Two Managers That Won the Premier League in Their Debut Season
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When a manager enters the Premier League for the first time, the challenge is immense. Few managers manage to thrive so quickly, but Arne Slot is one of them.
The Dutch boss was supposed to be in for a torrid time at Anfield following his appointment as Jurgen Klopp's successor. The maverick German boss left Anfield in the summer as one of the greatest managers the club has ever had, helping them to their sixth UEFA Champions League crown as well as ending their three-decade-long Premier League drought.
The incoming former Feyenoord manager not only had the job of replacing Klopp, but he also had to navigate a turbulent summer in which his new club signed just one new player, the injury- riddled Federico Chiesa. But rather than struggle, Slot has taken the Merseysiders to another level. They are currently eight points clear at the Premier League’s summit, with the latest EPL odds now making them a clear 41/50 to win the title this season.
Whether Slot cements his place in Premier League history remains to be seen, but his efforts already highlight the impact a manager can have in their first season. For these two managers, debut triumphs set the tone for their legacy. Could Slot be the next to join this elite list?
Antonio Conte
Antonio Conte’s arrival at Chelsea in the summer of 2016 marked a turning point for the club after a disappointing 10th-place finish in the previous season under Jose Mourinho. The fiery Italian brought with him an intense passion and tactical acumen that completely transformed the team. He had managed to turn Juventus into an all-conquering juggernaut in his native homeland, before impressing at Euro 2016 by leading a talentless Azzurri squad to the quarter-finals.
He hit the ground running at Stamford Bridge, but it was his decision to implement a 3-4-3 formation midway through the season that proved revolutionary. It maximized Chelsea’s strengths, allowing wingbacks like the unheralded Victor Moses and Marcos Alonso to thrive. Under the current Napoli man, the Blues became a winning machine.
They racked up a then-record 30 victories in a single Premier League season, finishing with 93 points. Star players like Eden Hazard and Diego Costa flourished, with the former regaining his best form and the latter scoring 20 league goals. Conte’s ability to inject discipline and work rate into a squad that had previously underperformed was key to their resurgence.
Chelsea not only won the title but they did so in a dominant fashion. They ultimately finished a whopping seven points clear of second place and they had the title wrapped up with two games to spare. Conte’s debut 2016-17 season in England remains one of the most impressive managerial performances in Premier League history, but that still wasn't enough to impress Roman Abramovich who dispatched the beloved Italian barely a year later.
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Manuel Pellegrini
When Manuel Pellegrini took over at Manchester City in 2013, the club needed fresh ideas after a lacklustre previous season. They were led to their first title of the Premier League era a year prior, however, their defence of the crown was a disappointment. That resulted in the dismissal of Roberto Mancini, and in came the Chilean manager looking to restore the Etihad club to glory once again,
The Blues managed to score an astonishing 102 Premier League goals in the 2013-14 season, an attacking feat made possible by Pellegrini's expansive style of play. Yaya Touré had the season of his life, scoring 20 goals from midfield, while forwards like Sergio Agüero and Edin Džeko terrorized opposition defences. Pellegrini’s side clinched the title in dramatic fashion managing to take full advantage of Steven Gerrard's slip and the following Liverpool implosion to claim the title on the final day of the season.
Pellegrini was considered by many to be a placeholder boss while the club waited for Pep Guardiola's Bayern Munich contract to expire. That ultimately came to pass, but not before the Chilean had secured his spot in the history books as a Premier League winner.
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