10 Best Tottenham Hotspur Managers Ever
Tottenham Hotspur are one of the biggest clubs in London as well as in the whole of England. Many great managers have played an important role in making the club what it is now. Let us have a look at some of the best Tottenham Hotspur managers ever.
Based on the success, playing style, win percentage, and fans’ opinions, here are the ten best Tottenham Hotspur managers ever.
10. Terry Venables
Terry Venables enjoyed a successful association with Tottenham Hotspur, achieving the rare distinction of winning the FA Cup with the club both as a player and as a manager. His managerial stint with Spurs began in 1987 following a fruitful period at Barcelona, where he gained a reputation as a skilled tactician. Venables’ appointment was seen as a positive step for the North London club, as he brought fresh ideas and an ambitious outlook.
During his tenure, the team’s fortunes were mixed, with several mid-table finishes in the league. However, notable highlights included winning the FA Cup in 1991 and achieving a third-place league finish in 1990. Venables also made astute signings, bringing in star players like Gary Lineker and Paul Gascoigne, who became key figures in the team’s success. His influence left a lasting mark on the club and its supporters.
9. John Cameron
Cameron joined Tottenham Hotspur as a player in May 1898, signed by Frank Brettell. By February 1899, he succeeded Brettell as player-manager, making an immediate impact. In his first game in charge, Tottenham became the first lower-division club to overturn a deficit against top-flight opposition in an FA Cup tie, with Cameron himself scoring the decisive goal in a win over Sunderland.
Cameron led Tottenham to significant triumphs, winning the Southern Football League title in 1900 and the FA Cup in 1901. Tottenham defeated Sheffield United 3–1 in the final replay, becoming the only non-English League club to win the competition. Cameron’s tenure also saw the club finish as Southern League runners-up in 1902 and 1904. As a player, he scored 139 goals in 293 appearances, including 43 goals in 111 Southern League matches. He stepped down as manager in March 1907.
8. Peter McWilliam
Peter McWilliam managed Tottenham Hotspur during two notable spells, from 1912 to 1927 and 1938 to 1942. His first tenure, interrupted by World War I, marked one of the club’s most successful periods. Under his leadership, Spurs won the Second Division title, the FA Cup, and the Charity Shield, while also finishing as First Division runners-up. His tactical acumen and ability to build cohesive teams earned widespread acclaim.
In his second stint, McWilliam focused on rebuilding Spurs, promoting talented young players like Bill Nicholson to the first team. However, his efforts were curtailed by the outbreak of World War II. When the war ended, McWilliam retired, leaving an enduring legacy that secures his place among the best Tottenham Hotspur managers ever.
7. Antonio Conte
Antonio Conte managed Tottenham Hotspur from November 2021 to March 2023, overseeing 77 matches during his tenure. Under his leadership, Spurs secured 41 wins, achieving a commendable win percentage of 53.25, which ranks among the top five in the club’s managerial history.
During his time at the helm, Conte guided the team to a fourth-place finish in the Premier League, earning Champions League qualification. However, his tenure was marked by inconsistent performances and public criticism of the club’s culture. Following a draw with Southampton in March 2023 and subsequent disagreements, Conte parted ways with Spurs by mutual consent.
6. Martin Jol
When Martin Jol took over as Tottenham’s head coach early in the 2004 season, expectations were modest. Initially appointed as First Assistant Coach to Jacques Santini, he stepped up to the top job after just 12 games. Despite the circumstances, Jol’s charisma quickly won over Spurs supporters, and his leadership brought noticeable improvements on the pitch. In his first full season, the team finished fifth, a feat he repeated the following year, making him the first manager since Keith Burkinshaw to keep Spurs in the top five for consecutive seasons.
Jol’s impact extended beyond league success. In the summer of 2007, he signed Gareth Bale, convincing the Southampton youngster and his parents that Tottenham was the ideal place for his development over Manchester United. Bale’s eventual influence on the club highlights the significance of Jol’s foresight. That signing alone, along with his achievements, justifies his inclusion among the best Tottenham Hotspur managers ever.
5. Harry Redknapp
Harry Redknapp revitalized Tottenham Hotspur during his near-four seasons in charge. Appointed in 2008 after the club’s worst-ever start to a season, he immediately steadied the ship, guiding Spurs to an eighth-place finish and a League Cup final. The following season, he achieved a fourth-place finish, securing Champions League qualification for the first time in the club’s history.
Redknapp’s tenure was marked by thrilling moments, including an unforgettable run to the Champions League quarter-finals in 2011, showcasing Spurs on Europe’s grandest stage. Despite leading the team to another fourth-place finish in 2012, he was dismissed on June 13, after narrowly missing Champions League qualification due to Chelsea’s triumph.
4. Mauricio Pochettino
Mauricio Pochettino became Tottenham Hotspur’s head coach in May 2014, the club’s tenth managerial appointment in 12 years. Under his leadership, Spurs adopted an attractive, high-intensity style of football. His first season saw a fifth-place league finish and the promotion of several academy players, including Harry Kane, whom Pochettino boldly made the starting striker ahead of Roberto Soldado—a decision that paid off spectacularly.
Pochettino’s tenure transformed Spurs, consistently securing Champions League football and culminating in a historic run to the 2019 Champions League final. Despite these successes, he was dismissed in November 2019 with Spurs struggling in 14th place, as chairman Daniel Levy cited “extremely disappointing” domestic results.
3. Arthur Rowe
In 1949, Jack Rowe returned to Tottenham Hotspur as manager, tasked with securing promotion from the second division. His leadership was immediately successful, as Spurs won the Second Division Championship, and the following season, they went on to claim the First Division title. This back-to-back success made Spurs the first post-war team to achieve such a remarkable feat.
Rowe’s influence extended beyond results on the pitch; he also signed Danny Blanchflower, widely regarded as one of Spurs’ greatest players. Due to health issues, Rowe was forced to resign as manager in 1955, but his impressive win record ensures his place among the best Tottenham Hotspur managers ever.
2. Keith Burkinshaw
When Keith Burkinshaw took over as Tottenham manager, the club had been battling relegation for several years, and their luck finally ran out. Relegated to the Second Division, Burkinshaw remained at the helm and began the process of rebuilding. He promoted academy star Glenn Hoddle to a central role, and Spurs bounced back to the top flight after just one season.
Under Burkinshaw’s guidance, Tottenham enjoyed significant success, winning two FA Cups and a UEFA Cup. The team he built remained competitive throughout the 1980s, with their best season in 1987, when they narrowly missed out on the First Division title and were defeated in the FA Cup final by Coventry City. Burkinshaw’s achievements firmly place him among the best Tottenham Hotspur managers ever.
1. Bill Nicholson
There could never be any question about who would top this list. Bill Nicholson is the titanic figure in Tottenham Hotspur’s history. His achievements at Tottenham are unmatched, and he will always be the most important man in the club’s history. He managed the club for over 800 matches and collected 11 trophies in his 16 years as manager.
The great man took over the club at the bottom of the First Division, and there was little indication that the club’s greatest period in history was about to begin. He shrewdly constructed one of the greatest teams in history and brought many great players to the club. From Dave Mackay to Pat Jennings and Jimmy Greaves, Nicholson signed them all.
He remained in charge of the club from 1958 to 1974 and left Spurs with great dignity and respect from everyone at the club. Bill Nicholson is considered one of the most important figures in the club’s history.