing to his legacy of saving premier league clubs from relegation.
2. Mark Hughes
Mark Hughes comes second, having coached six premier league clubs with a total of 466 games. Hughes is a former player who played for the Wales national team in the late 90s before assuming a managerial position in the EPL. The Welsh manager landed his first coaching role in 2004, managing premier league side Blackburn Rovers.
Other premier league teams Hughes has coached during his tumultuous career include Southampton, Manchester City, Queens Park Rangers, Fulham FC, and Stoke City. While he was successful for the most part, trouble landed at his door while managing Stoke City. The team finished ninth for three consecutive seasons before finishing 13th in the 2017-2018 season.
He last coached Southampton, who finished 18th place, denying him a contract renewal. He currently manages Bradford, currently outside the Premier League.
3. Roy Hodgson
Like Mark Hughes, Roy Hodgson started coaching Blackburn before moving on to other European teams. After his travels, he returned to England, his home country, to lead Fulham, West Brom, Liverpool, and later Crystal Palace. Watford and West Bromwich Albion have also been under Roy’s stewardship in different football seasons.
Roy Hodgson’s managerial career has lasted 44 years, with leading Fulham to the 2010 EUFA Europa League final being his greatest achievement. He returned and helped Watford successfully battle relegation in 2022. The 76-year-old currently manages Crystal Palace for the 2022-23 season, replacing Patrick Vieira, who was sacked.
4. Harry Redknapp
Harry Redknapp comes fourth in the list of managers to have led the most football clubs in the top-flight English Premier League. He has led five clubs, including Queens Park Rangers, Portsmouth, West Ham United, Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton. The manager is a former longstanding AFC Bournemouth and West Ham United player.
Harry began his managerial career coaching the premier league outfit West Ham United between 1995 and 2001. He moved to Portsmouth for two seasons before going to Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur, and QPR.
Harry’s top achievements as a coach include making Tottenham a UEFA Champions League qualifier and winning Portsmouth’s FA Cup. The Englishman is also credited with introducing young players like Frank Lampard, Rio Ferdinand, and Michel Carrick to West Ham, who later became football stars.
5. Alan Pardew
Pardew is another former player privileged to have managed several English premier league clubs. After retiring as a player, Pardew landed a managerial role at Reading, where he stayed for half a decade before moving to West Ham in 2003. Five EPL teams Pardew has taken charge of include West Ham United, Newcastle, West Bromwich Albion, Crystal Palace, and Charlton Athletic.
Pardew enjoyed some good seasons at Crystal Palace but moved on to West Brom, where he was dismissed after consistent poor results. No EPL coaching job has come his way ever since. Luckily, his age isn’t too far gone, and he might make his way into the premier league sometime in the future. Who knows!
6. Steve Bruce
Steve Bruce closes this list with having managed five premier league clubs. These include Newcastle, Birmingham City, Wigan Athletic, Sunderland and Hull City. Bruce’s latest achievement was helping an EPL team, Newcastle, successfully battle relegation after being appointed for the 2019-20 season.
Conclusion
The English Premier League is among the world’s most popular and most-watched football leagues. Coaching an EPL club is only a milestone many would like to achieve, but only a few do.