The Top 5 Greatest England Managers of All Time
The best ever England Football Managers
Manager of England’s national football team is widely considered one of the hardest jobs in the sport.
19 different men have taken charge of the Three Lions, all with varying degrees of success.
This article celebrates the most successful gaffers to take on the poisoned chalice of England football manager.
5. Sven-Göran Eriksson (2001 - 2006)
The first manager on this list is the Super Swede himself. Sven-Göran Eriksson was the first non-British manager to take on the role, hired in January 2001.
Sven was the man the FA trusted with England’s golden generation, including players such as Beckham, Owen, Gerrard and Cole.
Sven’s time as manager is often considered a disappointment due to the talent he had at his disposal.
However, as a whole Sven’s England team consistently qualified for major tournaments, where his teams were often unfortunate not to succeed.
In 2002, they lost to would-be champions Brazil thanks to some Ronaldinho magic and in 2004, they lost to hosts Portugal on penalties after the unfortunate disallowed Sol Campbell goal.
In 2006, it was again penalty heartache at the hands of the Portuguese, after losing Beckham to injury and Rooney to a red card.
Football is a sport of fine margins, and the story of Sven’s England reign could so easily have been one of great success, but it just wasn’t to be.
At the end of his tenure, Sven was considered England’s second most successful football manager after World Cup winner Sir Alf Ramsey by the FA.
4. Sir Bobby Robson (1982 - 1990)
Sir Bobby was hired two days after Ron Greenwood’s England team were knocked out of the 1982 World Cup.
Robson’s England failed to qualify for Euro 84, but they made the World Cup in Mexico in 1986.
England reached the last 8, only to be knocked out by Argentina and Maradona’s infamous Hand of God.
After a disappointing Euro 88, Robson’s England qualified for Italia 90 without conceding a single goal.
In one of England’s most famous World Cup campaigns, the team reached the semi-finals, where they lost to subsequent champions West Germany on penalties.
Robson was the first manager to take England to a World Cup semi-final on foreign soil, and he will forever be remembered for this campaign
3. Terry Venables (1994 - 1996)
Terry Venables was a surprise appointment in 1994, and he faced intense media scrutiny from the outset.
His tenure as England manager wasn’t a long one and consists of only one major tournament.
Venables didn’t have a qualification campaign to deal with, as England were the selected hosts of Euro 96.
The lack of competitive games in the run up to Euro 96 resulted in the FA not extending his contract prior to the tournament, meaning Venables would vacate the role regardless of the team's performance.
However, Euro 96 was enough of a success for Terry to appear at number 3 on the list.
The tournament was full of iconic moments in English football history including:
Gascoigne’s wonder-goal against Scotland with the famous dentist chair celebration
A 4-1 demolition of the world class Netherland team
England’s first major tournament penalty shoot-out win against Spain to reach the semi-finals!
England’s European campaign again ended in defeat at the hands of the Germans, who went on to lift the trophy.
Euro 96 captured the minds and hearts of a nation and for that reason Venables will forever be regarded as a successful England manager.
2. Gareth Southgate (2016 - Present)
At number 2 on this list is current England manager Gareth Southgate.
Southgate took charge of the England team after Sam Allardyce left the role after a single game, due to allegations of malpractice.
Southgate’s first major tournament was the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
The FA had next to no expectation for this World Cup, and they were planning to use this tournament as a chance to develop a young squad for the future.
However, Southgate exceeded all expectations!
The team reached England’s third-ever semi-final, after beating Sweden in the quarter finals, and achieving England’s first ever World Cup penalty shoot-out victory over Colombia in the last 16.
Southgate’s England team then went one better by reaching the final at Euro 2020 after eliminating Germany, Ukraine and Denmark.
England lost on penalties to Italy in England’s first major final since 1966.
Southgate is still the man the FA believe will bring success to the English national team.
1. Sir Alf Ramsey (1963 - 1974) World Cup 66 - Euro’s 68 3rd
Finally, at number 1 is England’s greatest football manager of all time; Sir Alf Ramsey.
As hosts of the World Cup in 1966, England qualified automatically.
Ramsey’s England team qualified from their group after a draw with Uruguay and victories over France and Mexico.
England then knocked-out Argentina and Portugal on their way to the final.
England faced West Germany in the 1966 World Cup final, where a Geoff Hurst hat-trick gave England a 4-2 victory after extra-time.
Ramsey guided England to becoming champions of the world for the one and only time in the nation’s long history.
Ramsey also managed a 3rd place finish in Euro 68 and he will forever be considered one of the greats on the game- and a true England legend.
Head to our football blog for more!
