Who will be the next British manager to win the Premier League? Moyes, Potter, Gerrard…
- Sean Fisher
- 22 November 2021
Sir Alex Ferguson was the last British manager to win the Premier League back in 2013, but who will be the next to lift the trophy?
Sir Alex Ferguson claimed 13 league titles while at Manchester United, while Kenny Dalglish lifted the Premier League trophy as Blackburn Rovers manager back in 1994/95.
Here at Planet Sport, we look at who out of the current batch of British managers is most likely to be the next to join Ferguson and Dalglish on the list of Premier League winners.
David Moyes
Another Scotsman vying for Premier League glory is Moyes, who has managed to not only stabilise West Ham, but also turn them into a side capable of competing for the top four - and who knows, maybe even the title.
His first stint at the club came in the 2017/18 season. After taking over with the side in the relegation zone, Moyes steered the Hammers to safety, only for his contract not to be renewed at the end of the season.
But after Manuel Pellegrini failed to build on what Moyes achieved, the club turned back to the Scotsman in December 2019 with relegation again a threat.
The Scotsman duly worked his magic, guiding them to a 16th-placed finish. The following season saw a dramatic upturn in results, as West Ham recorded their highest ever points finish (65) and came sixth.
This season, the Champions League is a real possibility, with the Hammers fourth after 12 games, three points clear of fifth-placed Arsenal.
A well-drilled side, captained by Declan Rice and spearheaded by Michail Antonio, they are again defying expectations despite the additional pressures of Europa League duties.
Perhaps asking Moyes to pip Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City to top spot this season is too big of an ask, but he certainly looks on the right track to build a title-challenging side in east London.
Graham Potter
The Brighton boss is another who has built a well-drilled and organised team during his time on the south coast.
Potter joined the Seagulls in 2019 following a stint in charge of Swansea City, and his coaching style and expansive tactics have propelled the side into the top half after a 16th-placed finish last year.
If Potter is to become the next Brit to win the title, then it seems he'll have to depart Brighton, who simply lack the infrastructure and funding to compete at the top of the table.
But Potter's willingness to attack and entertain could land him a job at a club more set up to challenge for the title.
The 46-year-old will likely see out this season with Brighton given their success in this campaign, but Potter has already been linked with jobs including Everton, Leicester City and even Manchester United.
Steven Gerrard
Could Gerrard achieve as a manager what he couldn't as a player? The Liverpool legend will always be remembered as an icon in the Premier League, but will constantly be reminded of his shortcomings when it came to winning the title.
It never happened for him as a player, but after making a recent return to the Premier League with Aston Villa, Gerrard will have his eyes set on lifting it as a coach.
Achieving it at Aston Villa, though, will be a tough ask. The Villans are backed heavily by their wealthy owners but are still recovering from the loss of Jack Grealish in the summer and need to stabilise.
That's what Gerrard's main task will be in charge of Villa, but he won't be satisfied with that. One of the game's worst kept secrets is that Gerrard has aspirations to become Liverpool manager one day.
Jurgen Klopp's resounding success means he has had to wait, but it also means Gerrard may take charge of a league-winning side when the German boss eventually does depart.
That could give Gerrard a clear run at the title, but this plan does require waiting to take charge at Anfield. Whether another British boss beats him to the title first is up for debate.
Gareth Southgate
Of course Southgate is currently in charge of England, and is set to lead them at the 2022 World Cup next season. However, it only seems a matter of time until he decides he has taken the Three Lions as far as he can and returns to club soccer.
The 51-year-old has already enjoyed great success with England despite falling just short in the Euros last summer and could find himself walking into a top-six club when he departs.
He has shown he has the ability to create a spirited squad that can compete in knockout competitions. If Southgate can replicate that over a 38-game season then he could well find success in the Premier League, too.
However, that is a big if. Southgate's only previous experience in club soccer came between 2006 and 2009 when he took charge of Middlesbrough.
Boro finished 12th and 13th under Southgate before being relegated from the Premier League in 2009.
Frank Lampard
After snubbing the Norwich City job, it seems Lampard is holding out for a better offer before making his return to management.
His best chance of lifting the Premier League trophy probably passed him by when he was sacked as Chelsea manager. However, the 43-year-old is eager to still show he can cut it in the top flight and his playing CV alone should be enough to earn him another crack.
He'll first have to restore his reputation before taking charge of a Big Six team and even then it's hard to see him going anywhere but back to Chelsea.
Frankly, Lampard's title-winning chances look to be behind him, but it's impossible to rule him out. No one knows his next move but him.
Eddie Howe
While Howe's first priority at Newcastle United is survival, the funds and resources available to him at St James' Park open all kinds of possibilities.
His record is certainly impressive - taking Bournemouth from League Two to the Premier League is no small feat. But neither is winning the Premier League and Howe is still to show whether he is tactically adept enough to achieve it.
He won't win the title this year. In fact, survival will be something worth celebrating for the Magpies who have still to win a game this term. But achieve that and the 43-year-old can start looking upwards. Momentum and money are a heady combination.
Brendan Rodgers
Leicester have done the unthinkable before. And if anything, the Foxes are a much more consistent and competitive side under Brendan Rodgers than they were when they lifted the trophy in 2016.
The Northern Irishman has had his side on the brink of Champions League soccer twice in the last two seasons, only to miss out on the final day each time.
If they can make that step up to competing in Europe, then suddenly they can attract better players and improve their chances of winning the league.
That feat looks a couple of seasons away, though. Leicester currently sit 12th after a poor start to the campaign.
Add to the mix his excellent player recruitment, and Rodgers becomes one of the favourites to be the next title-winning Brit.
It may not even be at Leicester either. After his success in the Midlands, Rodgers has been heavily linked to the Manchester United job. If he can manage similar results with the Red Devils, their squad is certainly stacked with enough talent to compete for the title.
