Longest serving managers in English football from Man City’s Pep Guardiola to Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta and under pressure League One boss

Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta are among the top 10 longest-serving managers in English football’s top four leagues.

Gone are the days of Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger, who both served Manchester United and Arsenal for over 26 and 22 years respectively.

It used to be the norm for managers to at least have a few years at the wheel, unless results went catastrophically wrong of course.

But these days, managers are lucky to last for the duration of their contracts.

Last term in the Premier League alone, there were three managerial changes during the course of the season, with five more coming at the end of the season.

This campaign, the EFL has already seen bosses given their marching orders, the latest being Steven Schumacher at Stoke after being in charge for less than a year.

That’s despite him overseeing two wins and three losses in the opening five games in the Championship this season.

If John Eustace’s sacking at Birmingham last campaign when he had the Blues in sixth place taught us anything, it’s that no manager appears to be safe in football these days.

Currently, the top 10 longest-serving managers’ average time in charge is around five years.

This could soon change though, with one League One manager likely to be on the ropes after a poor start to the season..

So, who are these bosses that have managed to avoid being put on the chopping block, and how long have they been in their post? talkSPORT.com has got you covered…

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10. Marco Silva – Fulham (3 years, 79 days)

Replacing former Fulham player Scott Parker wasn’t going to be an easy job, but after guiding Fulham to win the Championship in 2022, Marco Silva is a fan favourite at Craven Cottage.

Formerly manager of Watford and Everton, the Portuguese boss has had his longest managerial tenure with the Cottagers.

Last season he led Fulham to their first ever League Cup semi-final, beating Everton on penalties before bowing out to eventual winners Liverpool 3–2 on aggregate in the next round. He has two years left on his deal.

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10. Phil Parkinson – Wrexham  (3 years, 79 days)

After joining Wrexham on the same day Silva signed for Fulham, Phil Parkinson makes it in the top 10 longest-serving managers.

The former Charlton and Bolton boss has taken Wrexham up through the leagues after being appointed by Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds following their takeover in 2020.

Consecutive promotions up from the National League to League One has earned Parky legendary status in north Wales, and it’s unlikely his story there will end anytime soon.

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9. Andy Woodman – Bromley (3 years, 173 days)

After being appointed in March 2021, Andy Woodman has led Bromley to compete in the EFL for the first time in the club’s history.

Formerly a goalkeeping coach at Newcastle, Arsenal, West Ham and Crystal Palace, Woodman is now managing Bromley in League Two.

Bromley beat Wrexham to the FA Trophy in 2022, and that success was followed up by promotion from the National League via the play-off final last season.

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8. Jon Brady – Northampton Town (3 years, 221 days)

After spending most of his career playing in the EFL, Australian manager Jon Brady has been a success at League One Northampton.

Originally starting as an under-16s coach, Brady has worked his way up the age groups with the Cobblers.

He replaced Keith Curle as temporary manager, and despite overseeing relegation to League Two and a failed play-off campaign the season after, their promotion to League One in 2023 and their 14th place finish last term has cemented his place at Sixfields.

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7. Nigel Clough – Mansfield Town (3 years, 317 days)

Another manager with promotion to League One under his belt is Nigel Clough.

Son of iconic ex-Nottingham Forest and Derby County boss Brian Clough, Nigel has followed in his father’s footsteps. 

Having spent five years with Burton Albion, Clough joined Mansfield in 2020 and got the club promoted back to the third tier after finishing third in League Two last term.

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6. Ian Evatt – Bolton Wanderers (4 years, 79 days)

Ian Evatt has become a mainstay at Bolton after taking over when the club were in the relegation zone in League Two.

Since then, Evatt has pushed Bolton to promotion in 2021, to win the EFL Trophy in 2023 and to enter the League One play-offs twice. 

However, after missing out on automatic promotion and losing 2-0 to Oxford United in last term’s play-off final, the pressure has been on. And his job may be on thin ice, given the Trotters have won just one game in the league so far, leaving them in the relegation spots.

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5. Mikel Arteta – Arsenal (4 years, 271 days)

After taking over from Unai Emery in 2019, former Arsenal captain Mikel Arteta has transformed the Gunners.

Despite his only silverware being the FA Cup in 2020, Arteta has led Arsenal to compete in the title race twice in a row, missing out to Manchester City on both occasions.

The 42-year-old is adored in the red side of north London, and should he win Arsenal their first league title since 2004 this season, he won’t be leaving his position anytime soon.

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4. Thomas Frank – Brentford (5 years, 338 days)

Danish boss Thomas Frank has had the Bees flying since he took charge in the Championship.

After winning the play-off final with a 2-0 victory over Swansea in 2021, Frank successfully guided the west Londoners to compete in the top flight for the first time in 74 years.

As if that wasn’t putting enough credit in the bank, they finished in 9th place in the 2022/23 Premier League. He’s under contract until 2027.

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3. Mark Robins – Coventry City (7 years, 196 days)

After guiding Coventry through the chaotic ownership struggles under former chiefs SISU, Mark Robins is regarded as a legend in the sky blue part of the West Midlands.

Moves away from their ground to share with Birmingham City and other off-field distractions didn’t stop Robins from getting the club promoted up from League Two in 2018, then up again from League One in 2020. 

With a run to the semi-final of the FA Cup last season, as well a play-off final against Luton in 2023 under his belt, Robins is on course to stay in his post for many years to come.

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2. Pep Guardiola – Manchester City (8 years, 79 days)

If you think Man City, you think Pep Guardiola.

The Spaniard has guided City to glory on so many occasions it’s hard to remember all of them, and with his side looking poised push for the title that could see them win and unprecedented five Premier League titles in a row, it’s no wonder he’s been there for so long.

However, Guardiola’s future beyond this season is not clear, with his contract expiring at the end of the campaign. And he’s been tipped to become England manager, too.

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1. Simon Weaver – Harrogate Town (15 years, 120 days)

Whilst Guardiola dominates trophy winning in English football, he doesn’t come out on top when it comes to being the longest-serving manager.

League Two Harrogate Town’s Simon Weaver is in his 15th year with the North Yorkshire club, which as you will have gathered, is very rare these days.

When he took over, he was first appointed as a player-manager. That was all the way back in 2009 when the club were in the Conference North. It’s no surprise he takes the crown in this list for the job he’s done.



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Longest serving managers in English football

1. Simon Weaver – Harrogate Town (15 years, 120 days)
2. Pep Guardiola – Man City (8 years, 79 days)
3. Mark Robins – Coventry City (7 years, 196 days)
4. Thomas Frank – Brentford (5 years, 338 days)
5. Mikel Arteta – Arsenal (4 years, 271 days)
6. Ian Evatt – Bolton Wanderers (4 years, 79 days)
7. Nigel Clough – Mansfield Town (3 years, 317 days)
8. Jon Brady – Northampton Town (3 years, 221 days)
9. Andy Woodman – Bromley (3 years, 173 days)
10. Marco Silva – Fulham (3 years, 79 days)