Burnley Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Burnley, Lancashire. Founded on 18 May 1882, the club was one of the first to become professional (in 1883), putting pressure on the Football Association (FA) to permit payments to players.Simpson (2007), pp. 12–25 In 1885, the FA legalised professionalism, so the team entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1885–86, and were one of the twelve founding members of the Football League in 1888–89. Burnley have played in all four professional divisions of English football from 1888 to the present day. The team have been champions of England twice, in 1920–21 and 1959–60, have won the FA Cup once, in 1913–14, and have won the FA Charity Shield twice, in 1960 and 1973. Burnley were the second, and are one of only five teams to have won all four professional divisions of English football, along with Wolverhampton Wanderers, Preston North End, Sheffield United and Portsmouth.
From 1882 to 1894, the Burnley team was selected by the board of directors or a committee whose secretary had the same powers and role as a manager has today.Simpson (2007), p. 540 In August 1894, the club appointed a team manager for the first time. Burnley-born Harry Bradshaw was appointed; he had been involved with the club since its foundation in 1882 and he had been a committee member since 1887. Scotsman Frank Hill, who was in charge of Burnley from October 1948 to August 1954, was the first non-English manager in the club's history.Simpson (2007), pp. 540–545 From 1954 to 1983, under chairman Bob Lord, only managers with a previous playing career at the club were appointed—this trend ended when John Bond took the post in June 1983.Quelch (2017), pp. 24–39 Two Burnley managers have died in the job—Spen Whittaker and John Haworth.Simpson (2007), p. 542
The longest-serving person to manage Burnley is Harry Potts, who was in charge of the club for a total of 745 competitive matches: from February 1958 to February 1970 and from February 1977 to October 1979.Simpson (2007), pp. 540–559 Haworth and Potts are Burnley's most successful managers in terms of competitive honours won, as Haworth claimed one FA Cup (1913–14) and one First Division title (1920–21), while Potts won one First Division championship (1959–60) and the 1960 Charity Shield.
From 2024 onwards, Burnley have appointed a head coach rather than a manager; the two roles are broadly similar, although a manager typically has greater influence over player recruitment. Throughout their history, Burnley have had 31 permanent managers or head coaches and 6 caretakers in total. The club's current head coach is Nicky Hayen, who was appointed in July 2026.
List of managers Key Statistics are correct as of the match played on 24 May 2026. Only competitive matches are counted, except the abandoned 1939–40 Football League season and matches in Wartime Leagues and Cups. Names of caretaker managers are highlighted in italics and marked with an asterisk (*). Names of player-managers are marked with a double-dagger ().
+List of Burnley F.C. managersManagerNationalityFromToMatchesWonDrawnLostWin%HonoursNotesSecond Division title: 1897–98Simpson (2007), pp. 54–74, 540Simpson (2007), pp. 74–92, 540–541Simpson (2007), pp. 90–116, 541–542Second Division promotion: 1912–13FA Cup winners: 1913–14First Division runners–up: 1919–20First Division title: 1920–21FA Charity Shield runners–up: 1921Simpson (2007), pp. 118–168, 542Simpson (2007), pp. 167–198, 542–543Simpson (2007), pp. 198–210, 543–544Selection CommitteeSimpson (2007), pp. 210–227, 544FA Cup runners–up: 1946–47Second Division promotion: 1946–47Simpson (2007), pp. 236–250, 544Simpson (2007), pp. 248–272, 545Simpson (2007), pp. 272–284, 545–546Simpson (2007), pp. 284–286, 545–546First Division title: 1959–60FA Charity Shield winners (shared): 1960First Division runners–up: 1961–62FA Cup runners–up: 1961–62Simpson (2007), pp. 284–334, 361–374, 504–507, 546–548Second Division title: 1972–73FA Charity Shield winners: 1973Texaco Cup runners–up: 1973–74Simpson (2007), pp. 332–358, 505–506, 548–549Simpson (2007), pp. 357–362, 506, 550Anglo–Scottish Cup winners: 1978–79Third Division title: 1981–82Simpson (2007), pp. 372–386, 400–410, 507–508, 550–551*Simpson (2007), pp. 384–388, 408–422, 507–509, 551–552Simpson (2007), pp. 388–392, 507, 552–553Simpson (2007), pp. 392–396, 507, 553–554Simpson (2007), pp. 396–398, 508, 554Simpson (2007), pp. 396–400, 508, 554–555Associate Members' Cup runners–up: 1987–88Fourth Division title: 1991–92Second Division play–off winners: 1993–94Simpson (2007), pp. 420–438, 509, 555–556*Simpson (2007), pp. 436–438 Simpson (2007), pp. 436–442, 510, 556–557 Simpson (2007), pp. 444–448, 510, 557–558Second Division (third tier) promotion: 1999–2000Simpson (2007), pp. 448–470, 510, 558–559Simpson (2007), pp. 472–482, 511, 559*Championship play–off winners: 2008–09**Championship promotion: 2013–14Championship title: 2015–16*Championship title: 2022–23Championship promotion: 2024–25*
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