# List of longest managerial reigns in association football

The longest managerial reign in association football belongs to Englishman Jimmy Davies who was manager of Waterloo Dock for 50 years. Second to this, Fred Everiss was manager of Football League team West Bromwich Albion for over 45 years, starting his reign in 1902 and ending when he retired in 1948. The longest post-war reign belongs to Frenchman Guy Roux, who managed Auxerre in three separate reigns totalling 44 years, taking them from France's fifth division to become Division 1 champions in 1996.
Managerial reigns in football have decreased since the 1960s, and by 2015, the average spell in England's top four divisions was 1.23 years. Managers such as Pep Guardiola and Béla Guttmann have been proponents of a "three-year rule", as has football journalist and author Jonathan Wilson, who writes that managers can succumb to a "fatalistic idealism" beyond this period, describing it as similar to a Greek tragedy.

## Longest reigns

In the early decades of organised football, team selection was often conducted by committee among the club directors, with an appointed 'secretary-manager' dealing with player contracts and other administrative tasks, assisted by 'trainers' dealing with coaching and fitness matters. As the secretary role was largely clerical and often occupied by one of the directors, they tended to remain in post for many years regardless of results in the short term. Until after World War I, some clubs never had a manager by name.
As demands and expectations on officials increased both on and off the field, gradually specialist roles became commonplace, and by the end of the 1930s, it was common for clubs in the British Isles to have an official manager as a figurehead dealing with most or all team matters, but with less long-term job security than the secretary-managers of old. Elsewhere, the separation between the office and pitchside functions persisted: the head coach in charge of training and match tactics became increasingly respected and prominent, but meanwhile while a figure closer to the ownership in the role of general manager, sporting director or director of football maintained control over financial and commercial aspects, with the levels of influence and balance of power between the coach and director varying between clubs and nations. As in the earlier era, the director would often have a tenure of several years to oversee the overall progress of the club, while the head coach would typically keep their job only for as long as the on-field results were positive.
For the purpose of this list, a separation has been made between pre-World War II reigns, which includes many secretary-managers, and the period after the conflict ended when regular competitions resumed in most countries, and longer managerial/head coach appointments became far less commonplace. For those whose terms spanned World War II, they have been placed in the section covering the majority of their reign. Long serving head coaches in international football are also recorded separately below.

### Clubs
#### Pre-1946

* George Ramsay was secretary-manager of Aston Villa from 1884 to 1926, during which time he established Villa as the most successful club in England.
* Willie Maley was manager of Celtic from 1897 to 1940.
* John Nicholson was secretary-manager of Sheffield United from 1899 to 1932.
* Bill Struth was the Rangers manager from 1920 to 1954.
Longest managerial reigns (pre-1946) :
| Rank | Manager | Club | From | To | Length |
| 1 | Fred Everiss | West Bromwich Albion | 1 August 1902 | 31 May 1948 | 45 years, 304 days |
| 2 | Willie Maley | Celtic | 1 September 1897 | 1 February 1940 | 42 years, 153 days |
| 3 | George Ramsay | Aston Villa | 1 August 1884 | 31 May 1926 | 41 years, 303 days |
| 4 | Jack Addenbrooke | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 1 August 1885 | 1 June 1922 | 36 years, 304 days |
| 5 | John Hunter | Motherwell | 30 April 1911 | 1 May 1946 | 35 years, 1 day |
| 6 | Frank Watt | Newcastle United | 1 August 1895 | 1 January 1930 | 34 years, 153 days |
| 7 | Bill Struth | Rangers | 20 May 1920 | 15 June 1954 | 34 years, 26 days |
| 8 | John Nicholson | Sheffield United | 1 May 1899 | 1 April 1932 | 32 years, 336 days |
| 9 | Sam Allen | Swindon Town | 1 July 1902 | 1 April 1933 | 30 years, 274 days |
| 10 | Syd King | West Ham United | 1 April 1902 | 1 November 1932 | 30 years, 214 days |
| 11 | Arthur Dickinson | Sheffield Wednesday | 1 August 1891 | 31 May 1920 | 28 years, 304 days |
| 12 | Bob Jack | Plymouth Argyle | 1 August 1910 | 1 April 1938 | 27 years, 243 days |
| 13 | David Calderhead | Chelsea | 1 August 1907 | 1 June 1933 | 25 years, 304 days |
| 14 | Bob Cochrane | Greenock Morton | 15 August 1908 | 21 April 1934 | 25 years, 249 days |
| 15 | George Easton | Partick Thistle | 15 August 1903 | 1 April 1929 | 25 years, 229 days |
| 16 | Johnny Madden | Slavia Prague | 15 February 1905 | 1 June 1930 | 25 years, 106 days |
| 17 | Charles Foweraker | Bolton Wanderers | 1 July 1919 | 1 August 1944 | 25 years, 31 days |
| 18 | Bob Masters | Nottingham Forest | 1 August 1912 | 31 May 1935 | 22 years, 303 days |
| 19 | Bob Kyle | Sunderland | 1 August 1905 | 5 May 1928 | 22 years, 278 days |
| 20 | Harry Curtis | Brentford | 1 May 1926 | 1 February 1949 | 22 years, 276 days |
| 21 | Alfred Jones | Birmingham City | 1 August 1892 | 31 May 1908 | 22 years, 276 days |
| 22 | Fred Stewart | Cardiff City | 1 May 1911 | 1 May 1933 | 22 years, 0 days |
| 23 | Willie Nicol | Falkirk | 16 August 1902 | 9 February 1924 | 21 years, 177 days |
| 24 | William Wilton | Rangers | 19 August 1899 | 2 May 1920 | 20 years, 257 days |
| 25 | Willie McAndrew | Hamilton Academical | 3 October 1925 | 26 January 1946 | 20 years, 115 days |
| 26 | Jimmy Philip | Aberdeen | 20 August 1904 | 19 April 1924 | 19 years, 243 days |
| 27 | Bob McGlashan | Arbroath | 1 June 1927 | 1 June 1946 | 19 years, 0 days |
| 28 | Tom Watson | Liverpool | 26 July 1896 | 16 May 1915 | 18 years, 294 days |
| 29 | Edmund Goodman | Crystal Palace | 1 April 1907 | 1 November 1925 | 18 years, 214 days |
| 30 | Hugh Spence | Kilmarnock | 15 August 1919 | 11 December 1937 | 18 years, 118 days |
| 31 | Charlie Paynter | West Ham United | 1 November 1932 | 1 August 1950 | 17 years, 273 days |
| 32 | Donald Turner | Partick Thistle | 10 August 1929 | 3 May 1947 | 17 years, 266 days |
| 33 | Cosme Damião | Benfica | 17 October 1908 | 28 March 1926 | 17 years, 162 days |
| 34 | Sandy Paterson | Cowdenbeath | 22 December 1906 | 24 April 1924 | 17 years, 124 days |
| 35 | Will Cuff | Everton | 1 August 1901 | 31 May 1918 | 16 years, 303 days |
| 36 | Frank Buckley | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 1 July 1927 | 31 March 1944 | 16 years, 274 days |
| 37 | Jimmy Methven | Derby County | 1 August 1906 | 30 June 1922 | 15 years, 333 days |
| 38 | Thomas H. McIntosh | Everton | 1 August 1919 | 31 May 1935 | 15 years, 303 days |
| 39 | Harry Kent | Watford | 1 August 1910 | 31 May 1926 | 15 years, 303 days |
| 40 | George Jobey | Derby County | 1 August 1925 | 1 May 1941 | 15 years, 273 days |
| 41 | Peter O'Rourke | Bradford City | 1 November 1905 | 30 June 1921 | 15 years, 241 days |
| 42 | Willie McCartney | Heart of Midlothian | 22 November 1919 | 27 April 1935 | 15 years, 156 days |
| 43 | Elisha Scott | Belfast Celtic | 1 May 1934 | 30 May 1949 | 15 years, 29 days |
| 44 | Tully Craig | Falkirk | 27 April 1935 | 1 May 1950 | 15 years, 4 days |
| 45 | Dionys Schönecker | Rapid Wien | 1 September 1910 | 30 June 1925 | 14 years, 302 days |
| 46 | Wilf Wild | Manchester City | 1 March 1932 | 1 November 1946 | 14 years, 245 days |
| 47 | John Haworth | Burnley | 31 July 1910 | 4 December 1924 | 14 years, 183 days |
| 48 | Dan McMichael | Hibernian | 20 August 1904 | 1 February 1919 | 14 years, 165 days |
| 49 | Peter McWilliam | Tottenham Hotspur | 1 January 1913 | 1 February 1927 | 14 years, 31 days |
| 50 | Robert Brown | Sheffield Wednesday | 1 June 1920 | 1 December 1933 | 13 years, 183 days |
| 51 | Paddy Travers | Aberdeen | 1 August 1924 | 20 November 1937 | 13 years, 111 days |

#### Post-1946

* Guy Roux managed Auxerre for over 43 years in total
* Alex Ferguson managed Manchester United for 26 years, the longest reign in post-war English football top-tier level
* Arsène Wenger was manager of Arsenal for 22 seasons
* Francky Dury managed Zultse VV and their successor Zulte Waregem for a combined 28 years across three spells
Longest managerial reigns (post-1946) :
| Rank | Manager | Club | From | To | Length |
| 1 | Guy Roux | Auxerre | 1 July 1964 | 30 June 2000 | 35 years, 365 days |
| 2 | Ronnie McFall | Portadown | 1 December 1986 | 5 March 2016 | 29 years, 95 days |
| 3 | Alex Ferguson | Manchester United | 6 November 1986 | 19 May 2013 | 26 years, 194 days |
| 4 | Michel Le Millinaire | Laval | 1 July 1968 | 27 October 1992 | 24 years, 118 days |
| 5 | Dario Gradi | Crewe Alexandra | 9 June 1983 | 1 July 2007 | 24 years, 22 days |
| 6 | Mickey Evans | Caersws | 1 August 1983 | 1 June 2007 | 23 years, 304 days |
| 7 | Matt Busby | Manchester United | 1 October 1945 | 4 June 1969 | 23 years, 246 days |
| 8 | Jimmy Seed | Charlton Athletic | 16 May 1933 | 1 October 1956 | 23 years, 138 days |
| 9 | Joe Smith | Blackpool | 19 August 1935 | 30 April 1958 | 22 years, 254 days |
| 10 | Arsène Wenger | Arsenal | 1 October 1996 | 13 May 2018 | 21 years, 224 days |
| 11 | Jim McLean | Dundee United | 6 December 1971 | 15 May 1993 | 21 years, 160 days |
| 12 | Bruno Luzi | Chambly | 1 July 2001 | 2 April 2022 | 20 years, 275 days |
| 13 | Teddy Davison | Sheffield United | 1 June 1932 | 1 August 1952 | 20 years, 61 days |
| 14 | Jimmy McGrory | Celtic | 11 August 1945 | 6 March 1965 | 19 years, 207 days |
| 15 | Stephen Baxter | Crusaders | 23 February 2005 | 17 July 2024 | 19 years, 145 days |
| 16 | Paddy Travers | Clyde | 27 November 1937 | 28 April 1956 | 18 years, 153 days |
| 17 | Brian Clough | Nottingham Forest | 3 January 1975 | 8 May 1993 | 18 years, 125 days |
| 18 | Ted Bates | Southampton | 1 September 1955 | 18 November 1973 | 18 years, 78 days |
| 19 | Bill Murray | Sunderland | 1 April 1939 | 1 June 1957 | 18 years, 61 days |
| 20 | Frank Schmidt | Heidenheim | 17 September 2007 | Present | 17 years, 166 days |
| 21 | Eddie Hunter | Queen's Park | 30 April 1979 | 10 December 1994 | 17 years, 124 days |
| 22 | Dave Halliday | Aberdeen | 25 December 1937 | 23 April 1955 | 17 years, 119 days |
| 23 | David Jeffrey | Linfield | 4 January 1997 | 30 April 2014 | 17 years, 116 days |
| 24 | Bert Henderson | Arbroath | 6 October 1962 | 19 January 1980 | 17 years, 105 days |
| 25 | Michael Anhaeuser | Charleston Battery | 1 September 2004 | 1 November 2021 | 17 years, 61 days |
| 26 | Vegard Hansen | Mjøndalen | 10 October 2005 | 18 August 2022 | 16 years, 312 days |
| 27 | Bill Ridding | Bolton Wanderers | 1 October 1951 | 1 August 1968 | 16 years, 305 days |
| 28 | Tony Waddington | Stoke City | 1 June 1960 | 22 March 1977 | 16 years, 294 days |
| 29 | Eric Taylor | Sheffield Wednesday | 1 April 1942 | 31 July 1958 | 16 years, 121 days |
| 30 | Stan Cullis | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 1 June 1948 | 1 August 1964 | 16 years, 61 days |
| 31 | Gurban Gurbanov | Qarabağ | 4 August 2008 | Present | 16 years, 210 days |
| 32 | Iurii Hodîchin | Dinamo Bender | 1 January 1999 | 1 January 2015 | 16 years, 0 days |
| 33 | José Arribas | Nantes | 14 July 1960 | 30 June 1976 | 15 years, 352 days |
| 34 | Francky Dury | Zultse VV / Zulte Waregem | 1 July 1994 | 9 June 2010 | 15 years, 343 days |
| 35 | Volker Finke | Freiburg | 1 July 1991 | 27 May 2007 | 15 years, 330 days |
| 36 | Bill Nicholson | Tottenham Hotspur | 11 October 1958 | 29 August 1974 | 15 years, 322 days |
| 37 | Simon Weaver | Harrogate Town | 20 May 2009 | Present | 15 years, 286 days |
| 38 | Bert Herdman | Raith Rovers | 23 February 1946 | 14 October 1961 | 15 years, 233 days |
| 39 | Tommy Walker | Heart of Midlothian | 17 February 1951 | 24 September 1966 | 15 years, 219 days |
| 40 | Peter Vermes | Sporting Kansas City | 4 August 2009 | Present | 15 years, 210 days |
| 41 | Jimmy Davies | Greenock Morton | 28 October 1939 | 29 January 1955 | 15 years, 93 days |
| 42 | John Rudge | Port Vale | 5 December 1983 | 18 January 1999 | 15 years, 44 days |
| 43 | Pablo Vicó | Club Atlético Brown | 21 March 2009 | 3 May 2024 | 15 years, 43 days |
| 44 | Jimmy McKinnell Jr. | Queen of the South | 20 April 1946 | 29 April 1961 | 15 years, 9 days |
| 45 | Eugène Gerards | OFI | 1 July 1985 | 30 June 2000 | 14 years, 365 days |
| 46 | George Kay | Liverpool | 1 May 1936 | 28 February 1951 | 14 years, 303 days |
| 47 | John Lyall | West Ham United | 16 August 1974 | 5 June 1989 | 14 years, 293 days |
| 48 | Bill Shankly | Liverpool | 14 December 1959 | 12 July 1974 | 14 years, 210 days |
| 49 | Otto Rehhagel | Werder Bremen | 2 April 1981 | 30 June 1995 | 14 years, 89 days |
| 50 | Thomas Schaaf | Werder Bremen | 10 May 1999 | 18 May 2013 | 14 years, 8 days |
| 55 | Hugh Shaw | Hibernian | 31 January 1948 | 4 November 1961 | 13 years, 277 days |
| 56 | Miguel Muñoz | Real Madrid | 17 April 1960 | 15 January 1974 | 13 years, 273 days |
| 57 | Diego Simeone | Atlético Madrid | 23 November 2011 | Present | 13 years, 77 days |

### National teams

Longest managerial reigns in international football :
| Rank | Manager | National team | From | To | Length |
| — | Ignacio Quereda | Spain women | 1 January 1988 | 30 July 2015 | 27 years, 210 days |
| 1 | Guillermo Stábile | Argentina | 13 August 1939 | 15 June 1958 | 18 years, 306 days |
| 2 | Vittorio Pozzo | Italy | 1 December 1929 | 5 August 1948 | 18 years, 248 days |
| 3 | Mohammad Anwar Elahee | Mauritius | 1 January 1970 | 1 January 1988 | 18 years, 0 days |
| 4 | Hugo Meisl | Austria | 5 October 1919 | 17 February 1937 | 17 years, 135 days |
| 5 | Walter Winterbottom | England | 28 September 1946 | 21 November 1962 | 16 years, 54 days |
| 6 | Paul Philipp | Luxembourg | 25 September 1985 | 10 June 2001 | 15 years, 258 days |
| 7 | Óscar Tabárez | Uruguay | 7 March 2006 | 19 November 2021 | 15 years, 257 days |
| 8 | John Pettersson | Sweden | 26 March 1921 | 27 September 1936 | 15 years, 185 days |
| 9 | Gaston Barreau | France | 7 December 1930 | 19 May 1946 | 15 years, 163 days |
| 10 | Morten Olsen | Denmark | 1 July 2000 | 17 November 2015 | 15 years, 139 days |
| 11 | Bob Glendenning | Netherlands | 15 March 1925 | 21 April 1940 | 15 years, 37 days |
| 12 | Giampaolo Mazza | San Marino | 10 October 1998 | 15 October 2013 | 15 years, 5 days |
| 13 | Joachim Löw | Germany | 12 July 2006 | 29 June 2021 | 14 years, 352 days |
| 14 | Koldo Álvarez | Andorra | 2 February 2010 | Present | 15 years, 28 days |
| 15 | Luc Holtz | Luxembourg | 4 August 2010 | Present | 14 years, 210 days |
| 16 | Billy Bingham | Northern Ireland | 26 March 1980 | 17 November 1993 | 13 years, 236 days |
| 17 | Helmut Schön | West Germany | 4 November 1964 | 21 June 1978 | 13 years, 229 days |
| 18 | Sepp Herberger | West Germany | 22 November 1950 | 7 June 1964 | 13 years, 198 days |
| 19 | Guy Thys | Belgium | 22 May 1976 | 8 June 1989 | 13 years, 17 days |
| 20 | Didier Deschamps | France | 8 July 2012 | Present | 12 years, 237 days |
| 21 | Olavi Laaksonen | Finland | 19 June 1962 | 9 October 1974 | 12 years, 112 days |
| 22 | Alf Ramsey | England | 27 February 1963 | 3 April 1974 | 11 years, 35 days |
| 23 | Georg Buschner | East Germany | 1 May 1970 | 31 May 1981 | 11 years, 30 days |
| 24 | José María Mateos | Spain | 1 January 1922 | 1 January 1933 | 11 years, 0 days |
| 25 | David Rodrigo | Andorra | 1 May 1999 | 1 February 2010 | 10 years, 276 days |
| 26 | Sepp Piontek | Denmark | 1 July 1979 | 1 April 1990 | 10 years, 274 days |
| 27 | Enzo Bearzot | Italy | 27 September 1975 | 17 June 1986 | 10 years, 263 days |
| 28 | Peter Doherty | Northern Ireland | 6 October 1951 | 9 May 1962 | 10 years, 215 days |
| 29 | Gaston Barreau | France | 18 January 1920 | 25 May 1930 | 10 years, 127 days |