The 10 current longest-serving managers in Europe’s top five leagues | OneFootball

The leaders of Arsenal, Atletico Madrid and Manchester City feature in the longest-serving active managerial reigns in Europe’s top five leagues.

These are shorter than ever before, and the idea of a long-term project is very much an old-fashioned notion.

With that in mind, we’ve decided to chart the top 10 longest-serving managers in Europe’s top five leagues before the 2025-26 campaign comes to an end.

10. Christophe Pelissier – 3 Years and 5 Months

Auxerre trigger memories of a more innocent era of European football, playing Champions League football alongside the likes of Parma, Deportivo La Coruna and 1860 Munich.

But they’ve spent large periods of the past 15 years in the second tier of French football, last relegated in 2023 despite Pelissier joining mid-season.

He got Auxerre back up at the first attempt and is currently trying to keep their head above water.

9. Ernesto Valverde – 3 Years and 9 Months

Valverde will be leaving Athletic Bilbao at the end of the 2025-26 season, after a wonderful third spell in the Basque capital.

In 2024, Valverde lifted Athletic Club’s first piece of silverware in 40 years after winning the Copa del Rey final. The following year, they finished fourth in La Liga and reached the Europa League semis.

The 62-year-old will be hard to replace in Bilbao.

8. Eddie Howe – 4 Years and 5 Months

Howe is coming under increasing pressure at Newcastle, but their difficult 2025-26 season shouldn’t mask his achievements on Tyneside.

He arrived in November 2021 with Newcastle winless and deep in relegation trouble. The Englishman soon led them to mid-table safety before qualifying for the Champions League twice.

There’s also the small matter of winning the League Cup in 2025, Newcastle’s first major trophy since medieval times 1969.

A mutual parting of the ways this summer seems the best solution for all parties.

7. Michel – 4 Years and 9 Months

Michel has led Girona from the Segunda Division to the Champions League, although that third-placed finish in 2024 was always likely to be a one-off.

Still, Girona are still clinging on in La Liga and Michel has a wonderfully eclectic squad at his disposal, mixing youngsters with the likes of Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Axel Witsel.

6. Marco Silva – 4 Years and 9 Months

Fulham were in the Championship when Silva arrived in 2021. One romp to promotion and four mid-table Premier League finishes later, it’s hard to imagine anybody else in the Craven Cottage hot seat.

5. Manuel Pellegrini – 5 Years and 8 Months

The former Manchester City coach is into his 70s now, but is going strong with Real Betis and has been for the past five years.

Given that he is currently getting a tune out of Manchester United flop Antony, it is clear he can still work his managerial magic.

Recent seasons have seen them compete in Europe and win the Copa del Rey.

4. Mikel Arteta – 6 Years and 8 Months

The Spaniard has been in charge at Arsenal for nearly seven years and enjoyed a flying start, winning both the FA Cup and Community Shield.

However, it has been a barren trophy run since and increasing questions over whether Arteta can get Arsenal over the line.

Despite that, they have grown into consistent title contenders – and might even win this season’s Champions League.

3. Pep Guardiola – 9 Years and 9 Months

With the longest managerial spell of his career, Guardiola has been a winning machine ever since arriving in England.

Despite a slow first season of adaptation, he then roared into action with five league titles in six seasons, and he also captured the Champions League during the treble-winning campaign.

His current deal runs until 2027 and Guardiola will want to build on the 19 trophies he’s already won next season – and he could well still lead City to another league title in May.

2. Diego Simeone – 14 Years and 3 Months

Despite being over a decade into his tenure, Simeone has just about as much energy as he did when he began, and he remains one of the best in the world.

The Atletico Madrid fans adore their leader and he often orchestrates the brilliant atmosphere by celebrating every tackle and contesting every foul from the sidelines.

Always a difficult side to beat, Simeone has coached his side to be horrible to play against and to fight until the last minute.

And they could well have had two Champions League titles to their name if those two finals in 2014 and 2016 had gone slightly differently.

1. Frank Schmidt – 18 Years and 6 Months

Simply put, this is an extraordinary feat.

Schmidt’s journey with Heidenheim has been remarkable and one that deserves more praise and credit than it gets.

He was born in the city and is a true legend for helping bring them back into the top-flight and steering them to European football.

With over 600 games in charge, the 52-year-old has claimed he never once wanted to move elsewhere.

And he has reiterated that remaining in Germany’s top flight is also a success given the size and stature of the club and their reliance on signing players from the lower divisions.