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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Jonathan Wilson

The five big beasts are gone: who will be the Premier League’s next alpha manager?

the Premier League EPL Mikel Arteta Arsenal Andoni Iraola Pep Guardiola Unai Emery Arsène Wenger Chelsea José Mourinho
From back-left: José Mourinho, Jürgen Klopp, Alex Ferguson, Arsène Wenger and Pep Guardiola. From front-left: Andoni Iraola, Mikel Arteta and Enzo Maresca
The big beasts of the Premier League and the possible contenders to join their realm this season. Composite: Getty Images, Reuters

This used to be a land of giants. This used to be a land where big men fought. This used to be a land where Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsène Wenger tussled, then José Mourinho joined the fray. This used to be a land where Jürgen Klopp made Pep Guardiola reconsider, and he changed his style and won anyway.

Not any more. Next season will be the first since the inaugural Premier League in 1992 not to feature any of the five big managerial beasts – not Ferguson, not Wenger, not Mourinho, not Klopp and not Guardiola.

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