Tottenham Hotspur's 10 Best Managers Of All-Time
- Think Football Ideas
- Jul 2
- 5 min read
The 10 Best Tottenham Hotspur Managers of All-Time
Tottenham Hotspur. A club soaked in tradition, driven by flair, and addicted to drama for well over a century. From the golden days of Double-winning legends to the modern era of near-misses and bold rebuilds, Spurs have always been box office.
Behind every chapter in the North London club’s story stands a man in the dugout, the mastermind, the motivator, the face of an era. So, who truly left their mark?
Managers come and go, but only a rare few leave fingerprints on the soul of a football club. These are the 10 greatest managers in Tottenham history, judged not just by the silverware they lifted, but by the style they brought, the influence they wielded, and that indescribable spark that made them unforgettable.
Here Are Tottenham Hotspur's 10 Best Managers Of All-Time
10. Juande Ramos (2007–2008)
Though his tenure was fleeting, Juande Ramos left a noticeable dent on Spurs' timeline. Appointed in late 2007 after Martin Jol’s departure, Ramos wasted no time announcing his arrival.
In January 2008, his Tottenham side hammered Arsenal 5–1 in a League Cup semi-final, a night that still makes North London blue. Just weeks later, they defeated Chelsea in extra time at Wembley to lift the League Cup, ending a nine-year trophy drought.
Ramos’ eye for talent also left a legacy as he was responsible for signing Luka Modric. But results nosedived the following season, and he was gone by October 2008. Brief? Yes. Impactful? Absolutely.
9. Harry Redknapp (2008–2012)
"Two points from eight games," that’s where Spurs stood when Harry Redknapp took over in October 2008. But Redknapp's impact was immediate, and soon the Lane was rocking again.
His wheeling-dealing in the transfer market, his motivational style, and that signature Redknapp flair lifted Tottenham to heights not seen in decades. The highlight? That electric 2009–10 campaign, when Spurs clinched fourth place and secured a historic Champions League berth.
The journey continued all the way to the quarter-finals, knocking out giants like AC Milan along the way. Redknapp also earned the Premier League Manager of the Year award in 2010, which was the first for any Lilywhites boss. It all ended in contractual tension, but for a while, Redknapp made the impossible seem achievable.
8. Martin Jol (2004–2007)
When Martin Jol moved from assistant to head coach in 2004, Tottenham Hotspur were a club stuck in mid-table purgatory. But under his watch, the tide began to turn. Jol binned conservative football and brought ambition and adventure back to the Lane.
In the 2005/06 campaign, Spurs were on the brink of a top-four finish, only for the infamous "Lasagna-gate" to derail them on the final day. Still, Jol delivered back-to-back fifth-place finishes, making Spurs consistent European qualifiers for the first time in over a decade. Though he left under messy circumstances, his era laid the groundwork for what was to follow.
7. Mauricio Pochettino (2014–2019)
Magic. That’s the word Spurs fans still use when talking about Poch. Arriving from Southampton in 2014, the Argentine inherited a fractured squad, and in no time, turned them into title contenders.
By developing players like Harry Kane, Dele Alli, and Harry Winks, Pochettino brought identity and intensity back to the club. The 2015/16 season saw Spurs push Leicester all the way in a rollercoaster title race. A year later, they finished second with their highest points tally in the Premier League era.
But the crowning moment? That unforgettable run to the 2019 Champions League final, featuring spine-tingling wins over Manchester City and Ajax. Though silverware eluded him, Pochettino made Tottenham believe again.
6. Ange Postecoglou (2023–2025) – Short Reign, Long Legacy
He came from Celtic with bold ideas and an even bolder attitude. Ange Postecoglou’s era at Spurs was as explosive as it was brief. The 2023/24 season started in fairytale fashion, ten games in, Spurs were top of the league, playing fearless, front-foot football. But form dipped, and they eventually settled for a Europa League place.
The following season, though, after several below-par displays, some due to injuries, Ange made a call that stunned many: prioritising the Europa League over league performance.
The gamble paid off. Spurs defeated Manchester United in the 2025 final in Bilbao to end their 17-year trophy drought. It should’ve been a crowning moment, but weeks later, Postecoglou was controversially sacked and replaced by Thomas Frank. A polarising exit, but he delivered where others failed: silverware.
5. John Cameron (1899–1907)
Let’s roll back the clock to the turn of the 20th century. John Cameron was player-manager at Tottenham, and a revolutionary one at that. In 1900, he led Spurs to the Southern League title, but it was in 1901 that history was truly made.
Under Cameron’s guidance, Tottenham became the first (and still only) non-league team to win the FA Cup, beating Sheffield United in a dramatic final replay.
Cameron’s achievements not only earned Spurs national recognition but also set the tone for the club’s daring DNA. He was the original underdog whisperer, a manager who made the footballing elite sit up and take notice.
4. Terry Venables (1987–1991)
Terry "El Tel" Venables wasn’t just a manager; he was a personality, a man who could light up a room and inspire a dressing room. Appointed in 1987, he brought a new professionalism and ambition to the club, soon signing stars like Paul Gascoigne and Gary Lineker.
In 1991, Venables led Spurs to a famous FA Cup triumph, beating Arsenal in a legendary semi-final before besting Nottingham Forest in the final.
That was Spurs’ eighth FA Cup and their last to date. League finishes weren’t remarkable, but Venables made Spurs box office again, and left a trophy in the cabinet to prove it.
3. Arthur Rowe (1949–1955)
Before tiki-taka, there was “Push and Run.” Arthur Rowe’s football philosophy was decades ahead of its time, with quick passing, intelligent movement, and team harmony. Appointed in 1949, Rowe transformed Spurs’ identity and ushered in a golden age.
Under his guidance, Tottenham won the Second Division in 1950 and then, astonishingly, won the First Division title the very next season in 1951, the club’s first ever. Health issues forced him to step down in 1955, but his influence echoed on for generations. Bill Nicholson? His protégé.
2. Keith Burkinshaw (1976–1984)
Keith Burkinshaw’s tenure began with disaster, Spurs were relegated in his first full season. But he didn’t panic. Instead, he rebuilt, brought the club back up, and signed two of the most iconic foreign players to grace English football: Ossie Ardiles and Ricky Villa.
The rewards were huge. FA Cup triumphs in 1981 and 1982 followed, with the latter featuring that solo goal by Villa. In 1984, Burkinshaw capped his reign with UEFA Cup glory, the last European trophy in Spurs’ cabinet. He left after a fall-out with the board, but his legacy is set in silver.
1. Bill Nicholson (1958–1974)
No debate. No contest. Bill Nicholson isn’t just Tottenham’s greatest manager of all-time, he is Tottenham. Taking charge in 1958, Nicholson led Spurs into their most decorated and dominant era. His first game in charge was a 10–4 demolition of Everton. The tone was set.
In 1960/61, Nicholson guided Spurs to the Double, First Division champions and FA Cup winners, the first team in the 20th century to do so.
He would go on to collect eight trophies, including the 1963 Cup Winners’ Cup, making Spurs the first British club to win a European competition.
Nicholson built a dynasty based on flair, unity, and a burning hatred of losing. His legacy remains etched in every brick of White Hart Lane, and now the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
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