Jurgen Klopp has spent six years at Liverpool and has signed up to another four with a new contract, but is far off Arsene Wenger as the longest-serving Premier League-era manager.
The Reds appointed Klopp to replace Brendan Rodgers at Anfield in October 2015, and has re-energised the Merseyside outfit. Liverpool are now the title-contending force alongside Manchester City, and can possibly win an unprecedented quadruple of crowns this season.
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But for how much longer the German retained the reigns was up for debate with his terms expiring in 2024. So, Liverpool have moved to lock Klopp down with a new contract, which The Athletic report will run to 2026 despite expectations of a sabbatical following 2023/24.
Jose Enrique – who played three games under Klopp during 2015/16 – has hailed Liverpool locking their manager down with a new contract. The Spanish defender joyfully claimed on Instagram it is ‘better than signing [Kylian] Mbappe and [Erling] Haaland at the same time’.
A Premier League winners’ medal, Champions League title and a Carabao Cup already sit in Klopp’s trophy cabinet. He is also the longest-serving active Premier League manager after Burnley sacked Sean Dyche, for their spells spent in charge of one club across all divisions.
Klopp seeing out his previous contract would still have seen the Liverpool boss become the fourth-longest-serving manager during the Premier League era. He will also go fifth before the 2022/23 season starts on August 6, with the German nearing Harry Redknapp’s record.
5) Harry Redknapp (West Ham United) – 6 Years, 9 Months
Redknapp’s tenure with West Ham United from 1994 to 2001 narrowly edges Klopp’s spell of six years, six months and three weeks to date with Liverpool. The Irons appointed their ex-midfielder and academy product after working as Billy Bonds’ assistant for two seasons.
He would enjoy a personal-best finish of fifth in the 1998/99 Premier League term with Ian Wright their top-scorer. West Ham have still not finished a season higher in the table. The Hammers also won the Intertoto Cup in 1999/2000, following the arrival of Paolo Di Canio.
Portsmouth later poached Redknapp from West Ham in 2001 to serve as sporting director. He became manager in 2002 to 2004 and 2005 to 2008 after a brief spell at Southampton. Tottenham then hired Redknapp and qualified for the Champions League for the first time.
4) Joe Kinnear (Wimbledon) – 7 Years, 4 Months and 21 days
Joe Kinnear’s spell in charge of Wimbledon from 1992 to 1999 would have been in Klopp’s reach, even without signing a new contract with Liverpool. The Dons were one of the clubs involved in the inaugural Premier League term in 1992/93, which Manchester United won.
Kinnear kept the Crazy Gang in the top-flight across his spell. But former Norway coach Egil Olsen replaced him amid murmurings their Norwegian owners were increasingly impatient as the club struggled to show signs of progress after a £19m investment, per The Guardian.
Wimbledon finished as high as sixth under Kinnear in the 1993/94 season, but finished the 1998/99 campaign 16th. The Dons were relegated in their first season without the would-be Luton Town, Nottingham Forest and Newcastle boss. They sacked Olsen in May 2000.
3) David Moyes (Everton) – 11 Years, 2 Months, 20 Days
David Moyes could match Redknapp’s record fifth-place finish with West Ham this season, and has the Irons in the Europa League semi-finals. But it was with Everton where the Scot spent the third-longest uninterrupted period of any manager in the Premier League era.
The Toffees hired Moyes to replace Walter Smith in March 2002, and he would remain in charge until May 2013. Over 11 years, he oversaw 427 top-flight matches before replacing Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United as the ‘chosen one’ to take over at Old Trafford.
Everton enjoyed consistent high finishes under Moyes, including five top-six results. They even finished fourth in 2004/05 to qualify for the Champions League. However, their UEFA tour ended in the third qualifying round, before losing in a first-round UEFA Cup qualifier.
2) Sir Alex Ferguson (Manchester United) – 20 Years, 11 Months
Ferguson enjoyed the longest managerial reign of any head coach in English football post-World War II while at Manchester United. He took over at Old Trafford in November 1986 and remained at the helm through to May 2013, during a trophy-laden career in charge.
The Red Devils won 13 of a possible 21 Premier League titles under Ferguson, including the inaugural season and in his final campaign. They also lifted the Champions League twice in 1998/99 and 2007/08 and five FA Cups. He was also named World Coach of the Year twice.
Manchester United have not won the Premier League since Ferguson retired, twice going second to Manchester City. After 26 years and six months with Ferguson in total, Erik Ten Hag will also become their eighth head coach, including caretakers, since the Scot retired.
1) Arsene Wenger (Arsenal) – 21 years, 7 months and 12 days
Ferguson may boast the longest managerial reign of a head coach in English football post-World War II, but his great arch-rival Arsene Wenger enjoyed the longest Premier League reign at Arsenal from arriving relatively unknown in October 1996 to leaving in May 2018.
Over his 21 years with the Gunners, Wenger helped to revolutionise the English game with his adamance to play attractive football. He also helped bring through rafts of youngsters, pioneered signing players from foreign leagues and architected their move from Highbury.
The Emirates Stadium is very much the stadium Wenger built during his illustrious career in north London. The Frenchman won three Premier League titles and is the manager to win the most FA Cups (7). Arsenal also went unbeaten during the 2003/04 league season.
Wenger oversaw a total of 1,224 games as Arsenal’s manager across all competitions, with 828 Premier League fixtures. Klopp will oversee his 372nd game as Liverpool manager this Saturday at Newcastle, 254 in the league, so will need many contracts to match Wenger.
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