Since its launch in 1992, the English Premier League has witnessed many great coaches who not only won titles and demonstrated their tactical abilities, but also laid the foundations for success in the clubs they coached.
Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger left behind teams that required a lot of work.
Manchester United have certainly not yet recovered since Ferguson’s departure, and Arsenal have undergone a painful rebuilding process to become competitive again.
Here is a list of 7 Premier League coaches who left behind solid foundations for their successors to continue achieving success:
1-German Jurgen Klopp
“This has a lot to do with having quality players,” Jurgen Klopp’s successor, Arne Slott, told TNT Sports earlier this season. “I think the way he said goodbye to Jurgen helped me as well… he got me on the spot,” he added. “I’m off to a good start with what he did for me on the court (leading a chant for Slot).”
Slott has yet to win anything with Liverpool but has made progress in the Premier League and Champions League. He is never shy about paying tribute to his predecessor and always seems grateful for the great, balanced team he inherited.
2- Scotsman George Graham
In the mid-nineties, Leeds United were a boring team under Graham but when you talk about solid foundations, the Scot worked with great focus on strengthening the defensive structure and prioritizing clean sheets.
Alongside this he made some exciting signings, most notably Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Alf-Inge Haaland, turning Leeds into a good team by the time he left for Tottenham in October 1998, giving his right-hand man David O’Reilly the tools to break out and flourish as a young coach on the Island. Rod.
Happy 80th birthday to former Leeds United manager George Graham. #LUFChttps://t.co/6YgE5ZxEzk pic.twitter.com/yECdX9LdWU
— LUFCDATA (@LUFCDATA) November 30, 2024
3-Scottish David Moyes
Moyes did wonders at Everton to turn the club into a powerhouse when it came to European Championship places, and after more than a decade of good work at Goodison Park, he got his chance when Ferguson left Manchester United in 2013.
While Ferguson left something of a mess in his wake in Manchester, Everton were in good shape to continue to compete for the top four under Moyes’ successor, Roberto Martinez.
The solid organization and stable back line suited well with the attacking style favored by the Spaniard who led Everton to a Premier League record tally of 72 points in the 2013-14 season, bettering Manchester United under Moyes.
2002 – David Moyes becomes youngest Premier League manager aged 39 🌱
2025 – David Moyes returns to @Everton and is currently the oldest manager in the League 🧠 pic.twitter.com/6Fcdv1fiOp
— Premier League (@premierleague) January 15, 2025
4- The Portuguese Jose Mourinho
Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho left Stamford Bridge in bitter circumstances when he was sacked for the first time by Roman Abramovich in 2007, but he left behind a great team that will continue to collect titles for a long time, and the team – which won the Champions League in 2012 – is the best evidence of that.
Since Mourinho’s departure, six coaches have rotated at Chelsea, and Roberto Di Matteo’s team was full of players who were contracted by the “Special One”, namely: Petr Cech, Ashley Cole, John Obi Mikel, Salomon Kalou, or those who praised him (Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba, John Terry).
5-English Nigel Adkins
When he was sacked by Southampton in 2013, former physiotherapist Adkins had left the newly promoted side well clear of the relegation zone. The appointment of then-unknown Mauricio Pochettino was not enough to calm the unrest in the dressing room but it turned out to be a successful choice.
Thanks to Adkins, Pochettino took over a team full of young talent such as Luke Shaw, Adam Lallana and the goal-scoring prowess of Ricky Lambert.
🧵 The Rise & Fall of Nigel Adkins at Southampton Football Club (2010-2013) – A Thread 👇 #SaintsFC pic.twitter.com/bvBPZ3mPD1
— SFC Fanatic (@TimJonesFC) September 24, 2024
6-Englishman Graham Potter
Potter transformed Brighton from a team struggling for relegation under Chris Hughton into a good team full of young talent, and when he left for Chelsea in September 2022, Brighton were competing for the Champions League places.
The club includes many talents, such as Moses Caicedo, Alexis McAllister and Leandro Trossard, who have attracted the attention of major clubs, and despite Potter’s departure, Brighton finished sixth in the 2022-2023 season, and all of this was thanks to the foundations he laid.
7- The Spanish Rafael Benitez
Benitez saved Newcastle from relegation from the Premier League during the late 2000s with a limited budget and a squad of limited talent.
The Spaniard made some smart signings, such as Miguel Almiron, Jacob Murphy, Martin Dubravka and Fabian Schar, who later played an important role in the team’s success under the leadership of Eddie Howe.
It is with disappointment that we announce manager Rafael Benítez will leave Newcastle United upon the expiry of his contract on 30th June 2019.
Full club statement: https://t.co/IscVOvLxGD #NUFC pic.twitter.com/DWeBkpRubP
— Newcastle United (@NUFC) June 24, 2019