Ranking Millwall FC’s top 7 best managers based on PPG – Neil Harris

With Neil Harris back in the dugout at the Den, Millwall raced away from the lower reaches of the Championship and ended their campaign comfortably mid-table.

But when the 46-year-old put pen to paper in February and agreed to take over as Lions’ manager for the second time, he inherited a side sleepwalking into a relegation battle.

At times this season, Millwall looked likely to face the drop. Before Harris’ appointment, the South-East London club had lost eleven of their last nineteen matches under former manager Joe Edwards.

Yet in no time at all, Harris steadied the ship and implemented a winning system. Following his appointment, the team won eight of their thirteen remaining games to pull well clear of the dreaded drop zone.

Back at the club he is most synonymous with, Harris has enjoyed a positive start to life back in Bermondsey.

He makes the cut as FLW ranks Millwall FC’s top 7 best managers based on points per game, using stats from Transfermarkt.

We’ve only selected Millwall bosses who have managed the club 25 times or more

7Willie Donachie

While Willie Donachie’s time in charge of Millwall lasted less than a year, the former Scotland international played a pivotal role in leading the club’s 2006-07 League One survival effort and will be remembered for his positive effect on the team that season.

With the side in the relegation zone, Donachie was promoted from his position as assistant manager following the sacking of Michael Spackman.

In guiding the team to a mid-table finish, he would earn a 2-year contract with the Lions. But after a poor run of form, Donachie was sacked as Millwall boss in March 2008. He departed the Den having averaged 1.39 points per game during his time at the club.

6Gary Rowett

Gary Rowett’s four-year stint as Millwall boss was, for the most part, a resounding success.

He brought stability following Harris’ departure in 2019 and led the club to top-half finishes in each campaign.

Although he failed to mastermind a break into the play-offs during his time in the Millwall dugout, his appointment brought continuity and allowed the side to progress.

Rowett, who maintained an impressive 1.45 points per game average across 196 games, left the Lions by mutual consent in 2023.

5Dennis Wise

The most interesting inclusion on this list, Dennis Wise enjoyed a short but prosperous time in charge of Millwall, operating in the lesser-seen player-manager role from 2003-2005.

During his brief spell in the job, Wise delivered instant success as he led the club to the 2004 FA Cup final.

Although Millwall were beaten by Manchester United at Wembley, their participation in the final granted the Lions entry into the UEFA Cup the following season.

With Wise at the helm and on the pitch, Millwall were defeated 4-2 on aggregate by Hungarian side Ferencvaros; this remains the club’s only European tie.

Wise sustained a 1.48 points per game average before he stepped down in 2005 after a disagreement with Chairman Jeff Burnige.

4Kenny Jackett

Kenny Jackett is by far the longest-serving Millwall manager on this list. In 2013, he left his post as the Lions’ boss to open up space for fresh ideas.

At the time, Millwall were reluctant to part ways with their managerial mainstay. The former Wales international guided the club through 304 games and delivered play-off promotion in 2010 as his side beat Swindon at Wembley to return to the Championship.

Following his exit, the 62-year-old has since managed several other EFL clubs, including Portsmouth and Leyton Orient. He is currently working as the director of football at Gillingham.

Throughout his lengthy Millwall tenure, Jackett averaged an exceptional 1.51 points per game.

3Neil Harris (First Term)

After multiple stints as caretaker manager, Neil Harris was confirmed as Millwall boss in 2015, following the sacking of Ian Holloway.

While Harris took over a side doomed to relegation from the Championship that season, he would successfully plot the club’s return to the second-tier two years later.

Having failed to deliver play-off promotion at the first attempt, in 2017, Harris led Millwall to a 1-0 victory over Bradford City at Wembley.

The former Millwall player galvanised his team to successive finishes away from the relegation zone on their return to the second tier and would resign from his post as the Lions boss in 2019 with an excellent 1.52 average points per game.

2Mark McGhee

Another Scotsman on the list, Mark McGhee took on the Millwall job in 2000, replacing Keith Stevens.

With experience managing Leicester City and Wolves, McGhee hit the ground running in South East London, driving his side to instant promotion from division two.

The next season, his team suffered play-off heartbreak as they were knocked out by a last-minute Birmingham City goal at the semi-final stage.

Throughout his tenure, McGhee developed a competitive side that consistently battled at the right end of the division. He parted ways with the club in 2003.

Although he fell short of delivering promotion to the Premier League, at 66, McGhee still ranks as the second-best Millwall manager ever, having averaged 1.61 points per game.

1Keith Stevens

Keith Stevens was unfortunate not to reap the rewards of his hard work during his short spell as Millwall manager.

A dependable defender, Stevens was a one-club-man and made over 450 appearances for the Lions. His reign in the lead role began in 1998 and developed a squad worthy of winning promotion to Division One, but under his guidance, the team fell short.

After his departure, McGhee would achieve instant success with the team Stevens had built.

During his two years in charge at Millwall, Stevens maintained an unmatched 1.73 average points per game. This figure ranks him well clear of the chasing pack at the top of our list.

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