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Ange Postecoglou off to best start in Premier League history ahead of Pep and Mourinho as forgotten managers make top 10


ANGE POSTECOGLOU has made the best start to life in the Premier League of any manager in the competition’s history.

The Tottenham boss has collected has collected 23 points from his first nine Prem games, more than anyone else.

Ange Postecoglou has had a stunning, record-breaking start to life at TottenhamCredit: Alamy
Spurs have had a great start and sit top of the Premier LeagueCredit: Getty

Postecoglou, 58, guided Spurs to a 2-0 win over Fulham last night – adding to triumphs over Manchester United, Bournemouth, Burnley, Sheffield United, Liverpool and Luton.

Tottenham’s two draws came in away matches against Brentford and Arsenal, both finishing 2-2.

The Aussie wasn’t overly impressed with all aspects of his side’s performance last night, accusing his players of “taking liberties” at times against Marco Silva’s men.

But he has plenty of reasons to be cheerful, including this astonishing record.

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Guus Hiddink and Mike Walker have the joint second-best record of bosses in their first nine Premier League games, both accruing 22 points, one fewer than Postecoglou.

Hiddink’s haul came in 2009, when he took over as Chelsea’s interim boss following the departure of Luiz Felipe Scolari.

Walker, meanwhile, oversaw Norwich’s brilliant start to the inaugural Premier League campaign in 1992.

Maurizio Sarri, Frank Clark and Thomas Tuchel were all unbeaten in their opening nine Prem games, picking up six wins and three draws from nine.

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No manager has picked up more points from their first nine Prem games than Ange Postecoglou

Sarri and Tuchel both had their impressive starts at Chelsea, while Clark succeeded Brian Clough at Nottingham Forest.

Carlo Ancelotti, Unai Emery and John Gregory also grabbed 21 points from nine matches – winning seven and losing two at Chelsea, Arsenal and Aston Villa respectively.

Pep Guardiola managed 20 points from his first nine games at Manchester City in 2016.

City won their first six Prem matches under Guardiola… before losing 2-0 at Tottenham. Home draws with Everton and Southampton followed.

A remarkable list of managers have also managed 20 points in their first nine Prem games.

Like Guardiola, Tim Sherwood and Phil Brown grabbed 20 points.

Sherwood was Tottenham’s caretaker boss at the time, following the sacking of Andre Villas-Boas.

Brown, meanwhile, had taken Hull City up from the Championship, with his side stunning the Prem upon their arrival – with their start including wins at Tottenham, Arsenal and Newcastle.

Phil Brown had unorthodox methodsCredit: PA:Empics Sport
Tom Sherwood managed 20 points from nine games at TottenhamCredit: Action Images – Reuters

Chelsea trio Jose Mourinho, Luiz Felipe Scolari and Avram Grant managed 20 points apiece from their first nine games – although only the former won the league.

Grant was replaced by Scolari after coming second and losing the Champions League final – before the Brazilian was sacked by February 2009 and replaced by Hiddink.

Of the Prem’s current crop, Erik ten Hag managed 16 points from his first nine games in the competition last year.

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Mikel Arteta picked up just three wins from his first nine games as Arsenal boss after taking over from Emery, earning 14 points.

Mauricio Pochettino and Jurgen Klopp grabbed just 12 points each from their opening nine Prem matches in charge of Southampton and Liverpool respectively.

Jose Mourinho won the Premier League title in his first season at ChelseaCredit: Reuters
Pep Guardiola won his six Prem games before losing 2-0 at TottenhamCredit: EPA


Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk


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