Below is a list of all the permanent managers that Doncaster Rovers have had since the appointment of Arthur Porter in 1920. In the 41 years prior to Porter, the team was selected by club committee, a standard practice by football clubs at the time. After Dean Saunders left to manage Wolverhampton Wanderers, Brian Flynn became the clubs 38th full-time manager.
| Name | From | To | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brian Flynn | Jan 2013 | ||
| Dean Saunders | Sept 2011 | Jan 2013 | |
| Sean O'Driscoll | Sept 2006 | Sept 2011 | |
| Mickey Walker | Sept 2006 | Caretaker manager | |
| Dave Penney | Jan 2002 | Aug 2006 | |
| Steve Wignall | May 2000 | Jan 2002 | |
| Dave Penney/ Mark Atkins |
Apr 2000 | May 2000 | Player/caretaker managers |
| Ian Snodin | Aug 1998 | Apr 2000 | Player/manager |
| Mark Weaver/ Danny Bergara |
Dec 1997 | May 1998 | Bergara was appointed Director of Football and worked alongside general manager Mark Weaver as the "management team" |
| Danny Bergara | Nov 1997 | ||
| Dave Cowling | Oct 1997 | ||
| Colin Richardson | Sep 1997 | Caretaker manager | |
| Kerry Dixon | Aug 1996 | Aug 1997 | Player/manager |
| Sammy Chung | Jul 1994 | Aug 1996 | |
| Ian Atkins | Jan 1994 | June 1994 | Atkins made seven appearances during 1993–4 but was not a "player-manager" |
| Tony Cunningham | Dec 1993 | Jan 1994 | Player/caretaker manager |
| Steve Beaglehole | Nov 1991 | Dec 1993 | |
| Billy Bremner | June 1989 | Nov 1991 | |
| Joe Kinnear | Mar 1989 | June 1989 | |
| Dave Mackay | Dec 1987 | Mar 1989 | |
| Dave Cusack | Oct 1985 | Dec 1987 | Player/manager |
| Billy Bremner | Nov 1979 | Oct 1985 | Bremner made 5 appearances for the club between 1980 and 1982 |
| Cyril Knowles | Nov 1979 | Caretaker manager | |
| Stan Anderson | Feb 1975 | Nov 1979 | |
| Johnny Quigley | Nov 1974 | Feb 1975 | Caretaker manager |
| Maurice Setters | June 1971 | Nov 1974 | |
| Lawrie McMenemy | Nov 1968 | May 1971 | |
| Jackie Bestall | Nov 1968 | Caretaker manager | |
| George Raynor | June 1967 | Nov 1968 | |
| Keith Kettleborough | Dec 1966 | May 1967 | Player/manager |
| Jackie Bestall/ Tom Garnett |
May 1966 | Dec 1966 | Garnett (secretary) and Bestall were in charge of team affairs until December 1966 |
| Jackie Bestall/ Frank Marshall |
Feb 1966 | May 1966 | Joint caretaker managers after Leivers resignation |
| Bill Leivers | Aug 1964 | Feb 1966 | Player/manager |
| Oscar Hold | Apr 1962 | Apr 1964 | |
| Frank Marshall | Mar 1962 | Apr 1962 | Caretaker manager |
| Danny Malloy | Aug 1961 | Mar 1962 | Player/manager. Malloy's title was "player-coach", but he was in charge of team affairs |
| Norman Curtis | Aug 1960 | Jul 1961 | Player/manager |
| Jackie Bestall | Apr 1959 | Aug 1960 | |
| Jack Crayston | June 1958 | Apr 1959 | |
| Syd Bycroft/ Jack Hodgson |
Jan 1958 | June 1958 | Joint managers |
| Peter Doherty | May 1949 | Jan 1958 | Doherty retired as a player after the 1952–3 season. From 1951 he simultaneously managed Northern Ireland. |
| Jackie Bestall | Feb 1946 | May 1949 | |
| Billy Marsden | Apr 1944 | Feb 1946 | |
| Fred Emery | Mar 1936 | Jul 1940 | Emery was appointed manager while still a player, but ceased playing after the 1935–36 season |
| David Menzies | June 1927 | Feb 1936 | |
| Dick Ray | June 1923 | May 1927 | |
| Arthur Porter | May 1922 | Mar 1923 | Porter was "secretary-manager", but was responsible for team matters |
| Harry Tufnell | May 1921 | Mar 1922 | |
| Arthur Porter | May 1920 | Mar 1921 |