Five Most Underrated Premier League Managers Of All Time
When we think of Premier League legends, our minds drift to the usual suspects: Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsène Wenger, José Mourinho and Pep Guardiola. However, the Premier League’s rich history is filled with tacticians who, despite significant contributions and remarkable achievements, remain overlooked in discussions about the league’s finest managers.
From transforming strugglers into European contenders to nurturing world-class talent, these management heroes deserve far more recognition
Lottomart, the slots game provider, have picked out 5 of the most underrated prem managers in no particular order.
Bruce Rioch (Arsenal, 1995-1996)
Bruce Rioch’s Arsenal tenure lasted just one season, yet his impact on the club’s trajectory cannot be overstated. The Scotsman inherited a team in transition and immediately modernised Arsenal’s approach.
Rioch transformed Arsenal from a defensively solid but creatively limited side into an attacking force. He revolutionised training methods, introducing scientific approaches to fitness and nutrition that were ahead of their time. His tactical acumen was evident in deploying players like Tony Adams in more advanced roles whilst maintaining defensive solidity.
Most significantly, Rioch signed Dennis Bergkamp from Inter Milan, a transfer pivotal to Arsenal’s future success. The Dutchman’s arrival marked Arsenal’s evolution into the free-flowing, technical side that later flourished under Arsène Wenger.
Rioch’s underrated status stems from his groundwork rarely being acknowledged. The systems he implemented and players he brought formed the foundation for Wenger’s early success. His dismissal after one season remains one of football’s great what-ifs.
Alan Ball (Southampton, Manchester City)
Alan Ball’s managerial career often gets overshadowed by his legendary playing days, but his achievements in the dugout showcase genuine tactical brilliance and man-management skills.
At Southampton, Ball transformed the Saints from strugglers into a well-organised, competitive Premier League side. His World Cup-winning understanding of the game translated beautifully into management. Ball had an exceptional eye for talent and wasn’t afraid to give young players opportunities, developing several who went on to successful careers.
His Manchester City stint, whilst less successful, demonstrated his ability to organise teams and maximise limited resources. Ball’s tactical flexibility and willingness to adapt his approach based on squad strengths made him more sophisticated than many realise.
Ball remains underrated because his managerial achievements are overshadowed by his playing legacy. His tactical innovations and player development skills deserve recognition in their own right, not as footnotes to his playing career.
Brendan Rodgers (Swansea, Liverpool)
Brendan Rodgers might seem an odd choice for an underrated list, but his contributions to both Swansea and Liverpool are consistently undervalued.
At Swansea, Rodgers was revolutionary. He transformed a Championship side into a Premier League team playing some of the most attractive football the league had seen. His possession-based, pressing style was years ahead of its time and directly influenced modern football approaches.
His Liverpool tenure, whilst trophyless, included one of the most exciting title challenges in Premier League history. The 2013-14 season saw Liverpool score 101 goals playing breathtaking attacking football, with Rodgers extracting career-best performances from Luis Suárez, Daniel Sturridge and Jordan Henderson.
Rodgers’ tactical innovations, particularly his use of wing-backs and high-pressing systems, were pioneering in English football. His ability to develop young talent and implement complex tactics with limited resources demonstrates exceptional managerial ability.
Rodgers remains underrated due to focus on what he didn’t achieve rather than what he did. His influence on modern tactics and role in developing numerous future stars is consistently overlooked.
Mike Walker (Norwich, Everton)
Mike Walker’s story is one of remarkable achievement followed by unfortunate circumstances that unfairly tainted his managerial reputation.
At Norwich City, Walker achieved something truly special. He guided the Canaries to third place in the inaugural Premier League season, securing European qualification whilst playing effective and entertaining football. This achievement, with a squad built from lower-league signings and academy products, remains one of the Premier League’s greatest overachievements.
Walker’s Norwich employed a tactically sophisticated, high-tempo pressing game that unsettled many supposedly superior teams. His ability to maximise limited resources whilst maintaining attractive football demonstrated exceptional managerial skills.
His subsequent seven-month failure at Everton has unfairly defined his career in many minds. However, this overlooks the extraordinary achievement of guiding Norwich to third place and European qualification with essentially a Championship-level squad.
Walker’s underrated status stems from this single failure overshadowing remarkable success. His tactical innovations and ability to punch above his weight deserve far more recognition in Premier League history.
Kevin Keegan (Newcastle, Manchester City)
Kevin Keegan’s managerial career is often reduced to soundbites and near-misses, but this grossly undervalues his tactical brilliance and motivational abilities.
At Newcastle, Keegan transformed a newly promoted side into genuine title contenders within just a few seasons. His attacking philosophy made Newcastle one of the most exciting teams in Premier League history. His development of players like Andy Cole, Peter Beardsley and later Alan Shearer demonstrated exceptional man-management skills.
Keegan’s tactical approach was far more sophisticated than the “just attack” narrative suggests. His teams were well-organised when necessary, and his use of overlapping full-backs and fluid front lines influenced how many teams approached the game.
At Manchester City, despite not achieving promotion, Keegan laid important groundwork for future development, implementing training methods and tactical approaches that benefited subsequent managers.
Keegan remains underrated because his tactical innovations are overshadowed by emotional touchline behaviour and narratives of tactical naivety. His influence on attacking football and ability to inspire players to exceed their limitations deserve greater recognition.
