Managing the England national team is often portrayed as one of the most tasking jobs in football. Weighted by expectations from millions, pressures of major tournaments, and heavy media scrutiny, the position seems like some sort of poisoned chalice.
Over the years, several England managers have cut their teeth in the Premier League and its predecessor, the old First Division, bringing valuable experience and lessons from club football to the national stage.
Today, we will be looking at the careers of some managers of England’s national team who managed Premier League clubs in their careers, showing the ups and downs they have gone through, and what they have brought to both country and club.
1. Terry Venables
- England Manager: 1994–1996
Premier League Clubs Managed: - Tottenham Hotspur: 1987–1991 (Pre-Premier League)
- Crystal Palace: 1998–1999
- Leeds United: 2002–2003
Known as “El Tel” is a name that is synonymous with innovation in English football. As manager of England, he took the national team right into the semifinals of Euro 96, instilling unprecedented tactical flexibility in the team. Under his tenure, England’s “Three Lions” seemed to roar anew as they played some of the best football seen by the nation in decades.
While his national team stint may have been stronger than his Premier League experience, his career as a club manager is nonetheless interesting.
First, he made his success at Tottenham Hotspur before the era of the Premier League; he won the FA Cup in 1991.
He made his second spell in the Premier League with Crystal Palace in 1998 and Leeds United in 2002, both at a time when the club was in turmoil, teetering on financial collapse, thus not able to help him have much success as he experienced with Spurs.
At Leeds, Venables faced the Herculean task of steadying a sinking ship, but despite his best efforts, it wasn’t to be.
He was a footballing thinker ahead of his time, and though his Premier League record may not sparkle, his innovative mind shaped much of modern English football.
2. Glenn Hoddle
- England Manager (1996–1999)
Premier League Clubs Managed: - Chelsea (1993–1996)
- Southampton (2000–2001)
- Tottenham Hotspur (2001–2003)
- Wolverhampton Wanderers (2004–2006)
He was a player of exquisite technical ability, and so his coaching career followed similar lines. His time as England’s manager was one of tactical experimentation, particularly the use of a three-man defense, quite revolutionary at the time for the national team.
Though his tenure ended in controversy, there’s no doubting the mark that Hoddle left upon the England setup.
He had begun his managerial life in the Premier League with Chelsea, for whom he had laid the groundwork on which their mid-90s revival was based, and Chelsea was known to be one of the more entertaining, attack-minded teams around; big-name players like Ruud Gullit and Gianluca Vialli followed Hoddle to Stamford Bridge.
Relieved of his duties as national team manager, Hoddle again returned to the Premier League with Southampton and then on to his beloved Tottenham Hotspur.
This spell, compared to his first at Spurs, was considerably less successful. A short spell at Wolves followed this. Perhaps the game moved on a little from Hoddle’s era, and his revolutionary concepts were better suited to when they were fresh and new.
SEE ALSO | Top Players Who Reached 100 Premier League Goals
3. Kevin Keegan
- England Manager (1999–2000)
Premier League Clubs Managed: - Newcastle United (1992–1997)
- Manchester City (2001–2005)
- Fulham (1997–1999)
Few managers encapsulate the highs and lows of football in quite the same manner as Keegan does. A high-class player in his own right, Keegan naturally took his energetic, attacking philosophy to his managerial career with him.
A tactically deficient manager of the English national team, for his passion and enthusiasm, he is adored.
His most deep-rooted ties in the Premier League are always with Newcastle United.
When he took over the club back in 1992, Keegan quickly guided the Magpies into the Premier League and, by the middle of the 90s had them as one of the most exciting teams in the country.
That 1995-96 season probably witnessed one of the most exciting title races in Premier League history as Newcastle was famously pipped to the title by Manchester United. Under Keegan, Newcastle played some of the most entertaining football the league had ever seen, with stars like Alan Shearer and David Ginola lighting up St James’ Park.
After Newcastle, he managed Fulham, taking them toward the promotion to the Premier Something he had done in his playing days too-although he had left before they actually reached the top flight, and later Manchester City, where he once more promoted attacking football without reaching the heights he had attained at Newcastle.
4. Sven-Göran Eriksson
- England Manager: 2001–2006
Premier League Clubs Managed: - Manchester City: 2007–2008
- Leicester City: 2010–2011
His appointment as the manager of England was groundbreaking – he was the first non-Englishman to take over the reins of the national team.
Under Eriksson, England reached three successive quarterfinals-the World Cup of 2002, Euro 2004, and the World Cup of 2006-but at no time did they succeed in passing into the next level, even with a so-called “Golden Generation” of players.
Following his reign with England, he went on to spend time with Manchester City, with whom he enjoyed a successful start, guiding the team to a top-half finish and achieving the rare league double over Manchester United.
However, the tenure did not last too long, and found himself managing Leicester City, though this was before the Foxes’ rise to Premier League prominence.
Eriksson’s placid, matter-of-fact style was in direct contrast to the far more passionate English managers that had gone before him, but while he enjoyed some real success, he never quite managed to win the silverware that seemed within his grasp both at the club and international level.
5. Steve McClaren
- England Manager (2006–2007)
Premier League Clubs Managed: - Middlesbrough (2001–2006)
- Newcastle United (2015–2016)
McClaren will always be remembered for his failure to take England to Euro 2008-a scar on his coaching career.
That is not the case with club football. In club football, he has enjoyed more highs than lows, especially at Middlesbrough.
He led the club to their first major trophy, which was the League Cup in 2004, and even went as far as taking them to the UEFA Cup final in 2006, one of the greatest achievements ever in the club’s history.
At Newcastle United, it has been a completely different story. He started at the club in 2015 but, having struggled to implement his ideas with a disjointed squad, the consequence was that his reign ended in relegation for the Magpies.
His career reminds one that football can often be a game of fine margins: a few more wins with England, perhaps, or an even stronger squad for Newcastle, and his managerial legacy could have looked a whole lot different.
SEE ALSO | Top 10 Most Successful Clubs in England
6. Roy Hodgson
- England Manager – 2012-2016
Premier League Clubs Managed: - Blackburn Rovers – 1997-1998
- Fulham – 2007-2010
- Liverpool – 2010-2011
- West Bromwich Albion – 2011-2012
- Crystal Palace – 2017-2021, 2023-present
Hodgson’s journey in football took him to all corners of England or rather the Premier League and he has entrenched his legacy.
He had a diabolical spell as manager of England with early exits in both the 2014 World Cup and Euro 2016, while his club record is slightly more favorable.
Perhaps his greatest achievement came at Fulham, where he led the improbable Cottagers to a Europa League final in 2010.
That success brought him to Liverpool, although his spell at Anfield lasted only a matter of months as the club struggled under Hodgson.
He then found stability at West Bromwich Albion and enjoyed success at Crystal Palace, where he helped the club maintain their status in England’s top tier during multiple spells as manager.
Hodgson is credited for his organizational skills, getting the best out of his players, especially in those clubs that are fighting relegation.
The fact that he has been in the game for so long shows his adaptability and knowledge of the game.
7. Sam Allardyce
- England Manager – 2016, one match
Premier League Clubs Managed: - Bolton Wanderers 2001–2007
- Newcastle United 2007–2008
- Blackburn Rovers 2008–2010
- West Ham United 2011–2015
- Sunderland 2015–2016
- Crystal Palace 2016–2017
- Everton 2017–2018
- West Bromwich Albion 2020–2021
Gruffly lovable Sam Allardyce – often referred to as “Big Sam” – is perhaps most famous as the go-to manager for clubs in crisis.
The one-game spell he enjoyed as boss of England will forever be a footnote in football history, while his top-flight record is nothing short of remarkable.
He worked miracles with Bolton Wanderers, building the club into an established member of the Premier League, even taking them into European football.
The reputation he garnered was that of a pragmatic, result-oriented manager. He served similarly at West Ham United, Sunderland, Crystal Palace, and Everton to right the ship when teams were in trouble.
He does not always produce the most attractive football, but the ability to marshall teams and, more importantly, the penchant for achieving the best possible results in situations where expectations are decidedly low has kept him one of the most respected managers throughout the Premier League era.
SEE ALSO | Top 10 Premier League Players with Most Own Goals in History
8. Gareth Southgate
- England Manager (2016–2024)
Premier League Clubs Managed: - Middlesbrough (2006–2009)
Southgate has remade the mold for what constitutes an England manager: calm, composed, and reflective, he’s ushered in a new wave of positivity into the national fold, inspiring England to the semi-finals at the 2018 World Cup and the final at Euro 2020.
The message has trickled down to the sentiments of youth development and modern systems, finding resonance with both players and fans alike.
Before taking the England job, he managed Middlesbrough, where he was thrown into the deep end as a young manager.
While his tenure at Boro ended in relegation, it was experience that shaped him into what he is today. Therein lies the secret of his success with England: Southgate has learned from his mistakes and grown as a manager.
