Arsenal FC currently holds sixth place in the English Premier League, which is not something to scoff at. Nonetheless, the club failed to qualify for the Champions League last season and has not won the Premier League title in 14 years. Fingers are pointed at Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger. The 68-year-old has been with the club for 22 years, but now this is set to change. Critics are starting to look towards younger managers to take control of the league as it’s thought the younger managers have sharper minds, better physical strength, and a fresher outlook on the game. The league appears to have adopted the mindset of “out with the old, in with the new.” Evidence of this can be seen in recent rumors regarding Wenger’s potential replacement, Thomas Tuchel. The former German soccer manager and player is only 44 years old. Here are three other younger managers in the league that are giving the older managers a run for their money.
Pep Guardiola
The Spaniard was previously regarded as one of the best players of his generation. Now as the manager of Manchester City, Pep Guardiola has done an excellent job. The 47-year-old has been Manchester City’s manager since 2016, and prior to that, he coached FC Bayern Munich. Following Guardiola’s philosophy of committing fewer tackles and maintaining more possession, Manchester City has earned their spot as first in the Premier League for the 2017/2018 season. Out of 30 games, they have lost only one. Presently, Manchester City is among the top eight in the Champions League and there’s a very strong possibility they could win it.
Mauricio Pochettino
The former Argentinian player became manager of Tottenham Hotspur in May 2014. Since then, Tottenham has experienced 101 wins and only 44 losses. Tottenham’s stellar performance this season can largely be contributed to the 46-year-old’s coaching style. Mauricio Pochettino is vocal, competitive and pushes his players nearly to their breaking points in training. Pochettino has been known to hold drills in which he doesn’t relay the time to the players, causing them to work longer and harder. Tottenham is ranked fourth in the Premier League and out of 30 matches, they lost five. In terms of creating a promising future for the club, back in January of this year, Pochettino started a program within the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation to train younger players who want to pursue a career in coaching.
Eddie Howe
At 40 years old, Eddie Howe is practically a newborn compared to 68-year-old Wenger. As the youngest manager in the league, Howe became the caretaker boss of AFC Bournemouth in 2009, saving the team from relegation at the time. Prior to this, he was a former defender for Bournemouth. Since procuring his managerial position in 2012 with the club, Howe has made significant strides. In 2015, under his guidance, Bournemouth was promoted to the Premier League. The team currently holds the tenth spot in the 2017/2018 season; however, their play has earned them wins over both Chelsea and Arsenal. Howe’s modest method of coaching coupled with his philosophy to attack and possess has rewarded him with much respect and consequently, the third spot on this list.