Premier League Sets New Record As Nine Clubs Start Season With New Managers

Premier League Sets New Record As Nine Clubs Prepare For New Managers
The record surpasses the previous mark of eight managerial changes.
Arteta remains the league’s longest serving manager despite recent turnover.

The 2026/27 Premier League season is still weeks away, but it has already made history with an unprecedented number of managerial changes across the division.

Nine clubs are set to begin the new campaign with new permanent managers, the highest number ever recorded at the start of a Premier League season.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the changes have reshaped almost half of the league, with several high profile managers leaving their positions during the summer.

Liverpool appointed Andoni Iraola after Arne Slot was dismissed, while Manchester City handed the reins to Enzo Maresca following Pep Guardiola’s resignation, ending his highly successful spell at the Etihad Stadium.

Chelsea also made a managerial change, appointing Xabi Alonso after Liam Rosenior’s disappointing tenure came to an end. Bournemouth turned to Marco Rose after Iraola’s contract expired, while Nottingham Forest appointed Oliver Glasner following the dismissal of Vitor Pereira.

Crystal Palace replaced Glasner with Pierre Sage after the Austrian’s contract ended. Fulham appointed Alvaro Arbeloa after Marco Silva left at the expiration of his deal, while Ipswich Town selected Gary O’Neil to succeed Kieran McKenna, who resigned from his position.

Newcastle United are also expected to confirm Matthias Jaissle as Eddie Howe’s successor after the former England manager stepped down. His appointment would complete the record list of nine clubs beginning the campaign with new permanent managers.

The previous Premier League record was set in the 2016/17 season, when eight clubs started the campaign with new managers.

That summer saw Pep Guardiola arrive at Manchester City and Antonio Conte take charge of Chelsea, with the Italian leading the Blues to the Premier League title in his first season.

Before then, seven clubs changed managers ahead of the 1995/96 campaign, while six made managerial changes before the beginning of the 2012/13 season.

The rapid turnover has also significantly changed the Premier League’s managerial hierarchy.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, who was appointed in December 2019, is now the division’s longest serving manager despite being in charge for less than seven years. Across Europe’s five major leagues, only Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone has spent longer at his current club.

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery and Leeds United manager Daniel Farke are the only other Premier League managers to have remained in their positions for more than three seasons.

Sunderland manager Régis Le Bris, who was appointed in July 2024, is now the fourth longest serving manager in the division.

The pace of change is further highlighted by Manchester United manager Michael Carrick. Although he only became the club’s permanent manager in May after initially taking interim charge in January, only 10 Premier League managers have been in their current positions longer.

Premier League Sets New Record As Nine Clubs Start Season With New Managers

Carrick is also Manchester United’s seventh permanent manager since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013, highlighting the managerial instability that has followed one of the most successful eras in English football.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto De Zerbi, who was appointed in March, sits just behind Carrick in the current managerial longevity rankings.