Premier League’s Managerial Carousel: Every Sacking Since 2020
The Premier League is one of the most demanding leagues in football, where managers face constant pressure to deliver results. Since 2020, clubs have frequently changed leadership in search of success, with even well-respected coaches being dismissed after short stints. Some firings were expected due to poor form, while others came as surprises despite past achievements.
Nigel Pearson (Watford)
Nigel Pearson was dismissed by Watford on July 19, 2020, with just two matches remaining in the 2019/2020 season. Despite steering the team away from relegation danger earlier in the campaign, a dip in form towards the end led to his abrupt dismissal. Reports suggested tensions between Pearson and the club’s hierarchy contributed to the decision, which many considered surprising given the team’s precarious position. Ultimately, Watford failed to avoid relegation, making his firing even more controversial.
Slaven Bilić (West Bromwich Albion)
Slaven Bilić was sacked by West Bromwich Albion on December 16, 2020, despite earning the club promotion the previous season. A 1-1 draw against Manchester City in his final match showed promise, but the board had already decided to make a change. With only one win in 13 league games, West Brom sat in the relegation zone, prompting the club to seek a new manager in an attempt to turn their fortunes around.
Frank Lampard (Chelsea)
Frank Lampard was relieved of his duties at Chelsea on January 25, 2021, following a poor run of form that saw the team drop to ninth in the league table. Despite a strong start and significant spending in the summer transfer window, Chelsea’s performances deteriorated. The board felt that Lampard lacked the experience to guide the team through a difficult period, leading to his dismissal midway through the campaign.
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Chris Wilder (Sheffield United)
Chris Wilder was dismissed by Sheffield United on March 13, 2021, after a disastrous season that saw the team sit at the bottom of the table. Having led the club to an impressive ninth-place finish the previous season, Wilder struggled to replicate that success. Internal disagreements over transfer strategy reportedly played a role in his departure, alongside Sheffield United’s poor form.
José Mourinho (Tottenham Hotspur)
José Mourinho was sacked by Tottenham Hotspur on April 19, 2021, just days before the League Cup final against Manchester City. While Spurs had been competitive earlier in the season, a series of poor performances saw them drop out of the top-four race. Mourinho’s defensive tactics and strained relationships with key players contributed to his downfall.
Roy Hodgson (Crystal Palace)
Roy Hodgson’s contract was not renewed by Crystal Palace at the end of the 2020/2021 season in May 2021. After four years in charge, the veteran manager decided to step away, citing a need for rest after a long career. Palace wanted to transition to a younger, more progressive coach, leading to Hodgson’s departure.
Sam Allardyce (West Bromwich Albion)
Sam Allardyce left West Bromwich Albion in May 2021 after failing to keep the club in the Premier League. Known for his reputation as a survival specialist, Allardyce was brought in to rescue the team mid-season. However, he was unable to prevent relegation, and both parties mutually agreed to part ways.
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Xisco Muñoz (Watford)
Xisco Muñoz was dismissed by Watford on October 3, 2021, after just seven games in the Premier League. Despite guiding the club to promotion the previous season, a run of poor performances raised concerns about his ability to keep the team in the top flight. The decision came after a 1-0 defeat to Leeds United.
Steve Bruce (Newcastle United)
Steve Bruce was sacked by Newcastle United on October 20, 2021, shortly after the club’s Saudi-led takeover. Newcastle had failed to win any of their first eight games of the season, and fan frustration with Bruce had been mounting for months. The new ownership sought a fresh start, leading to his dismissal.
Nuno Espírito Santo (Tottenham Hotspur)
Nuno Espírito Santo’s tenure at Tottenham Hotspur ended on November 1, 2021, after just four months in charge. Although he won the first three matches of the season, a decline in form and a 3-0 loss to Manchester United sealed his fate. His defensive playing style and failure to get the best out of key players led to his departure.
Daniel Farke (Norwich City)
Daniel Farke was dismissed by Norwich City on November 6, 2021, just hours after securing the team’s first league win of the season. Despite the victory, Norwich sat bottom of the table with only five points from 11 matches. The board believed a new manager was needed to give them a better chance at survival.
Dean Smith (Aston Villa)
Dean Smith was let go by Aston Villa on November 7, 2021, following a five-match losing streak. Although he had previously guided Villa to safety and a strong mid-table finish, the team’s poor start to the 2021/2022 season forced the club to make a change.
Ole Gunnar Solskjær (Manchester United)
Manchester United dismissed Ole Gunnar Solskjær on November 21, 2021, after a series of heavy defeats, including a 4-1 loss to Watford. While Solskjær had led United to a second-place finish the previous season, his inability to fix defensive issues and compete at the top level led to his departure.
Rafael Benítez (Everton)
Rafael Benítez was sacked by Everton on January 16, 2022, after a run of just one win in 13 league matches. The former Liverpool manager was an unpopular appointment from the start, and poor results combined with fan protests accelerated his exit.
Claudio Ranieri (Watford)
Claudio Ranieri’s time at Watford ended on January 24, 2022, after just 14 games in charge. Despite his experience, he failed to improve the team’s performances, and Watford remained in the relegation zone. The board decided to make yet another managerial change in an attempt to stay up.
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Marcelo Bielsa (Leeds United)
Marcelo Bielsa was dismissed by Leeds United on February 27, 2022, after a run of poor results that left the club in danger of relegation. Although Bielsa was adored by fans for his attacking philosophy, Leeds’ defensive vulnerabilities were exposed, prompting the club to seek a new approach.
Sean Dyche (Burnley)
Sean Dyche was sacked by Burnley on April 15, 2022, after nearly ten years at the club. Despite his reputation for keeping Burnley competitive on a tight budget, the club’s struggles in the 2021/2022 season forced the board to act in hopes of avoiding relegation.
Roy Hodgson (Watford)
Roy Hodgson left Watford at the end of the 2021/2022 season in May 2022 after failing to prevent relegation. Appointed as an experienced hand to steady the ship, Hodgson was unable to turn around the team’s fortunes, and his departure marked yet another managerial change for the club.
Scott Parker (AFC Bournemouth)
Scott Parker was dismissed by AFC Bournemouth on August 30, 2022, just four games into the season. The decision came after a crushing 9-0 defeat to Liverpool, which highlighted the team’s defensive weaknesses. Parker had guided Bournemouth to promotion but publicly criticized the club’s lack of investment in new signings, which reportedly led to tensions with the board. His negative comments about the squad’s ability to compete at the Premier League level played a major role in his sacking.
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Thomas Tuchel (Chelsea)
Chelsea sacked Thomas Tuchel on September 7, 2022, after just six league games in the new season. Despite winning the Champions League in 2021, Tuchel’s relationship with the club’s new ownership reportedly deteriorated over transfer policies and squad management. A shock 1-0 defeat to Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League was the final blow, leading to his abrupt dismissal as Chelsea sought a fresh start.
Bruno Lage (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
Bruno Lage was fired by Wolverhampton Wanderers on October 2, 2022, following a poor start to the season that left the club in the relegation zone. Despite guiding Wolves to a respectable 10th-place finish the previous season, the team struggled to score goals, netting only three in their opening eight games. The club’s hierarchy lost confidence in his ability to turn things around, prompting his departure.
Steven Gerrard (Aston Villa)
Steven Gerrard was dismissed by Aston Villa on October 20, 2022, after a 3-0 loss to Fulham left the club near the relegation zone. Despite high expectations following his success with Rangers, Gerrard’s tenure at Villa was marred by inconsistency, lack of attacking cohesion, and growing unrest among fans. His inability to improve results led to an early exit.
Ralph Hasenhüttl (Southampton)
Southampton parted ways with Ralph Hasenhüttl on November 7, 2022, following a 4-1 defeat to Newcastle. Hasenhüttl had kept Southampton competitive for nearly four years, but poor performances in the 2022/2023 season left them struggling near the bottom of the table. The club’s board decided that a change was necessary to reinvigorate the squad.
Frank Lampard (Everton)
Frank Lampard was dismissed by Everton on January 23, 2023, after a run of just one win in 14 matches left the club in the relegation zone. While Lampard had helped Everton survive the previous season, his team lacked attacking threat, and performances steadily declined. Fan protests and growing dissatisfaction with the club’s management added further pressure, leading to his dismissal.
Jesse Marsch (Leeds United)
Leeds United sacked Jesse Marsch on February 6, 2023, after a disappointing first half of the season. Although Marsch had guided Leeds to safety in 2022, the team struggled for consistency, winning just four of their first 20 league games. The club’s decision-makers felt they needed a new manager to secure survival.
Nathan Jones (Southampton)
Nathan Jones was dismissed by Southampton on February 12, 2023, just three months after being appointed. Brought in to replace Ralph Hasenhüttl, Jones failed to turn around the club’s fortunes, losing seven of his eight league matches in charge. His tenure was one of the shortest in Premier League history.
Patrick Vieira (Crystal Palace)
Crystal Palace parted ways with Patrick Vieira on March 17, 2023, following a 12-game winless run. Vieira had impressed in his first season, but Palace’s lack of attacking output in the second campaign left them sliding toward the relegation battle. With tough fixtures ahead, the club decided to make a change.
Antonio Conte (Tottenham Hotspur)
Antonio Conte left Tottenham Hotspur on March 26, 2023, by mutual consent after publicly criticizing his players and the club’s mentality. Despite leading Spurs to Champions League qualification the previous season, his tenure became increasingly turbulent, and a 3-3 draw with Southampton proved to be his final match in charge.
Brendan Rodgers (Leicester City)
Leicester City sacked Brendan Rodgers on April 2, 2023, after a 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace left them in the relegation zone. Rodgers had previously guided Leicester to an FA Cup win and consecutive top-five finishes, but declining performances and defensive frailties in the 2022/2023 season led to his departure.
Graham Potter (Chelsea)
Graham Potter’s short tenure at Chelsea ended on April 2, 2023, after a 2-0 home loss to Aston Villa. Despite being backed with record-breaking transfer spending, Potter failed to deliver consistent results, leaving Chelsea in mid-table. His dismissal marked the club’s second managerial change in a season.
Cristian Stellini (Tottenham Hotspur)
Cristian Stellini was sacked by Tottenham Hotspur on April 25, 2023, after a disastrous 6-1 defeat to Newcastle United. Initially appointed as interim manager following Conte’s departure, Stellini struggled to improve the team’s defensive frailties, leading to his quick dismissal.
Javi Gracia (Leeds United)
Javi Gracia was dismissed by Leeds United on May 3, 2023, after just two months in charge. Leeds’ struggles continued under Gracia, and a heavy 4-1 loss to Bournemouth proved to be the final straw. The club replaced him with another interim manager to try and secure survival.
Gary O’Neil (AFC Bournemouth)
Gary O’Neil was fired by AFC Bournemouth on June 19, 2023, despite keeping the club in the Premier League the previous season. The decision surprised many, as O’Neil had done well with limited resources, but the club’s ownership wanted a new direction.
Paul Heckingbottom (Sheffield United)
Paul Heckingbottom was dismissed by Sheffield United on December 5, 2023, with the club bottom of the league. Although he had led them to promotion, a string of heavy defeats and defensive frailties saw the club’s hierarchy lose confidence in him.
Steve Cooper (Nottingham Forest)
Steve Cooper was sacked by Nottingham Forest on December 19, 2023, following a disappointing first half of the season. Despite keeping Forest up in the previous campaign, the team’s struggles in 2023/2024 led the board to act.
Erik ten Hag (Manchester United)
Manchester United parted ways with Erik ten Hag on October 28, 2024, after a poor start to the season. Despite winning a domestic cup the previous year, United’s inconsistency and failure to challenge for the title led to his dismissal.
Steve Cooper (Leicester City)
Leicester City dismissed Steve Cooper on November 24, 2024, after a series of disappointing results. The club had hoped he could lead them to a stable season following promotion, but underwhelming performances forced them to make a change.
Russell Martin (Southampton)
Russell Martin was fired by Southampton on December 15, 2024, after a run of poor results left them near the relegation zone. Despite some promising tactical ideas, the team lacked consistency, leading to his exit.
Gary O’Neil (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
Gary O’Neil was dismissed by Wolverhampton Wanderers on December 15, 2024, after failing to meet expectations. Although he had stabilized the team, the board decided a new manager was needed to push the club forward.
Julen Lopetegui (West Ham United)
Julen Lopetegui was sacked by West Ham United on January 8, 2025, following a difficult season. Disagreements over transfers and inconsistent results led to his departure.
Sean Dyche (Everton)
Sean Dyche was dismissed by Everton on January 9, 2025, as the club continued to struggle in the bottom half of the table. Dyche had been brought in to provide stability, but lackluster performances sealed his fate.
