Longest-Serving Arsenal Managers

Longest-Serving Arsenal Managers Of All-Time

Longest-serving Arsenal managers of all-time? Which Arsenal managers have lasted the longest? Arsenal football managers? Terry Neill? George Graham? Harry Bradshaw? Who are the longest-lasting Arsenal managers? 

Here, we look at the longest-serving Arsenal managers of all-time. We will look throughout history of Arsenal past managers to find out who served the club for the longest period of time.

When you think of long-term Arsenal managers, of course to all fans, Arsene Wenger pops up but who is the second longest-serving Arsenal manager of all time? I bet you’ll get a kick out of finding out who.

Arsenal fans recently bid farewell to Arsene Wenger after the Frenchman’s long run of 22 years as the club manager. He is the second longest-serving manager in England right after Manchester United’s Alex Ferguson, who managed the Red Devils for 27 years.

Longest-Serving Arsenal Managers

Longest-Serving Arsenal Managers Of All-Time

Name Nationality From To Matches
Arsène Wenger  France 01-Oct-96 13-May-18 1,235
Bertie Mee  England 20-Jun-66 04-May-76 539
George Graham  Scotland 14-May-86 21-Feb-95 460
Tom Whittaker  England 02-Jun-47 24-Oct-56 430
Terry Neill  Northern Ireland 09-Jul-76 16-Dec-83 416
Herbert Chapman  England 11-Jun-25 06-Jan-34 411
George Morrell  Scotland 10-Feb-08 13-Apr-15 309
Leslie Knighton  England 25-May-19 16-May-25 286
George Allison  England 28-May-34 31-May-47 279
Harry Bradshaw  England 30 June 1899 30-Apr-04 235
George Swindin  England 21-Jun-58 01-May-62 186
Billy Wright  England 01-May-62 13-Jun-66 182
Phil Kelso  Scotland 01-May-04 09-Feb-08 152
Don Howe  England 16-Dec-83 22-Mar-86 117
Jack Crayston  England 24-Oct-56 19-May-58 81
Bruce Rioch  Scotland 15-Jun-95 12-Aug-96 47
Thomas Mitchell  Scotland 30 March 1897 10 March 1898 45
William Elcoat  England 11 April 1898 16 February 1899 44
Unai Emery  Spain 23-May-18 Present 37
Joe Shaw  England 06-Jan-34 28-May-34 23
Stewart Houston  Scotland 21-Feb-95 15-Jun-95 19
Arthur Kennedy  England 21 February 1899 29 April 1899 15
Steve Burtenshaw  England 23-Mar-86 14-May-86 11
Unknown 11 March 1898 April 1898 9
Stewart Houston  Scotland 12-Aug-96 13-Sep-96 6
Pat Rice  Northern Ireland 13-Sep-96 30-Sep-96 4
James McEwen  England 19-Apr-15 24-May-19 2

Some Of The Longest-Serving Arsenal Managers

Herbert Chapman

Herbert Chapman was one of the most influential figures in Arsenal’s history. He laid down the very stones upon which this club stands on today, bringing their very first taste of success in the highest level of English football.

But what exactly makes him one of the Arsenal most attacking managers?

When Chapman first arrived at the club in 1925, he laid down a 5-year success plan by implementing a ruthless counter-attacking style of play, inspired by pace from his wide players and strikers. In a timely fashion, Arsenal won the FA Cup in 1930 and Chapman started the first form of football revolution at White Hart Lane.

He extraordinary signings in Charlie Buchan, Alex James and Cliff Bastin to elevate the team to such a high level. He went on to raise the team from the depths of relegation battles to two First Division titles.

His philosophy of playing attacking football is followed by the club to this day. Sure, it will get tweaked by every new manager but the basic idea remains the same. Some of his other innovations which has stood the test of time is changing the Gunner’s jersey to the red body and white sleeve.

George Graham

Arsenal Managers With Best Win Percentage

George Graham played for Arsenal under another one of their legendary managers, Bertie Mee era and won plenty of silverware during his career. He returned to the club as a manager in 1986 and continued to bring glory to the North London outfit.

Graham became the second most successful Arsenal manager when he won two First Division titles, one FA Cup, two League Cups and one UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup during his time in charge. Club legends like Ian Wright and David Seaman played under him.

Arsene Wenger

If there is one manager who has been the most successful in the history of Arsenal, it would be Arsene Wenger but we are looking at the list through win percentage only.

There might not be a need to introduce this man to most people since everyone has come to associate the man with this club. Wenger is notably the longest-serving manager in Gunners history with a track record of 57.25% winning run.

He won the Premier League title three times with Arsenal and the FA Cup a record seven times. More than just winning a fair share of trophies in the English top-flight, he had a major influence on the game of professional football.

Wenger is also Arsenal’s most decorated manager. During his 21-year tenure, Arsenal won 17 trophies, more than the previous two Arsenal managers combined.

He implemented a lot of changes to scouting, players’ training and diet regimens. Wenger got the nickname “Le Professeur” from fans and the British media due to his studious demeanour.

Arsenal Managers Who Won The Most Trophies For The Club

Name From  To M W D L Honours Won
Herbert Chapman 11-Jun-25 06-Jan-34 411 204 97 110 First Division champions: 1930–31, 1932–33
FA Cup winners: 1929–30
Charity Shield winners: 1930, 1931, 1933
Joe Shaw  06-Jan-34 28-May-34 23 14 3 6 First Division champions: 1933–34
George Allison 28-May-34 31-May-47 279 129 74 76 First Division champions: 1934–35, 1937–38
FA Cup winners: 1935–36
Charity Shield winners: 1934, 1938
Tom Whittaker 02-Jun-47 24-Oct-56 430 203 106 121 First Division champions: 1947–48, 1952–53
FA Cup winners: 1949–50
Charity Shield winners: 1948, 1953
Bertie Mee  20-Jun-66 04-May-76 539 241 148 150 First Division champions: 1970–71
FA Cup winners: 1970–71
Inter-Cities Fairs Cup winners: 1969–70
Terry Neill 09-Jul-76 16-Dec-83 416 187 117 112 FA Cup winners: 1978–79
George Graham 14-May-86 21-Feb-95 460 225 133 102 First Division champions: 1988–89, 1990–91
FA Cup winners: 1992–93
Football League Cup winners: 1986–87, 1992–93
Charity Shield winners: 1991 (shared)
UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup winners: 1993–94
Arsène Wenger 01-Oct-96 13-May-18 1,235 707 280 248 Premier League champions: 1997–98, 2001–02, 2003–04
FA Cup winners: 1997–98, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2004–05, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2016–17
Charity/Community Shield winners: 1998, 1999, 2002, 2004, 2014, 2015, 2017

Arsenal Current Manager – Unai Emery

Arsenal are currently being led by Unai Emery, who succeeded into Wenger’s spot in 2018. He led the Gunners to a fifth-place finish in his debut campaign and also lost out on the Europa League after reaching the finals.

The Spaniard has big shoes to fill but he is slowly making progress. If he received the full support of the club ownership the club supporters can really hope to see changes.

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