The managerial merry-go-round never stops spinning in the Premier League, as evidenced by Erik ten Hag’s shocking departure from Manchester United. With the Dutchman now out of a job, speculation is rife about which gaffer might be next to face the axe. From the seemingly invincible to those already on thin ice, we’ve ranked all 20 Premier League managers by their current job security.
The Untouchables
At the very top sit Pep Guardiola (Manchester City) and Mikel Arteta (Arsenal), two managers who have transformed their clubs and appear to have ironclad grips on their positions. Guardiola, the league’s longest-serving boss, has delivered trophy after trophy to the Etihad Stadium, while Arteta has resurrected a flagging Arsenal side and turned them into genuine title contenders. Barring a catastrophic collapse or an unexpected desire to move on, these two seem certain to remain in their posts for the foreseeable future.
Close behind is Thomas Frank (Brentford), who continues to work miracles on a shoestring budget. The Bees have become a formidable Premier League outfit under the Dane’s stewardship, consistently outperforming clubs with far greater resources. Frank’s innovative tactics and ability to get the best out of his players make him a hot commodity, but Brentford will surely do everything in their power to keep him at the Community Stadium.
The New Kids on the Block
Several managers who recently took charge of their clubs have made impressive starts, which should buy them some breathing room even if results take a turn for the worse. Arne Slot has hit the ground running at Liverpool, Unai Emery has transformed Aston Villa into top-four contenders, and Andoni Iraola has worked wonders at newly-promoted Bournemouth. While it’s still early days, these managers have shown enough to suggest they’ll be given ample time to implement their visions.
The Pressure Cooker
At the other end of the spectrum are those managers who will be feeling the heat after underwhelming starts to the season. Julen Lopetegui (West Ham) and Russell Martin (Southampton) find themselves in precarious positions, with their sides struggling at the wrong end of the table despite significant summer investment. The notoriously trigger-happy owners at both clubs will be expecting a swift upturn in fortunes, or else they may be tempted to make a change.
The Premier League is the most ruthless managerial environment in world football. You’re only ever a few bad results away from the sack, regardless of your track record or the circumstances you’re working under.
– A veteran Premier League manager, speaking on condition of anonymity
Also under pressure are Eddie Howe (Newcastle) and Sean Dyche (Everton), albeit for different reasons. Howe was backed heavily in the transfer market but has so far failed to deliver the expected improvement, with Newcastle languishing in mid-table obscurity. Dyche, meanwhile, continues to work miracles at Goodison Park, but with new owners on the horizon, he may find his position under threat if they decide a fresh approach is needed.
The Wildcards
Then there are the wildcards – managers whose fates are almost impossible to predict. Gary O’Neill (Wolverhampton) has endured a nightmare start to the season but may be cut some slack given the circumstances of his appointment. Conversely, Oliver Glasner (Crystal Palace) exceeded all expectations last term but now finds his side flirting with relegation. It remains to be seen whether Palace’s notoriously fickle hierarchy will keep the faith if results don’t improve quickly.
- Managers sacked so far this season: 1 (Erik ten Hag, Man United)
- Average managerial tenure in the Premier League: 69 games (1.8 seasons)
Ultimately, a Premier League manager’s job security is only as good as their last result. With so much money and prestige at stake, clubs are often quick to pull the trigger at the first sign of trouble. For those at the wrong end of our ranking, the pressure is well and truly on to turn things around – or else face the same fate as Ten Hag.
