The Premier League Sack Race: Who could go next?

Author: Liam Lacey, Last Updated: 31.10.2024

Premier League clubs are not known for their patience when it comes to changing managers, but we are still waiting for the League’s first change as we enter the final week of October.

Premier League Sack Race

In 7 out of the last 11 Premier League seasons a manager has been fired before the final international break of the year, which in 2024 falls on November 11th. Last season the first manager to lose his job was Sheffield United boss Paul Heckingbottom, who was replaced by The Blades on December 5th, 2023.

Here we look at 5 Premier League managers who may well be under severe pressure if their owners run out of patience as many clubs enter what is a busy period before the last international break of 2024.

Russell Martin

The former Swansea City boss certainly did a good job in getting Southampton back up to the Premier League at the first time of asking. They had to go up via the playoffs, but the former Scottish international got them up and for that he deserves credit.

The current campaign has been a rude awakening for him and his team, however. His desire for his teams to play football out from the back even though they have been caught out several times is admirable in some respects, but it may cost him his job if results don’t pick up soon. Their latest gut-wrenching defeat to Leicester City will have hurt Martin and his players. From 2-0 up they somehow let Leicester take the three points with a 97th minute winner.

They play Everton and Wolves after a game against Manchester City in their next three games. You would expect negative results in all three of those games may leave Southampton with a decision to make.

Gary O’ Neil

The Wolves man certainly looks a man under pressure and with their Premier League record this season it’s easy to see why. Winless, and with only a point to their name after 8 games has led Gary O Neil being backed into third favourite to be the first Premier League manager to lose his job.

Defenders of the former Bournemouth boss will state that their start to the campaign has been quite difficult and that would be true. In their first 8 games Wolves have played 6 of last season’s Top 7 but when you add in their form over the last 10 games of last season, it is just one win in their last 18 League games.

They have only picked up 3 draws in those 18 games as well which means out of a possible 54 points over their last 18 matches, they have won just 6. He reportedly maintains the support of the Wolves hierarchy but if that form doesn’t improve soon that support may disappear.

Julen Lopetegui

The former Real Marid and Sevilla manager was supposed to herald in a new dawn at The London Stadium after replacing David Moyes in the summer, but so far, his spell as West Ham boss has been a disaster.

The 2020 Europa League winner was provided with over £140 million worth of new talent in the summer as West Ham brought in some quality players that included Max Kilman, Jean-Clair Todibo and Niclas Fullkrug. The Hammers also still have the likes of Jarrod Bowen Mohammed Kudus and Lucas Paqueta in their squad which only highlights the poor start Lopetegui has made as West Ham boss even more.

Lopetegui was brought in to take West Ham back to Europe in a style that the owners wanted but after their 1-4 hammering against Spurs they are just 5 points clear of the bottom 3.

Oliver Glasner

What a difference a few months make in football. From winning 7 of his first 13 games in charge, including a 4-0 hammering of Manchester United and a 1-0 win at Anfield, Glasner has now led Palace to a winless start to this season, sitting in 18th place with just three draws to their name.

Palace lost Michael Olise to Bayern and Joachim Anderson over the summer and their replacements such as Eddie Nketiah and Max Lacroix have not hit the ground running, just yet. It would probably be the biggest surprise if Glasner was to leave first out of this list, but it’s becoming quite clear that everyone at Palace needs that win to dismiss any lingering doubts.

Erik Ten Hag

The Dutchman may have overseen a morale boosting win over Brentford on Saturday but it’s hard to not get the sense at this stage that he is just drawing out the inevitable. That win over Brentford was United’s first since a 3-0 win over Southampton on September 14th and their first Premier League goals since that victory also.

United currently sit 12th in the Premier League 6 points off the Champions League spots. They have three League games between now and the international break as well as two Europa League matches and a Carabao Cup tie against Leicester.

Ten Hag knows some momentum must be built in United’s season if he wants to avoid any more of the speculation that accompanied the last international break.

Stay tuned for more weekly sports content.

✒️ Liam Lacey – Football and GAA Sports Expert

Liam Lacey is a sportswriter from County Laois in Ireland who specializes in delivering content on GAA, horse races, and football matters (though he does see himself as somewhat of a tennis aficionado also).

Liam has written about All Ireland Gaelic Football and Hurling Championships, Premier League, Champions League and international football, offering expert opinions and match previews and predictions. Occasionally, even getting some right!

Last Updated on 31/10/2024