The five best Premier League managers of the season

Cameron Smith

• Updated: 15 May 2025 14:27 BST
• 5 min read

Analysis

The 2024-25 Premier League season has been an enthralling one, although the lack of a title battle has been fairly disappointing.

Numerous head coaches have been sacked so far this campaign, including Erik ten Hag and Sean Dyche, while several have performed well above expectations and have earned themselves an extended stint in charge.

Below, FootballTransfers runs through the five best Premier League managers of the season.

Arne Slot (Liverpool)

Arne Slot was handed the unenviable task of replacing Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool and many had written off his chances of a successful debut season before he’d even entered the Anfield dugout.

Fast forward 12 months, however, and Slot has delivered Liverpool just their second Premier League title of all time.

The Reds romped to Premier League glory with four games to spare to equal Manchester United’s tally of 20 English top flight titles and Slot has etched his name into the Liverpool history books in the process.

Eddie Howe (Newcastle United)

Newcastle United have gone slightly under the radar this season, however their progression under Eddie Howe has continued and they have firmly established themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the Premier League.

The Magpies look destined to secure Champions League qualification for the second time in three years and they may end the campaign as runners-up to Liverpool.

Newcastle have picked up 20 league wins in a single season for the first time since 2003 and their form since the start of the new calendar year has been exemplary, something that Howe deserves credit for.

Nuno Espirito Santo (Nottingham Forest)

Nuno Espirito Santo was the first name on this list and for good reason. Nottingham Forest finished in 17th place last season, escaping relegation largely due to the immensely poor form of Sheffield United, Burnley and Luton Town.

This year, Santo has inspired a stunning turnaround. Forest have occupied a place in the top three of the Premier League table for virtually the entire campaign and while their form has tailed off in recent weeks, he is a nailed-on candidate for the Manager of the Year award.

Forest could yet secure Champions League qualification, which would be a sublime achievement, and they have already confirmed they will be playing in some form of European competition next season.

Thomas Frank (Brentford)

Brentford’s improvement under Thomas Frank has gone largely unnoticed amid Nottingham Forest’s rapid ascent, but they have enjoyed a similar growth this campaign.

The Bees finished last season in 16th place in the Premier League and although they have missed out on European football this term, Frank deserves immense praise for guiding them back into the top-half of the English top flight table.

He has built a system that has allowed Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa to flourish in attack and he has maximised the talent at his disposal, despite a limited transfer budget.

Vitor Pereira (Wolves)

Vitor Pereira is the fifth and final manager on this list, and his inclusion may come as a slight surprise given he was only appointed as the new Wolverhampton Wanderers boss in December.

However, Wolves were languishing down in 19th place upon his arrival, and he has overseen an immense recovery at Molineux.

At the time of writing, Wolves have won 12 of their 21 matches since the appointment of Pereira, losing just six, and they have climbed up to 14th in the Premier League table, above both Tottenham Hotspur and Man Utd. Survival has been secured and Pereira is a huge reason why.

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