The English game was for a long time derided for its primitivity. An emphasis on physicality and 4-4-2 drew a stark contrast to the complex tactical ideals that often manifested in more exotic lands.
Herbert Chapman and other revolutionaries of yesteryear had been caught up and usurped and, while England would produce European Cup winners at impressive regularity throughout the second half of the 20th century, the national team’s underperformance on the grandest stages in the wake of 1966 depicted how far England had fallen behind. Hooliganism often overshadowed on-pitch failures.
The birth of the Premier League in 1992, for some, marks the beginning of ‘modern football’. While nations once boasted distinct styles, this commercial utopia helped homogenise tactical thought and ensure some of the sport’s brightest minds ended up on English shores.
As a result, the Premier League has been home to some of football’s greatest-ever managers. Here are the best who have graced the Premier League.