English football's most senior managers, from Manchester City's Pep Guardiola to Arsenal's Mikel Arteta, and the League One boss under pressure
Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta are among the 10 longest-serving managers in English football's top four leagues.
Gone are the days of Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger, who served Manchester United and Arsenal for more than 26 and 22 years respectively.
It used to be the norm for managers to have at least a few years behind the wheel, unless results went catastrophically bad, of course.
But these days managers are lucky if they last the full duration of their contracts.
In the last Premier League season alone, there were three manager changes during the season, and five more at the end of the season.
This campaign the EFL has already seen bosses given marching orders, the latest of which was Steven Schumacher at Stoke after being in office for less than a year.
That's despite overseeing two wins and three losses in the first five games of the championship this season.
If John Eustace's sacking at Birmingham last season, when he had the Blues in sixth place, taught us anything, it's that no manager seems safe in football these days.
Currently, the average tenure of the 10 longest-serving managers is around five years.
However, that could soon change as one League One manager is likely to be on the ropes after a poor start to the season.
So who are these bosses who have managed to avoid being sacked and how long have they been in charge? talkSPORT.com has you covered…
13
10. Marco Silva – Fulham (3 years, 79 days)
Replacing former Fulham player Scott Parker was not going to be an easy task, but after guiding Fulham to win the Championship in 2022, Marco Silva is a fan favourite at Craven Cottage.
Former Watford and Everton manager, the Portuguese boss has had his longest tenure as manager with the Cottagers.
Last season, he led Fulham to their first League Cup semi-final, beating Everton on penalties before falling to the eventual winners. Liverpool 3-2 on aggregate in the next round. He has two years left on his contract.
13
10. Phil Parkinson – Wrexham (3 years, 79 days)
After joining Wrexham On the same day Silva signed for Fulham, Phil Parkinson moved into the top 10 longest-serving managers.
The former Charlton and Bolton manager has led Wrexham into the leagues after being appointed by Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds following its acquisition in 2020.
Consecutive promotions from the National League to League One have given Parky legendary status in North Wales, and his story there is unlikely to end any time soon.
13
9. Andy Woodman – Bromley (3 years, 173 days)
After being appointed in March 2021, Andy Woodman has led Bromley into EFL competition for the first time in the club's history.
Woodman, a former goalkeeping coach at Newcastle, Arsenal, West Ham and Crystal Palace, now manages Bromley in League Two.
Bromley beat Wrexham to win the FA Trophy in 2022, and that success was followed by promotion from the National League via the play-off final last season.
13
8. Jon Brady – Northampton Town (3 years, 221 days)
After spending the majority of his career playing in the EFL, Australian manager Jon Brady has enjoyed success at League One Northampton.
Brady, who started out as an under-16s coach, 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 following season, their promotion to League One in 2023 and 14th-place finish last season have cemented his place at Sixfields.
13
7. Nigel Clough – Mansfield Town (3 years, 317 days)
Another manager who has achieved promotion to League One is Nigel Clough.
Son of iconic former Nottingham Forest and Derby County manager Brian Clough, Nigel has followed in his father's footsteps.
After spending five years with Burton Albion, Clough joined Mansfield in 2020 and led the club to promotion to the third tier after finishing third in League Two last season.
13
6. Ian Evatt – Bolton Wanderers (4 years, 79 days)
Ian Evatt has become a mainstay at Bolton after taking charge when the club were in the League Two relegation zone.
Since then, Evatt has guided Bolton to promotion in 2021, winning the EFL Trophy in 2023 and reaching the League One play-offs twice.
However, having missed out on automatic promotion and lost 2-0 to Oxford United in last season's play-off final, the pressure has mounted. And their position may be on the line, given that the Trotters have won just one league game so far, leaving them in the relegation places.
13
5. Mikel Arteta – Arsenal (4 years, 271 days)
After replacing Unai Emery in 2019, former Arsenal captain Mikel Arteta has transformed the Gunners.
Despite their only title being the FA Cup in 2020, Arteta led Arsenal into the title race twice in a row, losing to Manchester City On both occasions.
The 42-year-old is adored in the red side of north London, and if he can lead Arsenal to their first league title since 2004 this season, he won't be leaving his post for a long time.
13
4. Thomas Frank – Brentford (5 years, 338 days)
Danish coach Thomas Frank has had the Bees flying since taking charge of 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 enough of a credit, they finished ninth in the 2022/23 Premier League. He is under contract until 2027.
13
3. Mark Robins – Coventry City (7 years, 196 days)
After guiding Coventry through chaotic ownership struggles under former SISU bosses, Mark Robins is regarded as a legend in the sky-blue West Midlands.
Moves away from his home ground to Birmingham City and other off-field distractions did not stop Robins from leading the club to promotion from League Two in 2018, and then League One in 2020.
With a run to the FA Cup semi-final last season, as well as a play-off final against Luton in 2023 under his belt, Robins is on course to remain in his job for many years to come.
13
2. Pep Guardiola – Manchester City (8 years, 79 days)
If you think of Manchester City, you think of Pep Guardiola.
The Spaniard has guided City to glory on so many occasions it's hard to remember them all, and with his side looking primed for a title challenge that could see them win an unprecedented five consecutive Premier League titles, it's no wonder he's been there for so long.
Guardiola's future beyond this season is unclear, however, as his contract expires at the end of the campaign. Considered as the new England coachalso.
13
1. Simon Weaver – Harrogate Town (15 years, 120 days)
Although Guardiola dominates the trophy-winning career of English football, he does not stand out as the longest-serving manager.
Harrogate Town's Simon Weaver from League Two is in his 15 years with the North Yorkshire club, which, as you may have noticed, is very rare these days.
When he took over, he was first appointed as a player-manager. That was in 2009, when the club was in the Conference North. It's no surprise that he takes the crown on this list for the job he's done.
13
The longest-serving managers in English football
- Simon Weaver – Harrogate Town (15 years, 120 days)
- Pep Guardiola – Manchester City (8 years, 79 days)
- Mark Robins – Coventry City (7 years, 196 days)
- Thomas Frank – Brentford (5 years, 338 days)
- Mikel Arteta – Arsenal (4 years, 271 days)
- Ian Evatt – Bolton Wanderers (4 years, 79 days)
- Nigel Clough – Mansfield Town (3 years, 317 days)
- Jon Brady – Northampton Town (3 years, 221 days)
- Andy Woodman – Bromley (3 years, 173 days)
- Marco Silva – Fulham (3 years, 79 days)
