Premier League: Who will be next manager to be sacked?

It took some time for the Premier League's manager merry-go-round to kick into gear last season, with Sheffield United's Paul Heckingbottom the first to receive his marching orders on 5 December.

In 2022/23, 16 managers either left or lost their jobs. What will it be in 2024/25?

A growing impatience at the highest level means new bosses have far less time to win supporters and hierarchical figures over, while stingy financial rules and the monster payouts required to part ways with managers possibly meant fewer clubs were keen to pull the trigger last season.

Thus, just five clubs head into the new campaign with alternate figureheads at the helm.

However, while last season somewhat bucked the trend of hasty managerial exits, 2023/24 will likely emerge as a mere anomaly. Every manager's situation is different, especially regarding the new arrivals; some are undoubtedly under more pressure than others heading into 2024/25.

Here's how 90min ranks the Premier League sack race.

6. Arne Slot

Arne Slot may well have the toughest job in the game right now as he succeeds Jurgen Klopp at Anfield.

Expectations must be tempered for the arriving Dutchman and only the eternally optimistic believe Slot is capable of coming close to what Klopp achieved on Merseyside, let alone replicating it.

But hey, it took Klopp several years to return Liverpool to Europe's top table.

Slot enters the job having briefly turned Feyenoord into the Eredivisie's dominant force. There are ideological similarities with Klopp, but distinct differences, too.

Installing his ideas in such a demanding environment will take time and, while Slot will feel the heat right away, Liverpool will surely give the Dutchman a season to settle and lay the foundations for life without their charismatic German.

5. Eddie Howe

Newcastle's determination to keep Eddie Howe amid links to the England job suggests the club want the Englishman to lead the Magpies for the long haul.

However, Howe enters 2024/25 off the back of a mightily disappointing season - albeit one hampered by a never-ending injury crisis.

Still, given the squad at his disposal and what they achieved two seasons ago, there is pressure on Howe to have Newcastle competing for a top-four berth again next term. The Magpies finished eight points adrift of fourth-placed Aston Villa in seventh last time out.

The absence of European football will aid Howe's side, but a slow start to the new season will undoubtedly have a few supporters questioning whether their manager has one eye on the national team job.

4. Enzo Maresca

Enzo Maresca is the latest man to enter the poisoned chalice after Mauricio Pochettino lasted just a season at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea's new regime are running through managers like they're going out of fashion and the long-term deal Maresca signed after guiding Leicester City to the Championship title last season does not make him immune to an early sacking.

Graham Potter received his marching orders just a few months into the job having penned a five-year deal with the Blues.

Chelsea's strong end to 2023/24 combined with the returns to full fitness of multiple key stars means there's an expectation Maresca's side could do something next season.

However, given his relatively unknown profile, it won't take long for expectant Chelsea supporters to turn on the Italian - even if the hierarchy are willing to stick by him.

3. Nuno Espirito Santo

Two wins from their final three games made it seem as if Nottingham Forest stayed up with some comfort, but there was nothing convincing about Nuno Espirito Santo's side during the run-in.

Santo achieved his primary goal last season but questions remain over the former goalkeeper's long-term viability at the City Ground. His reactive style does work with the attacking profiles at his disposal, but there's a fine line between drab defensive slogs and exuberant pragmatism.

Given how Forest often performed under Santo during the second half of last season, there's little reason to suggest a major uptick is around the corner.

Plus, a manager is never safe with Evangelos Marinakis lurking.

2. Steve Cooper

Steve Cooper had been out of work after leaving Forest last December, but he's found a new home at the King Power Stadium. After seeing their title-winning coach depart for Chelsea, Leicester have pivoted to Cooper upon their return to the top flight.

Cooper is a fine manager who did superbly well to keep Forest in the Premier League two seasons ago. He should benefit from having a more stable squad at his disposal, but there will be an expectation for the Foxes to stay up. They were regarded as far too good to go down when they did succumb in 2022/23 and were far and away the best team in the Championship last season despite attempting to mess up their title charge in the spring.

Leicester supporters aren't particularly enthused by Cooper's arrival, primary because of the names they had been linked with and his Forest connection. Many wanted Graham Potter and there are concerns Cooper's style may deviate a little too drastically from Maresca's.

Their primary goal will be to stay up, but the King Power faithful will be keen to see their side play with a swagger which somewhat resembles their work in the second tier.

1. Erik ten Hag

Erik ten Hag has been on the perpetual brink throughout 2024, with new owners INEOS actively seeking his potential successor before the 2023/24 season had drawn to a close.

It was a nightmarish season for Manchester United, who often appeared woefully coached and completely out of sorts. However, United's FA Cup final triumph over noisy neighbours Manchester City may have brought the Dutchman more time.

The club confirmed they were sticking by Ten Hag for 2024/25 but it won't take long for the pitchforks to return should United, who are once again set to bolstered by multiple new arrivals, continue to be sliced apart at will.

Any semblance of last season's performance permeating into the fresh campaign and INEOS surely won't hesitate to pull the plug on the Ten Hag project.

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