The leaders of Arsenal, Atletico Madrid and PSG feature in the longest-serving active managerial reigns in Europe’s top five leagues.
These are shorter than ever before, and the idea of a long-term project is very much an old-fashioned notion.
With that in mind, we’ve decided to chart the top 10 longest-serving managers in Europe’s top five leagues at the time of writing.
10. Manolo Gonzalez – March 2024
Gonzalez was appointed at Espanyol in March 2024, with the club in the Segunda Division and looking to bounce back.
He won the promotion play-off against Real Oviedo, narrowly kept them up the following year and finished 11th in 2025-26.
9. Luis Enrique – July 2023
Three Ligue 1 titles and back-to-back Champions League triumphs… Enrique’s not done too bad at PSG, has he?
8. Daniel Farke – July 2023
Farke took over at Leeds after their relegation from the Premier League in 2023, and has won over most of the Elland Road faithful.
He got Leeds out of the Championship at the second attempt, losing the play-off final before going up as champions in 2025.
Many expected Farke’s side to go straight back down, but a laser-like focus on physicality in the summer window and an inspired change in formation at the end of November saw Leeds stay up with ease.
For now, Farke walks on water.
7. Jose Bordalas – April 2023
Getafe are La Liga’s resident stone in the shoe, never easy or pleasant to play against.
But the side from an unlovely satellite city of Madrid punches above its weight and Bordalas is a large part of the reason why.
He returned to the club in April 2023, keeping the side up with seven games remaining, before stabilising Getafe in mid-table once more.
They’ll play Conference League football this season after finishing seventh in 2025-26, another impressive achievement.
6. Sebastian Hoeness – April 2023
Linked with a host of Premier League jobs after his exploits at Stuttgart, Hoeness has been a success in his time in charge.
Fired by the goals of Deniz Undav, Stuttgart reached the Champions League in 2024 for the first time in 14 years.
Hoeness also won the German Cup 12 months later in the club’s first major honour since winning the Bundesliga in 2007.
They’re back in the Champions League this season after finishing 4th in the league last season.
5. Jose Alberto Lopez – December 2022
Racing Santander are staples of the La Liga that exists solely in our imagination, but they were only promoted back to Spain’s top flight in May.
That was down to Lopez’s management; he took over in December 2022 and eventually ended 14 years of exile.
The Estadio El Sardinero will be hosting Barcelona, Real Madrid and the rest this season and traditionalists everywhere are nodding their heads in silent approval.
4. Unai Emery – November 2022
There’s every chance Emery rises to the top of this list in the coming years; Aston Villa are built around their manager and the Spaniard is central to their entire project.
Since taking over from Steven Gerrard in 2022, Emery has established Villa in the upper echelons of the Premier League and recently broke their 30-year trophy drought by winning the Europa League.
He also got them to the Champions League quarter-finals in 2025 and is back in the competition this year. It’s hard to imagine Villa without him.
3. Manuel Pellegrini – July 2020
The former Manchester City coach is into his 70s now, but is going strong with Real Betis and has been for the past six years.
Given that he is currently getting a tune out of Manchester United flop Antony, it is clear he can still work his managerial magic.
Recent seasons have seen them compete in Europe and win the Copa del Rey. And he’s also led them to the Champions League for the first time in two decades.
2. Mikel Arteta – December 2019
The Spaniard has been in charge at Arsenal for almost seven years and enjoyed a flying start, winning both the FA Cup and Community Shield in his first year at the helm.
Some barren years in terms of trophies followed, but you could sense Arteta was building towards something and Arsenal got their hands on the Premier League trophy in 2026, ending questions of whether their boss could get them over the line.
Champions League success has to be the next step after losing last season’s final to PSG.
1. Diego Simeone – December 2011
Despite being over a decade into his tenure, Simeone has just about as much energy as he did when he began, and he remains one of the best in the world.
The Atletico Madrid fans adore their leader and he often orchestrates the brilliant atmosphere by celebrating every tackle and contesting every foul from the sidelines.
Always a difficult side to beat, Simeone has coached his side to be horrible to play against and to fight until the last minute.
And they could well have had two Champions League titles to their name if those two finals in 2014 and 2016 had gone slightly differently.
Ranking the most successful managers in football history by trophies won
Can you name every manager to win a title in Europe’s major leagues since 2000?