Simeone, Guardiola & Co. - The longest serving managers in the top-five leagues

In a footballing era defined by instant results and ruthless sackings, longevity in the dugout has become a rare commodity. While managerial hot seats across Europe’s top five leagues rarely stay warm for long, a few coaches have defied that trend - building legacies, shaping club identities, and outlasting multiple transfer windows and boardroom shake-ups.

From tactical innovators to cultural cornerstones, these long-serving managers have become fixtures of their clubs, guiding them through the highs, the lows, and everything in between. Transfermarkt takes a closer look at the men who’ve stood the test of time on the touchline, and calculated the current longest serving managers in Europe's top-five leagues (Premier League, LaLiga, Serie A, Bundesliga & Ligue 1).

The longest serving managers in the top-five leagues

Leading the way, having incredibly been Bundesliga side Heidenheim's manager for as long as 17 years and 10 months, is German Frank Schmidt. The 51-year-old took over in 2007, when he was just 34, and the club were in the fifth-tier of German football. An inspiring story. In second position is Atlético Madrid boss, Diego Simeone. The Argentine took charge in 2011 and has been in the Atléti dugout for 13 years and six months. Third place goes to Manchester City's Pep Guardiola, who has now been at the Etihad for nine years.

There is then somewhat of a drop-off to fourth, with Arsenal's Mikel Arteta occupying that spot, having been in charge at the Emirates for five years and six months. He is followed in fifth by veteran Manuel Pellegrini who has been in charge of Real Betis for four years and 11 months. Fulham's Marco Silva takes sixth, having been at Craven Cottage for four years. In seventh is Míchel, who has been Girona boss for four years. Eighth place goes to Newcastle's Eddie Howe, who has been Magpies manager for three years and eight months. Athletic Club's Ernesto Valverde takes ninth having been in the dugout for the Basque club for three years, whilst Auxerre's Christophe Pélissier (two years and eight months) completes the top 10.