Burnley managers of the last 25 years - RANKED

[CardiffClaret]

Over the past 25 years we have played under 7 (soon to be 8) permanent managers. I would say that most could be described as having been an overall success, which is more than can be said for most managerial appointments at other clubs. But, all things considered, how do the tenures of each of our managers over the last 25 years rank? Below is my stab at it, taking into account the state of play when they took over and in position in which they left the club.

1 - Sean Dyche: Not exactly a difficult decision this one! One of the greatest managers in the history of BFC. 2 promotions from the Championship (the first when we were one of the pre-season favourites for relegation), sustained period as an established premier league club against all odds, and even European qualification for the first time in over 50 years.

2 - Owen Coyle: Despite the manner of his leaving, it was a hugely successful tenure overall. Promotion to the top division for the first time in over 30 years, completely out of the blue. Not to mention the League Cup exploits. Without Coyle we would most likely be in a much worse position now than we currently find ourselves.

3 - Stan Ternent: Promotion to the 2nd tier, followed by punching well above our weight by narrowly missing out on the play-offs two seasons in a row. Lost a bit of momentum the last couple of seasons, but much of that was due to club finances.

4 - Vincent Kompany: Very difficult to judge given the stark contrast of his 2 seasons in charge. However, despite the disappointment of last season, that Championship winning campaign was something special, and has to go down as one of the best seasons in living memory.

5 - Steve Cotterill: Not the most exciting period in our recent history, but kept the club in the Championship for 3 seasons with limited finances to work with.

6 - Eddie Howe: Bit of a strange tenure really. Never really felt like we got going under him, but to his credit he made some brilliant signings (Mee, Trippier, Ings, Vokes etc.) that would contribute hugely to the success that was to come under Dyche.

7 - Brian Laws: Was never a popular choice. Was dealt a tough hand, but never seemed up to the job, and is the only manager in this list who ended his tenure with the club in the league below the one it was in when he took over.


All in all I actually found it quite easy to place the managers in this order. I think the list pretty much ranks itself, but would be interested to see if others agree….

[jlup1980]

Laws apart, it shows how consistent our appointments have been. And in fairness to the Board, they were thrown into turmoil when Coyle decided to up and leave.

The rest all have their good points. Howe bought brilliantly with limited funds, Cotterill steadied a ship that could easily have sunk back to lower depths, Stan the Man started the revolution, Coyle made us believers, Dyche brought solidity at the top table for the first time in decades and Kompany won the league at Ewood!!

It's difficult to rank them to be honest. I'd put Kompany above Coyle though. I doubt we'll ever top the Kompany Championship season.

1. Dyche
2. Stan
3. VK
4. Coyle
5. Cotterill
6. Howe
7. Laws

[Goliath]

Laws apart, it shows how consistent our appointments have been. And in fairness to the Board, they were thrown into turmoil when Coyle decided to up and leave.

The rest all have their good points. Howe bought brilliantly with limited funds, Cotterill steadied a ship that could easily have sunk back to lower depths, Stan the Man started the revolution, Coyle made us believers, Dyche brought solidity at the top table for the first time in decades and Kompany won the league at Ewood!!

It's difficult to rank them to be honest. I'd put Kompany above Coyle though. I doubt we'll ever top the Kompany Championship season.

1. Dyche
2. Stan
3. VK
4. Coyle
5. Cotterill
6. Howe
7. Laws

I'd have to have Coyle at the top just for the pure joy that 1 and a half seasons brought (and occasionally the season prior when he joined)

I'm aware that a lot of it was a fluke based on him arriving with such strong characters as Alexander and Caldwell to basically manage the dressing room. But I think a lot of managers could learn from what he did, his man management was fantastic, he got the players believing they could beat any team on their day and that proved to be true. It was like an attacking and more positive style of Warnock management.

But the jolt it gave the town and the club is still felt to this day. Everything we have had in the last 15 years is due to that Coyle promotion season, so whilst he's nowhere near the best manager on that list, the joy he gave us means I'd have him just above Dyche.

[Claret Toni]

1. Sean Dyche. Promotion when it was expected that we'd be relegated. The success he brought rebuilt the club, starting with the training facilities, several seasons in the Prem, European qualification and only stymied through a lack of investment because the chairman wanted out. Improved players so much that several gained England caps under his stewardship.

2. There is no number 2, 'cos no-one comes close to Sean Dyche.

3. Steve Cotterill. Difficult decision this, but he came in when we hadn't got a full team. Could spot a player and made some superb signings for where we were at the time, and got £1m for that centre half! Cotterball was pretty dire, but the backbone of his team were to see us to promotion.

4. Stan Ternent. Re-established belief that we could punch above our weight. Took a basket case of a club after Waddle's departure and turned it round on a very limited budget.

5. Vincent Kompany. One wonderful season and one absolutely garbage. Had the luxury of funds to spend, and could be argued he bought the Championship, but failed miserably in dismantling that side and trying to rebuild another.

6. Eddie Howe. Recognised the squad needed rebuilding but probably tried to do it too quickly, but that might be a disservice 'cos he didn't appear to settle and left quickly. Made some top signings - including a future England captain.

7. Owen Coyle. Inherited a very good squad with senior players who were determined. Limited tactically and way out of his depth without the quality and character of player he inherited.

8. Brian Laws. A poor appointment, after he had been sacked by a championship team who were on their way to be relegated.

[South West Claret.]

One glaring omission in my opinion Jimmy Mullen.

[ClaretTony]

One glaring omission in my opinion Jimmy Mullen.

Not at all - that is past the 25 years

[South West Claret.]

I thought it might be but not certain.

[Buxtonclaret]

1. SEAN
2. STAN
3. STEVE COTTERILL
4. KOMPANY
5. COYLE
6. EDDIE
7 BRIAN - Might be my number 7 boss, but Brian was an very good player when with us.

[Tricky Trevor]

Only one different to the OP.
I'd slide Eddie above Steve Cotterill on entertainment factor alone. He couldn't coach defence but we banged some belters in under him. Thank Steve for keeping us up but it was dire.

[Foshiznik]

I’d even put Michael Jackson above Brian Laws…

Heck, even Bellamy!

[ecc]

4. Stan Ternent. Re-established belief that we could punch above our weight. Took a basket case of a club after Waddle's departure and turned it round on a very limited budget.

With all due respect, ST had very little money to spend when he came in but when Barry Kilby took over in December 1998 we went out and spent £750,000 on Steve Davis and then signed Micky Mellon for circa £300,000 a week or two later.

[Bin Ont Turf]

I'd have to have Coyle at the top just for the pure joy that 1 and a half seasons brought

Everything we have had in the last 15 years is due to that Coyle promotion season,

You're an idiot.

[Venkys4eva]

1. Coyle - Best time ever, amazing and unexpected. The Wembley day was my best clarets moment.
2. Stan - Great manager, passionate
3. Dyche - Simply superb, him and stan are my joint 2nd
4. Vk - great 1st season then he went turbo
5. Howe - ok
6. Cotteril - brought in good players but so dull
7. Laws - Felt sorry for him, would of been ok when we were skint in div 4

Jimmy Mullen - not in the list but if he was joint top with coyle

[Buxtonclaret]

4. Stan Ternent. Re-established belief that we could punch above our weight. Took a basket case of a club after Waddle's departure and turned it round on a very limited budget.

With all due respect, ST had very little money to spend when he came in but when Barry Kilby took over in December 1998 we went out and spent £750,000 on Steve Davis and then signed Micky Mellon for circa £300,000 a week or two later.

Might be wrong, but didn't he she'll out a million for Ian Moore too, not long after that?

[ecc]

Ian Moore signed in 2000, Buxtonclaret.

[boatshed bill]

Stan the Man is top.
Without him and Barry Kilby I doubt we'd be doing this.

[Buxtonclaret]

Ian Moore signed in 2000, Buxtonclaret.

Yep.
Just looked. My memory is going.

[Goliath]

You're an idiot.

Thanks. You seem nice.
You're aware this is subjective and isn't necessarily a rank of who the best manager is?
Sorry of course you are, it's me who is the idiot obviously.

[ElectroClaret]

Dyche for me.
But the Lying Scotsman played his part also, before things went sour.

[Aclaret]

1 20, 30 years ago, too many years under them down the roads shadow, I never thought I would see us play in the Premier league......Owen Coyle got us there, he got us started, plus a great Cup Run....but who knows if he'd have stayed.

2 Sean Dyche... a legend, got us to Europe

3 Vincent Kompany

4 Stan Ternant

5 Steve Cotteril

6 Eddie Howe

7 Brian Laws

[bfcjg]

1 Dyche possibly our best ever manager given the circumstances and big money clubs dominance.
2. Coyle got us to the promised land and had more points then Kompany at the time he left.
3. VK amazing season totally ruined his legacy.
4. Stan, established us but couldn't get us to the Premier league.
5. Cotterill solid, kept us up.
6. Howe Signed some great players but it just didn't work for him here, proved since though he is good.
7. Laws , inherited a squad who just didn't rate him. Signed Marney so not all bad.

[Bin Ont Turf]

Thanks. You seem nice.
You're aware this is subjective and isn't necessarily a rank of who the best manager is?
Sorry of course you are, it's me who is the idiot obviously.

Anyone choosing Coyle above Dyche for whatever mental 'subjective' reason is an idiot.
We all had a fun ride the short time Coyle was here, but f***ing hell, have you been asleep since 2010?

But the "Everything we have had in the last 15 years is due to that Coyle promotion season" is the most idiotic thing.

It shouldn't need explaining why to someone who isn't an idiot.

[Aclaret]

Didn't take long did it !

[Bin Ont Turf]

Didn't take long did it !

You're right it didn't take long for the look at me bellends to choose Coyle.

I sometimes wonder if this board is actually frequented by just Burnley fans, or it's partially the day room in One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest.

[Swizzlestick]

Can’t be arsed with an argument, post your own if you disagree, but based on a sort of subjective barometer of joyful moments they brought to the club:

Dyche
Coyle
Kompany
Ternent
Howe
Cotterill
Laws

[Venkys4eva]

You're right it didn't take long for the look at me bellends to choose Coyle.

I sometimes wonder if this board is actually frequented by just Burnley fans, or it's partially the day room in One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest.

Maybe some people just have a different opinion than you? Thats the beauty of a forum

[Bin Ont Turf]

Maybe some people just have a different opinion than you? Thats the beauty of a forum

There's opinion, then there's factual history staring you in the face.

[Buxtonclaret]

You're right it didn't take long for the look at me bellends to choose Coyle.

I sometimes wonder if this board is actually frequented by just Burnley fans, or it's partially the day room in One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest.

“But it’s the truth even if it didn’t happen.”

[Aclaret]

Perhaps if Coyle hadn't got us to the Premier League, then Dyche couldnt have done his miracle in keeping us there ?

[Burnleyareback2]

Clearly Dyche.

But did anyone ever even dream we would be in the premier league before Coyle.

My first game was the orient game as we had just moved to the area and I was 8. Premier league never entered my head at any stage, at Wembley when we got promoted was the first time.

Coyle was the master of the team talk- he made every player 10 times better mentally. He could never of done what Dyche did and was beginning to get found out at Burnley. Completely found out in the 2nd season Bolton.

[Goliath]

Anyone choosing Coyle above Dyche for whatever mental 'subjective' reason is an idiot.
We all had a fun ride the short time Coyle was here, but f***ing hell, have you been asleep since 2010?

But the "Everything we have had in the last 15 years is due to that Coyle promotion season" is the most idiotic thing.

It shouldn't need explaining why to someone who isn't an idiot.

I was 17/18 during the Coyle season. All I'd know as a Burnley fan was mid table obscurity. It's something I'd never experienced and that novelty will never be beaten for me. The night of the Bristol City game with the scenes in the town centre at at about midnight will probably never be repeated with the players all out as well.

But of course everything has to be black and white so you must be correct. What an exciting thread this will be, everyone must agree with your view or they are an idiot. What a great way to have a discussion.

[Bin Ont Turf]

Perhaps if Coyle hadn't got us to the Premier League, then Dyche couldnt have done his miracle in keeping us there ?

Dyche and us didn't have a pot to p1ss in when he arrived. Coyle's work had gone and although Howe had brought in some wonderful players it was Dyche who got them working.

Remember his first summer, the free transfer summer?

I will never have it that Coyle had any bearing on what Dyche did.

[Venkys4eva]

There's opinion, then there's factual history staring you in the face.

Dyche achieved the most but coyle (for me) nicks it because it was unreal. It was so unexpected and its my most memorable season of watching the clarets. I never imagined we would reach the premier league and he did it.

[Indecisive]

Hard one. Is this meant to be favourite. Or our opinion of the best (or potential to be the best).

I think Dyche is probably currently the best manager of the period, and is definitely my favourite.

I liked Kompany. I actually believe he has the potential to be comfortably the best manager. I know there's plenty expecting him to fail at Bayern. I genuinely think there's a good chance he ultimately has a management career pretty much consistently at that level.

Next I'd have Stan if favourite came into it, but for management ability it would probably be Howe. Then Stan, then Steve cotterill.

To put my own spin on it. If tomorrow we had to hire someone I'd go....

1/ Dyche
2/ kompany
3/ howe
4/ Cotterill
5/ Stan

I find those ranking coyle as top bizarre really. I do get there was a perfect storm for him at the time and his style weirdly worked for us, and i like many othwrs loved that season. But from hearing from players at the time, and his management achievements since, regardless of just quite how disingenuous the guy was, he ultimately has proven to be a pretty gash manager.

[Fretters]

I will never have it that Coyle had any bearing on what Dyche did.

I disagree.

Without the Coyle promotion, we'd never have got Tripper, Mee, Shackell, Marney, Ings or Vokes. All signed with PL parachute money. All played a massive part in getting us back up.

All signed by Howe, who'd have never left Bournemouth for us if we hadn't just been in the PL.

It was incredible what Dyche did. But without that Coyle promotion he'd have been starting from much further back.

[Jamesy]

Laws gets a lot of flack but in reality he never stood a chance. A Brendan Flood appointment in my opinion.

[BurnleyFC]

1) Sean Dyche - Nothing more needs to be said.

2) Owen Coyle - That Championship season and cup run was incredible.

3) Vincent Kompany - A fairytale first season.

4) Stan Ternent - Gave us belief and success.

5) Steve Cotterill - Worked hard in hugely trying times.

6) Eddie Howe - Made some terrific signings.

7) Brian Laws - An unfortunate appointment and not necessarily his fault. Made some good signings.

[ecc]

The trouble with all this linking up is that it if we're going to say Dyche owed his success to Coyle then Ternent must be the best because he got us back to Tier Two football.

[Goliath]

I disagree.

Without the Coyle promotion, we'd never have got Tripper, Mee, Shackell, Marney, Ings or Vokes. All signed with PL parachute money. All played a massive part in getting us back up.

All signed by Howe, who'd have never left Bournemouth for us if we hadn't just been in the PL.

It was incredible what Dyche did. But without that Coyle promotion he'd have been starting from much further back.

I also doubt we'd have had a Premier league standard pitch. Sounds like nothing but Dyche had a tiny squad in that season. I'm sure there would have been postponements and then lots more 3 game weeks later in the season on an absolute bog of a pitch which would have led to more fatigue and more injuries.
There's also players that we just wouldn't have had and our wage bill was much higher than it would have been if we'd never gone up.

That's not what I based it on though..I just think that Coyle season is unsurpassable really for me. The cup runs, the late goals, the comebacks, the attacking football.with players such as Blake Elliott and Eagles showing great flair.
It was a true underdog story from a bunch of misfits.

[Roosterbooster]

Coyle
Kompany
Dyche
Ternent
Cotterill
Howe
Laws

Based purely on excitement and anticipation

[Poulton-le-Claret]

1. Dyche
2. Coyle
3. VK
4. Stan
5. Cotterill
6. Howe
7. Laws

I don't really get the argument for Coyle being better because we never expected promotion. Obviously that is true and it was an unreal season, but did anyone expect us to ever qualify for European football? Bigger achievement imo and probably will never be matched. Dyche also never shafted us either

[beeholeclaret]

1. Dyche
2. Coyle
3. Kompany
4. Ternent
5. Howe
6. Cotterill
7. Laws

[Anonymous Claret]

1. Dyche- by a distance for me. Keeping a club like ours in the PL with the added bonus of playing in Europe for the first time in 50 years is unbelievable.
2. Coyle- without him there would have been no Howe, Dyche or Kompany. Incredible that he managed to have amazing cup runs and win promotion with the players that he had.
3. Kompany- to completely rebuild the side and run away with the Championship along with winning the title at Ewood is the stuff that dreams are made of.
4. Stan- winning promotion and 2 near play off misses created a real feel good factor and continued our recovery started by JM several years earlier.
5. Howe- signing players such as Mee, Trippier, Ings, Vokes and Shackell etc that were the backbone of the 2014 promotion team.
6. Cotterill-with very limited resources he was the right man at exactly the right time to keep us in the Championship. But I can't ever forget some of the terrible football served up.
7. Laws- loved him as a player but I can remember being distraught when it became apparent that we were going to appoint him after Coyle left. It is the only time in my lifetime that I can ever recall being severely distressed at the appointment of a new manager. Me and thousands of others knew how it was going to end and we weren't wrong.

[ClaretPete001]

1. Dyche- by a distance for me. Keeping a club like ours in the PL with the added bonus of playing in Europe for the first time in 50 years is unbelievable.
2. Coyle- without him there would have been no Howe, Dyche or Kompany. Incredible that he managed to have amazing cup runs and win promotion with the players that he had.
3. Kompany- to completely rebuild the side and run away with the Championship along with winning the title at Ewood is the stuff that dreams are made of.
4. Stan- winning promotion and 2 near play off misses created a real feel good factor and continued our recovery started by JM several years earlier.
5. Howe- signing players such as Mee, Trippier, Ings, Vokes and Shackell etc that were the backbone of the 2014 promotion team.
6. Cotterill-with very limited resources he was the right man at exactly the right time to keep us in the Championship. But I can't ever forget some of the terrible football served up.
7. Laws- loved him as a player but I can remember being distraught when it became apparent that we were going to appoint him after Coyle left. It is the only time in my lifetime that I can ever recall being severely distressed at the appointment of a new manager. Me and thousands of others knew how it was going to end and we weren't wrong.

I think this must be an age thing..

VK re-built a PL side in the Championship spending over £40 million . Stan turned a chaotic tier 3 side into an established tier 2 side through ITV Digital. No way you can compare the two.

[ashtonlongsider]

Crikey we've had some very good managers of the last quarter of a century. It's almost an impossible job ranking for a whole host of circumstances. Fingers crossed the next one is fit to join such respected company (no pun intended).

1. Dyche
2. Coyle
3. Cotterill
4. Kompany
5. Ternent
6. Howe
7. Laws

[Anonymous Claret]

I think this must be an age thing..

VK re-built a PL side in the Championship spending over £40 million . Stan turned a chaotic tier 3 side into an established tier 2 side through ITV Digital. No way you can compare the two.

It's subjective. Stan was amazing for us in the first few years excusing most of his first season. However it was also the first time we had some serious investment at the third tier or lower for many years thanks to BK. It could be argued that we were 1 of the strongest teams financially in the 3rd tier around that time and promotion/the play offs were expected.

When Kompany arrived we were a mess and had to sell all our best players and build the best part of a complete new team. We completely changed the way that we played. We won the league at Ewood and gained over 100 points. Nobody expected that.

I remember after the 98-99 season finished I thought that we would be competing for promotion the following season because of the way we finished unbeaten in our last dozen games or so. It was still a great achievement to gain promotion with Stan but I think Kompany's was greater.

But as I said at the beginning it is all subjective and you are fine to disagree.

[ClaretPete001]

It's subjective. Stan was amazing for us in the first few years excusing most of his first season. However it was also the first time we had some serious investment at the third tier or lower for many years thanks to BK. It could be argued that we were 1 of the strongest teams financially in the 3rd tier around that time and promotion/the play offs were expected.

When Kompany arrived we were a mess and had to sell all our best players and build the best part of a complete new team. We completely changed the way that we played. We won the league at Ewood and gained over 100 points. Nobody expected that.

I remember after the 98-99 season finished I thought that we would be competing for promotion the following season because of the way we finished unbeaten in our last dozen games or so. It was still a great achievement to gain promotion with Stan but I think Kompany's was greater.

But as I said at the beginning it is all subjective and you are fine to disagree.

It is subjective, but I think we have to deal with the facts. VK came in with the remnants of a squad that were established in a higher league and had £40 million to spend - a sum twice the size of Blackburn Rover's turnover and significantly bigger than Rover's turnover plus the annual £20 million the Venky's throw into the pot..

Stan inherited a real mess of a squad with a marginally bigger budget than competitors (up to ITV Digital) stayed for several season and maintained the higher status before not having his contract renewed..

And the most fundamental point is that history will judge Stan as one of those pivotal managers that created a platform for those that followed to achieve almost a decade in the PL whereas VK has to rely on some one else to create his legacy.

VK failed to establish a type of football that could thrive in a higher division. Failed to develop the players that won the Championship and we shall find out this summer whether he also failed to add value to the players he bought...!

One has an established legacy while the other didn't finish the job. But yes we can agree to disagree!

[claret2018]

Coyle gave me the best season I’ve ever had watching Burnley so he’s number 1

[ElectroClaret]

I find those ranking coyle as top bizarre really.....he ultimately has proven to be a pretty gash manager.

Not for us, he wasn't. (Till things went sour, of course.)
And the title of the thread is BURNLEY managers.

So his failures at other clubs is by the by.