Winning the Premier League is a towering accomplishment, a dream that countless managers will pursue but that few indeed will experience.
The English top-flight is commonly perceived to be the most competitive domestic competition in the world, and it takes tactical savviness, depth in numbers, mental fortitude and perhaps a hint of luck to be crowned champions.
Some of the cleverest men in football have dedicated their lives to trying to conquer the Premier League, but have failed again and again.
To win it once is special.
To win it for the first time of managing a team? That is the stuff of legends.
Only a select few have taken charge of their very first chart-toppers season on the touchline and been crowned England’s best at the end of it.
They came with aspirations, swagger and, most importantly, the tactical expertise to immediately turn their teams into champions. Their success stories are examples of the fabled preparation meeting opportunity, but they also serve as reminders that in football, staying at the top is often a lot harder than getting there.
Let’s get started with the first manager who shook England to its core with his arrival.
1. José Mourinho – Chelsea (2004–05)
When he arrived at Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2004, he was already making waves across Europe.
Fresh off an incredible Champions League triumph with Porto, Mourinho famously declared himself “The Special One” in his first Chelsea press conference, and he wasted no time proving it.
Revolutionizing Chelsea
Mourinho inherited a squad that had finished second to Arsenal’s ‘Invincibles’ the previous season. Already filled with talent, he quickly added key reinforcements:
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Petr Čech fortified the goalkeeping position.
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Ricardo Carvalho brought experience and composure to the backline.
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Claude Makélélé continued to be the heartbeat of the midfield, providing the perfect balance between defence and attack.
Mourinho also empowered players like Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba, and John Terry, building a machine-like team known for discipline, defensive solidity, and ruthless efficiency.
Record-Breaking Campaign
Chelsea’s 2004–05 season was a record-smashing tour de force:
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95 points (a Premier League record at the time).
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15 goals conceded (the fewest in league history).
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25 clean sheets—a standard of defensive excellence yet to be beaten.
A 1–0 victory over Manchester United on the opening day set the tone, and the Blues hardly faltered after that. They were champions with three games to spare and finished 12 points clear of Arsenal.
Legacy
Mourinho’s debut season established Chelsea as a new superpower in English football. He would go on to win another league title the following year and add a third during his second stint at the club in the mid-2010s.
While his later managerial adventures at Manchester United, Tottenham, Roma, and now Fenerbahçe have produced mixed results, Mourinho’s first Premier League campaign remains one of the most dominant ever.
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2. Carlo Ancelotti – Chelsea (2009–10)
After Mourinho’s departure, Chelsea endured a few years of managerial upheaval. But when he was appointed in 2009, stability and silverware quickly returned to West London.
An Offensive Powerhouse
Unlike Mourinho’s pragmatic approach, Ancelotti encouraged attacking football, unleashing the full potential of Chelsea’s already stacked squad. Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard, and Nicolas Anelka thrived in his diamond midfield system.
Under Ancelotti’s leadership, Chelsea’s 2009–10 season was breathtaking:
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103 goals scored—the first team to breach the 100-goal mark in a Premier League season.
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+71 goal difference, still among the highest in league history.
A thrilling final day 8–0 Demolition of Wigan Athletic sealed the title, ensuring they finished just one point ahead of Manchester United.
Double Delight
Ancelotti didn’t just stop at the Premier League title. His Chelsea side also secured the FA Cup, becoming only the seventh English club to complete the domestic double at that time.
Ancelotti’s Journey
Despite his success, he was unceremoniously sacked after a trophyless second season. However, his career flourished elsewhere – he led Real Madrid to multiple Champions League titles and coached Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, and Napoli to success.
Today, back at Real Madrid, he continues to break records, adding even more lustre to his already legendary resume.
3. Manuel Pellegrini – Manchester City (2013–14)
Following Roberto Mancini’s tumultuous reign at Manchester City, the club turned to the experienced Chilean manager Pellegrini to restore harmony and success.
An Entertaining Era
Pellegrini emphasised attacking flair, giving players like Sergio Agüero, Yaya Touré, and David Silva the freedom to express themselves. His team’s creativity and balance between attack and defence made them one of the most watchable sides in Europe.
Although Liverpool had seemingly clinched the title midway through the season, a dramatic collapse, most memorably Steven Gerrard’s infamous slip against Chelsea, opened the door for City.
Pellegrini’s City capitalised ruthlessly, winning their final five games to clinch the title by just two points.
Achievements
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102 goals scored, matching Chelsea’s attacking record under Ancelotti.
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Goal difference of +65, highlighting their devastating firepower.
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Also won the League Cup, completing a domestic double.
Life After City
Despite winning another League Cup the following season, Pellegrini’s tenure ended with City hiring Pep Guardiola.
Subsequent stints at Hebei China Fortune, West Ham United, and now Real Betis have been less glamorous, but he remains highly respected, especially for guiding Betis to Copa del Rey glory in 2022.
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4. Antonio Conte – Chelsea (2016–17)
When Chelsea turned to Antonio Conte after a disastrous 2015–16 season that saw them finish 10th, few expected an instant transformation. But Conte proved to be the perfect catalyst.
Tactical Masterclass
Initially sticking with a 4-2-3-1 setup, Conte pivoted to his now-famous 3-4-3 formation after a 3–0 loss to Arsenal early in the campaign. The tactical tweak proved to be a masterstroke.
Chelsea embarked on a sensational 13-match winning run, regaining their confidence and taking a stranglehold on the title race.
Conte’s blend of tactical discipline and high-energy football turned players like Eden Hazard, Diego Costa, and N’Golo Kanté into unstoppable forces.
Record-Breaking Feats
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30 wins in a single Premier League season – a record.
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First Italian manager to win the Premier League.
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Set a then-record 93 points tally for a 38-game season.
After Chelsea
Despite an FA Cup triumph in his second season, Conte’s relationship with Chelsea’s hierarchy soured, leading to his departure.
He later guided Inter Milan to their first Serie A title in over a decade and now manages Napoli, where he is once again showcasing his ability to rejuvenate struggling teams.
5. Arne Slot – Liverpool (2024–25)
Arne Slot, who took over at Liverpool following Jürgen Klopp’s emotional departure in 2024, is the most recent addition to this elite group.
Stepping into Klopp’s colossal shoes was no small task. Expectations were high, but so was the pressure. Yet Slot has risen magnificently to the challenge.
Seamless Transition
Under his leadership, Liverpool maintained the high-intensity, pressing style that had defined the Klopp era, but added fresh tactical variations that revitalised the squad.
With key figures like Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, and Alisson Becker extending their contracts, Slot ensured that the team’s spine remained intact.
Liverpool clinched the Premier League title with four games to spare, finishing comfortably ahead of Arsenal and Manchester City.
What Makes Slot Special
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Tactical flexibility, switching between a 4-2-3-1 and 3-4-3 depending on opponents.
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Unwavering squad unity, maintaining the culture Klopp carefully built.
The Road Ahead
Slot’s success is still fresh, and the coming seasons will determine whether he can build a dynasty at Anfield. But his debut campaign has already earned him a place among the greats.
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