Thomas Frank’s departure from Brentford to take over at Tottenham means only five current Premier League managers have been in charge longer than two years.
Frank had been the top flight’s second longest-serving manager, having been appointed nearly seven years ago in October 2018. Here, the PA news agency looks at the new-look top five.
Pep Guardiola, Manchester City
PEP 💬 From day one, I felt incredible love and respect with all my assistants and coaches here. If I did not feel that I wouldn’t be here. pic.twitter.com/IpJoanvxp5
— Manchester City (@ManCity) November 22, 2024
Appointed: July 1, 2016
Guardiola’s famed intensity has previously led to earlier than expected departures from Barcelona and Bayern Munich, with a sabbatical year in between, but at City he has put down roots – signing a contract extension last season to take his reign beyond a decade.
He has won six league titles and the 2022-23 Champions League among his 14 major trophies with the club but will go into the new campaign seeking a response to a season of dramatic under-performance.
Mikel Arteta, Arsenal
Appointed: December 22, 2019
Premier League runners-up three years in a row, Arsenal’s manager now also assumes second spot in these rankings from Frank.
The Spaniard will reach six years at the helm just before Christmas but despite consistent strong performances, has only the 2019-20 FA Cup to show for his time in charge and will be desperate to finally add a league title.
Marco Silva, Fulham
Appointed: July 1, 2021
Scott Parker’s departure following relegation in 2021 led Fulham to turn to Silva and his has been a successful reign, winning the Championship title in his first season before finishing 10th, 13th and then 11th in the top flight.
Silva was also linked with Spurs before Frank’s appointment but looks set to lead the Cottagers into a fifth season.
Eddie Howe, Newcastle
Appointed: November 8, 2021
The man to finally bring silverware to St James’ Park after a wait of 56 years, Howe was appointed shortly after the Saudi-backed takeover of the club in 2021 – though not before Steve Bruce was allowed to remain in charge of his boyhood club for his 1,000th game in management.
Second-bottom and winless at the time, Howe’s Magpies finished 11th and have since been fourth, seventh and fifth in his three full seasons in charge.
Unai Emery, Aston Villa
Appointed: November 5, 2022
Appointed almost a year after Howe, Emery also instigated a swift turnaround. Villa were outside the relegation zone on alphabetical order alone, ahead of Southampton, when he took over but finished seventh and then fourth the following season.
A run to the Champions League quarter-finals ensued, beating Bayern Munich along the way before losing to eventual champions Paris St Germain, alongside a sixth-placed league finish.
One extreme to the other
Thomas Frank goes from the second longest-serving manager at a Premier League club to the newest!
He spent 6 years and 7 months at Brentford before moving to Spurs 🤝 pic.twitter.com/VXT1pXq3CU
— Premier League (@premierleague) June 12, 2025
Frank goes from one of the longest-serving Premier League managers to one of eight in post for less than a year.
Prior to the Dane’s appointment, the shortest reign belonged to David Moyes – though in a curious quirk, Moyes is also the Premier League manager who has spent longest with his current club thanks to a previous 11-year spell at Everton between 2002 and 2013.
Two more managers will hit the two-year mark early next month – Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola on July 1 and Daniel Farke three days later with newly-promoted Leeds. Fabian Hurzeler has his one-year anniversary at Brighton this coming Sunday.
