Premier League Manager of the Season 2023-24 power rankings: Unai Emery pips Pep Guardiola

Manchester United were supposed to be title contenders this season, as Erik ten Hag followed up a third-placed finish in his debut campaign by signing Mason Mount, Rasmus Hojlund, Andre Onana and Sofyan Amrabat - while also bringing veteran defender Jonny Evans back to the club on a free transfer.

The new additions didn't take the Red Devils to the next level, though, and pre-existing stars such as Marcus Rashford and Casemiro allowed their standards to slip. United slumped to their worst-ever Premier League finish in 2023-24, posting a goal difference of minus-one, and lost a grand total of 14 games, with Bournemouth and Crystal Palace among the teams to absolutely blow Ten Hag's disjointed side off the park.

The Dutchman's poor recruitment choices and baffling tactics have dragged the club down to previously unthinkable depths, and he doesn't deserve to be part of Sir Jim Ratcliffe's revolution as INEOS map out a revival plan following their purchase of a 25 percent stake at Old Trafford.

Paul Heckingbottom worked wonders to guide Sheffield United to a second-placed finish in the Championship last season, and did his best to make the squad Premier League-ready by signing 10 new players in the summer transfer window.

Unfortunately, those additions didn't make an immediate impact, with the Blades losing 11 of their opening 14 games, including a 5-0 thrashing at the hands of Burnley. That result proved to be the last straw for the board, who sacked Heckingbottom before re-appointing Wilder.

The popular Englishman made a strong start to his second spell at Bramall Lane, notably picking up a vital win over Brentford in December thanks to a superb individual goal from James McAtee. But the Blades only registered one more win after that - a surprise 3-1 triumph at Luton that was sandwiched by two more 5-0 hammerings against Aston Villa and Brighton.

The Blades were relegated by the end of April, and finished the season having conceded a record 104 goals, with Wilder's past Premier League experience ultimately counting for little as he spectacularly failed to organise a squad that lacked quality across the pitch.

Guardiola's disciple proved his coaching chops in an impressive debut season at Burnley, who stormed to the 2022-23 Championship title with a fluid, possession-based style - completely opposite to the approach used by Dyche during his reign at Turf Moor.

Kompany single-handedly changed the way Burnley are perceived by neutrals, but the step up to Premier League level proved to be too big for the Belgian, after his admirable decision to snub interest from Spurs. The Clarets only won five of their 38 top-flight games and finished eight points adrift of 17th, having never managed to build up any kind of rhythm.

A lack of experience in the squad proved costly, and although Kompany deserves credit for sticking to his core values, he also looked out of his depth as basic errors crept into Burnley's game. The Belgian learned some harsh lessons in 2023-24, but will be stronger for it, and should be allowed the chance to try and guide the Clarets to another promotion.

Steve Cooper's three-year reign at the City Ground ended on December 19 as the Nottingham Forest board took the decision to part ways with the fan-favourite after a run of just one win from 13 Premier League games. Former Tottenham and Wolves boss Nuno was drafted in as Cooper's replacement, and picked up huge wins over Newcastle and Manchester United in his first two weeks at the helm to instantly lift the mood in the stands.

Forest's form dipped again at the turn of the year, though, as they won just four of their final 18 games. Nuno made Forest slightly harder to beat, but his ultra-conservative style hasn't gone down too well with supporters, with January loan signing Gio Reyna barely getting a look in, and it remains to be seen if he stays in the dugout for the long-term.

Still, the main thing is that he steered Forest clear of the relegation zone, even after the club was punished with a two-point deduction for breaching Profit and Sustainability rules, and if he avoids more bad luck with injuries next season then the team should start rising back up the league quickly.

Brentford fans would have been forgiven for fearing the worst this season. Ivan Toney was unavailable for the first half of the campaign after being banned for breaching the Premier League's betting rules, and the Bees had to dig deep without their star striker.

They had slipped to 16th in the table when Thomas Frank was finally able to call on Toney again, and the England international scored four goals in his first five appearances of the season. He then, however, went on a 14-match scoreless run, during which time Brentford only won three games.

Frank's intelligent build-up play and shrewd man-management made Brentford a top-half Premier League team, but alarm bells should be ringing after their drop to 16th. The Dane has also publicly admitted he expects Toney to leave for a bigger club, which was a strange move with morale in the dressing room already so low, and he is no longer the untouchable figure he once was at the Gtech Community Stadium.

Luton Town's rise from the National League to the English top-flight was a true fairy-tale story. Edwards was rightly hailed for getting them to the promised land, too, having steadied the ship following Nathan Jones' exit in the early months of the 2022-23 campaign.

But the Hatters' chances of staying in the Premier League were essentially written off by all rival fans and pundits before a ball was even kicked this season. They were still operating on a shoe-string budget, and a large chunk of their funds had to be spent on bringing Kenilworth Road up to an acceptable standard.

Edwards side did manage to surprise everyone despite their limitations, with their direct style causing problems for every opponent. He instilled a fierce fighting spirit in the group, too, but a lack of defensive discipline and squad depth proved to be their undoing in the end.

Luton lost 12 of their final 16 games as they ran out of steam down the finishing stretch, finishing 18th as a result, and Edwards will surely be rueing the silly mistakes that cost his team precious points in the earlier stages of the season. They will be among the favourites for the Championship title in 2024-25, though, and Edwards has done enough to retain his position in the dugout.

Newcastle opened the new season with a thumping 5-1 win over Aston Villa that sent shockwaves through the rest of the division - but it proved to be a false dawn. Howe's side lost their next three matches against Manchester City, Liverpool and Brighton, shipping six goals along the way, and never really recovered.

Eddie Howe's transition-focused side are still devastating in full flow, and claimed the scalps of Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham at St James' Park. Unfortunately, Newcastle's away form let them down, as they managed just six wins on the road, conceding 40 goals.

The Magpies exited the Champions League at the group stage, but Howe's squad was plagued by fitness problems and consistency proved elusive. Finishing in seventh represents a hugely disappointing season for Newcastle given their resources, and although Howe is a fine coach in his own right, they might need a manager with more experience at an elite level to get back to Europe's top table.

David Moyes oversaw some smart summer business at West Ham after losing Declan Rice to Arsenal, bringing in James Ward-Prowse, Mohammad Kudus and Edson Alvarez - all of whom made an immediate impact at the London Stadium to complement cult hero Jarrod Bowen, who enjoyed his best campaign yet in the Premier League with 16 goals.

There have been plenty of lows for Moyes this term, including heavy defeats against Fulham, Arsenal and Chelsea, but West Ham still managed to finish ninth, and there is no doubt that the Scot is leaving the club in a far better position than when he initially arrived for his second spell in charge in December 2019.

Moyes has massively overachieved at the London Stadium, and will always have a special place in the hearts of supporters for leading the Hammers to the 2022-23 Conference League title. But his tactics are outdated and it feels like the perfect time for him to be walking away from West Ham, who need a more attack-minded coach to get the best out of a talented squad.

Fulham were tipped for a swift decline after the summer exit of Aleksandar Mitrovic, who could not be swayed from accepting a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia - as so many others did last summer. Marco Silva, then, had to show a great deal of tactical flexibility to get the club through the first few months of the season as his side struggled to fill that void in the final third, but gradually transformed the Cottagers into a more well-rounded team.

Silva has turned youngsters like Rodrigo Muniz and Harry Wilson into proper Premier League stars, while also getting the maximum out of previously inconsistent players such as Alex Iwobi and Andreas Pereira to ensure that Fulham are once again able to mix it against anyone. They earned a massive 2-1 victory over Arsenal on New Year's Eve, and also upset Manchester United in February as they ended a 21-year winless run at Old Trafford.

Fulham should really have finished higher than 13th, but won just two of their final nine games, and Silva has confirmed that he wants to bring in at least four new players in the summer window if they are to get back into the top-half and potentially target the European spots. The Cottagers must back the Portuguese, who is still one of the most tactically astute managers in the league, and has plenty of admirers across the continent.

Ex-Bournemouth boss Gary O'Neil was given the chance to return to the Premier League at Wolves after Julen Lopetegui walked away from his post at Molineux three days before the start of the new season. The Spaniard was frustrated over a lack of transfer activity, with O'Neil inheriting a depleted, dejected squad that looked destined for relegation.

However, though a combination of high-intensity football and impressive man-management, the 41-year-old lifted the team to ensure they remain a competitive Premier League force. Wolves pulled off the shock of the season by ending Manchester City's unbeaten start to the campaign, and managed to beat Tottenham and Chelsea both home and away, with O'Neil's men proving to be a handful for any opposition.

The Wanderers probably would have finished higher than 14th had it not been for a host of baffling VAR calls, and even when they lose, they never go down without a fight - as they showed again in a 2-0 final-day defeat to Liverpool that saw them battle admirably for 60 minutes with 10 men.

O'Neil has turned an unfancied Wolves side into a strong counter-attacking outfit who are always an entertaining watch, solidifying his status as one of the best young coaches in the game.

Brighton's sixth-placed finish in 2022-23 was well earned, and did not feel like an anomaly. The Seagulls were capable of dominating games under Roberto De Zerbi, who aims to provoke the opposition into a press in order to open up space for quick, incisive build-up play.

Moises Caicedo and Alexis Mac Allister were central to that system, though, and their absence was felt as Brighton endured an up and down season. Evan Ferguson, Simon Adringra, Lewis Dunk and Pascal Gross delivered some high points, but De Zerbi's side were far too open at the back, and embarrassing losses against Aston Villa, Luton and Fulham left lasting scars.

Still, the Italian always sticks to his principles, which ensured that Brighton were still one of the most attractive sides to watch in the division. The Seagulls won't be happy with 11th place, but coped reasonably well considering they also had to juggle Europa League commitments.

Brighton will struggle to replace De Zerbi, after mutually agreeing to part ways, but he won't be out of work for long, and might even be back in the Premier League next season amid links with Manchester United.

Chelsea have spent over £1 billion ($1.2m) on new players under the Todd Boehly-led ownership regime, but have nothing to show from it two years in. For much of the 2023-24 campaign, Mauricio Pochettino had to field questions over his future, having initially been drafted in as Graham Potter's long-term successor last summer, as the Blues continued to languish in the bottom half of the table.

The Argentine was given the freedom to shape the squad in his own image, but new additions such as British-record signing Caicedo and Spanish goalkeeper Robert Sanchez failed to hit the ground running. Pochettino did, however, also lure Cole Palmer away from Manchester City, and he ended up being the signing of the season at £47.5 million ($60m).

With Palmer leading the line, Chelsea gradually improved as the season wore on, and won all of their last five games to seal sixth place and European qualification, which seemed impossible at one stage. The Blues create plenty of chances and finally have a clear identity again under Pochettino, who should be trusted to continue the revolution in 2024-25 despite his early teething problems at Stamford Bridge.

Dyche did extremely well to keep the Toffees up after succeeding Frank Lampard in January 2023, but optimism for the new season soon gave way to despair, as Everton won just one of their opening seven games - and the knives were out for Dyche after a 2-1 home loss against Luton on September 30.

Everton turned the tide with wins over Bournemouth, West Ham and Crystal Palace, but the club was then hit with a 10-point deduction for breaching the Premier League's financial fair play rules. Dyche's side dropped to joint-bottom on just four points as a result, and looked like odds-on favourites for relegation once again.

The Toffees got themselves out of trouble, though, and ended up 14 points clear of the relegation zone. They didn't even need the four points they won back on appeal to survive, and won four of their final six games, including a monumental 2-0 derby victory over Liverpool.

Dyche's preferred style of play isn't always pretty, but no one else could have galvanised Everton at a time of crisis like he has, and they have to do everything within their power to keep him on board amid the ongoing financial uncertainty surrounding the club.

Oliver Glasner, who established himself as a top coach at Eintracht Frankfurt, masterminded a 3-1 home win against Burnley in his first game after replacing Roy Hodgson at Crystal Palace in February, which saw the Eagles move eight points clear of the relegation zone. Palace failed to win any of their next five matches, but there were still real signs of progress, and everything fell into place at Anfield on April 14 as Glasner's men picked up a massive 1-0 victory against Liverpool to kick off a seven-match unbeaten run.

Palace ended the campaign with 19 points out of a possible 21, beating Manchester United 4-0 and Aston Villa 5-0 along the way, to rise to 10th - the club's highest-ever finish. Glasner was lucky to have Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise fit again during that period, but he also turned Jean-Philippe Mateta into a clinical No.9, and everyone in the squad is now buying into his direct, high-intensity approach.

Bayern Munich have been so impressed that they even identified Glasner as a potential replacement for Thomas Tuchel, but Palace have slapped a €100m (£86m/$125.5m) price tag on the Austrian boss, who has been a breath of fresh air at Selhurst Park and could work more miracles in 2024-25 if the club can hold onto their best players.

Gary O'Neil made a strong case for Premier League Manager of the Season in 2022-23, steering Bournemouth to safety after replacing Scott Parker on an interim basis. The Cherries harshly let him go when they saw an opportunity to land Andoni Iraola, though, handing the Spaniard a two-year deal following his departure from Rayo Vallecano.

Iraola is a progressive, forward-thinking manager with plenty of ambition, but it took time for him to get his unique tactical blueprint across to his new squad. He opened his reign with seven defeats out of 11 games, including a 6-1 thrashing at the hands of Man City at the Etihad Stadium.

Speculation over Iraola's position then started to swirl, but he never panicked, and the Cherries began a surprise ascent up the table. Lewis Cook, Ryan Christie, Marcus Tavernier and Marcos Senesi were standout players during Bournemouth's resurgence, but ex-Liverpool striker Dominic Solanke has been the biggest revelation, netting a career-best 19 goals to fire the club to a 12th-placed finish.

The Cherries play a fluid, aggressive brand of football under Iraola, who now looks every inch an elite Premier League boss, and he will surely become a target for the biggest clubs if he continues to exceed expectations on the South Coast.

Postecoglou's Spurs rose to the Premier League summit after 10 games as he broke the record for the best-ever start to a season for a new manager - with impressive wins over Manchester United and Liverpool recorded along the way.

The Australian instantly won over the sceptics and brought swashbuckling football back to the club after the misery of the Antonio Conte and Jose Mourinho eras, and smartly brought in new stars such as James Maddison, Mickey van de Van and Guglielmo Vicario to make up for the loss of Harry Kane to Bayern Munich.

A festive injury crisis essentially ended Tottenham's title hopes, and they ended up falling agonisingly short of Champions League qualification, but Postecoglou has given supporters reason to believe again. The former Celtic boss is doing everything possible to remove the club's 'Spursy' tag, and for the first time since the peak years of Pochettino's tenure, the future looks bright.

Klopp overhauled his ageing midfield last summer after a hugely disappointing 2022-23 campaign, adding Alex Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch to his ranks, while cutting ties with long-term servants Jordan Henderson and Fabinho. Many still expected Liverpool's rebuild to be a gradual process, but Klopp had them on course for an unprecedented quadruple after delivering the Carabao Cup in February, which came on the back of his shock exit announcement.

Liverpool's 'mentality monsters' looked determined to ensure that Klopp bowed out on a high note, but the wheels came off in April as they exited the FA Cup and Europa League while suffering damaging Premier League losses against Palace and Everton. A second top-flight crown soon faded into the distance for Klopp, but the Reds still amassed 82 points in third, which represented a massive improvement on the previous year.

Klopp is a true leader of men and will be a big miss for English football, not just because of his infectious charisma, but also because he made Liverpool box-office again. He added plenty of memorable entries to his Anfield story in 2023-24 and his reported successor Arne Slot will inherit a squad that looks perfectly positioned to chase all the biggest trophies once again next term.

Arteta has turned Arsenal into an elite football team again, there is no denying that. They came close to Premier League glory on his watch in 2022-23, and spent over £200m ($244m) on Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber last summer to close the gap on City once and for all.

Rice and Havertz have both proven to be transformational signings, while pre-existing stars like Martin Odegaard, William Saliba and Bukayo Saka have all gone from strength to strength, and Arsenal are an even stronger side now than they were 12 months ago - but still have nothing to show for it.

The Gunners finished just two points behind City this time around, winning six and drawing four of their games against the traditional 'Big Six'. Arteta likes to load the midfield to dominate matches, and the Gunners are a devastating transitional side in full flow, but something is still missing.

He will look back in frustration at the December losses against West Ham and Fulham, but Arsenal really blew it when sitting back for a draw against a depleted City at the Etihad in March, and will need more self-belief in order to take that final step. Still, the Gunners are heading in the right direction, and City won't be able to take their foot off their gas for one second because Arteta will continue to demand the highest possible standards at the Emirates.

Kompany, Arteta and De Zerbi are among the many managers that have attempted to adapt Guardiola's own version of 'total football' over the years - but the City boss is still the master. Yes, he has has had unlimited resources to build several different teams at the Etihad Stadium, but City are not the only club in the Premier League with that kind of financial muscle. Guardiola delivers success year in, year out, because of his meticulous planning and eye for talent, which is as sharp as ever.

City looked like they were suffering a slight hangover from their 2022-23 treble exploits in the first half of the season, and were hampered by injuries to key duo Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland, but typically, their winning machine kicked into gear when it really mattered. Guardiola's men finished the campaign with nine successive victories to retain the title, and despite Arsenal being right on their coattails the whole time, their success felt like an inevitability.

Haaland and De Bruyne rekindled their incredible partnership after returning to full fitness, Phil Foden emerged as a Ballon d'Or contender with a string of magnificent individual performances, and Ruben Dias and Rodri once again gave City a solid base.

There are some that accuse City of being boring to watch, but that criticism always stems from jealousy. Guardiola has created another team that plays the game on a different level to everyone else in Europe, and his ability to adapt to unexpected challenges and keep City on course without shifting from his core philosophy is what makes him the greatest manager of his generation.

Emery's Villa stormed to their 15th-consecutive home win after outfoxing Arsenal on December 9, just three days after another 1-0 victory against City, and were just two points behind leaders Liverpool at the time. Winning the title was always going to be a stretch too far, but getting into that position in the first place was an outstanding achievement.

Former Villarreal and Arsenal boss Emery is peerless when it comes to setting his teams up to break through the lines, and he's turned Villa into one of the most ruthless teams on the continent. Ollie Watkins led the way with 19 goals as he capitalised on top-quality service from Douglas Luiz, Leon Bailey and summer signing Moussa Diaby, while Emery also got the maximum out of players like John McGinn, Matty Cash and Ezri Konsa.

Villa didn't have the depth to keep pace with City, Arsenal and Liverpool, but coming in fourth was still a miracle - one that proves beyond all doubt that Emery is among the finest coaches of his era. The ex-Sevilla and Paris Saint-Germain boss is a true perfectionist and an underrated motivator who has instilled a best-in-class mentality at Villa Park, and there is every chance he will defy the odds again when the club step onto the Champions League stage.