Longest-Serving Premier League Managers: Mikel Arteta Reacts After Breaking Into Top 10

Mikel Arteta is now officially 10th on the list of the longest-serving Premier League managers of all time.

The Arsenal boss overtook Sean Dyche during the October international break.

How long has Mikel Arteta been Arsenal manager?

Arteta has now been in charge at the Emirates Stadium for more than five years and nine months, having replaced Unai Emery in the job back in December 2019.

The longest-serving Premier League managers above Arteta include the likes of Manchester United legend Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsenal icon Arsene Wenger.

Wenger is in first place after being in charge of the Gunners for 21 years and eight months between 1996 and 2018. It was initially reported that Wenger had resigned when he left the club after 1,235 games as manager.

However, Wenger had a year remaining on his contract when he left and he later said of his departure — which cost Arsenal an estimated £17.1m in compensation — that “the timing was not my decision”.

The “mutual agreement” that saw Wenger leave Arsenal ranks fourth on the list of the most expensive Premier League sackings in terms of compensation.

Of the nine Premier League reigns longer than Arteta’s, only one is still ongoing. That is Pep Guardiola’s at Manchester City. Fourth-placed Guardiola has been in charge at the Etihad for nine years and three months.

He would need to stay in the job for another two years to overtake David Moyes, whose first spell as Everton boss spanned from March 2002 to June 2013.

Other names listed among the top 10 longest-serving Premier League managers include former Liverpool bosses Jurgen Klopp and Rafael Benitez, as well as ex-Wimbledon boss Joe Kinnear.

Top 10 longest-serving Premier League managers

Rank/Manager	Club	Length of Service	When
1. Arsene Wenger	Arsenal	21 years and eight months	1996–2018
2. Sir Alex Ferguson	Manchester United	20 years and 11 months*	1992–2013*
3. David Moyes	Everton	11 years and three months	2002–2013
4. Pep Guardiola	Manchester City	9 years and three months	2016–present
5. Jurgen Klopp	Liverpool	8 years and eight months	2015–2024
6. Joe Kinnear	Wimbledon	6 years and 11 months	1992–1999
7. Harry Redknapp	West Ham	6 years and nine months	1994–2001
8. Rafael Benitez	Liverpool	5 years and 11 months	2004–2010
9. Alan Curbishley	Charlton Athletic	5 years and 11 months**	2000–2006**
10. Mikel Arteta	Arsenal	5 years and nine months	2019–present

Data correct as of October 17, 2025.

*Sir Alex Ferguson was in charge of Manchester United for just over 26 years and six months from 1986 to 2013, but only 20 years and 11 months of that service fell within the Premier League era.

**Alan Curbishley was in charge of Charlton Athletic for just over 14 years and nine months from 1991 to 2006, but only five years and 11 months of that were continuously spent with the club in the Premier League.

Mikel Arteta’s record as Arsenal manager

Mikel Arteta took charge of his 300th game as Arsenal manager just before the October international break.

That game saw the Gunners beat West Ham 2-0 and left them top of the Premier League table. However, Arteta has yet to win the Premier League title, finishing second in each of the past three seasons.

Across all competitions, Arteta has delivered 177 victories, giving him a 59% win rate. That is slightly higher than that of Arsene Wenger, who won 57.2% of his 1,235 Gunners games.

Arteta’s 301st game as Arsenal manager features in FootballBlog.co.uk’s latest round of Premier League predictions.

What Mikel Arteta said after entering the top 10 of longest-serving Premier League managers

During a press conference on Friday, Mikel Arteta was informed by a journalist that he had recently moved into the top 10 on the list of the longest-serving Premier League managers.

When asked how he felt about that, Arteta responded by saying: “Very privileged and grateful as always.” But he stressed that he must continue to “be present on the day”.

The reporter then joked that Arteta only had another 16 years to go to overtake Arsene Wenger. Arteta laughed and replied: “That’s a long, long way!”