The Premier League has been home to some magnificent managers since it began in 1992, which has helped the tactical side of the game progress in various ways. But which of them have fared best in terms of points won per match?
While there is definitely interest in the manager's style of play, how they set up their teams and what they do to get the best out of their players, the main barometer for success is whether they are able to consistently lead their team to three points.
With this in mind, we are looking at the seven managers with the best points per game record in Premier League history.
7. Thomas Tuchel
Though Chelsea have struggled a little in 2022, Tuchel's 2021 was outstanding. After replacing Frank Lampard in January, the German took Chelsea on an incredible run, leading the Blues from ninth in the league up to fourth and, more importantly winning the Champions League against Manchester City in Porto.
In his Premier League career so far, he's notched up 2.00 points per game, more than Carlo Ancelotti or Arsene Wenger. Admittedly, he's not overseen as many games as those two – Wenger in particular – but moving above such illustrious names is a serious achievement.
6. Jose Mourinho
Forget what happened at Manchester United and Tottenham for a minute and remember the Mourinho in his early years at Chelsea, winning mind games and matches to earn the Blues trophy after trophy.
It can be argued that he does not carry quite the same aura as he used to – though he has got Roma playing some scintillating stuff now – but he was been unmissable throughout his time in the Premier League.
He gave us plenty of talking points but has got even more points on the table – 2.03 per game, to be precise. That's football heritage.
5. Roberto Mancini
When things were good for the Italian, they were brilliant, as signified by his Manchester City side winning one of the most dramatically claimed Premier League trophies in history.
However, by the time Martin Tyler had stopped screaming “Aguerooooo”, things had already turned sour. Within a few months, he was losing his cool over reports stating he would be replaced by Manuel Pellegrini, as well as badmouthing his own backroom and playing staff.
He was eventually sacked at the end of the 2012-13 season after losing the FA Cup final against Wigan Athletic. That he still got 2.05 points per game shows how effective he was at his best.
4. Antonio Conte
There are plenty of managers who have opted to deploy three centre-backs in the Premier League, but Conte is arguably the man who has got the most out of the formation choice.
He made the change to his Chelsea team following a defeat against Arsenal in September 2016, and it was a decision that helped him win the Premier League trophy nine months later. He was sacked a year after that following a less successful campaign.
Since coming in at Spurs partway through the 2021-22 campaign, he's made a huge difference, despite some struggles with consistency. Even those issues have not had a massive negative impact on his record though – he's recorded 2.08 points per game overall.
3. Jurgen Klopp
Klopp had a hell of a rebuilding job to do when he first arrived at Anfield and his team also suffered a terrible run in the 2020-21 season, when they were shorn of their best players by a series of injuries.
The fact that he is so high on this list then is testament to just how relentless Liverpool were in 2018-19 and 2019-20 and have been again in 2021-22.
Considering just how good his side has now become, it wouldn't be a surprise to see the German better his current record of 2.15 points per game by the time his Liverpool contract is up in 2026. If he does, he'll leapfrog the next man on this list.
2. Sir Alex Ferguson
There aren't many managers who get the eternal glory of finishing their career at the top – Ferguson is one of those. When he stepped down as Manchester United manager in 2013, the Scotsman did so receiving his 13th Premier League winner's medal.
Luckily for fans of the Red Devils, we don't need to go over what has happened since his departure. Just enjoy the memories of all those victories and Ferguson's 2.16 points per game.
1. Pep Guardiola
There are plenty of people who would have you believe that Guardiola is nothing but a “bald fraud”. Apparently, due to the fact that he has spent large amounts on defenders while propelling Manchester City forward, his successes don't count.
Well, tell that to his three Premier League titles, the points record he got in 2017-18, the joint-record for wins in a season, the joint-record for most consecutive wins and his side scoring the most goals in a season, as well as his 2.35 points per game, the highest amount of any Premier League manager.