The men in charge
This section will guide you through every permanent manager to have led the club since our very first in the traditional sense back in 1898.
1898 - 1939
Frank Brettell joined in March 1898 shortly after the club had become a PLC. His stay was short and he left 12 months later.
John Cameron assumed control in 1899 and led us as player-secretary for 8 years until 1907.
Former referee Fred Kirkham managed the club for 12 months between 1907 and 1908 and as the club embarked on League football it was director led for the first 4 years (1908-1912)
Peter McWilliam became manager in 1912 enjoying a 15 year stint in charge which is second only to Bill Nicholson throughout our history.
After McWilliam left for Middlesbrough he was succeeded by Billy Minter in 1927 who managed us until November 1929.
In January 1930 it was the turn of Percy Smith to take over which he did gallantly for 5 years.
Jack Tresadern held the reigns for 3 years between 1935 and 1938.
Peter McWilliam returned in 1938 and managed us until 1942. As football resumed he deemed himself 'too old' and stepped down.
1946-1992
Peter McWilliam guided us through the war years just as he had done 25 years earlier during WWI.
As football resumed in 1946 it was Joe Hulme who took over as manager until the end of the 1948/49 season.
1949 saw a homecoming. Tottenham-born former player Arthur Rowe left Chelmsford City to become the clubs new manager and guided us to promotion in his first season and our first top flight title in 1951!
After several well publicised health issues it was another long standing servant, Jimmy Anderson, who took over from Arthur in 1955.
On the morning of 11th October 1958 Anderson was told he would no longer be manager and that former half-back Bill Nicholson would become our new manager. And the rest, as they say, is history!
After 16 years Bill stepped aside and it was young Terry Neill who took over for 2 seasons.
Assuming control in 1976 was Yorkshireman Keith Burkinshaw and although his first season ended in relegation his tenure is looked back on as second only to Bill Nicholson.
Peter Shreeve was named as Burkinshaws successor in the summer of 1984 and he stayed for a little over 2 seasons.
David Pleat left Luton Town in 1986 to manage us but would stay for just over 12 months.
In the late autumn of 1987 former player Terry Venables returned to manage the club guiding us to our 8th FA Cup win in 1991.
Terry moved 'upstairs' after that FA Cup victory and Peter Shreeve returned to manage the club in our final season before the inception of the FA Premier League.
1992-present
The Premier League began in 1992 and the much-loved Ray Clemence was in the dugout alongside Doug Livermore for that opening season.
In 1993 another hero returned as Osvaldo Ardiles was appointed manager.
Less than 10 weeks into the 1994/95 season Ossie was relieved of his duties and former QPR manager Gerry Francis was appointed.
After 3 seasons Francis left in November 1997 to be replaced by Swiss manager Christian Gross.
12 months later and Gross was sent packing to be replaced, rather controversially, by former Arsenal manager George Graham.
In a bold move the newly appointed board of ENIC dismissed Graham in March 2001 and replaced him with Glenn Hoddle in a move that was rejoiced by supporters.
Sadly the glory days didn't return under club legend Hoddle and in September 2003 he was dismissed to be replaced by former manager David Pleat until the end of the season.
In the summer of 2004 French national coach Jacques Santini was unveiled as new manager much to the delight of supporters. However, it was apparent very early on that it was not the right appointment, for both sides, and he was replaced by his assistant manager in October.
Martin Jol brought the supporters closer to the club again during his 3 years in charge until he was harshly sacked in October 2007.
Spaniard Juande Ramos took over the reigns from Jol but although he won the 2008 League Cup was dismissed just weeks into the 2008/9 season after an awful start.
In October 2008 Harry Redknapp was drafted in to save the club who were bottom of the Premier League and this started 4 glorious years in charge culminating in our first Champions League campaign in 2010.
Despite finishing 4th thanks to Chelsea winning the Champions League we were forced to play Europa League football as Harry departed to be replaced by Portugese Andre Villas-Boas.
Sacked in December 2013 he was replaced by Tim Sherwood our former midfielder originally in an interim-role but soon to be offered a permanent contract.
It wasn't to last long though as in the summer of 2014 we appointed Southampton manager Mauricio Pochettino as our new boss. His 5 years are fondly remembered by supporters.
Just a day after his sacking on 19th November 2019 Jose Mourinho was appointed his successor.
Sacked less than a week before our League Cup final match against Manchester City our next manager was Nuno Espirito Santo the former Wolves manager in the summer of 2021.
Santo lasted just 4 months and by the end of October 2021 had been replaced by Italian Antonio Conte. Conte was sacked at the end of March 2023
In June of 2023 Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou was appointed manager and his first season ended in a 5th place finish followed by European silverware in the shape of the Europa League in 2024/25.
Dismissed at the end of the season after an embarrassing 17th placed finish he was succeeded by Brentfords Danish boss Thomas Frank but despite a promising start he was dismissed in late January 2026.
In March 2026 the club appointed former Brighton and Marseille manager Roberto De Zerbi on a 5 year contract....