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Following Arne Slot’s coronation with Liverpool, Pulse Sports highlights the managers who previously claimed the Premier League title in year one at their clubs.
Arne Slot won the Premier League title in his first year on Sunday when Liverpool thrashed Tottenham Hotspur 5-1 at Anfield.
While the Dutchman was expected to secure a Champions League berth, few expected a title-winning campaign for Jurgen Klopp’s successor, given Manchester City’s dominance and Arsenal’s position as next-in-line if Pep Guardiola’s men stumbled.
Guardiola’s team did falter in 2024-25, as evidenced by their five-way tussle to finish in the Champions League positions, a significant dip from the team that claimed four straight Premier League wins.
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However, Mikel Arteta’s men could not capitalise, as an injury-laden season has seen the North London side prioritise claiming a maiden European Cup triumph.
With Slot having secured Premier League title success with Liverpool, the former Feyenoord boss joins an illustrious list of managers to clinch top-flight success in their first campaign at respective clubs.
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In this article, Pulse Sports highlights the managers who have previously achieved this honour.
Jose Mourinho — Chelsea (2004-05)
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Jose Mourinho's arrival at Chelsea in June 2004 marked a significant moment in Premier League history.
Having just guided Porto to an unexpected Champions League triumph, Mourinho brought a winning pedigree and an aura of invincibility to Stamford Bridge.
His introductory press conference, where he famously declared himself "a Special One", captivated the British media and set the tone for a confident and often controversial reign.
Mourinho's arrival coincided with the second season of Roman Abramovich's ownership of Chelsea, a period characterised by substantial financial investment in the playing squad.
Tactically, Mourinho implemented a 4-3-3 formation as his primary system, a departure from the more traditional 4-4-2 favoured by many Premier League teams at the time.
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A key component of this formation was the deployment of Claude Makelele in a defensive midfield role.
The Frenchman’s positional discipline and ability to break up opposition attacks provided exceptional protection to the Chelsea defence, allowing the more attacking players the freedom to express themselves.
The foundation of Mourinho’s title-winning season was their unprecedented defensive record.
They conceded only 15 goals during the entire 2004-05 Premier League campaign, a record that remains unbroken and one that former captain John Terry hopes is never eclipsed.
Furthermore, they achieved an astonishing 25 clean sheets, another Premier League record that still stands.
That defensive solidity was built upon the formidable partnership of goalkeeper Petr Cech, who boasted an exceptionally high save percentage, and the central defensive pairing of Terry and Ricardo Carvalho, expertly shielded by Makelele.
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Chelsea amassed a then-record 95 points, securing their first top-flight title in 50 years.
Carlo Ancelotti — Chelsea (2009-10)
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Carlo Ancelotti succeeded Guus Hiddink as the manager of Chelsea in the summer of 2009, arriving with a distinguished reputation built on his successful tenure at AC Milan, which included two Champions League titles.
In contrast to Mourinho's emphasis on defensive solidity, Ancelotti favoured a more attack-minded approach at Chelsea.
While he demonstrated tactical flexibility, often adapting his formation based on player availability and the specific challenges posed by opponents, he frequently employed formations that prioritised attacking play, such as the diamond midfield.
That system aimed to maximise the influence of key attacking players like Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard, creating numerous goalscoring opportunities.
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Ancelotti’s focus on offensive football was evident in Chelsea's playing style throughout the 2009-10 season, as the Blues achieved a historic domestic double.
They won the Premier League title, finishing just one point ahead of Manchester United in a tightly contested race that went down to the final day of the season, ending the club’s four-year wait for a top-flight crown following consecutive triumphs in 2005 and 2006.
Chelsea's success in 2009-10 was built on a record-breaking goalscoring campaign which saw the West London side set a new Premier League record by scoring an astonishing 103 goals throughout the season.
That remarkable feat highlighted the effectiveness of Ancelotti's attacking tactics and the clinical finishing of his forward players, particularly Didier Drogba, who won the Premier League Golden Boot with 29 goals.
Chelsea also established new club records for the most goals scored at home in a Premier League season (68) and the best goal difference in a season (+71).
Notably, they became the first top-flight team in England to surpass 100 league goals since Tottenham Hotspur achieved this in the 1962-63 season.
Manuel Pellegrini — Manchester City (2013-14)
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Manuel Pellegrini's arrival in Manchester was seen as an opportunity to inject a more refined and stylish brand of football into the team.
The Chilean manager was tasked with not only challenging for domestic honours but also making significant strides in the Champions League after replacing Roberto Mancini.
Under Pellegrini's leadership, Man City achieved a memorable Premier League and League Cup double in his first season.
They pipped Liverpool to the Premier League title in a thrilling race that went down to the wire. The Cityzens’ title-winning season was notable for its prolific goalscoring.
They became the fastest club in Premier League history to score 100 competitive goals in all competitions, reaching this milestone before the end of January.
They also broke Manchester United's record for the most goals scored in a single season by an English club, with a remarkable total of 156 goals in all competitions.
Their tally of 102 goals in the Premier League itself was the second-highest ever recorded in the league at that time.
Furthermore, Man City became the first Premier League team to have three players – Yaya Toure, Sergio Aguero, and Edin Dzeko – each score more than 15 league goals in a single season.
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Pellegrini's immediate success at Manchester City can be attributed to his ability to implement an attractive and highly effective attacking style, which unlocked the full potential of the club's talented forwards, resulting in a record-breaking goalscoring season.
Claudio Ranieri — Leicester City (2015-16)
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Claudio Ranieri's appointment as Leicester City manager in the summer of 2015 was met with considerable scepticism, given his previous managerial record and the fact that Leicester had narrowly avoided relegation in 2014-15.
The Foxes were widely tipped for another season of struggle, with bookmakers offering odds of 5000-1 against them winning the Premier League title.
Against all expectations, Ranieri masterminded one of the greatest sporting shocks in history, leading Leicester City to their first-ever Premier League title.
The remarkable achievement defied all pre-season predictions and captured the imagination of football fans worldwide.
The Italian manager implemented a relatively simple yet incredibly effective tactical approach, primarily utilising a compact and consistent 4-4-2 formation built on a strong defensive foundation and lightning-fast counter-attacks.
He made very few changes to his starting eleven throughout the season, fostering a strong sense of familiarity and cohesion within the team.
Under Ranieri's guidance, several Leicester players enjoyed outstanding individual seasons. Striker Jamie Vardy broke the Premier League record for scoring in consecutive matches, netting in 11 straight games.
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Winger Riyad Mahrez also had an exceptional campaign and was named the PFA Players' Player of the Year.
The tireless performances of midfielder N'Golo Kante were also crucial to Leicester's success, providing immense energy and defensive cover.
Ranieri adopted a calm and relaxed managerial style, which appeared to alleviate pressure on his players and foster a positive and united team spirit.
Ranieri's success was not built on tactical complexity or a star-studded squad but rather on creating a strong sense of team unity and implementing a clear and consistent tactical plan that maximised the strengths of his players.
The incredibly low pre-season odds highlight the unexpected nature of this triumph, making Ranieri's achievement even more remarkable.
Manager | Club | Season | Points |
Jose Mourinho | Chelsea | 2004-05 | 95 |
Carlo Ancelotti | Chelsea | 2009-10 | 86 |
Manuel Pellegrini | Manchester City | 2013-14 | 86 |
Claudio Ranieri | Leicester City | 2015-16 | 81 |
Antonio Conte | Chelsea | 2016-17 | 93 |
Antonio Conte — Chelsea (2016-17)
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The third Italian after Ancelotti and Ranieri and the third Chelsea boss after Mourinho and Ancelotti, Antonio Conte’s Premier League-winning campaign witnessed a tactical shift in English football.
The passionate Italian inherited a Chelsea squad that had finished a disappointing 10th in the previous Premier League season.
The atmosphere at the club was described as chaotic, and the former Juventus and Italy boss was tasked with restoring stability and challenging for top honours.
After an inconsistent start to the season, Conte made a pivotal tactical decision to implement a 3-4-3 formation, a system that was relatively uncommon in the Premier League at the time.
The change proved to be the catalyst for Chelsea's remarkable turnaround and eventual title victory. The 3-4-3 formation effectively utilised Chelsea's wing-backs, Victor Moses and Marcos Alonso, providing width in attack, while the central defensive trio of Cesar Azpilicueta, David Luiz and Gary Cahill provided defensive solidity.
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Following the tactical switch, Chelsea embarked on an incredible record-equalling run of 13 consecutive Premier League victories, during which they conceded very few goals and notched important wins over Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur.
That dominant run propelled them to the top of the league table, and Conte's Chelsea ultimately clinched the Premier League title with a then-record 30 wins and an impressive total of 93 points.
The Blues also equalled Premier League records for the fewest draws in a season (3), the fewest home draws in a season (0) and the most home and away wins against different sides (12).
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In addition to their league success, Conte was also named the Premier League Manager of the Season, while midfielder N'Golo Kante, who played a pivotal role in midfield, also received numerous individual accolades, including the PFA Players' Player of the Year award.
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