Jose Mourinho’s position as the king of Christmas among the Premier League managers is under threat from Pep Guardiola.
The Manchester United manager boasts the best points-per-match record among the 20 managers in the division over the match rounds that start on Boxing Day and run until the match round starting on New Year's Day.
Mourinho has claimed 49 points from 20 festive matches. This average of 2.45 points per match (ppm) is exceeded overall only by Manuel Pellegrini, who in his three seasons at Manchester City was never beaten at Christmas, winning seven and drawing two for an average of 2.56ppm.
Even if his United team claim a perfect record from their matches at home to Burnley, away to Southampton and at Everton, Mourinho would be unable to better that ratio.
But a 100% festive run would keep Mourinho second in the all-time table, taking his average to 2.52ppm.
In his first season in the Premier League, Guardiola won two and lost one match with City.
If the league leaders were to win all three matches this time around, at Newcastle United and Crystal Palace, then at home to Watford, Guardiola's ppm for the festive period would rise to 2.5.
Newcastle fans will be will be hoping that Rafael Benitez’s strong return at Christmas time can be maintained with their matches against City, Brighton & Hove Albion and Stoke City.
The Spaniard's 2.29ppm is the second-best among present managers in the Premier League.
Top 5 managerial festive records*
| Manager | Matches | Pts | PPM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manuel Pellegrini | 9 | 23 | 2.56 |
| Jose Mourinho | 20 | 49 | 2.45 |
| Trevor Francis | 10 | 24 | 2.40 |
| Roy Evans | 11 | 26 | 2.36 |
| Rafael Benitez | 21 | 48 | 2.29 |
*minimum six matches
Below Benitez, it is tight between Arsene Wenger, Jurgen Klopp and Mauricio Pochettino, all of whom average 2.17ppm.
David Moyes also boasts strong festive form, and will look to add to his ppm of 1.51 when West Ham United face AFC Bournemouth, West Bromwich Albion and Tottenham Hotspur.
One manager for whom the festive period has brought little joy is Brighton’s Chris Hughton who will be looking to build upon a return of only one point from six matches when his Seagulls team face Chelsea, Newcastle and AFC Bournemouth.
Present managerial festive records*
| Manager | Matches | Pts | PPM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jose Mourinho | 20 | 49 | 2.45 |
| Rafael Benitez | 21 | 48 | 2.29 |
| Arsene Wenger | 58 | 126 | 2.17 |
| Jurgen Klopp | 6 | 13 | 2.17 |
| Mauricio Pochettino | 12 | 26 | 2.17 |
| Mark Hughes | 31 | 59 | 1.90 |
| David Moyes | 37 | 56 | 1.51 |
| Sean Dyche | 6 | 8 | 1.33 |
| Eddie Howe | 6 | 6 | 1.00 |
| Alan Pardew | 24 | 22 | 0.92 |
| Sam Allardyce | 39 | 32 | 0.82 |
| Roy Hodgson | 12 | 9 | 0.75 |
| Chris Hughton | 6 | 1 | 0.17 |
*minimum six matches
