Longest serving managers in Europe’s top five leagues: Arteta, Howe…

The leaders of Arsenal, Atletico Madrid and PSG 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 at the time of writing.

10. Luis Enrique – 3 years

Three Ligue 1 titles and back-to-back Champions League triumphs… Enrique’s not done too bad at PSG, has he?

9. Daniel Farke – 3 years

Farke has been at Leeds for three years, taking over after relegation from the Premier League in 2023, and has won over most of the Elland Road faithful.

He got Leeds out of the Championship at the second attempt, losing the play-off final before going up as champions in 2025.

Many expected Farke’s side to go straight back down, but a laser-like focus on physicality in the summer window and an inspired change in formation at the end of November saw Leeds stay up with ease.

Now they’re about to break the club transfer record on James Trafford, widely regarded as England’s next number one. For now, Farke walks on water.

8. Jose Bordalas – 3 years and 2 months

Getafe are La Liga’s resident stone in the shoe, never easy or pleasant to play against.

But the side from an unlovely satelite city of Madrid punches above its weight and Bordalas is a large part of the reason why.

He returned to the club in April 2023, keeping the side up with seven games remaining, before stabilising Getafe in mid-table once more.

They’ll play Conference League football this season after finishing seventh in 2025-26, another impressive achievement.

7. Sebastian Hoeness – 3 years and 3 months

Linked with a host of Premier League jobs after his exploits at Stuttgart, Hoeness has been a success in his three years in charge.

Fired by the goals of Deniz Undav, Stuttgart reached the Champions League in 2024 for the first time in 14 years.

Hoeness also won the German Cup 12 months later in the club’s first major honour since winning the Bundesliga in 2007.

They’ll be back in the Champions League next year after finishing 4th in the league this season.

6. Jose Alberto Lopez – 3 years and 7 months

Racing Santander are staples of the La Liga that exists solely in our imagination, but they were only promoted back to Spain’s top flight in May.

That was down to Lopez’s management; he took over in December 2022 and eventually ended 14 years of exile.

The Estadio El Sardinero will be hosting Barcelona, Real Madrid and the rest next season and traditionalists everywhere are nodding their heads in silent approval.

5. Unai Emery – 3 years and 8 months

There’s every chance Emery rises to the top of this list in the coming years; Aston Villa are built around their manager and the Spaniard is central to their entire project.

Since taking over from Steven Gerrard in 2022, Emery has established Villa in the upper echelons of the Premier League and recently broke their 30-year trophy drought by winning the Europa League.

He also got them to the Champions League quarter-finals in 2025 and will be back in the competition next year. It’s hard to imagine Villa without him.

4. Eddie Howe – 4 Years and 8 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, but reports out of Tyneside suggest that he’ll stay.

3. Manuel Pellegrini – 5 Years and 11 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. And now he’s led them to the Champions League for the first time in two decades.

2. Mikel Arteta – 6 Years and 7 Months

The Spaniard has been in charge at Arsenal for over six years and enjoyed a flying start, winning both the FA Cup and Community Shield in his first year at the helm.

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

Questions that look set to be answered definitively over the coming fortnight. The biggest two weeks of Arteta’s career await.

1. Diego Simeone – 14 Years and 7 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.

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