Where does Arne Slot’s first season in the PL compare with other managers? | OneFootball

Liverpool can once again declare themselves champions of England, something their supporters have sung about on 19 previous occasions before this season.

In the end, with four matches remaining, Arne Slot and his men got it done, and no one can begrudge their success, especially as very few, if any, saw it coming. When their affable German tactician, Jürgen Klopp, who turned doubters into believers, subsequently broke the club’s nearly two-decade wait for championship glory, stepped down last summer, many were prepared to give Slot a period of grace, with challenging for the Premier League crown an unexpected goal.

A combination of their attack, spearheaded by league MVP Mohamed Salah, their defence, marshalled by skipper Virgil van Dijk, and midfield engine, gelling seamlessly, coupled with their rivals (bar Arsenal, to an extent) tailing off, meant the Reds ended up ruling the roost. In doing so, Slot, who previously guided Feyenoord to Eredivisie glory, becomes the first Dutch manager to win English football’s premier competition, and at the first attempt, which puts him in rarified company. This begs the question: where does he rank among this elite group?

Slot is the seventh to achieve this unprecedented success, but his season is not yet done. So, for now, let’s take a look at where he currently stands after winning Liverpool their second Premier League crown and record-equalling 20th first-division title.

Alex Ferguson

Okay, we’re being technically correct, which is the best kind of correct, and that’s why Alex Ferguson is on this list despite having managed Manchester United for six and a half seasons before the Premier League was established.

He guided the team to a runners-up position in their final First Division season, although they let the championship slip, allowing Leeds to take advantage. It is worth noting that the inaugural Premier League season, along with the subsequent two, featured four more matches than the current format.

This campaign also ended United’s 26-year wait for a league title and marked the beginning of one of the most dominant dynasties in football history. Ferguson ultimately secured 13 Premier League titles in total, which is seven more than the next closest manager, Pep Guardiola, who has six.

Claudio Ranieri

Leicester City’s triumph in the 2015–16 Premier League season stands as one of the most remarkable underdog narratives in sports history. Unlike most managers on this list, with the exception of Sir Alex Ferguson, Claudio Ranieri had prior experience in the Premier League, having spent nearly four years at Chelsea without securing a league title before being succeeded by José Mourinho.

After narrowly escaping relegation the previous season, the Foxes appointed Ranieri, a seasoned manager whose recent tenure with the Greek national team had not bolstered his reputation. This decision initially raised scepticism but ultimately proved to be a stroke of genius. Ranieri crafted a team characterised by a solid defensive foundation and rapid counterattacks, propelling players like N’Golo Kanté, Riyad Mahrez, and Jamie Vardy into the limelight.

Vardy notably shattered Ruud van Nistelrooy’s record by scoring in 11 consecutive Premier League matches, contributing 14 goals during that streak.  At 64 years and 195 days, Ranieri became the oldest manager to win the Premier League in his debut season, marking one of the most astonishing achievements in football history.

Manuel Pellegrini

After finishing as runners-up to Manchester United in the 2012–13 season, Manchester City aimed to reinvigorate their championship ambitions by appointing Manuel Pellegrini from Málaga. Their early performance, however, was marked by inconsistency, as they suffered four league defeats before the end of November. They soon found their rhythm, embarking on a 12-match unbeaten streak that included significant victories against Tottenham (6–0) and Arsenal (6–3).

The title race against Liverpool became one of the most thrilling in Premier League history, with both teams surpassing the 100-goal mark—an unprecedented achievement in the league. City narrowly secured the title with 102 goals, compared to Liverpool’s 101. Yaya Touré had a standout season, scoring 20 goals from midfield, a feat previously achieved only by Frank Lampard, while Sergio Agüero added another 17 goals.

Chelsea, managed by José Mourinho, played a crucial role in defeating Liverpool at Anfield, inadvertently aiding City’s title pursuit. City took advantage, winning against Crystal Palace and beginning a five-match winning streak that ultimately led Pellegrini’s side to their second championship in three years.

Carlo Ancelotti

In the summer of 2009, Carlo Ancelotti took the helm at Chelsea, succeeding interim manager Guus Hiddink, who had briefly steered the club following a tumultuous period. His appointment came with the ambitious objective of rejuvenating a squad that had struggled to find its rhythm and consistency following Mourinho’s exit less than two years earlier. The legendary Italian manager wasted no time in making his mark, implementing a tactical approach that emphasised both attacking flair and defensive solidity. His efforts bore fruit almost immediately, as he guided Chelsea to their third Premier League title, a remarkable achievement that made him the first Italian manager to secure this prestigious honour in English football. He did so by finishing the campaign just one point ahead of their fierce rivals, Manchester United.

One of the standout features of their campaign was their offensive prowess. Chelsea set a new record by scoring an astonishing 103 goals in a single Premier League season. Formidable striker Didier Drogba ended the season as the league’s top scorer, netting an impressive 29 goals. This marked the first time a Chelsea player had reached such heights since the legendary Jimmy Greaves, who scored 41 goals during the 1960–61 season. In addition to Drogba’s contributions, Frank Lampard proved an indispensable asset. The midfield maestro showcased his versatility and goal-scoring ability, contributing 22 goals and 14 assists over the season. Lampard’s remarkable goal involvement resulted in an impressive average: he was involved in a goal in every match he played, making 36 appearances throughout the season.

Arne Slot

Following the departure of club icon Jürgen Klopp in the summer of 2023, Liverpool began the 2024–25 season as the third favourites for the Premier League title, trailing behind Manchester City and Arsenal. However, under the leadership of new manager Arne Slot, the Reds delivered an extraordinary performance, remaining unbeaten for 26 matches and suffering only two losses throughout the season.

Liverpool clinched the Premier League championship with a decisive 5-1 victory over Tottenham at Anfield in late April, equaling Manchester United’s record of 20 top-flight titles. This victory was particularly significant, as it allowed the team to celebrate in front of a full Anfield crowd — a moment missed during their 2019-20 title win due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Slot’s swift adjustment to managing one of the world’s premier clubs was notable, as he successfully carved out his own identity while continuing Liverpool’s legacy in English football.

José Mourinho

Fresh off a Champions League win with Porto, José Mourinho, the self-proclaimed “Special One,” was brought in to deliver trophies for Chelsea, backed by Roman Abramovich. He certainly lived up to the expectations.

In his first season in charge, Mourinho led Chelsea to their first-ever Premier League title, marking their first English top-flight championship since the 1954–55 season. With this achievement, he became the first manager to win the Premier League in his debut season in English football.

Chelsea’s campaign was dominant in every aspect. Their total of 95 points set a record that remained until Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City surpassed it in the 2017–18 season. Defensively, they were nearly impenetrable, conceding only 15 goals—still the fewest allowed in a single Premier League season.

Lampard was the Blues’ creative heartbeat, recording 18 assists—the most in the league that season and the highest ever by an English player in a single Premier League campaign.

Antonio Conte

The football community was abuzz with excitement regarding Pep Guardiola’s much-anticipated arrival at Manchester City in the summer of 2016. However, it was Antonio Conte, another newly appointed manager, who ultimately captured the limelight by the season’s end.

After achieving unprecedented success with Juventus and guiding Italy to a Euro 2016 quarter-final berth, Conte took over at Chelsea, a club that had finished a disappointing 10th the previous season.

A turning point came in September when Chelsea suffered a 3–0 defeat against Arsenal, leading Conte to implement a 3–4–3 formation. This tactical shift ignited a remarkable 13-game winning streak, during which the team netted 32 goals and conceded only four.

When the 2016-17 season was all said and done, Chelsea had secured 30 victories from 38 matches, setting a new Premier League record for most wins in a single season.

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