Ranking Every Premier League Manager by How Likely They Are to be Sacked
· GiveMeSport
The 20 managers at every Premier League club by how likely they are to be sacked next.
As the new Premier League season is now into its fourth game week, it signifies that the resumption of the managerial merry-go-round is not far away from spinning again.
While some clubs sprang a surprise last term and seem to have their hierarchical structures firmly in place, the majority of clubs decided to go for something different, with as many as 50 per cent of the bosses in this season's division either managing a different club or being completely new to England's top flight.
And, in this results-driven business, the margin for error is razor-thin, with Ruben Amorim and Thomas Frank, who lost their respective positions at Manchester United and Tottenham last term, being the perfect examples of that.
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, we examine 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.
After finishing as second in the Premier League for three seasons in a row, the Gunners finally ended a 22-year drought last season by winning gold. Silverware is the currency of success, but there's now a strong feeling that Mikel Arteta has the tools at his disposal to keep pushing on for even dizzier heights after coming oh-so close to success in the Champions League and League Cup, too.
The hierarchy knows full well that they have a manager capable of turning one success into a dynasty. Funds were there, it seemed, to pluck Vinicius Jr from Real Madrid, showing how ambitious the club are even if a deal could be done. There's no question that Arsenal are favourites for back-to-back titles, and an unbeaten start only cements his position further.
Brentford fans were dreading the day Thomas Frank decided to move on, and that came last summer as he decided to replace Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham Hotspur. Replacing the Dane was always going to be a tough task for the Bees' higher-ups and their bold appointment of Keith Andrews raised eyebrows.
Andrews was a member of Frank's backroom team, working as the team's set-piece coach and gaining valuable experience for a first-team management role. The Irishman hasn't had to work his way through the footballing pyramid as he's been thrown into a Premier League job from the off. Risky, indeed, but he's settled in extremely well.
He led the club to a ninth-placed finish in his debut season as a Premier League manager and then dominated Tottenham in the club's first game of the new 2026/26 campaign, winning 3-0. His job is as secure as any in England right now as his side sit firmly in the top 10.
Enzo Maresca won two trophies across his 18 months at Chelsea - the Club World Cup and Europa Conference League - and he's now well-equipped to take Pep Guardiola's baton at Manchester City to continue an era of dominance at the Etihad Stadium.
The Cityzens will be hoping the good times keep rolling, rather than see all their good work slip through their fingers like it did when their red neighbours bid farewell to their best-ever tactician. Maresca should get the time, space, and funds to do what he wants with the team, and it's difficult to imagine there will be much of a drop-off. So far, they have won every match since a 3-0 loss in the much-debated Community Shield.
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 Morgan Rogers darting about in attack, he won yet another Europa League title last time out.
The addition of midweek Champions League football could prove a challenge for Emery's squad, but their taste of the big time has made his troops lust for more. The acquisition of World Cup star Johan Manzambi should ease squad depth concerns, and Emery's longevity means he has plenty of brownie points to bank, despite a slow start just like last term.
"No risk, no reward" should be a phrase painted on every wall of the Sunderland owners' offices, as it perfectly sums up the appointment of Regis Le Bris. They took an international gamble on the French coach who had no prior experience in English football and was still relatively new to senior management.
There is no doubt that Le Bris is among the safest managers after the Black Cats' Wembley heroics that clinched their return to the Premier League for the first time since 2017, before then taking them to qualification for the Europa Conference League a year later. Having lost 2-1 to Ipswich in the opening game of this season, it remains to be seen how well he juggles an extra competition, but constant backing from the club benefactors means he should have the squad depth to cope.
Chelsea have had six total managers taking charge across permanent and interim roles since the Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital takeover in May 2022. Xabi Alonso, no matter how good he was at Bayer Leverkusen's helm, will inevitably feel the heat in the Stamford Bridge technical area.
The problem may not be Alonso himself, but rather the fact that his American boss loves taking too much of the power away from those who know more about management than him. It was a similar issue the retired midfielder faced at Real Madrid, so he will be hoping that Boehly has surely got his ducks in the right order this time, as early results suggest he could be a title contender if his defensive issues are sorted out quick enough.
A student of the Ralf Rangnick school of coaching who takes inspiration from Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola , Matthias Jaissle has found Newcastle United at a low ebb following a disappointing 12th-place finish in 2026/27. He will be expected to hit the ground running after taking over from Eddie Howe, with the club's owners keen to get back on track in their vision for the future.
However, the Magpies have lost a number of key players during the transfer window, with Sandro Tonali, Anthony Gordon and Bruno Guimaraes among those to depart the north-east in big-money moves, while Kieran Trippier and Matt Targett left following the expiry of their contracts. Despite those departures, Newcastle have started the season well, drawing against Liverpool and then beating Tottenham, and that's a credit to the new man.
The times were a-changing at Everton following the return of David Moyes a little over a season ago, as he made an immediate impact after replacing Sean Dyche in January 2025. His poorly performing Toffees side were in the midst of yet another relegation battle after being hit with a 10-point deduction for Financial Fair Play breaches .
The Merseyside Blues are right back on track under Moyes' watch, though, with The Freidkin Group now running the club. James Tarkowski suggested that they were aiming for Europe, and you wouldn't put it past Moyes fulfilling that ambition, even if last season saw their form dip during the second half of the campaign. A 2-0 home win over Crystal Palace then a draw away at Bournemouth and Tottenham, as well as at home to Man United, to kick off is at least a strong way to start 2026/27.
Replacing Roberto De Zerbi was no mean feat, but the arrival of former St Pauli boss Fabian Hurzeler has seemingly proven why many think Brighton owner Tony Bloom is one of the best business-minded custodians in the beautiful game. He's unearthed one of the most exciting tacticians in Europe, and an eighth-placed finish in his debut season is an impressive feat.
GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: Fabian Hurzeler is the youngest permanent manager in Premier League history, as he became the head coach of Brighton & Hove Albion at the age of 31 years and 173 days two summers back.
In February 2025, their humiliating 7-0 loss to Nottingham Forest could have caused turmoil at the Amex, but Texas-born Hurzeler and his side put it behind them and showed real character to maintain steady, if not particularly amazing, league form to finish eighth. He then followed up that feat by doing the same last term, and he will be expected to be able to take the Seagulls back into European football of some kind soon enough if he continues the way he has.
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, Andoni Iraola should be feeling pretty cosy for a while on Merseyside. He will receive the full backing of FSG and his new supporters, unless his values go down the drain like was the case with his predecessor, Arne Slot. It would seem Anfield's residents would love a personality and playing style of Klopp's stature, and the Spaniard might fulfil that desire well if he can put an end to three draws from four matches.