Being a Premier League manager is an immensely stressful affair. The weight of the world, and all its expectations, are permanently on your shoulders.

The fickle fates of football decide your employment status. The fans love or hate you depending on that weekend’s result.

Oldest Premier League Managers:

1. Roy Hodgson – 76 years, 192 days
2. Sir Bobby Robson – 71 years, 192 days
3. Sir Alex Ferguson – 71 years, 139 days
4. Neil Warnock – 70 years, 162 days
5. Claudio Ranieri – 70 years, 93 days

These five were immune to such concerns, and the same went for the passing of time. Even in their seventh decade they used the team coach in lieu of their bus passes. 

5) Claudio Ranieri

Never a man to hide his emotions, Ranieri was teary-eyed this week as his Cagliari side played out the final moments of the 2023/24 season. 

After 38 years in management, the man who once made an absolute mockery of the Premier League betting with Leicester, was hanging up his suit.

Players of both sides applauded, even the referee joined in, while a banner held aloft in the home end spoke volumes and spoke for many. “Eternal gratitude to a great man.”

Enjoy your retirement Claudio. You made us smile and rocked football to its very core. 

4) Neil Warnock

Managers as tumultuous as Warnock are not supposed to spend 44 years in the dug-out. They’re supposed to burn bright and burn out, complaining to all who will listen that the ‘game’s gone’. 

So many of Warnock’s ilk found themselves out of step with modern football, dismissed as dinosaurs and put out to pasture. 

To ‘Colin’s enormous credit however he rolled with the punches, evolved along the way, and maintained a reputation as someone who can fix a club up and put it back on track. Even at the vintage age of 75 he’s still doing that, stepping in as interim boss at Aberdeen, his 20th club.

His last game in charge of a Premier League side saw him take an already doomed Cardiff to Old Trafford for the conclusion of the 2018/19 season. Against expectation, the Bluebirds won. Of course they did. 

3) Sir Alex Ferguson

On two prior occasions, Manchester United’s overlord had intended to call it a day.

The first time he was talked out of it. The second extension came about when Sergio Aguero struck one of the most dramatic and devastating goals in living memory. 

After reclaiming English football’s perch by winning a multitude of titles, the great man wasn’t going to go out on that.

So he stayed, hauling and cajoling what was in truth a bang average United side to a 13th Premier League crown. It was arguably his finest ever achievement. 

Ferguson’s final game took place at the Hawthorns in 2013 and appropriately entertained, producing the only 5-5 scoreline in the top-flight in modern times. 

2) Sir Bobby Robson

In two decades as a player, and three decades in management, Robson fulfilled monumental achievements, just one of which would be enough for some. 

He made numerous appearances for his country. He guided both Ipswich Town and Barcelona to European honours. He won the league in Holland and Portugal and navigated England to a World Cup semi-final.

Yet throughout this extraordinary brace of careers there was always a hole that needed filling, that being the chance to either play for or manage his beloved Newcastle United.

At the grand age of 66 that dream came true in 1999, Robson steadying the ship in the North-East and staying for five seasons. His sad passing in 2009 is still felt today. 

1) Roy Hodgson

Across eight countries and including two stints as an international boss, Hodgson saw it all in management. Tactics evolve and other tactics die out. Players making their debuts and those same players retiring.

By the time he took on the reins at Crystal Palace he was a walking, talking encyclopaedia of a game that so obsessed him.

Regrettably, in his second spell at Selhurst Park, all of that vast experience counted for little, with the Eagles struggling and even tipped to drop in the football betting.

And so when Palace lost to Chelsea in February 2024, the club reluctantly took the decision to part ways with their veteran gaffer, seeking a new direction.

To put Hodgson’s age that afternoon into perspective, only half of his Premier League peers (in 2023/24) were born when he started out at Halmstad in 1976.

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*Credit for the photos in this article belongs to Alamy*

When Pep Guardiola arrived on our shores a section of the British media were rooting for him to fail.

Who did this guy think he was, coming over here with his fancy tiki-taka ways? The hustle and bustle of the English Premier League would soon put him right.

A costly error by Manchester City goalkeeper Claudio Bravo therefore, early into the Catalan’s tenure, brought a degree of satisfaction, acting as proof that playing out from the back – and sacrilegiously not practising tackling – were highfalutin ideas best left on the continent.

Fast forward to the here and now and of course we know what transpired, for Guardiola has not only conquered the Premier League but heavily influenced every corner of English football. 

These days, even in the lower leagues, if a keeper goes long it is greeted by surprise, while a much greater emphasis on the technical and tactical sides of the game have a direct link back to the coaching genius. 

So far, so common knowledge.

Yet a really interesting aspect to Guardiola’s long and hugely successful stint in England is increasingly becoming apparent as his stay extends to a seventh season.

Because now not only is the feted grandmaster changing our game for the better from within, but we are beginning to see evidence of a long-term legacy.

It’s a legacy that comes in the form of a handful of proteges, who either played under the master-tactician or learnt alongside him in the dug-out, who are excelling in their own regard.

Crucially, by carrying forward their mentor’s philosophies we can safely surmise that Pep-ball is here to stay and though a great many of us will be delighted at that prospect, what’s the betting those journalists alluded to above will be furious. 

Never mind them though. What matters – and what excites – is that to date the wider implementation of Guardiola’s ways and means is proving to be a success. 

Indeed, two sides currently inhabiting the top six of the top-flight have coaches who served a priceless apprenticeship under the Catalan, meaning intriguingly that two former charges of Guardiola are now his major rivals. 

Top of the pile and short-priced in the Premier League odds against all expectation is Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal, the former midfielder having spent three years as Pep’s assistant, soaking up every morsel of knowledge from the managerial legend.

Competing for a top four spot meanwhile, having completely transformed Manchester United’s fortunes is Erik Ten Hag.

Between 2013 and 2015, the Dutchman took charge of Bayern Munich’s reserves during a period when Guardiola bossed the German champions.

Pertinently, as is common with most big teams these days, the second string were instructed to mirror the style and set-up of the first team.

Both men undeniably have their own ideas and answer only to themselves. Yet watching the Gunners and the Red Devils in action it’s impossible not to see key elements of Pep-ball at play. That’s because both men learnt from the best.

This same thinking applies too in the Championship, where Guardiola’s former foot-soldier Vincent Kompany is succeeding in some style at Burnley, while in La Liga, Xavi has got Barcelona back to winning ways, largely by replicating the fluid, possession-based fare he learned from his former gaffer. 

And even now, in the present day Pep's influence is clear for all to see. Enzo Maresca, the new manager of Chelsea Football Club, was one of Guardiola's assistants at Manchester City just two years ago.

Maresca led Leicester to the Championship title in 2023/24 and he's been rewarded with the Stamford Bridge job. His style of play and tactical nous are very much based on Guardiola's own philosophy.

In 2016, Pep Guardiola came to the Premier League and made it more beautiful. Thankfully, all the evidence so far suggests that beauty won’t be fleeting.

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*Credit for the photos in this article belongs to Alamy*

Euro 2024 kicks off on 14th June with Germany taking on Scotland in Munich. The tournament runs until the final on 14th July.

Pre-tournament Euro 2024 odds price England and France as the two betting favourites, with the Three Lions looking to go one step further after losing the Euro 2020 final on penalties.

Italy are the defending champions, while hosts Germany are aiming to win the competition for a record fourth time. Die Mannschaft have not won the competition since 1996. 

Stadiums & Host Cities For Euro 2024:

• Olympiastadion – Berlin
• Cologne Stadium – Cologne
• Signal Iduna Park – Dortmund
• Merkur Spiel-Arena – Düsseldorf 
• Deutsche Bank Park – Frankfurt
• Veltins-Arena – Gelsenkirchen 
• Volksparkstadion – Hamburg
• Red Bull Arena – Leipzig
• Allianz Arena – Munich
• MHPArena – Stuttgart

While none of the venues for Euro 2024 rank among the world’s 10 biggest stadia, there are still some seriously impressive arenas in use this summer. 

Olympiastadion

Home to the 2006 World Cup final and the 2015 Champions League final, the Olympiastadion in Berlin is one of Europe’s most famous stadiums.

The German Cup final is held at the venue every year, and it will host a quarter-final and the final this summer.

Berlin is a must-visit for any football fan. The city might not have the same footballing heritage as some other German cities, but it is a fascinating, varied place with immense recent history.

A tour of the Olympiastadion is well worth doing if you get the chance. 

Cologne Stadium

Home to FC Köln, Cologne Stadium was reconstructed ahead of the 2006 World Cup. It hosted the 2020 Europa League final.

While the stadium will not be the same without the ferocious home support, it is still an impressive place to watch (and probably play) football.

Perhaps surprisingly, the ground has only been given one knockout match.

Signal Iduna Park

With a round of 16 match and a semi-final allocated, plenty of fans are going to get to enjoy the experience of a matchday at Signal Iduna Park.

While there will be no Yellow Wall, the home of Borussia Dortmund is still an incredible place for fans to visit. 

Dortmund was the home of industry a few decades ago, but the city has evolved into a tech hub.

Their football team has been reborn over the last 15 years, and there are few cities in Europe as passionate about sport. 

Merkur Spiel-Arena

It’s not often a second-tier team gets to host major international matches.

While Düsseldorf finished third in the 2. Bundesliga, their arena is more than worthy of getting a few Euro 2024 fixtures. With a 54,600 capacity, this is the fourth-biggest stadium in use this summer.

It is the only one of the 10 venues which was not used for the 2006 World Cup, though Düsseldorf did host matches for Euro 1988.  

Deutsche Bank Park

Home to five games at Euro 2024, including Denmark vs England and Switzerland vs Germany, this is not the first time Deutsche Bank Park will host major international matches. 

Eintracht Frankfurt’s stadium is the only venue in Hesse being used for Euro 2024 fixtures this summer.

They could get a blockbuster round of 16 match with Group F winners (likely Portugal) facing a third-placed team from A, B, or C (possibly Spain, Croatia, or Italy). 

Veltins-Arena

It’s been a bleak couple of years for Schalke. After suffering relegation in 2022-23, they could only muster a 10th-placed finish in 2. Bundesliga in 2023-24.

The Euros at least will provide a brief distraction from the home team’s woes.

This was the location of Portugal’s shootout success over England at the 2006 World Cup. Veltins-Arena also hosted the 2004 Champions League final. 

Volksparkstadion

Having hosted matches at the 1974 Euros and two World Cups, the Volksparkstadion is familiar with the demands of tournament football.

The venue has been through plenty of changes over the years, however. The most notable were made in the late 1990s, including the removal of the athletics track.

It was the adopted home of Shakhtar Donetsk for this season’s Champions League. 

Red Bull Arena

Recently announced as the host of the 2026 Europa Conference League final, the Red Bull Arena might be home to Germany’s most controversial football club, but that hasn’t stopped RB Leipzig from hosting three group matches and a round of 16 clash.

The group fixtures are particularly appealing with Croatia facing Italy, the Netherlands taking on France, and Portugal going up against the Czech Republic.

Formerly known as the Zentralstadion, the Red Bull Arena is referred to as the RB Arena for UEFA matches - and England's base camp for Euro 2024 isn't a million miles away from the iconic venue.

It has been listed as Leipzig Stadium on the official UEFA website, but it is impossible to ignore the stadium’s association with the energy drink company. 

Allianz Arena

Opened in 2005, Bayern Munich’s home stadium hosted the Champions League final in 2012, and will host the finale of Europe’s premier club competition again in 2025. It will host a round of 16 match and the first semi-final of Euro 2024. 

The venue held several matches at Euro 2020. With a capacity of 66,000, it is the second-largest stadium for this summer’s Euros. 

Munich is a fun city to visit with plenty of history and an array of beer halls, which are bound to be packed with fans during the tournament. 

MHPArena

There’s plenty of football history at the MHPArena. Stuttgart have also enjoyed an excellent campaign, which will have contributed to a feel-good campaign around the city. 

The stadium has had plenty of work done over the years, which is hardly surprising seeing as it was initially opened in 1933.

Over £100 million has been spent getting the venue ready for Euro 2024, with the lower level of the main stand completely rebuilt and numerous facilities revamped.

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*Credit for the photos in this article belongs to Alamy*