Ranking Every Premier League Manager by How Likely They Are to be Sacked

Key Takeaways

• Premier League managers have been ranked based on how likely they are to be sacked next, based on factors such as performance and legacy.
• Notable safe managers include Pep Guardiola, Mikel Arteta, and Arne Slot.
• Erik ten Hag is under increasing pressure following Manchester United’s recent performances.

As we take stock of the current Premier League table, it’s clear that the managerial merry-go-round is not far away from spinning again. While some clubs have started the season with solid performances and seem to have their hierarchical structures firmly in place, the unforgiving nature of top-flight football ensures that not every manager will see out the campaign unscathed.

In this results-driven business, the margin for error is razor-thin. Erik ten Hag, who narrowly avoided becoming the final managerial casualty after Manchester United’s disastrous 2023-24 season, knows this all too well. Meanwhile, new arrivals like Arne Slot at Liverpool and Enzo Maresca at Chelsea may still have the luxury of time to shape their squads, but others may soon find themselves under intense scrutiny to turn things around.

Here, we explore the precarious world of Premier League management, assessing each manager’s likelihood of facing the sack this season. From those navigating the treacherous waters of relegation battles to those leading title-chasing sides, GIVEMESPORT examines the factors that could impact managerial job security – from team performance trends and the patience of the boardroom to the constant glare of media attention.

Read on to find out which managers are sitting comfortably in their positions and which ones might need to keep a wary eye on the shadows of potential successors.

Ranking factors

• Overall performance in the Premier League.
• Overall performance in external competitions including the FA Cup, League Cup and the Champions League.
• Recent form.
• Expectations of the club’s hierarchy.
• Manager’s legacy within the club.
• Fan feeling towards the manager.

20 Pep Guardiola, Manchester City

Last season’s league finish: 1st

Rankings usually don’t come much easier than this one. After all, having won the Premier League for a record-breaking fourth consecutive time last season, it would be quite remarkable if Pep Guardiola was under any sort of pressure in his position. This security is then only further tightened by the fact his contract runs out in 2025. So, in the worst possible scenario, Manchester City will wait until then to make a change.

Five wins from seven to kick-start the current campaign – with just the dramatic draw against Arsenal and another against Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United – is exactly what the doctor ordered, and Pep will be expecting another title to be lifted come May 2025. That’s if Mikel Arteta doesn’t upset the apple cart.

19 Mikel Arteta, Arsenal

Last season’s league finish: 2nd

While it wasn’t quite a faultless season, Arsenal still managed to finish second again last term as they look ever closer to inching towards their first Premier League title since 2004. Declan Rice enjoyed a superb maiden campaign at the Emirates and is already being earmarked for a future leadership role, according to journalist Dean Jones. With everything seemingly clicking at the moment, there is no jeopardy for Mikel Arteta, who looks to deliver promised glory after several near misses.

Not only does the Spaniard have credit in the bank as he has his team of previous underperformers now rubbing shoulders with the best in both England and the Champions League, but they are also among the favourites to go all the way in 2024/25 after the 42-year-old appears to be going through somewhat of a villain arc following a series of masterclasses in the ‘dark arts’.

18 Arne Slot, Liverpool

Last season’s league finish: 3rd

If there’s any team in world football that stands by the ethos that managers need time, it’s Liverpool. In many cases, Anfield’s helmsman is revered, cherished, and held in higher regard than the players. It’s a rare club tradition, but one that stretches as far back as the pre-Shankly years with Jurgen Klopp’s tenure the perfect encapsulation of such a notion.

Because of this, Arne Slot should feel pretty safe on Merseyside, but going off the start to life he’s enjoyed at Anfield, he shouldn’t be worried anyway. A dominant display against Manchester United in their third game of the season made it three wins from three for Liverpool’s new head coach. A surprising loss to Nottingham Forest halted that momentum, but there are still plenty of promising signs at Anfield, as they then clinched victories against AC Milan, Bournemouth, West Ham, Bologna and Crystal Palace. They now sit at the summit of the division – so there’s no chance he’s being sacked.

17 Unai Emery, Aston Villa

Last season’s league finish: 4th

The former Arsenal coach didn’t enjoy a great time in England while in north London but has managed to rejuvenate his Premier League reputation with a fantastic spell at Aston Villa so far. Indeed, Unai Emery has taken the Villans back into Europe – where he has a formidable record – and built an exciting team. With the likes of Ollie Watkins and Leon Bailey now darting about in attack, big things were expected of Villa in 2023/24, and they’re certainly living up to expectations.

Barring a loss to his former side Arsenal, the Villans have made an excellent start to 2024/25, too. Midweek Champions League football could prove to be a challenge for Emery’s squad, but now that they’re back in the big time, the Spaniard’s job is incredibly secure – especially since they’ve also won their first two games in the Champions League, including a historic 1-0 victory over Bayern Munich.

16 Fabian Hurzeler, Brighton and Hove Albion

Last season’s league finish: 11th

Replacing Roberto De Zerbi was no easy task. However, this was exactly what was said about Graham Potter, too. And with Brighton’s unending production line of special players, along with enigmatic managers who know exactly how to get the best from them, it’s safe to predict it’s already proved to be a rinse-and-repeat situation with the arrival of former St Pauli boss, Fabian Hurzeler.

Brighton’s streamlined operation can be evidenced by last season’s success. Despite losing key midfield personnel in Moises Caicedo and Alexis Mac Allister, the Brighton production line continued to develop top talent. An unbeaten start to the season in the Seagulls’ opening five fixtures, until falling at the hands of Chelsea and Cole Palmer’s four-goal haul, already indicates their new head coach is doing a fine job.

15 Andoni Iraola, Bournemouth

Last season’s league finish: 12th

It came as a bit of a shock when Gary O’Neil was sacked and former Rayo Vallecano chief Andoni Iraola was handed the Bournemouth job last summer. However, that surprise appointment suggested that he’d be backed by the Cherries – and that’s just how it played out. Following a mixed start to life in England, the Spaniard was under pressure, but he has turned things around brilliantly.

His side’s 3-0 win at Old Trafford was truly special, and after Jamie Carragher predicted Iraola to be the surprise of the season on Monday Night Football at the start of the 2023/24 campaign, we’re starting to see why he made such a big call. The Cherries accumulated their biggest-ever points tally in the Premier League and, despite struggling since the new term got underway, have looked promising.

14 Marco Silva, Fulham

Last season’s league finish: 13th

While Marco Silva did a fine job in keeping Fulham up two terms ago, it was suspected that he may well find the task a little more complicated last season, especially after losing star striker Aleksandar Mitrovic, who scored 14 goals out of Fulham’s 55. The club’s manager appeared to be pretty frustrated on the touchline in the early stages of the season, and three losses in five Premier League games made for grim reading at one point.

He’s managed to turn things around though, and once again has the credit in the bank to lead the Cottagers forward after a serviceable opening seven games that has seen a trio of brilliant wins, two draws and two losses added to their record.

13 Enzo Maresca, Chelsea

Last season’s league finish: 6th

With Chelsea’s track record of impatient higher-ups, you just never know. After Roman Abramovich spent his time at Stamford Bridge hiring and firing managers like it was going out of fashion, many would have expected less drama under Todd Boehly. Instead, it’s been more of the same. Beyond the billions of pounds spent on new transfers, the Blues also saw Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter, and Frank Lampard all come and go during the 2022/23 campaign, before Mauricio Pochettino failed to make sense of it all and departed after just 12 months at Stamford Bridge.

Last time out, it was a season of inconsistency at the club, and the baton is now passed to Enzo Maresca. The former Leicester City boss has already had to deal with off-field tempests amid Argentina’s racism row, which saw Enzo Fernandez in the firing line for singing derogatory lyrics against French players with African Heritage. That said, so far so good is the notion in west London, as recent performances are finally starting to show that money can buy happiness.

12 Eddie Howe, Newcastle United

Last season’s league finish: 7th

Eddie Howe enjoyed a season of exceeding all expectations in his first full campaign as he helped bring the return of Champions League football to St James’ Park. That, however, makes his job all the more complicated in the following terms as the Saudi-led club now looks to push on even further.

That was highlighted in 2023/24, with the Magpies struggling to maintain that form, crashing out of the Champions League in the group stage and failing to qualify for Europe via the Premier League. Howe, despite having a lot of good favour at the club, has also admitted that he’s not sure about his future at St James’ Park. The start of the 2024/25 campaign marks the Magpies’ best in decades, though, so it’s hard to imagine he’ll be let go anytime soon.

11 Nuno Espirito Santo, Nottingham Forest

Last season’s league finish: 17th

While he was in charge, Steve Cooper achieved some pretty remarkable things with Nottingham Forest. After all, he helped the club shock the Championship with promotion and then kept them up in their first season back in the top flight. What’s more, he did so while handling a destabilising influx of new signings.

But that is in the past and owner Evangelos Marinakis is more worried about the present and the future. And so, with Forest losing five games out of six, Cooper was sacked and replaced by Nuno Espirito Santo.

Although there were points when relegation looked inevitable for Forest, the Garibaldi bounced back to survive by the skin of their teeth in 2023/24. Nuno has been heavily backed in the transfer market this term, and it’s been reflected in their excellent start to the season. They’ve picked up nine points and were undefeated in their first five matches before their recent loss to Fulham. All signs point to a positive future for Forest and Espirito Santo.

10 Kieran McKenna, Ipswich Town

Last season’s league finish: Promoted (Championship)

In very similar vein to Luton Town’s survival efforts last season, Ipswich Town are just happy to be in the Premier League. And when you consider a lot of the reasons behind their promotion were because of Kieran McKenna’s footballing brain, it’s hard to see the Suffolk-side losing faith in him, unless, of course, the Tractor Boys really do crash and burn.

But even still, the club are riding the crest of a wave, and last term’s fairytale campaign means that McKenna, who turned down the United job to stay at Ipswich, has a substantial reserve of goodwill to his name, as evidenced by the undying support and love shown by the Portmand Road faithful, despite not winning a game in the top tier thus far.

9 Thomas Frank, Brentford

Last season’s league finish: 16th

As the man to have led Brentford up into the Premier League for the first time in their history, Thomas Frank has an awful lot of good faith in the bank among the G-tech Community Stadium faithful. After finishing 13th in their debut campaign, the Bees managed to beat any fears of second-season syndrome with a ninth-placed finish in 2022/23.

Even without star striker Ivan Toney, Frank’s side managed to avoid the drop in 2023/24, but the Bees now face a tougher challenge after Toney’s permanent exit. Time will tell whether the Hounslow outfit have it in them to continue their early season form without their main man. Frank is under contract until the summer of 2027, and Bryan Mbuemo is more than filling his predecessor’s heavy crown, but a terrible run of form could be all it takes for his manager to follow Toney out the door.

8 Ange Postecoglou, Tottenham Hotspur

Last season’s league finish: 5th

In many ways, the Greek-Australian inherited a job assumed to be a poisoned chalice. After all, Antonio Conte failed so miserably at Tottenham Hotspur two seasons ago, so who would want to take charge of that side, especially with club icon Harry Kane leaving for Bayern Munich? Well, Ange Postecoglou was utterly unfazed by all that and wasted no time in bringing the feel-good factor back to Tottenham.

Having been at the summit of the Premier League table, a bump in the road saw them unable to keep up with the aforementioned trio of clubs, with Postecoglou’s job security taking a small hit in the process. Spurs continued to plummet last season and, having picked up 10 points in their opening six games of the new campaign, the Australian’s future might grow a little tense. A win against Manchester United on the Red Devils’ patch, however, could be a change in fortunes the ex-Celtic man has been vying for.

7 Oliver Glasner, Crystal Palace

Last season’s league finish: 10th

When Patrick Vieira was sacked by Crystal Palace in the 2022-23 season, the Eagles looked to be sliding towards the relegation zone. So, what did the club do? They, of course, hired the one man they knew best suited to steady the ship. The only thing, though, is that Roy Hodgson didn’t just steady the ship but instead had it rocking. Indeed, Palace scored goals with ease as they finished comfortably mid-table and so the 77-year-old had a contract laid out in front of him – this time permanently.

However, it has always felt as though that job was his only in the short term, and that proved to be the case. Indeed, after a 4-1 thrashing at the hands of their greatest rivals, Brighton, followed up by a 3-1 defeat at home against Chelsea, the former England boss was given the sack. In his place, Oliver Glasner came in. The former Eintracht Frankfurt man arrived with a good reputation and his style of football initially brought positive results and joy to the supporters.

A 10th-placed finish was a remarkable achievement after having been in the depths of despair, but it’s been a poor start to the new season and the Eagles are yet to win a game, seven matches into the campaign. If things don’t shape up quickly, he could find himself shown the door.

6 Steve Cooper, Leicester City

Last season’s league finish: Promoted (Championship)

Despite having just recently started his job at Leicester City after the Foxes regained Premier League status at the first time of asking, a club of this stature will have high expectations this season, meaning Steve Cooper will most likely need to avoid relegation back down to England’s second tier in order to avoid the critics and, more importantly, keep his job in the King Power Stadium hotseat.

It’s a taller task than most would make out to be. While the Foxes managed to make the Championship look like light work last term, they lost key players over the summer, and Cooper’s task is only getting steeper by the week. A struggle to replace these stars with names of a similar ilk has only made Cooper’s job all the more difficult to keep hold of.

5 Sean Dyche, Everton

Last season’s league finish: 15th

What can be said about Everton that hasn’t been said before over the last few seasons? The Toffees seem to be in some sort of permanent crisis, only to then just about avoid relegation, before then dropping directly right back into the mire again. That seemed to be the case again last term as they failed to score in their first three outings, and after finding some momentum after that with some important wins, Sean Dyche’s team were hit with a 10-point deduction for Financial Fair Play breaches which threw them back into the relegation mix.

The ex-Burnley manager led the team to safety once again despite all the negativity around the club, ensuring that he retained his job. However, a terrible start to the 2024/25 season, amplified by blowing two 2–0 leads in a row, first with a 3-2 defeat at home to Bournemouth after leading 2-0 in the 87th minute, and then losing 3-2 at Villa Park after taking the early 2-0 lead, means that Dyche may no longer be able to be the man who keeps Everton from a relegation that is becoming more and more inevitable. They’ve slowly showed signs of turning things around, though, and are now unbeaten in their last three matches.

4 Julen Lopetegui, West Ham United

Last season’s league finish: 9th

Another new arrival in the Premier League is Julen Lopetegui. The former Sevilla and Wolves boss took over from David Moyes at West Ham and, given his experience at all levels of management, the east London fan base were initially excited about what was to come in his maiden campaign in charge. Boasting the likes of Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus, Lopetegui is already inheriting a side geared towards fighting for European qualification.

Teething problems have meant only two wins from seven top flight outings, though, and a recent 5-1 demolition job by Liverpool means the League Cup can already be forgotten about. Tension is building, but beating Ispwich Town 4-1 last time out might have eased some of that.

3 Russell Martin, Southampton

Last season’s league finish: Promoted (Championship)

After a rough transfer window, many tipped Southampton to struggle this season and while it’s still fairly early in the campaign, that looks to be the case. Russel Martin guided the Saints back to the top flight last season playing a very particular type of football and they’ve been reluctant to switch that up this time around, despite their struggles. With the club sitting second bottom of the table, his efforts last year might buy him a little more time to turn things around, but it won’t last forever.

Since 2018, the Saints have employed seven managers, which just goes to show what little sentiment the bosses have. Last term, they needed the playoffs to earn promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking, and although that saw Martin rewarded with a new contract, there’s no guarantee he’ll be in the job for long.

2 Gary O’Neil, Wolverhampton Wanderers

Last season’s league finish: 14th

Considering he didn’t get a pre-season to work with the players, Wolves turned out to be a surprise package last season, and it may have gotten even better had they not been harshly impacted by some questionable VAR calls. Many believed Gary O’Neil would be one of the first managerial casualties as a consequence of his slow start, but they figured things out over time.

This season hasn’t started half as well, though, and after seven games, Wolves are rooted to the foot of the Premier League table and have picked up just one point so far. With a goal difference of -12, they’ve been well off pace so far this season and the pressure is beginning to pile on O’Neil. If things don’t turn around quickly, the club may be forced to act soon and give him the boot.

1 Erik ten Hag, Manchester United

Last season’s league finish: 8th

There have now been 11 full seasons played since Sir Alex Ferguson left Manchester United, and it’s fair to say that the Red Devils haven’t found an adequate replacement in that time. In Erik ten Hag, however, it looked like they may have found the man to get them heading in the right direction after a solid first season.

Last term, the Red Devils navigated a horror show that saw them finish a club-record low eighth in the Premier League, turning all that promise into doubt. While it seemed almost certain that the sack loomed larger then, an FA Cup triumph over Manchester City earned the Dutchman a shiny new contract.

But it seems as if the issues surrounding the club are only persisting. United followed up a 2-1 loss to Brighton in Gameweek Two with a damning 3-0 defeat to rivals Liverpool at home, and then a recent 1-1 draw at home to FC Twente in the Europa League. Having been backed in the summer, that really isn’t good enough in a make-or-break season for the Dutchman. His side’s display at home to Tottenham seemed to be the final nail in the coffin, however, thanks to conceding an early goal and losing skipper Bruno Fernandes for what was the first red card of his Old Trafford career. The days of Ten Hag being in the Old Trafford dugout seem numbered.