Winning the Premier League is a monumental achievement, given its status as one of the most competitive football leagues in the world. For a manager to accomplish this feat in their debut season is an extraordinary rarity, requiring a blend of tactical brilliance, squad management, and immediate impact. Only a select few have etched their names into this exclusive club, and with Arne Slot’s Liverpool triumph in the 2024-25 season, the list has grown to five definitive members (with some debate around others). This article delves into the managers who won the Premier League in their first season in charge, exploring their strategies, challenges, and lasting legacies, while addressing nuances in the data and historical context.
José Mourinho – Chelsea, 2004-05
Mourinho’s arrival at Chelsea in 2004, fresh from leading Porto to a Champions League title, marked the beginning of a new era in English football. Dubbed “The Special One,” Mourinho inherited a talented Chelsea squad bolstered by Roman Abramovich’s financial backing. His debut season was a masterclass in defensive solidity and pragmatic brilliance. Mourinho implemented a robust 4-3-3 formation, emphasizing a rock-solid defense anchored by John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho, with Petr Čech in goal. Claude Makélélé redefined the defensive midfield role, providing a platform for Frank Lampard’s creativity (18 assists, the most in the league).
Chelsea conceded just 15 goals—a Premier League record that still stands—and kept 25 clean sheets. Their 95-point haul was a record at the time, 12 points clear of runners-up Arsenal. A 1-0 victory over Manchester United on the opening weekend set the tone, showcasing Mourinho’s ability to win big games through disciplined organization. Mourinho’s first season delivered Chelsea’s first top-flight title in 50 years, establishing him as a transformative figure. He added the League Cup for a domestic double and defended the Premier League title the following season. However, his departure in 2007 after a slow start highlighted the precarious nature of managerial tenures, even for debut champions.
Carlo Ancelotti – Chelsea, 2009-10
Ancelotti, a seasoned manager with two Champions League titles from AC Milan, took over Chelsea in 2009 following Guus Hiddink’s interim stint. His first season unleashed an attacking juggernaut, rewriting offensive records while securing the Premier League title. Ancelotti adopted a fluid 4-4-2 diamond, with Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka forming a lethal strike partnership. Chelsea scored 103 goals—the most in a single Premier League season at the time—and achieved a record goal difference of +71.
Frank Lampard and Florent Malouda provided midfield dynamism, while Ashley Cole and Branislav Ivanović solidified the flanks. An 8-0 thrashing of Wigan Athletic on the final day clinched the title, edging out Manchester United by a single point. This match epitomized Chelsea’s attacking prowess, with Drogba scoring a hat-trick. Ancelotti’s debut season culminated in a Premier League and FA Cup double, but a trophyless second season led to his sacking. His ability to transform Chelsea from Mourinho’s defensive machine into an attacking force showcased his adaptability, though his exit underscored the high expectations at Stamford Bridge.
Manuel Pellegrini – Manchester City, 2013-14
Pellegrini’s appointment at Manchester City in 2013 followed Roberto Mancini’s tenure, with the Chilean tasked with blending style and success. His first season delivered a thrilling title race, pipping Liverpool and Chelsea to the Premier League crown. Pellegrini’s 4-2-2-2 formation prioritized attacking flair, with Yaya Touré, Sergio Agüero, and Edin Džeko each scoring over 15 league goals—a Premier League first. City’s 102 goals were the second-highest in league history at the time, and their 156 goals across all competitions set an English record.
Pellegrini’s emphasis on possession and fluidity contrasted with Mancini’s pragmatism. City’s late-season surge, including a 2-0 win over West Ham on the final day, secured the title by two points over Liverpool. Their ability to capitalize on Liverpool’s slip-ups, notably Steven Gerrard’s infamous error, was decisive. Pellegrini’s debut season also included the League Cup, marking提款 domestic double. However, his inability to sustain success in Europe and a lackluster second season paved the way for Pep Guardiola’s arrival. Pellegrini’s triumph remains a testament to his ability to harness City’s attacking talent.
Antonio Conte – Chelsea, 2016-17
Conte arrived at Chelsea in 2016 after leading Italy to the Euro 2016 quarter-finals. Taking over a side that finished 10th the previous season, Conte’s first campaign was a tactical revolution, driven by his now-iconic 3-4-3 formation. After a 3-0 loss to Arsenal in September, Conte switched to a 3-4-3, with wing-backs Victor Moses and Marcos Alonso providing width, and Eden Hazard and Diego Costa thriving in attack. Chelsea’s 13-match winning streak from October to December—a club record—effectively sealed the title race.
They won 30 of 38 games, a Premier League first, scoring 85 goals and conceding just 33. The tactical shift post-Arsenal transformed Chelsea’s season, turning a mid-table side into champions. Their 7-0 rout of Everton in November highlighted their dominance. Conte’s title win restored Chelsea’s elite status, but tensions with the board and a poor second season led to his departure. His influence on English football, particularly popularizing three-at-the-back systems, endures, as seen in his current success at Napoli.
Arne Slot – Liverpool, 2024-25
Slot’s appointment at Liverpool in 2024, succeeding Jürgen Klopp, was met with cautious optimism. His debut season, however, has been a revelation, with Liverpool clinching the Premier League title with four games to spare, joining this elite group of first-season champions. Slot retained Klopp’s high-pressing 4-3-3 but introduced a more controlled, possession-based style inspired by his Feyenoord tenure. Key players like Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and new signings adapted seamlessly, with Liverpool balancing attacking flair (evidenced by a 5-1 win over Tottenham) and defensive resilience. The 5-1 victory against Tottenham on April 27, 2025, mathematically secured the title, showcasing Slot’s ability to deliver in high-stakes matches.
His side’s consistency, losing just once in the league, mirrored Mourinho’s 2004-05 dominance. Slot’s triumph has drawn comparisons to Klopp’s transformative impact, with his calm demeanor and tactical acumen earning widespread praise. However, historical precedent—three of the four previous managers were sacked within two years—suggests challenges ahead. Liverpool’s title, equaling Manchester United’s record of 20, cements Slot’s place in history.
Honorable mentions and controversies
Alex Ferguson – Manchester United, 1992-93
Some sources, like Opta Analyst, include Alex Ferguson for his 1992-93 title with Manchester United, arguing it was his first season in the newly rebranded Premier League. However, Ferguson had been at United since 1986, making this a technicality rather than a true debut. United’s title ended a 26-year drought, with Eric Cantona’s arrival proving pivotal, but their slow start (one point from three games) contrasts with the immediate impact of the five managers above.
Claudio Ranieri – Leicester City, 2015-16
Claudio Ranieri’s miraculous 2015-16 title with Leicester City is often debated. While it was his first season at Leicester, Ranieri had previously managed Chelsea from 2000-04, meaning it wasn’t his debut in English football. His 4-4-2 system, built on Jamie Vardy’s record-breaking scoring streak and N’Golo Kanté’s tireless midfield work, defied 5000-1 odds. Leicester’s 81 points and 10-point margin over Arsenal remain one of football’s greatest underdog stories, but his prior Premier League experience excludes him from the core list.
Common traits and challenges
These five managers share several characteristics. Each introduced a distinct system—Mourinho’s defensive pragmatism, Ancelotti’s attacking fluidity, Pellegrini’s goal-scoring machine, Conte’s 3-4-3, and Slot’s controlled pressing. All inherited talented squads but maximized their potential through clear visions, often overcoming early setbacks (e.g., Conte’s Arsenal defeat, United’s slow start under Ferguson).
Key individuals—Lampard, Drogba, Touré, Hazard, Salah—thrived under their guidance, highlighting their ability to elevate existing talent. However, the post-title trajectory often proved turbulent. Mourinho, Ancelotti, and Conte were sacked within two years, reflecting the Premier League’s ruthless expectations. Pellegrini lasted three seasons, while Slot’s future remains uncertain. Ancelotti and Conte suffered trophyless follow-ups, and Mourinho’s third season was lackluster. Maintaining momentum after a debut triumph is a recurring challenge.
The rarity of the feat
Since the Premier League’s inception in 1992, only seven clubs have won the title: Manchester United (13), Manchester City (7), Chelsea (5), Arsenal (3), Liverpool (2), Blackburn Rovers (1), and Leicester City (1). With 32 seasons completed by 2024-25, the fact that only five managers (or six with Ferguson) have won in their first season underscores the difficulty. Even luminaries like Pep Guardiola, Jürgen Klopp, and Arsène Wenger failed to achieve this, with Guardiola’s first title coming in his second season (2017-18) and Klopp’s in his fifth (2019-20).