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Managers Who Won The Premier League In Their First Season

The Premier League is arguably the toughest league in the world, with loads of competition. This is why it is extremely difficult for a manager to come in and win the title in the very first season with the club. The Premier League is a very physical league, and players take time to learn the tactics of the new manager and implement them. However, some managers have managed to win the Premier League title in their very first season in charge. This article talks about the four managers who managed to win the Premier League title in their very first season.

Managers To Win The Premier League In Their First Season

Jose Mourinho – Chelsea (2004/05)

Chelsea won the Premier League for the first time 18 years ago.

They conceded just 15 goals all season—still a Premier League record—in José Mourinho’s first season in England 🔵🏆 pic.twitter.com/nhcPecejuy

— B/R Football (@brfootball) April 30, 2024

Jose Mourinho led Portuguese club Porto to the league title as well as the UEFA Champions League title in the 2003/04 season. Chelsea decided to bring him to the Premier League, hoping he would be able to replicate the success he had with the Portuguese side while helping manage Chelsea. His arrival marked a new era for the club, backed by the financial clout of owner Roman Abramovich. Mourinho’s charm and confidence were immediately apparent in his iconic declaration that he was “a special one.” With an ambitious vision, he set out to transform Chelsea into a dominant force within English football, a task he would soon accomplish with remarkable success.

The Portuguese manager started instilling his tactics in the Chelsea squad, setting up a fortress in the defence while having a potent attack as well. The likes of Peter Cech, alongside John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho, formed one of the most formidable defences the Premier League has ever seen. They played every game with unmatched passion, and it was clear that they did not want to concede even a single goal. They finished the season having conceded just 15 goals in the entirety of the season, a record which still stands to this day and speaks to the dominance of Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea side.

Jose Mourinho managed to turn Chelsea into one of the most formidable sides in Premier League history in his very first season. They ended up winning 29 games and drawing eight games, losing just one game in the season. They accumulated a total of 95 points in the 2004/05 season, finishing 12 points ahead of Arsenal, who finished in second place. This made Jose Mourinho the first manager in Premier League history to win the title in his very first season in charge. He ended up leading Chelsea to the Premier League title in back-to-back seasons, winning the title in both the 2004/05 and 2005/06 seasons.

Carlo Ancelotti – Chelsea (2009/10)

Carlo Ancelotti was appointed as the Chelsea head coach ahead of the 2009/10 season. Jose Mourinho helped them to back-to-back titles but was sacked by the club on 19th September 2007. After he was let go by the club, a bunch of managers were put in charge of the club, but none lasted for a long time. Avram Grant, Luiz Felipe Scolari, Ray Wilkins, and Guus Hiddink all managed the club between Jose Mourinho’s sacking and the appointment of Carlo Ancelotti, but none of them were able to make a huge impact.

Chelsea appointed Carlo Ancelotti as the head coach, and the club immediately emerged as an attacking juggernaut under Ancelotti’s guidance. Compared to the extremely defensive side that Jose Mourinho put out, this was a completely different change of pace. Ancelotti’s Chelsea scored a whopping 103 goals in the 2009/10 season, 17 more than Manchester United, which had the second-highest goal tally. They obliterated their opposition completely, dominating them, and proved themselves worthy of lifting the Premier League title.

While Chelsea were outstanding in the 2009/10 season, so was Manchester United, and the Blues managed to win the title by just one point. Chelsea faced a scare when they lost to Tottenham Hotspur in Gameweek 35, but they managed to win their last three games comfortably and won the Premier League title. This made Carlo Ancelotti the second manager to win the Premier League title in their first season in charge, with both Jose Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti achieving this feat with Chelsea.

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Manuel Pellegrini – Manchester City (2013/14)

Steven Gerrard.

That slip.

Six years ago today.pic.twitter.com/EdHzw8Y6Sr

— GOAL (@goal) April 27, 2020

Manuel Pellegrini was appointed as the head coach of Manchester City ahead of the 2013/14 season. After Roberto Mancini was sacked on 13th May 2013, Brian Kidd was appointed as the caretaker manager. However, Manchester City announced the signing of new permanent manager Manuel Pellegrini on 14th June 2013. The Cityzens saw Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement as a chance to get ahead of their local rivals and wanted to capitalise on the situation by appointing a new manager who could bring success to the club, and Pellegrini did exactly that.

In his very first season with the club, he managed to lead Manchester City to victory, setting the pace for City to become the dominant team after the retirement of Alex Ferguson. From the outset, City displayed an exhilarating brand of football, characterised by quick passing, intelligent movement, and an effective pressing game. The attacking trident of Sergio Aguero, Edin Dzeko, and Samir Nasri formed a formidable front line, devastating teams from the very first match. Aguero, in particular, enjoyed a stellar personal campaign, showcasing his extraordinary finishing ability.

Manchester City were involved in an exhilarating title race with Liverpool till the end of the season. This is the season where the famous ‘Steven Gerrard slip’ occurred. In Gameweek 36, in a game against Chelsea, Liverpool captain Gerrard slipped in added time of the first half and let Demba Ba through on goal. This is regarded as the deciding factor in the Premier League title race between Liverpool and Manchester City that season. City managed to win all of their last four games and lifted the title, making Manuel Pellegrini only the third manager to win the Premier League title in his first season in charge.

Antonio Conte – Chelsea (2016/17)

Credit: Football365

Antonio Conte replaced Guus Hiddink as the Chelsea manager on 1st July 2016. He arrived in London with a reputation for tactical sophistication and a strong track record of success in Serie A. Chelsea fans were excited to see Conte take over as the manager and wanted him to have a similar effect to what Jose Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti had had for them in the past. Conte already had experience winning league titles after helping Juventus win three back-to-back Serie A titles, and he assured Chelsea fans that he had come to Stamford Bridge to do exactly that.

The 2016/17 season unfolded with initial struggles, including a disheartening defeat by Arsenal and challenges in finding the right balance within the squad. However, it was during this phase that Conte’s resilience and tactical ingenuity became evident. After a humbling 3-0 loss, he made the bold decision to shift to a three-man defence, a strategy that would revolutionise Chelsea’s campaign. This tactical switch not only revitalised the team’s spirit but also solidified their defensive unit, allowing the wing-backs to thrive.

Chelsea started playing decisive football under this new system and soon were picking teams apart, moving closer and closer to the number one spot. Once Conte’s Chelsea got a hand in the new system, they were nearly impossible to stop, and they charged to the top of the table with the intention of staying there. Chelsea ended that season with 30 wins, three draws, and five losses, accumulating a total of 93 points. They finished seven points clear of Tottenham Hotspur in the second position, and this made Conte the fourth and last manager to win the Premier League title in his very first season in charge.

For more news and updates on the English Premier League, keep reading GutshotMagazine.com. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Telegram.

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