Arsenal managers of all time – full history list!

Arsenal Football Club is an English professional club based in Islington, London. The club was formed in Woolwich in 1886 as Dial Square before it was shortly renamed to Royal Arsenal, and then Woolwich Arsenal in 1893.

They became the first southern member to be admitted into the football league in 1893, having spent their first four seasons solely participating in cup tournaments and friendlies. In 1914, the club proceeded to shift their home base to Highbury and decided to simply call themselves Arsenal.

They finished the 1915 season, fifth in the Second Division but was able to rejoin the First Division at the expense of their rivals, Tottenham Hotspur when football resumed after the First World War. Since that time, they have not fallen below the first tier of the English football system and hold the record for the longest uninterrupted period in the top flight.

Arsenal have employed 20 permanent and 8 caretaker managers since 1897. Stewart Houston managed the club in two separate spells as caretaker, while two Arsenal managers, Herbert Chapman and Tom Whittaker died on the job.

Arsenal managers last 10 years

Arsenal’s managers over the last 10 years (2015-2025):

Note: Arsène Wenger’s tenure ended in May 2018, which falls within the last 10 years from the current date (2025), so he is included for context.

Arsenal managers past and present

Arsenal manager before Wenger? Who was manager before Arsene Wenger? Arsenal Manager 1983? Here is the list of all the managers Arsenal have had over the years. Lets take a look at Arsenal managers past and present:

Name	Nationality	From	To	M	W	D	L	Win %
Thomas Mitchell	Scotland	30-03-1897	10-03-1898	45	23	8	14	51.11
Unknown	–	11-03-1898	10-04-1898	9	6	2	1	66.67
William Elcoat	England	11-04-1898	16-02-1899	44	21	6	17	47.73
Arthur Kennedy	England	21-02-1899	29-04-1899	15	8	3	4	53.33
Harry Bradshaw	England	30-06-1899	30-04-1904	235	118	44	73	50.21
Phil Kelso	Scotland	01-05-1904	09-02-1908	152	63	31	58	41.45
George Morrell	Scotland	10-02-1908	13-04-1915	309	113	74	122	36.57
James McEwen	England	19-04-1915	24-05-1919	2	1	0	1	50
Leslie Knighton	England	25-05-1919	16-05-1925	286	105	63	118	36.71
Herbert Chapman	England	11-06-1925	06-01-1934	411	204	97	110	49.64
Joe Shaw	England	06-01-1934	28-05-1934	23	14	3	6	60.87
George Allison	England	28-05-1934	31-05-1947	279	129	74	76	46.24
Tom Whittaker	England	02-06-1947	24-10-1956	430	203	106	121	47.21
Jack Crayston	England	24-10-1956	19-05-1958	81	34	17	30	41.98
George Swindin	England	21-06-1958	01-05-1962	186	76	43	67	40.86
Billy Wright	England	01-05-1962	13-06-1966	182	70	43	69	38.46
Bertie Mee	England	20-06-1966	04-05-1976	539	241	148	150	44.71
Terry Neill	Northern Ireland	09-07-1976	16-12-1983	416	187	117	112	44.95
Don Howe	England	16-12-1983	22-03-1986	117	54	32	31	46.15
Steve Burtenshaw	England	23-03-1986	14-05-1986	11	3	2	6	27.27
George Graham	Scotland	14-05-1986	21-02-1995	460	225	133	102	48.91
Stewart Houston	Scotland	21-02-1995	15-06-1995	19	7	3	9	36.84
Bruce Rioch	Scotland	15-06-1995	12-08-1996	47	22	15	10	46.81
Stewart Houston	Scotland	12-08-1996	13-09-1996	6	2	2	2	33.33
Pat Rice	Northern Ireland	13-09-1996	30-09-1996	4	3	0	1	75
Arsène Wenger	France	01-10-1996	13-05-2018	1,235	707	280	248	57.25
Unai Emery	Spain	23-05-2018	Present	37	23	6	8	62.16
Freddie Ljungberg	Sweden	29 November 2019	21 December 2019	6	1	3	2	8
Mikel Arteta	Spain	22 December 2019	Present	292	171	55	66	59.23

Arsenal’s Most Successful Manager

The most successful person to manage Arsenal is obviously Arsene Wenger. During his 22-year reign at North London, he won three Premier League titles, seven FA Cup and seven Community Shields between 1996 and 2018.

The Frenchman is the club’s longest-serving manager surpassing George Allison’s record of 13 years in October 2009. Watch & Bet Here =>

Arsenal managers with most honours

Arsenal managers with most honours? Which Arsenal manager has the best honours in history ?

Arsenal manager with most honours
Arsène Wenger	Premier League champions: 1997–98, 2001–02, 2003–04FA Cup winners: 1997–98, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2004–05, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2016–17Charity/Community Shield winners: 1998, 1999, 2002, 2004, 2014, 2015, 2017
George Graham	First Division champions: 1988–89, 1990–91FA Cup winners: 1992–93Football League Cup winners: 1986–87, 1992–93Charity Shield winners: 1991 (shared)UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup winners: 1993–94
Terry Neill	FA Cup winners: 1978–79
Bertie Mee	First Division champions: 1970–71FA Cup winners: 1970–71Inter-Cities Fairs Cup winners: 1969–70
Tom Whittaker	First Division champions: 1947–48, 1952–53FA Cup winners: 1949–50Charity Shield winners: 1948, 1953
George Allison	First Division champions: 1934–35, 1937–38FA Cup winners: 1935–36Charity Shield winners: 1934, 1938
Joe Shaw	First Division champions: 1933–34
Herbert Chapman	First Division champions: 1930–31, 1932–33FA Cup winners: 1929–30Charity Shield winners: 1930, 1931, 1933
Mikel Arteta	FA Cup 2020, Community Shield 2023

Arsenal managers win percentage

Arsenal managers win percentage? Which Arsenal manager has the best win percentage in history?

Pat Rice is the Arsenal manager with the best win percentage in history. Although he was only manager during a short period and was manager during four games.

If we only look at manager with +50 games then Arsene Wenger is the manager with best win percentage in history. His has been manager during 1235 games with a win percenage of 57.25%.

Name	Nationality	From	To	Win %
Thomas Mitchell	Scotland	30-03-1897	10-03-1898	51.11
Unknown	–	11-03-1898	10-04-1898	66.67
William Elcoat	England	11-04-1898	16-02-1899	47.73
Arthur Kennedy	England	21-02-1899	29-04-1899	53.33
Harry Bradshaw	England	30-06-1899	30-04-1904	50.21
Phil Kelso	Scotland	01-05-1904	09-02-1908	41.45
George Morrell	Scotland	10-02-1908	13-04-1915	36.57
James McEwen	England	19-04-1915	24-05-1919	50
Leslie Knighton	England	25-05-1919	16-05-1925	36.71
Herbert Chapman	England	11-06-1925	06-01-1934	49.64
Joe Shaw	England	06-01-1934	28-05-1934	60.87
George Allison	England	28-05-1934	31-05-1947	46.24
Tom Whittaker	England	02-06-1947	24-10-1956	47.21
Jack Crayston	England	24-10-1956	19-05-1958	41.98
George Swindin	England	21-06-1958	01-05-1962	40.86
Billy Wright	England	01-05-1962	13-06-1966	38.46
Bertie Mee	England	20-06-1966	04-05-1976	44.71
Terry Neill	Northern Ireland	09-07-1976	16-12-1983	44.95
Don Howe	England	16-12-1983	22-03-1986	46.15
Steve Burtenshaw	England	23-03-1986	14-05-1986	27.27
George Graham	Scotland	14-05-1986	21-02-1995	48.91
Stewart Houston	Scotland	21-02-1995	15-06-1995	36.84
Bruce Rioch	Scotland	15-06-1995	12-08-1996	46.81
Stewart Houston	Scotland	12-08-1996	13-09-1996	33.33
Pat Rice	Northern Ireland	13-09-1996	30-09-1996	75
Arsène Wenger	France	01-10-1996	13-05-2018	57.25
Unai Emery	Spain	23-05-2018	Present	62.16
Freddie Ljungberg	Sweden	29 November 2019	21 December 2019	8
Mikel Arteta	Spain	22 December 2019	Present	59.23

Arsenal managers with most matches played

Arsenal managers with most matches played? Which Arsenal manager has played most matches in history? Arsene Wenger is the manager with most matches. He has been Arsenal Manager during 1 235 matches during his managerial period 1996-10-01–2018-05-13.

Name	From	To	M	W	D	L	GF	GA	Win %
Arsène Wenger	1 October 1996	13 May 2018	1,235	707	280	248	2,156	1,147	57.25
Bertie Mee	20 June 1966	4 May 1976	539	241	148	150	739	542	44.71
George Graham	14 May 1986	21 February 1995	460	225	133	102	711	403	48.91
Tom Whittaker	2 June 1947	24 October 1956	430	203	106	121	802	568	47.21
Terry Neill	9 July 1976	16 December 1983	416	187	117	112	601	446	44.95
Herbert Chapman	11 June 1925	6 January 1934	411	204	97	110	879	616	49.64
George Morrell	10 February 1908	13 April 1915	309	113	74	122	392	428	36.57
Leslie Knighton	25 May 1919	16 May 1925	286	105	63	118	367	401	36.71
George Allison	28 May 1934	31 May 1947	279	129	74	76	534	327	46.24
Harry Bradshaw	30 June 1899	30 April 1904	235	118	44	73	403	237	50.21
Mikel Arteta	22 December	Present	292	171	55	66	431	228	59.23
George Swindin	21 June 1958	1 May 1962	186	76	43	67	336	330	40.86
Billy Wright	1 May 1962	13 June 1966	182	70	43	69	336	330	38.46
Phil Kelso	1 May 1904	9 February 1908	152	63	31	58	225	229	41.45
Don Howe	16 December 1983	22 March 1986	117	54	32	31	187	142	46.15
Jack Crayston	24 October 1956	19 May 1958	81	34	17	30	148	151	41.98
Unai Emery	23 May 2018	29 November 2019	48	43	16	19	152	100	55.13
Bruce Rioch	15 June 1995	12 August 1996	47	22	15	10	67	37	46.81
Thomas Mitchell	30 March 1897	10 March 1898	45	23	8	14	106	79	51.11
William Elcoat	11 April 1898	16 February 1899	44	21	6	17	86	67	47.73
Unai Emery	23 May 2018	Present	37	23	6	8	74	46	62.16
Joe Shaw	6 January 1934	28 May 1934	23	14	3	6	44	29	60.87
Stewart Houston	21 February 1995	15 June 1995	19	7	3	9	29	25	36.84
Arthur Kennedy	21 February 1899	29 April 1899	15	8	3	4	31	17	53.33
Steve Burtenshaw	23 March 1986	14 May 1986	11	3	2	6	7	15	27.27
Unknown	11 March 1898	April 1898	9	6	2	1	21	8	66.67
Stewart Houston	12 August 1996	13 September 1996	6	2	2	2	11	10	33.33
Pat Rice	13 September 1996	30 September 1996	4	3	0	1	10	4	75.00
Freddie Ljungberg	29 November 2019	21 December 2019	6	1	3	2	8	10	16.67
James McEwen	19 April 1915	24 May 1919	2	1	0	1	7	3	50.00

Arsenal current manager – Mikel Arteta

On 20 December 2019, Arteta was appointed head coach at former club Arsenal, signing a deal until 2023. Later, he extended his contract after guiding his side to second spot in top-flight.

Upon his appointment he stated that he believed the club had lost direction and that he didn’t want players to shirk responsibility:

“I want people to take responsibility for their jobs and I want people who deliver passion and energy in the football club.

Anyone who doesn’t buy into this, or that has a negative effect or whatever, is not good enough for this environment or this culture.”

On 26 December 2019, Arteta walked out of the dugout for the first time as an Arsenal manager for their Premier League match against A.F.C. Bournemouth which ended in a 1–1 draw, thanks to a second half equaliser from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Although a 1–1 draw was not the start the Spaniard would have dreamed of, he later said that he was pleased with attitude, passion and the fighting spirit of his players.

On 2 January 2020, Arteta won his first match as an Arsenal manager after a 2–0 win over Manchester United at the Emirates. Watch & Bet Here =>

Who was Arsenal manager before Mikel Arteta?

The Arsenal manager before Mikel Arteta was Unai Emery.

Tenure: May 2018 – November 2019

Achievements:

Led Arsenal to the 2018–19 UEFA Europa League final (lost to Chelsea).

Finished 5th in the Premier League in his only full season.

Why was he sacked?

Poor results and a 7-game winless streak led to his dismissal.

Interim Manager: After Emery, Freddie Ljungberg briefly took charge before Arteta was appointed in December 2019.

Here are the most frequently asked questions about Arsenal Managers List

How many managers has Arsenal had?

Arsenal has had 24 permanent managers in its history, including Mikel Arteta.

Who is the most successful Arsenal manager?

Arsène Wenger is the most successful Arsenal manager. He managed the club from 1996 to 2018 and won:

• 3 Premier League titles (1997–98, 2001–02, 2003–04)
• 7 FA Cups (a record for a manager)
• 7 Community Shields
• Led Arsenal to an unbeaten Premier League season (2003–04), known as “The Invincibles.”

How many trophies has Mikel Arteta won as a manager?

As of now, Mikel Arteta has won 3 major trophies with Arsenal:

• FA Cup (2019–20)
• Community Shield (2020, 2023)

What trophies has Arsenal won?

Arsenal has won 49 major trophies:

• Premier League (First Division): 13 times
• FA Cup: 14 times (most in England)
• EFL Cup (League Cup): 2 times
• Community Shield: 17 times
• European Cup Winners’ Cup: 1 time
• Inter-Cities Fairs Cup: 1 time

More on Arsenal Managers List

Read more about Arsenal managers list at Arsenal. Watch & Bet on Football =>