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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Mark Johnson & James Chittick

Liverpool have changed their manager fewer times than any other top flight club

Liverpool have changed managers fewer times than any other English top flight club.

Since the Reds' foundation in 1892, Liverpool have been through just 21 managerial appointments in total, the lowest number of any side in the highest tier.

These figures also include caretaker bosses, meaning it is clear that Anfield is a strong choice for managers looking for job security.

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Liverpool's current boss Jurgen Klopp has managed the club since October 8th 2015 and he has won a plethora of trophies, including the Premier League, the FA Cup, the League Cup, the Community Shield, the UEFA Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup.

The longest serving manager in the Reds’ history is Tom Watson, who managed the club from 1 August 1896 until 31 May 1915, a stint of 18 years, nine months and 30 days. In that time, Watson won the First Division in 1901 and in 1906.

However, Liverpool’s most successful manager is Bob Paisley, who guided the club to silverware in eight of his nine seasons in charge.

Paisley, who was born in a small County Durham coal mining village called Hetton-le-Hole, won the European Cup three times as Reds boss.

The former Liverpool player also won six League Championships, three League Cups, six Charity Shields, one UEFA Cup and one UEFA Super Cup during his time as Reds manager.

Paisley, who took over from Bill Shankly in 1974, said Liverpool's first European Cup ­triumph in 1977 bore Shankly's fingerprints, saying: "Bill built the house – I just put the roof on".

Shankly managed Liverpool from 1959 to 1974 and got the club promoted after winning the Second Division in 1962. He went on to win the First Division three times; the FA Cup twice; the Charity Shield three times; and the UEFA Cup.

The club with the second fewest managers is West Ham United, who have seen only 24 managers, including boss Sid King, who took charge for an astonishing 30 years after retiring as a player at the club in 1902/03.

Thanks partly to the longevity of Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United have had the third-fewest managers in the Premier League at 25.

Arsenal are just behind United with 26, thanks in no small part to Arsene Wenger’s 22-year stint in charge from 1996-2018.

At the other end of the scale are Crystal Palace, who have had an incredible 64 managers in their history, the most of any Premier League club.

Elsewhere in the league, the club with the second highest number of managers is Leicester, with 55 managers in their history.

Completing the top three are Leicester’s local rivals Nottingham Forest, who have seen 50 managers at the City Ground over the years.

Brentford and Southampton are next on the list, with 47 and 46 managerial appointments respectively.

Brighton, Fulham and Newcastle have each had 45 managers, just ahead of Aston Villa on 44.

Both Chelsea and Tottenham have had 42 managers in total, whilst Leeds United and Manchester City are tied on 41 apiece.

Finishing off the list are Everton, Bournemouth and Wolves, who have had 36, 38 and 40 managers between them.

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