The National League is a difficult division to navigate. One of the most important aspects of a club’s success in the fifth tier is their head coach.
As with every division of football in every league, most head coaches are just a few poor results from losing their jobs, and the fifth tier is no different. However, which current National League clubs have had the most bosses?
(Stats taken from the 2009/10 season until March 2024)
Hartlepool (31 head coaches since 2009)
The North East club has had an extraordinary 31 coaches since the 2009/10 season. The current incumbent is former Sunderland and England striker Kevin Philipps, who joined the club in January.
Phillips has made a mixed start but has a win ratio of 57.1, which is amongst the highest of any boss who has sat in the Pools hot seat in recent years.
The boss who has served the longest spell as Hartlepool boss is former Tranmere head coach Dave Challinor, who lasted two years in the job. He led the club to promotion to the EFL through the play-offs.
Many notable football personalities have also held the role at Hartlepool, including the likes of Craig Hignett, Ronnie Moore and Keith Curle.
Barnet (30 head coaches since 2009)
The club from the English capital has had more than their fair share of head coaches in recent years. The current boss, Dean Brennan, has been in place since June 2021 and is one of the more long-serving bosses.
With Barnet currently in second place in the table and heading for the promotion play-offs, his job remains safe for now.
Many famous names have managed Barnet in the club’s recent history. The most famous boss the club has ever employed was former Netherlands international Edgar Davids, who was in charge from December 2012 until January 2014.
The likes of Tony Cottee, Mark McGee, Harry Kewell, and Lawrie Sanchez have also held the role.
Martin Allen has been their go-to boss in the past. He has managed the Bees on five occasions, including caretaker spells. Overall, Allen managed Barnet in 144 games over his various spells at the club.
Oldham Athletic (28 head coaches since 2009)
Unsurprisingly, considering the Latics’ massive fall down the leagues in the last few decades, they have had many bosses recently. In fact, they had 28 since 2009.
That number is quite steep, considering the club has only had 50 managers in its entire history. Most of the bosses have managed the club in the EFL.
Former Tranmere boss Micky Mellon took on the role in October 2023. The north-west outfit is currently fighting for promotion back to the EFL, as play-off contenders.
Athletic have certainly had their fair share of big-name bosses. Former Everton hero Joe Royle and the likes of Paul Dickov, Harry Kewell, and John Sheridan have recently held the position at Boundary Park.
Former Manchester United and England midfielder Paul Scholes had a now infamously short-lived spell with the club, which lasted from February 11th 2019 until 14th March 2019.
York City (21 head coaches since 2009)
Until recent decades, York City had spent most of its existence in the Football League. However, the Yorkshire outfit hasn’t graced the EFL since season 2015/16.
Many bosses have tried to bring success to the Minstermen in the last decade and a half.
York has struggled in season 2023/24 and is in the National League relegation zone at the time of writing.
City’s most successful boss in recent years was John Askey, who led the team to promotion to the National League via the play-offs in 2022 but left the club the following November.
Other notable names from York’s recent coaching past include former Northern Ireland international Nigel Worthington and former Celtic and Scotland star Jackie McNamara.
Kidderminster Harriers (20 head coaches since 2009)
The Harriers have gone through 20 head coaches in the last decade and a half, searching for a recipe for success. Unfortunately, that search seems to have been in vain, as they are currently in the National League relegation zone.
Current boss Phil Brown (yes, that Phil Brown) has only been in charge since January, so there is still time to rescue the club from the spectre of relegation.
Many bosses have attempted to bring the club success in recent years, with varying success. Former top-flight players Andy Thorn, John Eustace and John Pemberton have all held the role of head coach at the club.
In terms of longest serving by games in recent seasons, Steve Burr wins the award, as he has managed the club in the most games, having taken charge of 206 games between January 2010 and January 2014.
Who is the best head coach to manage the clubs on our list?