The season is over and yet the churn involving premier league managers just continues to break new records.
Despite surviving the drop zone, AFC Bournemouth have made the surprise move of relieving Gary O’Neil of his duties. It takes the EPL sacking total to 16; the previous record in a campaign was 10.
With 16 Premier League managers shown the door, it’s clear impatience at board and ownership level is at an all time high. The 2022-23 season broke its own new record five times.
AFC Bournemouth’s bringing in Andoni Iraola, dragged Los Franjirrojos from the second division into La Liga’s mid-table.
Before the season concluded, Southampton interim manager Ruben Selles became the third manager to leave St Mary’s in one season. Selles’ departure came just weeks after Leeds manager Javi Gracia was shown the door on May 4.
Tottenham interim Cristian Stellini failed to survive the Spurs’ humiliating recent 6-1 loss to Newcastle United, with a doorway to Europe still very much open.
And that only came weeks after Graham Potter’s April 2 release from Chelsea, which originally cemented a record-breaking tally of English Premier League managers sacked; statistically the most brutal season of English football. Potter’s departure came just hours after Leicester said goodbye to Brendan Rodgers, with the pair becoming the 11th and 12th Premier League managers to be sacked this season. Simply unprecedented.
The 2022/23 EPL season has now broken the previous record of 10 managerial sackings in a single season six times. That means the season has broken its own new record five times over.
Stellini was number 13; the second departure at Tottenham, after Antonio Conte in March. Javi Gracia is 14 on the list of Premier League managers being sacked and now Selles makes 15.
There is now more than enough sacked Premier League managers to field a full football team, with subs.
So let’s re-cap all the carnage and re-visit which Premier League managers have lost their jobs this season, plus take a look at which clubs are still going strong.
Which Premier League managers have been sacked this season?
Scott Parker, Bournemouth, August 30
Scott Parker was the first of the Premier League managers to be sacked in the 2022/23 season after a horrific 9-0 loss to Liverpool at Anfield. He departed on August 30, 2022.
He was replaced by Gary O’Neil — who was previously sacked by Club Brugge after only 12 games.
Thomas Tuchel, Chelsea, September 7
Just a week after Parker’s sacking, Chelsea said farewell to Thomas Tuchel on September 7 after a 1-0 loss to Dinamo Zagreb. The decision came after winning just half of their first six Premier League matches. The situation wasn’t helped by Tuchel’s allegedly tense relationship with new owner Todd Boehly.
Funnily enough, Tuchel was replaced by Graham Potter, who would – spoiler alert, also be sacked this season in a grim time for Premier League managers.
Bruno Lage, Wolves, October 2
After a disappointing season in 2021/22, Lage was sacked by Wolves on October 2 after the 2022/23 season appeared to show no signs of improvement.
He was eventually replaced by Julen Lopetegui after the club used an interim coach for a month.
Steven Gerrard, Aston Villa, October 20
Liverpool’s favourite son was the fourth manager to be sacked this season, after a dreadful Premier League management debut at Aston Villa.
After just one win in nine games, Stevie G was sacked on October 20 following a 3-0 loss to Fulham.
He was replaced by Unai Emery, who has brought the club back from 17th up to 9th place on the table.
Ralph Hasenhuttl, Southampton, November 6
Hasenhuttl was next on the chopping block after a 4-1 loss at home to Newcastle on November 6. This ended an almost five year tenure at the club.
He was replaced by Nathan Jones, albeit briefly.
Frank Lampard, Everton, January 23
After just 12 months at Everton, Frank Lampard said farewell to Merseyside on January 23 following five defeats from six games — a grim result for the former Chelsea manager.
Official, confirmed. Everton confirm that Frank Lampard has left his post as Senior Men’s First Team Manager today. 🚨🔵 #EFC
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 23, 2023
Paul Tait and Leighton Baines will take training until new manager appointed. pic.twitter.com/lgBtdp6mVX
The final nail in the coffin for Lampard was a 2-0 loss to West Ham that left them battling relegation.
He was eventually replaced by Sean Dyche, but Everton haven’t managed to make much of an improvement and remain in 18th place.
Jesse Marsch, Leeds, February 6
On February 6, Jesse Marsch was dropped by Leeds after going seven Premier League games without a win. The decision came just a year after he replaced Marcelo Bielsa.
Ultimately, former Watford manager Javi Gracia took the reins at Leeds, but their season hasn’t been favourable with the side remaining in 17th place.
Nathan Jones, Southampton, February 12
By mid February, another one bit the dust at St Mary’s, with Nathan Jones being shown the door on February 12 — just months after he entered. While this may seem harsh, he did manage to lose seven out of the eight Premier League games he managed.
Southampton have since brought in an interim manager in Ruben Selles for the remainder of the season, presumably hoping to avoid a third sacking in one year.
Patrick Vieira, Crystal Palace, March 17
Following 12 games without a win, Vieira was booted out of Crystal Palace on March 17 following a crushing defeat to Brighton.
Crystal Palace wheeled Roy Hodgson back into the role — the man who had managed the club prior to Vieira. However, they currently sit on four losses in a row, so who knows how long Hodgson will remain.
Antonio Conte, Tottenham, March 26
Just a week after sensationally blasting his players and the club’s culture, Conte was — unsurprisingly — shown the door by Spurs on March 26. Out of every manager to be sacked this season, Conte was sitting highest on the table when his contract was torn up.
“I think it’s much better now to go into the problem. Because the problem is that we showed again that we are not a team. We are 11 players that go onto the pitch. I see selfish players, I see players that don’t want to help each other and don’t put their heart,” he said prior to his sacking.
Brendan Rodgers, Leicester City, April 2
After a four year stint at Leicester City, Rodgers was fired from the club on April 2 after a loss to Crystal Palace left the club second last on the table with just 10 games remaining for the season.
A replacement is yet to be announced.
Graham Potter, Chelsea, April 2
And last, but certainly not least, Graham Potter was booted out the door of Stamford Bridge on April 2 — just hours after Rodgers suffered a similar fate. Potter was only in the job for less than seven months before being sacked, following 11 defeats in 31 games — culminating in a crushing 2-0 loss to Aston Villa at home over the weekend.
😏 Graham Potter getting paid £60m for 6 months work…
— Rory Talks Football (@Rory_Talks_Ball) April 2, 2023
Tactician. pic.twitter.com/SkQyIIQ5Sy
“On behalf of everyone at the club, we want to thank Graham sincerely for his contribution to Chelsea,” new club owner Todd Boehly said of his departure.
“We have the highest degree of respect for Graham as a coach and as a person. He has always conducted himself with professionalism and integrity and we are all disappointed in this outcome.
Frank Lampard has been rumoured to replace Potter as an interim manager for the remainder of the 2022/23 season, which would mean Chelsea’s third manager in one season would be Everton’s most-recent sacking.
Potter signed a five-year deal with the club when he joined last year.
Cristian Stellini, Tottenham, April 25
Losing to Newcastle United was a massive blow to the Spurs’ top four chances. Conceding five goals inside 21 minutes at St James’ Park was never going to end well.
Tottenham now faces a massive uphill climb to catch the Toon and Manchester United before the season ends. And losing 6-1 could leave some scarring.
Javi Gracia, Leeds United, May 4
It marks the second Leeds boss to be shown the door.
The club is without a win in its last five games.
Ruben Selles, Southampton, May 24
Selles was only ever the interim manager so it isn’t exactly fair to say he was sacked, but the club has confirmed he will not continue with the club next season.
He is the third manager to leave the club in one season.
Russell Martin has now signed on a three-year deal down south to manage the club that will be relegated to the Championship.
Gary O’Neil, Bournemouth, off-season (June 19)
Given AFC Bournemouth, a survivor of the relegation battle last season, will start the 2023-24 EPL season with a fresh start at manager, O’Neil’s departure is included in the Premier League’s record number of sackings from last season.
In comes Andoni Iraola.
Which Premier League managers have not been sacked this season
It seems like managers are dropping like flies this season, so it’s worth looking at the clubs who haven’t sacked a coach or two this season.
The full list of remaining Premier League managers is as follows:
- Jurgen Klopp – Liverpool (7.5 years)
- Pep Guardiola – Manchester City (nearly 7 years)
- Thomas Frank – Brentford (4.5 years)
- Mikel Arteta – Arsenal (3.5 years)
- David Moyes – West Ham (3.5 years)
- Marco Silva – Fulham (nearly 2 years)
- Steve Cooper – Nottingham Forrest (nearly 2 years)
- Eddie Howe – Newcastle (1.5 years)
- Erik Ten Hag – Manchester United (1 year)
- Roberto De Zerbi – Brighton (approaching 1 year)
