Who was the first non-British manager to win the Premier League?

Arsène Wenger was the first non-British manager to win the Premier League. The Frenchman led Arsenal to the 1997–98 title in his first full season in charge, becoming the first manager from outside Britain to win England’s modern top-flight championship.

Wenger had taken over at Arsenal in September 1996 after managing Nancy and Monaco in France, as well as Nagoya Grampus in Japan. His methods initially attracted curiosity and scepticism in England, particularly his emphasis on nutrition, training, scouting and technical football. Arsenal’s title challenge looked unlikely at one stage, because Manchester United held a substantial lead, but a powerful late-season run transformed the race.

Arsenal finished the campaign by winning the Premier League and FA Cup double. Wenger’s achievement is sometimes confused with later foreign winners such as José Mourinho, Claudio Ranieri and Roberto Mancini, but all of them came after Wenger’s breakthrough. He went on to win two more Premier League titles, including the unbeaten 2003–04 campaign, when Arsenal became known as “The Invincibles.”