A caretaker manager is someone who takes temporary charge of team affairs of a football club. This usually happens when the regular manager is sacked or leaves for a different club. However, a caretaker may also be appointed if the regular manager is ill or unable to attend to his usual duties.

Caretaker managers are normally appointed at short notice from within the club, usually an experienced player or a senior coach.

Famous examples include former West Ham United director Trevor Brooking, who was appointed as caretaker following Glen Roeder's illness at the end of the 2002/03 season, then again following Roeder's dismissal early in the 2003/04 season, and long-standing Arsenal assistant manager Stewart Houston, who stepped in after George Graham was abruptly sacked in the middle of 1994-95 and guided Arsenal to the 1995 European Cup Winners' Cup final.

People who have been caretaker managers

• Trevor Brooking
• John Gorman
• John Gregory
• Stewart Houston
• Lennie Lawrence
• Steve McCall
• Kevin Ratcliffe
• Alan Shearer
• John Sheridan
• Kevin Summerfield
• Phil Thompson
• Dennis Wise