The Premier League’s 11 Best Dutch Managers of All-Time
- Think Football Ideas
- Jul 10, 2025
- 5 min read
Updated: Aug 25, 2025
While we understand the glorious legacy of Dutch football is total Football, tactical genius, and legendary players, the Premier League is a different beast entirely. Success as a manager requires more than knowledge of the game; it demands adaptability, man-management, and a bit of luck.
Some brought trophies, others brought fresh ideas, but not all had the impact they hoped or wished for. Even amidst the rollercoaster of English football, several Dutch managers have left their mark from the dugout, combining flair with leadership to carve their own stories in the Premier League.
Here are The Premier League’s 11 Best Dutch Managers of All-Time
11. Frank De Boer (Crystal Palace)
Frank De Boer’s Premier League managerial journey is a cautionary tale about the gap between playing prowess and coaching success. Taking charge at Crystal Palace in 2017 after an illustrious playing career with Ajax and Barcelona, expectations were high.
Yet, in four league games without a single goal scored or a win secured, his spell was one of the shortest and most challenging in Premier League history.
Though his time at Selhurst Park was brief and turbulent, De Boer continued to rebuild his reputation elsewhere, eventually managing the Netherlands national team.
10. Ruud Van Nistelrooy (Leicester City)
Ruud Van Nistelrooy stepped into one of the toughest jobs in English football when he took over relegation-threatened Leicester City in the 2022/23 season. Despite his pedigree as a prolific striker, his stint was marred by a harsh reality: 17 defeats in 23 Premier League matches.
The Foxes’ drop to the Championship was inevitable, marking a tough baptism for Van Nistelrooy into management. His time at Leicester underlined that even the greatest players can struggle to translate success into coaching at the highest level.
9. Rene Meulensteen (Fulham)
Rene Meulensteen, once Sir Alex Ferguson’s trusted right-hand man at Manchester United, tried to make his mark as a head coach at Fulham in 2013. Taking the reins mid-season, he inherited a tough situation but managed to earn some surprising results, including points against top teams like United.
However, with only four wins in 17 games, his impact was limited, and Fulham’s struggles continued. Meulensteen’s brief Premier League tenure highlighted the challenge of stepping out of a legendary mentor’s shadow.
8. Dick Advocaat (Sunderland)
Veteran tactician Dick Advocaat arrived at Sunderland in early 2015 when the club teetered on the edge of relegation. Known for his globe-trotting managerial career, Advocaat’s immediate task was survival, and survive they did under his steady hand.
His experience helped the Black Cats cling to Premier League status, though results dipped the following season, leading to his departure. Advocaat’s time on Wearside added a chapter to his long, varied career, underscoring his ability to stabilise struggling sides.
7. Ruud Gullit (Chelsea, Newcastle)
Ruud Gullit’s Premier League managerial career didn’t quite echo the brilliance of his playing days. As Chelsea’s player-manager from 1996, he brought flair and even introduced the club’s legend Gianfranco Zola.
Yet, inconsistent results led to his exit within two years. His subsequent stint at Newcastle was equally rocky, marred by clashes with star striker Alan Shearer and a struggling squad. Gullit’s journey revealed the difficulties legendary players face transitioning to management, despite flashes of tactical insight.
6. Martin Jol (Tottenham, Fulham)
Martin Jol carved out a respectable Premier League managerial career, first leading Tottenham from 2004 to 2007. His tenure brought Spurs two solid fifth-place finishes, narrowly missing out on Champions League football.
Jol later guided Fulham to some memorable mid-table stability, including a 9th-place finish in 2011. While never a flashy figure, Jol’s steady hand helped two clubs punch above their weight and laid the groundwork for future progress.
5. Ronald Koeman (Southampton, Everton)
Ronald Koeman’s Premier League story is one of bright promise mixed with tough lessons. Starting strong at Southampton in 2014, he impressed by stabilising the Saints and earning respect.
However, his move to Everton revealed the difficulty of managing in England’s intense environment.
Despite moments of quality, Koeman couldn’t lift the Toffees to consistent success, foreshadowing his return to bigger roles with Barcelona and the Netherlands national team. His journey remains a testament to the rollercoaster nature of English football management.
4. Guus Hiddink (Chelsea)
Guus Hiddink’s impact at Chelsea is the benchmark for interim managers. Twice called upon to steady the ship, most memorably in 2009, he went unbeaten in 22 games and delivered an FA Cup triumph.
His calm, pragmatic style revitalised a team in flux and earned admiration from players and fans alike. Although he never stayed permanently, Hiddink’s ability to step into high-pressure situations and succeed speaks volumes about his managerial pedigree and tactical adaptability.
3. Louis Van Gaal (Manchester United)
Louis Van Gaal’s spell at Manchester United (2014-2016) blended tactical discipline with personality clashes.
Known as a master tactician, Van Gaal stabilised a club struggling to find direction after Sir Alex Ferguson. His crowning achievement was lifting the FA Cup in 2016, United’s first major trophy in four years.
Despite some criticisms about his conservative style, Van Gaal’s tenure laid crucial foundations for future rebuilds and brought a needed dose of structure to Old Trafford.
2. Erik Ten Hag (Manchester United)
Erik Ten Hag arrived at Old Trafford in 2022 as a breath of fresh air, carrying Ajax’s attacking legacy with him. His debut season saw Manchester United lift the Carabao Cup and FA Cup and secure Champions League qualification, promising a revival.
However, a challenging follow-up campaign led to his dismissal in late 2024. Despite the ups and downs, Ten Hag’s impact was undeniable, he brought tactical rigour and belief back to a club hungry for success, marking him as one of the Premier League’s top Dutch managers.
1. Arne Slot (Liverpool)
Arne Slot’s arrival at Liverpool in 2024 was met with scepticism, after all, following Jurgen Klopp was a colossal task. But Slot defied expectations, guiding the Reds to the 2024/25 Premier League title in his debut season.
Armed with a fresh tactical approach and one major signing in Federico Chiesa, who, truth be told, played a minimal role, Slot crafted a Liverpool side that was relentless, intelligent, and absolutely ruthless.
They stormed the league, clinching the title with games to spare. While it was Klopp’s foundation, it was Slot’s execution, and that makes his debut season one of the most electrifying managerial stories in recent Premier League history. The bar for Dutch bosses has officially been raised.
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